Inspected my first Catalina 22
- Thread starter thetailwind
- Start date
Dear Lane,
I hate you.
Love,
Luke
I hate you.
Love,
Luke
Please don't buy that disaster. We want you here on the forum posting happy pictures of sunsets, margaritas, and almost naked women.
If you buy that boat you will be speaking venomous phrases about how sailing is the worst hobby ever.
I just bought a 1988 project for $1400 and we sailed her two weeks later. A lot of work done and "to be done" but at least the bones are excellent. That boat you posted pictures of is bad, bad, bad.
Lane
Hoosier Daddy fundraising chairman!
I am sure you already get the picture. Don't buy it. I got one that had problems and am doing major bottom work and it didn't look as bad. If you see one with that much play in the hole/pivot pin for the keel, don't go any further. Also, the winch is totally shot. Everything else looked pretty fixable to me if you are willing. But still, run from that one.
It was! We sailed down to La Vela and hung out for a couple of hours while I scrapped the bottom. Headed back Saturday.
Lane
Hey Tailwind, I'm a new owner and registered just now to tell you to keep the faith even if this boat isn't a keeper.
I've been casually looking at $3k Catalinas on Craigslist for a month or so. My wife and I bought a Highlander this summer to teach ourselves to sail on, but it's not the greatest boat for small kids so we'd been thinking of upgrading. I'd seen a handful and shown my wife two. Many of them in that price range aren't much better than the one you looked at and we were starting to wonder if our expectations were reasonable. Then Sunday night I saw a new ad for an '85 that looked good and we drove an hour to see it after work yesterday.
The boat could've just come out of the factory. I went over every inch of the boat and found two cracks in the gelcoat. The cabin was immaculate with clean navy blue cushions and custom drapes with matching pillows. Headsail furler with cover. The original outboard (cold to the touch before) started on the first pull. Owner said the keel parts were inspected two years ago, but the hose and line looked brand new. New electrical panel. Galvanized trailer with extending tongue. Telescoping transom crutch for the mast. Then he shows me the file folder with the original build sheet and manuals and receipts for everything on the boat, including the '80s cartoon instructions for the potty.
He was asking $2850 and we wrote him a check on the spot. Two days before we looked at one with two hornets nests and possible core rot for $2800. We also saw an O'Day 222 for $3000 that was on a modified flatbed trailer and looked like it had been painted with chip brushes.
So don't feel like you need to buy a junker because you're on a budget. The good ones won't linger on the market for weeks. Check Craigslist every night and be ready to drive an hour after work the next day to see it if it might be a peach. I asked the guy if there was a lot of interest and he said he had people planning to come down every day this week and now he had to email all of them to cancel. If we hadn't bought it then someone else would have. But at the same time don't be afraid to let a boat go if you're not 100% sure it's the right one. There will be more, and there will be more peaches, you just have to be first in line to see them.
I've been casually looking at $3k Catalinas on Craigslist for a month or so. My wife and I bought a Highlander this summer to teach ourselves to sail on, but it's not the greatest boat for small kids so we'd been thinking of upgrading. I'd seen a handful and shown my wife two. Many of them in that price range aren't much better than the one you looked at and we were starting to wonder if our expectations were reasonable. Then Sunday night I saw a new ad for an '85 that looked good and we drove an hour to see it after work yesterday.
The boat could've just come out of the factory. I went over every inch of the boat and found two cracks in the gelcoat. The cabin was immaculate with clean navy blue cushions and custom drapes with matching pillows. Headsail furler with cover. The original outboard (cold to the touch before) started on the first pull. Owner said the keel parts were inspected two years ago, but the hose and line looked brand new. New electrical panel. Galvanized trailer with extending tongue. Telescoping transom crutch for the mast. Then he shows me the file folder with the original build sheet and manuals and receipts for everything on the boat, including the '80s cartoon instructions for the potty.
He was asking $2850 and we wrote him a check on the spot. Two days before we looked at one with two hornets nests and possible core rot for $2800. We also saw an O'Day 222 for $3000 that was on a modified flatbed trailer and looked like it had been painted with chip brushes.
So don't feel like you need to buy a junker because you're on a budget. The good ones won't linger on the market for weeks. Check Craigslist every night and be ready to drive an hour after work the next day to see it if it might be a peach. I asked the guy if there was a lot of interest and he said he had people planning to come down every day this week and now he had to email all of them to cancel. If we hadn't bought it then someone else would have. But at the same time don't be afraid to let a boat go if you're not 100% sure it's the right one. There will be more, and there will be more peaches, you just have to be first in line to see them.
Here's what I learned when I bought my 87. Have a list of minimum requirements you want (ie sound hull, keel was maintained etc), have good idea of what parts are going to cost for the things that need replacement (Catalina direct is a great source) and, have a good idea what any extra items included with the purchase price are worth. And finally when you find something that has what you want, pull the trigger and buy. Good quality boats don't last on the market. I looked for 6 months because I wanted a new design, I missed out on 2 boats because I couldn't get to them fast enough. I looked at and purchased my girl on a Monday with cash at a broker, on Tuesday when I came to pick her up, 3 people had called to see if she was still available . All 3 of them had looked at her the day before I bought her.
Happy Conclusion:
I took a look at a boat that had been on Craigslist for less than a day, I think I was the first to come out and see it. The boat is a 1987 C22 and is in substantially better shape than the one I saw. The bilge tanks were mirror clean. It came with a trailer that needs a good bit of work to make it legal. It had some gelcoat cracking which I would expect but it was leaps and bounds better than what I posted. I put some money down and am expecting to pay for it totally and bring it home on Saturday. The previous owner even offered to come with us on our first launch to familiarize us with the craft. I will post pictures after I wash it.
I took a look at a boat that had been on Craigslist for less than a day, I think I was the first to come out and see it. The boat is a 1987 C22 and is in substantially better shape than the one I saw. The bilge tanks were mirror clean. It came with a trailer that needs a good bit of work to make it legal. It had some gelcoat cracking which I would expect but it was leaps and bounds better than what I posted. I put some money down and am expecting to pay for it totally and bring it home on Saturday. The previous owner even offered to come with us on our first launch to familiarize us with the craft. I will post pictures after I wash it.
Very good news, I'm glad you found an 87 in good condition. Let me know what the trailer is like and what parts you need, I have many sources for parts. Its not in my build thread because I did the work before I got my boat, but I completely replaced all the running gear on my tandem axle trailer. I only paid $300 for the trailer, but all was really getting was a nice, solid galvanized frame, everything else was rusted to failure. $2K later I have all new aluminum wheels, hubs, bearing buddies, U Bolts, springs, and galvanized axles. Anyway, there are some good on-line stores where I get my parts way cheaper than local sources, for example my galvanized axles were $150 each and shipped UPS ground for $20!
Start a new thread for your new boat and we all can't wait to see the pictures. Congrats.
Start a new thread for your new boat and we all can't wait to see the pictures. Congrats.
Dear dbhyslop,
I hate you too... (for finding your New Design in near mint condition at such a good price!)
Love,
Luke
p.s. you make some great points. I wish I had followed those rules when I was shopping, lol! I only paid $800 for my boat knowing exactly what its condition was and I wanted to do a restoration, but now that I realize hat I got myself into I probably could have found a C-25 in very condition for the same money I have invested in my resto... Well, on the other hand, this has been a huge learning experience and what I have accomplished so far has made me a better, more knowledgeable Boat-Wright. (Still not a Master, but I feel like there isn't much I can't do!)
You are so right... Check CL every day and be willing to drive an hour or more at a moments notice with cash in hand, the good boats don't last! You also make a good point about many boats on the market asking the $3 to $4K range and they aren't in much better condition than the hull that was pictured at the top of this thread. I find those listings all the time and can't help but laugh. I wonder if these sellers are just wishful thinkers or they are trying to find a sucker who is a new sailor and doesn't know better? I think its most likely that these Previous Owners are the just ignorant and negligent, they allowed the boat to deteriorate into that condition in the first place and they are trying to salvage as much 'value' as they can, and it just ends up being sad :cry:
But you did it right and I'm glad you found a great boat at a reasonable price (actually, that was a great price, lol!)
I hate you too... (for finding your New Design in near mint condition at such a good price!)
Love,
Luke
p.s. you make some great points. I wish I had followed those rules when I was shopping, lol! I only paid $800 for my boat knowing exactly what its condition was and I wanted to do a restoration, but now that I realize hat I got myself into I probably could have found a C-25 in very condition for the same money I have invested in my resto... Well, on the other hand, this has been a huge learning experience and what I have accomplished so far has made me a better, more knowledgeable Boat-Wright. (Still not a Master, but I feel like there isn't much I can't do!)
You are so right... Check CL every day and be willing to drive an hour or more at a moments notice with cash in hand, the good boats don't last! You also make a good point about many boats on the market asking the $3 to $4K range and they aren't in much better condition than the hull that was pictured at the top of this thread. I find those listings all the time and can't help but laugh. I wonder if these sellers are just wishful thinkers or they are trying to find a sucker who is a new sailor and doesn't know better? I think its most likely that these Previous Owners are the just ignorant and negligent, they allowed the boat to deteriorate into that condition in the first place and they are trying to salvage as much 'value' as they can, and it just ends up being sad :cry:
But you did it right and I'm glad you found a great boat at a reasonable price (actually, that was a great price, lol!)