Moving up to the 30's from a 26'

[swampcreek]

We currently sail a 1993 Mac on the mid Chesapeake, we love it but need more boat. We're looking at the lower 30' range. It's my Wife and I 95% of the time but we would like more room, be able to handle heavier weather and also be able to comfortably bring more people along, they would most likely be cockpit company, company staying the night will be very rare so a guest berth can be just that, a guest berth. We really like the Catalina 310 and are actually about to put an offer in on one. As my stomach tightens in knots on the high price (Asking 80K, broker states owner won't go below 75K, we're thinking on offering 70K)) I thought I'd check and see what Hunter has to offer before we do.

What we want...
1. Solid hull...No coring (I know people are ok with them but right or wrong I'd rather not have one).
2. Lead shoal draft keel.
3. Walk through transom.
4. Cockpit shower (Not essential)
4. Air conditioning (Not essential but really nice)
5. Front roller furling. (Mainsail RF would be nice but not essential)
6. Would like to stay above 1995, and preferably 2000+.
7. Would like to keep the asking price at or below 70K...the further below the better.

Any idea's?

 

[Jeff]

When we moved up from a H26 to a H33.5 I wanted to still be able to single-hand the boat. Having jib winches back by the wheel and all other lines led to the cockpit makes that possible. The amount of help provided by first mates varies. Being able to handle the boat by yourself is important. $70,000-80,000 sounds high for a C310. Yacht World and Boat Trader had several under 70. We've got one in our marina for sale under 50. It's a buyers market right now. Don't be shy.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Jeff's right, you don't have to bail on C310s or change ideas, just look "harder and smarter" - it will come to you. Because you're continuing to look you get to see more boats! Many folks have reported that they spent more than a year looking for "their" boat, I know we did. Moving up does not necessarily have to be scary, we went C22, C25, C34. It's doable. Happy hunting.

 

[swampcreek]

Well one is a 2004 and the other is a 2006 so l guess thats kind of high but for the same years I see some nice looking Hunters at lower prices. I'm just confused on which ones are cored hulls.

 

[Tally Ho]

Well one is a 2004 and the other is a 2006 so l guess thats kind of high but for the same years I see some nice looking Hunters at lower prices. I'm just confused on which ones are cored hulls.

Cored hull or cored deck? I think most newer boats are solid hulls, but have cored decks.

Greg

 

[swampcreek]

Cored hull or cored deck? I think most newer boats are solid hulls, but have cored decks.

Greg

Except for a very very few boats all decks are cored but from what I've read many boats have cored hulls only above the waterline and other hulls are entirely cored. 2 Hunters that I've starting to look at are the 340 and the newer 31's, I've read they have solid hulls, other Hunters are partially cored but I don't know which ones...There should be a list.. There is a nice 2000 340 here on the Chessie that I might go look at, but reading the owner reviews is throwing some caution on me, there seems to be some problems with build quality. I didn't realize it was going to get so confusing trying to buy a newer decent boat with the specs I provided that didn't have issues or cost a million dollars.

 

[Steve Walsh]

Some cockpits have very short seats, difficult to stretch out on much less have a crowd in the cockpit for drinks. Having the sheet winches within reach from behind the helm is important to me, since disturbing the admiral with a drink in her hand is not an option. Can't remember the brand, but we were on a mid 30' sailboat that had rounded cockpit seats (think hot tub) and stretching out to read a book at anchor was nearly impossible because the curved seat back caused us to keep sliding toward the cockpit sole and annoying as hell. Good for a crowd though.