I'am looking at buying a used 24-26 foot sail boat, I like the Catalina's I have seen, is there any help you can give me, tip's so I don't get burned since I am a first time buyer ? Any input would greatly be appreciated.
Unless you're planning on trailering, consider the Catalina 27 instead of a 25-26 footer. It's a good value, sails well and has good living space for a couple for weekend cruising.
- hire a marine surveyor so you don't buy any big surprises - read the owner reviews onthis site - older boats (which allow you to buy more LOA per buck) will tend to have greater maintenance requirements. No big deal if you're pretty handy and have the time to work on the boat. Newer boats will cost more per foot but *may* require less maintenance for the next few years. The secret to buying a great boat is determining how you'll use it and what feature set is right for you. Once you've figured that out, you're simply looking for the boatthat fills your needs best. there's a book I like called How to Buy the Best Sailboat by Chuck Gustavson (I think). It's in the bookstore here and is a good guide to follow. It helped me a lot.
Hit your local library for books on buying used boats, and sailboats in general. They will provide a suprising amount of info on what to look for in a used boat. Structural, electrical and engine info will all be covered. Also it's important to define what type of boating you plan on doing, daysailing, overnight, weekends. What type of conditions will prevail where you do your sailing is also very important. Good luck
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