spindrift / starwind 22

[John Kivel]

There is a 1984 starwind 22 for sale not far from my house. The asking price is $3k. We have been looking for a big family daysailer with a small cabin for the kids to play in. The seller says that the boat is mechanically sound but ugly, as he puts it, "it needs a good rub down and some elbow grease but it is ready to sail."I have never owned a sailboat before, so my questions are:What should I look for when I inspect the boat?Does the price seems reasonable?Is this a good boat for a family with young children?Any advice you have would be helpful.Thanks,John

 

[Steve O.]

keep looking

I would look for a Catalina 22 or a Hunter 23. They are reasonably priced, readily available, easy to get parts for, easy to launch, and the builders are still in business. Plus they both have excellent web sites (like this one) for support. If you don't know what to look for, I'd hire a marine surveyor. You don't say how many small children you have, but the boat will get proportionally smaller as the number and ages of the children increase!

 

[Jeff Johnson]

Too Much

He is asking too much for the boat in that condition. I bought a 22'Macgregor having a asking price was $1,800 in need of cabin work.Pd. $1,400 and the trailer, motor and delivery were part of the deal. Take someone with you who knows what to look for in an older boat.

 

[David]

John

That seems to be a very fair price. They are a fast stable boat compared to most others in that size range. But make an offer subject to a survey, it will be well worth it.

 

[Dave Johndrow]

Starwind 223

I used to own a Starwind 223 1984 one infact. It had a 8'6" beam and it allowed the cabin to be configured for a queen sized berth. It had a 22" draft and a swing center board. If memory serves me it had a Swing-up companion way top so you could have standing headroom in it.(sky was the limit) It was competeing at the time with the O'day 22 and the catalina 22 with the pop-top.Hull construction was reasonable and it's keel was encapsulated lead not iron like the Catalina. I didn't like to trailor it because it was a wide boat but that was more me than a problem trailering it. Never really did master stepping the mast. (mostly because I kept it in the water) The boat sailed nicely It was the boat I learned to sail on and it was really a forgiving boat as far as mistakes go. Cosmetics are important You need to see the boat, the condition of the fiberglass and gelcoat. If elbo grease cleans it up, then great. Also, look at the interior fabrics, new cushions will cost you. The survey ( never buy a boat without one) will deal with rigging, sails and hull issues. Spending a couple of hundred could save you thousands in repairs or owning a badly abused boat.Don't be afraid to make an offer and don't be afraid of this boat. Dave