what boat should i buy? PART#3 the purchase!

FOB · Jul 30, 2008

Sorry, no trades

Money talks... not old pick-up trucks.

Jim · Jul 30, 2008

I like the CS but keep looking

The Hunter is nice too.

The 26 foot Hunter has no side decks therefore you have to walk on the cabin top to get forward. I think it is water balasted and has an outboard.

The C&C look cleans, has a diesel, better deck layout (see above). The Hunter does have a newer nicer cabin layout.

I think that 18k is a little too much for a 1978 27 boat but CS is a great boat, that is build strong. I think this is the make of Sail Maines boat.

Ed Schenck · Jul 30, 2008

My two cents or. . . .

what I have learned from buying sailboats. Have you done your homework and know exactly what you want in options? The "toys" like plotters and air-conditioning and refigeration and radar and ground tackle and installation costs are a whole lot less expensive if already on the boat.

Secondly, do not buy any boat without paying a surveyor. They can be expensive and a pain but a very necessary one. Money very well spent.

Although I own a Hunter(1979) the CS27 is a much superior boat to the H26. The only advantage to the Hunter is the trailer and more interior room(because of the outboard). But $18,000. is too much unless it really does have more than is listed. Could be it has a new engine, looks really good in the picture.

FOB · Jul 30, 2008

Get a Surveyour

That’s why you use a Surveyor. you need to see the boat in order to know if its too small for you. You should be out there looking at the boats and getting your own opinion on boats in stead of asking everyone else for their opinion. get into a 22.. To small for you, try a 25, still to small, try a 27... Still small for you? Try a 30................... Everyone has their own opinion. Grow some balls, get on a boat and see if YOU like it, not everyone else. I hope this doesn’t got to part 4!

sailortonyb Allied Mistress 39 · Jul 30, 2008

My bet says

you wont end up with a boat.

Tony B

Scott · Jul 30, 2008

Still likin' BOA VIDA II ...

FOB is still talking to you ... that's a good sign! The CS looks too sketchy to be worth the money. Be careful not to under-value proper upkeep and the great condition of the Catalina vs the CS. You will be very surprised at the cost to bring the lesser boat up to the standard of the well-equipped and immacculately maintained boat. I'm learning this by experience!

The upholstery of the CS looks like it could be a little seedy (however, I did like that Nautica pillow a great deal - it matches all my clothes!). New upholstery is a much bigger expense than I bet you would think it is ... and if the interior smells, you're not going to get away with just a thorough cleaning.

Do the instruments work? Don't be surprised if they don't. If not, they are very expensive or you live without them. I had 2 nice instruments (depth and speed log) on our boat when we purchased it, but I soon after had to buy 2 transducers and then I bought a new wind instrument to replace the one that was broken.

I didn't notice any sign of the sail inventory. I'll bet they are old and need immediate replacement (think $2 k - $4 k depending on what you want or need). I'll bet BOA VIDA II has got a nice fresh inventory.

Was that little 8 hp diesel recently re-built? If not, think about another great big expense. I was happy with ours because it was re-built within a few years of our purchace and it had a clean bill of health. So far - so good. The boat is under-powered with that little engine, but that may not be such a big problem. You won't have any tidal currents to buck so the power isn't so critical.

The Hunter is not what you want. The only reason for water ballast is so it can be trailered easily. Like Jim said, there is no deck along the sides and that is a problem. If the interior is the most important aspect to you, then I would be wrong. It could certainly be a nice boat on the slip and at anchor in a nice cove! I wouldn't want it for sailing Lake Ontario, though. What is the reason that the current owner is selling it? Are they moving on to a larger boat with a keel? That should tell you something.

If you are looking to spend far less for a fixer-upper, then the CS could be just the ticket for you. But the price is too high and you need to negotiate by pointing out all the weaknesses. I'm not sure where there are any weaknesses with FOB's boat so that is both good (if you want to purchase it) and bad (if you want to find a bargaining position). As a fixer-upper, though, that CS doesn't look bad. Like the boat we bought almost 4 years ago, it looks like a boat that can be sailed immediately so you don't have to sacrifice any fun; and you can bite off as much in the upgrade department as you want to chew. We have been doing that and the experience and knowledge that I gain from having the problems to solve is invaluable.

Recess · Jul 30, 2008

You get what you pay for

You can find a real steal in this market, but you really have to be experienced with boats and know exactly what you are looking at and be very realistic about your abilities to do certain work. You have to be very real about what you cannot do.

If you do not have a background with doing this type of work, you need to pay for high quality with very little to nothing needing to be done. When you are buying high quality equipment, you get what you pay for.

Maine Sail · Jul 30, 2008

What...

What are you guys basing these asking prices on? A quick YW search reveals that the CS is priced right in the middle of the pack asking price wise. The least expensive being $13,700.00 and the most $25,500.00. FOB is asking 29k which is DOUBLE the asking price of any 1985 or 1986 Catalina 27. Yes it is a well maintained boat but do yourself a favor and ask your broker to do a Sold Boats.com selling price history. Regardless of condition every penny you put into a boat is NOT recoverable. Most often the TOP condition boat will sell for about 10% more than the rest of the pack.

Do yourself a favor and ask your broker for a soldboats.com print out of comps. This is the pricing data they use as brokers and it is compiled from broker based sales. As an individual you do not have access to soldboats.com and only your broker can get this data. Any GOOD broker will and should do this for you when you are getting ready to make an offer. If you are paying 25% more than anyone else for a 1985 anything you are stuck with it or will sell at a huge loss when the time comes.

CS's are very well built boats and as such they hold their values extremely well. You really can't compare the construction of a CS to a Catalina but you can compare condition and upgrades. If there were only two boats available and the asking prices were IN THE RANGE OF RESONABLE, a beat up CS (not saying that one is beat up at all) and a beautiful Catalina 27 I'd buy the Catalina.

Be willing to pay 10-12% more than high average, of SELLING PRICES NOT ASKING, for an absolutely pristine 1% boat (only 1% of the used boats are in this condition). 18, 25, 50 or 100% more than high average selling price is just plain silly..

Jim · Jul 30, 2008

Maine Sail is right, I didn't check yachtworld

but I would have a hard time spend that muct for an 1978 27 ft boat. That me but this is one nice 1978 boat and it it is build like your she last a long time!

Jim · Jul 30, 2008

sailorKevan, I would ask Sail Maine

what to look for with this boat. He knows the boat manufacture better than anyone I know. If you know what to look for take pic of everything you have a question on and post them here. I am sure someone can help you.

I trust Sail Maine the most on this board. I would wieght his advise higher than mine.

Brian M H23 · Jul 30, 2008

This seems..silly

You have given yourself one week to buy a boat. Not a cheap boat either, but your entire savings! Is it because you don't have any free time except when you are on vacation?
First you need to find the boat. This could take a little time, or a long time. To me, the closer the price is to my maximum price, the longer it takes.
Ex:
$200 sunfish. Bought on the spot, off the side of the road.
$4000 hunter 23. Bought it on ebay, but contacted seller and took it for a short sea trial. It was in the water, and sailed often - which I consider a GOOD thing.

If your max is $20,000, and you obviously need to save at *least* 5,000 for upgrades / repairs/ transportation / slip fees, that means 15,000 is your maximum price. If you get burned on a 15,000 boat, you are SOA. However, if you get burned on a $3000 boat- you still have $12,000 to buy a new boat if you toss it in the dumpster.

It sounds like there are lots of inexpensive, smaller boats in your area. Pick one up and get back into sailing - learn how to dock, anchor, heave to, hoist a jib, reef the sails, work on a small engine - there are lots of skills that never pop up in little dinghys.. You have a decent budget. Spending 10-15% of it now, on a smaller boat so you can satisfy the ned to go sailing NOW, gives you time to relearn the skills and spend more time looking for your dream boat and a slip / mooring to keep her in.

Ctskip · Jul 30, 2008

jm, you funny guy.

sometimes you are good and sometimes you are great. but most of the time, you are just plain dumb.

Kevan, have you visited this boat near you yet? Taken it for a sail? Time to let go of your dollars for a deposit. Have you secured a slip/mooring? Once you have done that, I'll believe you are a serious player. I thought i saw you waver several posts back. Something about never doing it or waiting. What was that? You have received more information than anyone on this board that I know of. Now it's time for you to give us your thoughts on these boats you are "seriously" interested in. What say you? Where you going to berth her, and whats your slip number? It's only money that you'll never see again. Think of all the fun you could be having now. Got a surveyor ready and waiting?. What have the owners to say about their boats? Come to any mutual dollar amounts yet? I've wheeled and dealed and come up with a agreed upon dollar amount and walked away never to be seen again. What's your problem? Separation anxiety?
Keep it up,
Ctskip

Ralph · Jul 30, 2008

CS27

I sold my 1978 CS 27 a couple of years ago to get something bigger (3 kids, wife and myself). I bought it for $22K and sold it for $22K (Canadian). We loved that boat and the kids still mention it once in awhile. If you find one in good condition, you won't be disappointed. It will handle anything you can throw at it.

Ralph

TimCup · Jul 30, 2008

I was gonna post a cranky reply-

something about you buying a boat first thing in the morning, sleepyheads, etc., but this isn't my website, so I'll keep myself in check.

Instead, I want to recognize the patience of Nice and Easy, Ross, Maine Sail, JimQ and others that have given alot of time and info to Kevan. I would have ended this a long time ago. And I would have been wrong. Well played gentlemen.

cup

ps TonyB, Ctskip- I feel your pain (and where you feel it!)

what boat should i buy? PART#3 the purchase!

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FOB

Jim

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Ed Schenck

FOB

sailortonyb Allied Mistress 39

Scott

Recess

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Jim

Jim

Brian M H23

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Ralph

TimCup

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