What kind of sailboat?

Ross · Mar 21, 2009

A/C and refrigeration are optional but very nice. Refrigeration first and then A/C. Start with a budget and see what you can afford. Money is the killer in all of this. You could start with the premise that you are homeless and need food, shelter, and clothing and go from there.

Stu Jackson · Mar 22, 2009

You might want to tell us what your background is and if you've looked at any boats so far. What YOU like to look at is part of the equation. Your question is pretty much like: I want a wife, what do I look for? More specifics wold be very helpful. Do you sail, or want to learn to sail, or do you want a boat that just sits so you have a cheap place to live? That's just for starters, in addition to the sage advice you've received so far.

David in Sandusky · Mar 22, 2009

I agree with Stu. Without knowing a bit about you, we will tend to tell you to buy the boat that we have!

petersea · Mar 22, 2009

with out having lots of info about you are where you are ,this is kind of a personal situation as what I consider necessary you may consider extravagant. My suggestion is you most likely want everything you have now living where you do. refrigeration a/c heat, television, Internet, etc etc, Most boat below 35 feet are not intended as liveaboards and you may want to think about a real mattress as apposed to the foam that come with most boats. especial if you are not a good sleeper or maybe have a bad back. My suggestion is to get the largest boat your budget can handle and you feel comfortable sailing. If you are truly going to live aboard if you are not happy in that environment you will not stay there long. A generator may or may not be needed depending on your type of sailing and usage. I know of a guy who is living on a 50 gulfstar (on land for almost five years now) but he was able to purchase it cheaper then as lot of other smaller boats as it was an "opportunity" So depends on what kind of a deal you can make also ! !

David in Sandusky · Mar 23, 2009

OK. I'll bite. At your price point If you want a good. simple, functional boat, find a 75-84 Hunter 27. With 6 feet of cabin clearance, sea-kindly hull, and reasonable all round performance, it's a real possibility for you.

It is the boat we own, but this idea comes only after learning more about your situation. We have cruised for weeks at a time, and this boat will do well in the Keys.

Good luck in any case!

John · Mar 23, 2009

The liveaboards I know

have actually sailed less than they might otherwise. This is because living 24/7 on their boat, they tend to have all sorts of stuff out and around that must be put away before they can go sailing. And then it all needs to be taken back out again when they get back. Maybe it would work better if you rented a cheap room somewhere and had a boat that you could get down to to get away and to go out sailing whenever you wanted.

As for type of boat, all I can say is that our first boat was a Catalina 30. As with other production boats, it was not a top-of-the line boat, but of course the top of the line ones coast an arm and a leg more. I feel that we got good value for what we paid, although out here (SF Bay Area) I am not sure that yo would get something suitable for what you want for the budget you have set. But who knows, the economy is in your favor now.

petersea · Mar 23, 2009

go to yacht world or any other boat for sale site you like and put in a refined search. See what is available in your price range, and start investigating. Unfortunately I did that for you and not much comes up in the yachtworld site. But Hey you are the one who wants to do this maybe you will find one that is "perfect" Good Luck with the search !

Stu Jackson · Mar 23, 2009

Reconsider your priorities

Zidanthegreat said:
...getting a boat to live on for a while. till i find me that "wife"

You maybe got it bass ackwards. Find the rich wife first and ya won't have to skimp on the boat.

RECESS · Mar 23, 2009

Hehehehe I used my sailboat today while teaching my 4th graders about responsible spending and opportunity cost. It was just a quick opener, they really perked up when I put the Toy R Us web page of XBox 360 games on the smart-board to further the lesson.

I agree is it is rather impossible for people to give quality advise without having a ballpark of budget to start the conversation. Sometimes the really great bargains are the biggest holes in the ocean to throw money into.

edit to add I did see the post about the 7K range, just rambling a bit.

petersea · Mar 23, 2009

Zidanthegreat said:
okay, i found this one thats 36 ft thats in my range, but no engine and interior hull is fine. Price is really good, just wondering if creating my own interior is a good idea, cuz im a do-it yourselfer kind of guy.

May be your best bet financially but be realistic about cost, it is VERY easy to go over budget when taking on a project like this. Do the research......... Another thought came to mind is to check E BAY. There is a 1980 Catalina 30 that has three days to go and has a high bid of $3500. (needs some work) There are bargains out there if you are willing.....

dvideohd · Mar 23, 2009

break out the cost....

When you buy a boat - your are going to spend... There is ALWAYS something to fix or do.....

so take your 7K and split in half... 3500... ... that is extremely difficult to get a "big" boat for....

So how much is your monthly budget? Plan on SLIP and monthly BOTTOM CLEANING services...

then..... you have a $7K budget.... All boats are perfect to the seller.... Even if you think you KNOW what there is to fix... just plan on possibly putting it on the hard with a lift - and doing a bottom job... That could cost $850 - at a minimum... perhaps you can beat the number... but you can see why you need a reserve to do anything... so $3500 for a good boat...

What's good? If you do not hire a professional to tell you what is the situation - you are going to run a big risk... Even then... good shape may mean "newer" sails, rigging work - and a host of other things.... So you have to get smart... that means buying books - and "bottom feeding" on repairs....

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you can certainly do what you want... get a mainstream boat... (Catalina, hunter, Macgregor 26S, etc....) or an orphan... (like a Columbia 28, 30, or 36....)... Orphans cost less... but there are always issues...

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These are tough times... go hang out at marinas, yacht clubs, and make some friends... you can never tell when someone is going to GIVE AWAY a good old boat... I've seen it... Some Marinas have good boats... and you can talk to them... It is in their interest, as well, to talk to you... there are people looking to pass on their good old boat.....

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It may be easier to get a boat - than to get a slip... start with the slip and work backward... :>

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good luck....

--jr

RECESS · Mar 23, 2009

There are a lot of empty slips in Florida right now with the economy in the toilet.

The best money you can spend out of that 7K budget is a survey. A surveyor can tell if that 3K or 4K boat is going to cost you 10K to make right. Another consideration is your time. There are many people who buy a sailboat, start all the repairs and after years of aggravation and a budget that does not allow them to get all the things to rebuild a boat, end up selling it for a loss.

People fear getting a surveyor for an inexpensive find. They can tell you how inexpensive that find will be in the long run given the knowledge you are going to do it all DIY.

A few hundred to save your alloted money is money well spent.

I hope you find what will make you happy in the end. Understand, nobody is trying to deter you from what you want, just trying to help you from making the mistake many make when they are boat shopping happy.

petersea · Mar 24, 2009

re; "boat shopping happy" There is a school of thought out there that goes something like "the two happiest days of boating are the day you buy your boat and the day you sell it".
Try you best to keep you emotion level low in this search and keep you practicly side turned on 110 %. While there are lots of people who started these type of projects only a small percent complete. Point - the boat you are looking at now with no interior or engine. Both are major cost concerns so "BE AWARE" I don't mean to knock your idea just trying to keep it real ! You may be the one who actualy finishes one of these projects ! !

mark_swart · Mar 26, 2009

I think the terms "starting out" and "living aboard" in the same sentence is sort of a recipe for trouble. I thought about living aboard a few years back... decided I'd need at least 35 feet and ended up getting a waterfront apartment instead. I could see my boat every day, sail after work, still sleep in a bed that didn't move at night and take regular showers. Don't know your situation, but just a thought if you are still tethered to land and a job.

ccrider · Mar 26, 2009

i am also thinking of getting into a sail boat that i can live on part time. unlike zidanthegreat i am not looking for a wife i am getting rid of one. i have little sailing experience, but have alot of wind knowlege from the sport of paragliding and alot of water experience from powerboating/jet sking. but not much open ocean experience. i have read a couple of sailing books and i am planning on taking some sailing courses this summer and would like to purchase a sailboat in about a year. my job keeps me busy for about 8-10 months and then i usually have about 6 months off that i intend to live on the sailboat. i live in the new york area and i would like to sail down to florida, south carolina, or the boston area. my budget is around $40,000. i have looked on some used boat web sites and been to some marina looking at boats but i am not familuar with the quality manufactures and the budget manufactures. i would rather get a littlle older quality brand than a newer budget brand. hunter boats usually catch my eye in the marinas but like i said i dont know sailboats.

there will probably be 2-4 people on the boat at a time to handle the sailing.

i am not interested in doing extensive work on a boat.

any info would be helpfull.

Ross · Mar 26, 2009

CCRider,

Your budget is total or annual? You need how much room to avoid feeling claustraphobic? You plan to have 2 to 4 crew? And they will be there because they like you? are paid? they owe you? They are slaves? You will do the cooking and laundry for 3 or 5 people?