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should I take this free Catalina sailboat?

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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2011 : 06:52:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tom Gauntt
 "Son, there's always a good deal on boat."

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm gonna write that down, right under

"Never come in faster than you're willing to hit"

Edited by - on

Arlington
Navigator

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USA
196 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2011 : 06:08:13

Congratulations Count, welcome to sailing!

I would take all of the above information to heart; the advice offered here is priceless. I would emphasize that a good survey is absolutely necessary. However, first as a new sailor, you don’t know what you have because you don't know what all is missing. I would go visit the yacht clubs closest to this boats location. Look and see how many other C-22's and C-25's are in the marina or yard. Find a club with Catalina's, the C-22's and 25's, have ALOT in common. Go to their next meeting, armed with some of the 'big picture' photo's printed out, and your lap top with the rest of the photos. At worst, you will make some great new friends, get invited to sail on working Catalina, & eat well. At best you can get a seasoned, knowledgeable, Catalina owner to come look at this boat with you. He will know how to sail it and what is missing. Someone at the club,will probably know the history of this boat!

First, make a list of what is needed for it to float, second what is needed to get it to sail with just the main sail, on a day with light winds? Get prices on just that stuff both new & used. Is there anything you can borrow, (like one of your new friend’s old, spare, used, main sails & some running rigging) for just a day, for a sea trial (with one of your new friends at the helm)? Avoid buying anything else, including all of the nice to have, wish to have, and all of the stuff you really want to have and think you will need later.

Ask your friend who owns the boat yard, how long you can keep it there for free? How many times will he put it in and take it out for you for free? I know he is your good buddy now, but how much is it going to cost you, after this free boat becomes yours? Also, where is all of the missing stuff, (like the, sails, cushions, teak, battery, lines, PFD's...) if it is in a pile somewhere, you want it, and you want it with the boat before the boat becomes yours. If the missing stuff was stolen, what is going to happen to the new stuff you put on the boat? If the missing stuff has already been parted out on Craig’s List or Ebay, the previous owner should have known the boat, and could have been parting it out for a good reason. Go visit a West Marine Store, or another good marine supply outlet, CatalinaDirect.com and the SWAP Meet forum pages here, to start adding up how much the stuff you need is going to cost.

God parted the waters, so sailors could have places to dock.

Edited by - Arlington on 08/04/2011 06:10:35

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2011 : 09:54:11

One more point about a survey (which I heartily endorse): Liability insurance, something you'll need whether you want to insure the boat (as with auto collision coverage), often requires a "clean" survey for newly purchased boats over 10 years old. If you get the survey before you take possession, it will help you decide whether you should take possession--and there's a good chance you shouldn't. (A mistake here could cost you a lot more than $500.) So the survey will work for you as well as for the insurer.

Meanwhile, get out there and look at some boats.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/04/2011 20:51:14

bostonsailor
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2011 : 10:39:18

I purchased a 1986 C25 with diesel inboard for under 5k and it came with everything from sails to flares, brand new lifejackets, literally everything you need to go out there the day you buy it. The inside is really spotless and the cushions are in very good condition.

My point is that you will be spending close to this to make this boat useable. Might as well get something you can immediately sail. This seems like too much trouble without much of a reward.

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PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2011 : 12:14:46

Boston Sailor: True. But the point is, for example, that I bought Sparky for just over 1 grand. I never would have spent 5k off the top, so I never would have got started. It was painless to work my way up to 5k before boat was real seaworthy and it was a lot of fun and I am very intimate with her. Plus I did it my way.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.