Capabilities of a '73 Coronado 30 ??

[Dexterbase]

Hello everyone! I've been reading these forums a few... sometimes more... hours a day researching and trying to soak up as much information as I can. There is so much good information here. Thank you!

I want to buy a boat and live aboard while I finish school here in Monterey. I'm a veteran and I survive off my Post 9/11 GI Bill, so I don't have unlimited resources, but things should improve financially when I finish Nursing School here in 2014. I have found several possibilities but within my price range of $8k-15k, the options for a liveaboard are somewhat limited.

I don't want to sit in the harbor. I intend to sail the boat and learn as much as I can about sailing. It's something that has called to me since I was a little boy and saw the ocean for the first time. I need to be out there, my soul years for it.

I have been looking at a Coronado 30 but I haven't been able to dig up much information online about that model. There is plenty of information out there on the other boats I've looked at, but for whatever reason, not much on the Coronado.

Does anyone here have any experience with this boat?

Assuming she is structurally sound, and the skipper has his stuff together, is she capable of coastal cruising with relative confidence? Any major issues structurally with this boat model?

I've heard some Coronado boats have balsa below the waterline. I can't find detailed specs on this boat anywhere.

So, if you know this boat, let me have it. Tell me what your opinions are on this boat.

What I know:

Atomic 4 cyl Gas engine.
Needs bottom paint.
Previous owner supposedly spent $15k recently on rigging.
Current owner doesn't sail at all.


Owner is asking $10,500 as she is right now.

Thanks in advance everyone.

Cheers!

[swabbmob]

Be sure to have a real survey - don't accept any information from the owner or his surveyor. Having said that, I think it would be a fine coastal cruiser. A young guy lived on the hook on one next to me in Newport RI and it looked plenty stout. He sailed it to Florida in the fall. One of the key thiings you'll need to learn and practice of course is how to properly reduce sail and heave to. You can cruise in lots of boats if you know how to get small.

[SkiprJohn]

I would say that if the boat was in prestine condition with a running diesel engine needing nothing then she might be worth that price. But, as you said she has a gas engine and needs a bottom job.
It currently is a boat buyer's market.
There should be a link to the Coronado site somewhere that can indicate what happened to the company and at which year.
kind regards,

[Dexterbase]

Thanks for the information!

So, as far as you know, there's no inherent design flaws that prevent this from being a safe coastal cruiser?

Is seems like your questions and comments were directed more towards value.

The owner, hearing I'm looking at another boat in the marina, lowered his asking price to $9k.

He's willing to pay for the survey if I pay for the haul out. Does that seem fair?

[Ranaylor]

Have you looked on sailboatdata.com



http://sailboatdata.com/view_builder.asp?builder_id=18

Has some basic background info. on the company.

cheers!