Is this a good Deal 1979 30 ft Catalina

[BeachbumKW]

My cruising plans include Keys, and Bahamas. Going to check her out Saturday your thoughts
https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/boa/5340030491.html

[Drift Woods]

Its a great deal.

I'd PM Stu Jackson, that guy knows more about Catalina's then anybody on earth. Facts, not the typical BS from the MY KEELS BIGGER THEN YOUR KEEL CROWD.

Originally Posted by BeachbumKW

My cruising plans include Keys, and Bahamas. Going to check her out Saturday your thoughts
https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/boa/5340030491.html

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Drift Woods

Its a great deal.

You mean the price is right I'm guessing?

Looks like someone has redesigned the keel. (maybe a sailboat building expert trying to improve the Catalina 30?)

Try not to make any judgments until you actually see the boat in person.

Plus, $435.00/month. How many months to get the boat ready?

[George P]

Good boat, just keep it simple sailing the oceans. Owned an 87' long time ago, check the stingers in the bilge/keel area and the mast base, lots of old wood that could be rotten. Also where keel bolts pass through the hull there's plywood sandwiched between the fiberglass so again be careful about tightening the keel bolts, also check the bulkheads. These are problem areas that could make this boat not a good deal. The design is good and they sail surprisingly well....after all Catalina did build over 7000 of them.
Good luck

[Drift Woods]

"You mean the price is right I'm guessing?" YES

Also they made so many of them that every issue has been well documented. You can go online or ask someone knowledgeable and make a checklist of what to look for long before an offer is made.

One concern I have is that the OP plans to spend a lot of time on this boat. "Its not that big" I plan to spend 4 to 6 weeks at the most on mine. My 320 is small, and gets smaller after about week 3.

Originally Posted by thomm225

You mean the price is right I'm guessing?

Looks like someone has redesigned the keel. (maybe a sailboat building expert trying to improve the Catalina 30?)

Try not to make any judgments until you actually see the boat in person.

Plus, $435.00/month. How many months to get the boat ready?

[La Porte Rouge]

Looks like a good boat that has been well maintained. I had a 27' Catalina that I believe was a 79, and it was a good boat, but much more basic than this one. I would say its definitely worth the gas to go look at it. Good Luck.

[Liam Wald]

Yeah, that's a lot of boat for $10K and C-30's sail well. Engine has been replaced and has some decent gear.
Get a survey. Unless there is a serious structural problem you can't really go wrong.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Drift Woods

Also they made so many of them that every issue has been well documented.

Yep, and they addressed most of those issues after 1979!

Someone mentioned Keel Bolts. I was sort of concerned about those due to the redesign of the keel.

Chain saws and keel bolts?

[tuffr2]

I believe that is an ok price. I saw a 30' Morgan for 5K. It had newish sunbrella covers over the sails, 1974 for asking price of $5,000.

The boat you are looking at has a lot more added features which are very nice to have.

You can always offer less.

Good luck.

Good luck.



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[Azul]

That is a solid 15k boat as described. Great choice too.

[BeachbumKW]

Checked her out yesterday it's a No...the search continues ��

[Drift Woods]

You'll be seeing a lot of boats with the new budget numbers. People have different standards in what they feel is acceptable. Florida boats in my experience weren't worth looking at in the lower price range. After 6 months of looking in Florida my wife and took a 2200 mile road trip north. I finally found my new to me boat up on Chesapeake Bay.

[jongleur]

Originally Posted by BeachbumKW

Checked her out yesterday it's a No...the search continues ��

Can you elaborate? Holes below the waterline
or something?

[BeachbumKW]

I expect to dump some money for upgrades etc when looking at that price point, the big one was the admiral felt the 30 footer was a little tight for her liking

[jongleur]

Originally Posted by BeachbumKW

I expect to dump some money for upgrades etc when looking at that price point, the big one was the admiral felt the 30 footer was a little tight for her liking

So it wasn't the boat per se. We were
looking at C27s and ended up buying a
C30 for the same reason.

Thanks.