1998 Catana 38-41 for £150k - what's not to like? vs younger Lagoon 38-40, FP 38-42

[toby24b]

Classic scenario. My budget's still £150k. The requirement is still for family coastal cruising, maybe some blue water down the line. I thought I'd be buying a 5-8year old Lagoon/FP/Leopard out of charter at about 40ft. But it seems I can also get an older Catana at the same price. Why wouldn't I, if the survey adds up?

[category4jay]

Originally Posted by toby24b

Classic scenario. My budget's still £150k. The requirement is still for family coastal cruising, maybe some blue water down the line. I thought I'd be buying a 5-8year old Lagoon/FP/Leopard out of charter at about 40ft. But it seems I can also get an older Catana at the same price. Why wouldn't I, if the survey adds up?

Good luck finding 5-8 year old Catana, FP, or Lagoon for that budget. Might be tough. Keep us posted. Thanks. BUt as for your question Heck Ya do it!

[tamicatana]

There is a 20 year old Catana for sale in MX

1993 Catana 39 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Having one of same vintage, and having been aboard newer Catana, I'm glad I bought the older boat, of course YMMV

BTW the exterior pic is of a newer boat, although the interior pix look right

[toby24b]

That's the point of the thread, category4jay. Lagoon/fp at 5-8years of age, or a 1998 catana. Please also note, £150k, not usd150k.

[category4jay]

Originally Posted by toby24b

That's the point of the thread, category4jay. Lagoon/fp at 5-8years of age, or a 1998 catana. Please also note, £150k, not usd150k.

My bad. Sorry. Good Luck with your search.

[toby24b]

£150k is about usd240k which I think is just enough for these options...i'm in the UK but will buy anywhere I have to! Tamif 27, why do you prefer the older catanas?

[Barra]

I would go the older catana as well.The 8 year old boats will be due for some pretty extensive work at about that age depending on use whereas the 14 year old will have already had one or 2 refurbs and things like standing rigging etc could actually be newer.

As to the use for coastal sailing you will be sailing as much into the wind as downwind vs the bluewater more tradewind based sailing so the edge the catana will have pointing higher and faster will be pretty handy too

[Barra]

Originally Posted by toby24b

£150k is about usd240k which I think is just enough for these options...i'm in the UK but will buy anywhere I have to! Tamif 27, why do you prefer the older catanas?

Ill let Tamif answer for themselves but one reason i think is that catana sort of lost its way on the early to mid 2000s designs- moved away from the crowther designed lighter weight boats towards a heavier cruising boat. They are now more back on track with the latest models with a good mariage of performance and luxury but thats the result of decades of design work.

[Barra]

PS Best of both worlds for you may be a phisa 42 (i am biased but hear me out) There is an an ex charter version in spain for not much over your budget i think. They are built off the catana 401 mold lenghtened to 42 feet so its a crowther/ barreau design and performance oriented.

But cos it doesnt have the catana name on it its alot less than a similar age catana so can be had for a similar budget to the lagoons/FPs.

[tamicatana]

Barra hit it. The older Catana are Crowther, the newer are Barreau. They're really rather different boats. There is the lightness thing, but the biggie for me is the layout.


What I like:

--Heads are aft, and are much roomier. Engine access is via the head. I can't imagine what a PITA it would be to have to climb down into the engine room through the hatch in a sea, and of course your engine wouldn't break down in nice weather.

--The cockpit being more closed off, especially as the helmsman. I like also the way the transoms are done with the bolt-on steps and the big lower step - easy boarding from the dink and the external steps make for more space in the engine room.

--The main cabin layout - the galley faces the aft cabin bulkhead and the salon takes the rest of the space. Reefer top is nav table space if you like.

--The running rigging is all cabin-top/external, nothing run through tunnels in the deck. Simply done, and the horizontal winches are good as you can stand and grind.


Mine has been a very liveable boat so far, and I'm well pleased with her. The only thing I'm wishing for is slightly wider bunk but I'm going to fix that.

Be advised, it's likely with the older boat you'll have to fix/replace things. That's OK with me, I get what I want.

Good luck with whatever you choose

Oh, btw, have you seen the 39S in France? She has tiller steering, which I'd be all over that. If this boat hadn't been too far away for me, I'd have given her a serious look. You're in the UK, right?

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1993...2388484/France

[toby24b]

Thx, that's great. Anyone know the year the crowther boats ended?

[toby24b]

tana, yes, I'd dismissed that previously as too old, I was thinking end 90s, but maybe I'll look. As you say its not far. How many berths do you have? I need 6 (4 kids). Rear heads can mean fewer berths.

[silver_star]

Hi I own. 98 catana c381 owners cabin.. Replaced engines, plumbing/ holding tanks, refrigeration to name a few big items. You are correct in saying an older boat will need attention. Mine is a 98 that I bought in 2002 and a lot of stuff was needed to be done just after 4 years. 240k usd us a good number to work with.
I'll sell mine because I want to move to a 47.

[toby24b]

Originally Posted by silver_star

Hi I own. 98 catana c381 owners cabin.. Replaced engines, plumbing/ holding tanks, refrigeration to name a few big items. You are correct in saying an older boat will need attention. Mine is a 98 that I bought in 2002 and a lot of stuff was needed to be done just after 4 years. 240k usd us a good number to work with.
I'll sell mine because I want to move to a 47.

When you need to sell it, message me!

[Sand crab]

The C381 are unique with a center mounted elevated helm. All the others have twin helms. I'm not sayin it's good or bad just that it's .....unique.
A new/used Catana just came up on YW in the past couple of days. Can't remember what it is but it's in your price range.