$6,000 boat too cheap?

[Welti]

I'm looking at a Craigslist ad for 27' Catalina tall rig, for $6000. There are a few pics, I mean it doesn't look like a complete wreck. Comes with a slip at Mrakin Del Rey for $350 a month. Has an 8 hp outboard. I plan to go look, and it will be my first boat inspection. I plan to ask about the keel bolts, any accidents, maybe walk all around on the hull and feel for soft spots, flooding damage, standing rigging (frayed cables and so on).

Basically I'm wondering, is it too cheap to be for real? I'm decided on a 27 foot plus or minus size for my first boat, and 27' Catalinas are not too commonly available it seems. 25 and 30 more common. I'm hoping that means owner are keeping them and they are in demand.

[thomm225]

I’ve seen quite a few Catalina 27’s for sale at or near that price. They are usually older 1970/80’s and have an outboard.

My boat was $2,000 and I have had it for 11 years.

Just sailed 45 miles on it this weekend.

It’s a 1974 Bristol 27

[OldManMirage]

Catalina 27's are great boats, they come and go on the market all the time. The 25's are too small for me as I really like to be able to stand up down below. The 30 is a much bigger feeling boat than the 27, but still handles pretty much the same.

We've owned 2 different 27's, our first one we lived aboard for almost 3 years. It was an outboard and we really like the extra space that gave us. The 2nd was an inboard diesel and that was nice, but the inboards do not sail as well as the outboards.

What is your experience level ? What are you planning to do with her ?

Definitely walk the decks, check for soft spots. Look close at the main bulkheads in the cabin where the chainplates attach, check for water damage. That could be a big repair you don't want. Look in the bilge at the keel bolts, they should not be rusty.

If it's an inboard crank it up and check out how the engine runs.

The windows are prone to leaks, and that's a task but not a huge one to re-bed them.

I'd pay $6000 for one in really good shape, but not if it has any kind of issues. Keep looking, like I said they come and go all the time. Where are you located ?

Lot's of other good boats in that size range too. If anything doesn't look right on that one just move on. For 6K there are so many options !!

[Rumrace]

It’s not a competition. Not one you can win anyway. Getting on the water is the most important thing. Boaters are pretty helpful lot. Manners, considerate of nature you’ll fit right in.
Catalina has a stellar history and set the bar on service. Catalina folks are hardwired.

[carlosproa]

Originally Posted by Welti

I'm looking at a Craigslist ad for 27' Catalina tall rig, for $6000. There are a few pics, I mean it doesn't look like a complete wreck. Comes with a slip at Mrakin Del Rey for $350 a month. Has an 8 hp outboard. I plan to go look, and it will be my first boat inspection. I plan to ask about the keel bolts, any accidents, maybe walk all around on the hull and feel for soft spots, flooding damage, standing rigging (frayed cables and so on).



Basically I'm wondering, is it too cheap to be for real? I'm decided on a 27 foot plus or minus size for my first boat, and 27' Catalinas are not too commonly available it seems. 25 and 30 more common. I'm hoping that means owner are keeping them and they are in demand.

Pictures and reality may differ

Just go there and take a look at how much more you need to invest. Make sure the outboard starts well, look at the standing rigging for any corrosion, backing plates, and tiller. Any soft spots on the hull.

My take is that first sailboats should be sailed asap and as often as you can. Then you can move to your next sailboat once you know what you like

[deltaten]

Short answer?
No

There's a metric s#!t-ton similar boats out there going begging for owners. Unless it's had a recent upgrade, fuggedabowdit.
JMHO

[Jammer]

Thousands of them were made in the 70s and 80s.


Locally the general experience with smaller boats is that 70s boats are not saleable regardless of condition and 80s boats can be sold for a few thousand dollars if in good condition. Local markets vary so maybe it's different where you are.


It's an IOR era masthead sloop. Being from the IOR era it will be tender and will sail best with crew sitting on the high rail to balance the boat. Being a masthead sloop you will have heavier jibsheets.


To be worth $6000 it should not need much and you shouldn't have to spend a long weekend rebedding all the deck fittings and another long weekend rebedding all the portlights.


Be aware that service parts for 70s era winches are, in most cases, no longer available. If that is the case with yours you can clean and lubricate them but if you loose a spring or a pawl is worn out you're looking at over $1000 for a new winch in the sizes you will need for the primaries.


While everyone's financial situation is different and I don't know what yours is, you will probably be better off in the long run buying a newer boat in better condition, because you will spend less on maintenance and recover a greater percentage of your purchase price when it is time to sell. That is especially true if you are new to this and are treating this as a "starter boat" from which you will either move on to something you like better, or exit the activity, as the case may be in a few years. Keep in mind that you'll be spending $6000 a year on slip rental, insurance, and maintenance and that the purchase price is a relatively minor factor in overall cost of the activity.


5 years ago I bought a 1975 Morgan 25 for about $6000, spent $2000 a year on maintenance and upgrades, and sold it for $1200 two years later.


3 yhears ago, I bought a 1991 Hunter 26 for about $6000, spent $2000 a year on maintenance and upgrades, and sold it for $10,000 two years later.


The difference was that the Morgan was an IOR boat and had a bunch of problems that would have been expensive to solve, among them: obsolete winches, an obsolete wire halyard system with a failing masthead pulley box that needed a fully custom-made replacement to be properly serviceable, leaking portlights, a leaking hatch for which suitable weatherstripping is no longer made, and a troublesome centerboard mechanism that really needed a new custom-made stainless steel rod in the stuffing box (because the old nylon one had swollen from absorbing water over the years and was therefore prone to jamming).


It was also, like yours, a very heavy and high-draft boat to haul on a trailer.



The Hunter, while not perfect, had better parts availability and a larger cockpit. Everything leaked on it too when I bought it but the difference was that I was able to get replacement portlights that fit the existing cutouts, and parts for the winches and rigging.


Be picky, there are lots of good boats out there, but they tend not to stay on the market long.

[thomm225]

I think some do the rebedding because they just like projects. Let it leak and sail the boat.

Also if they want $6,000 for it offer $3,000 or $4,000

When I bought my Bristol 27 for $2,000 I replaced the crappy, leaky diesel with a new 5 hp outboard, had a new mainsail built, painted the bottom, then sailed it for 5 years with no other maintenance.

Again, I think many here just think they have to be working on their Good Old Boats whether they need it or not.

Some here spend years "refitting?" an old beat up boat and spend thousands before they ever sail them.

Not a good idea.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by Jammer

5 years ago I bought a 1975 Morgan 25 for about $6000, spent $2000 a year on maintenance and upgrades, and sold it for $1200 two years later.

3 years ago, I bought a 1991 Hunter 26 for about $6000, spent $2000 a year on maintenance and upgrades, and sold it for $10,000 two years later.

((6,000 + 4,000) +(6,000 + 4,000) - 10,000) / 4 = 2,500 per year

In a 6 month season, this is $416.66/month. I would be extremely happy with that as a COO.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Shrew

((6,000 + 4,000) +(6,000 + 4,000) - 10,000) / 4 = 2,500 per year

In a 6 month season, this is $416.66/month. I would be extremely happy with that as a COO.

I was also paying $3000 a year for a slip and insurance, but, yes.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by thomm225

I Let it leak and sail the boat.

I'm married and want to stay that way.

[Welti]

Originally Posted by thomm225

I’ve seen quite a few Catalina 27’s for sale at or near that price. They are usually older 1970/80’s and have an outboard.

My boat was $2,000 and I have had it for 11 years.

Just sailed 45 miles on it this weekend.

It’s a 1974 Bristol 27

That is good to hear!

[Welti]

Originally Posted by OldManMirage

Catalina 27's are great boats, they come and go on the market all the time. The 25's are too small for me as I really like to be able to stand up down below. The 30 is a much bigger feeling boat than the 27, but still handles pretty much the same.

We've owned 2 different 27's, our first one we lived aboard for almost 3 years. It was an outboard and we really like the extra space that gave us. The 2nd was an inboard diesel and that was nice, but the inboards do not sail as well as the outboards.

What is your experience level ? What are you planning to do with her ?

Definitely walk the decks, check for soft spots. Look close at the main bulkheads in the cabin where the chainplates attach, check for water damage. That could be a big repair you don't want. Look in the bilge at the keel bolts, they should not be rusty.

If it's an inboard crank it up and check out how the engine runs.

The windows are prone to leaks, and that's a task but not a huge one to re-bed them.

I'd pay $6000 for one in really good shape, but not if it has any kind of issues. Keep looking, like I said they come and go all the time. Where are you located ?

Lot's of other good boats in that size range too. If anything doesn't look right on that one just move on. For 6K there are so many options !!

Thanks for that information! I am in Southern California. This boat has an outboard motor. I never thought about how that actually give you MORE room. He said he had the keel bolts redone in 2015 for what it is worth.

[Welti]

Originally Posted by deltaten

Short answer?
No

There's a metric s#!t-ton similar boats out there going begging for owners. Unless it's had a recent upgrade, fuggedabowdit.
JMHO

Maybe a lower offer, unless it has significant issues (then fuggetaboutit)

[Welti]

I'm so much appreciating the helpful suggestions here! I'll definitly be very cautious. I also thought a newer boat would be better, but hard to find newer ones in that size that are not much more expensive too. What are good/best places to look, if I may ask?

I've been looking at Boattrader, Yachtworld and Craigslist. If I was willing to ship a sailboat from another state, my options would really open up. My home port would be Channel Island. I don't see that many boats for sale right here that look interesting and affordable. Maybe I just need to wait a bit!