Want To Buy: 35' or so, Great Lakes (Canadian)

[ctl411]

I brought the 37.5 across lake Michigan for him when he brought it years back. He bought a bigger boat. Nice double in aft cabin.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by ctl411

Friend has a 37.5 legend in Holland Michigan for sale.
Think it's listed on Grand Rapids Craigslist or Holland Craigslist.

...oh....thats a good boat!

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by ctl411

Friend has a 37.5 legend in Holland Michigan for sale.
Think it's listed on Grand Rapids Craigslist or Holland Craigslist.

Is this it?

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/6029637058.html

Its a 1989 model...I think they came with sugar scoop sterns starting in 1991 or 1992 along with a few tweaks to the layout below. Makes a big difference.

Our plummeting Canadian Dollar is making those US boats more expensive every day.

Still...good looking boat. And BIG.

Noticed this on the same site:
https://swmi.craigslist.org/boa/5996604683.html

[Dangen]

I know I'm biased, but the CS36t is very well built. When you start paying attention to the little details, you can see the quality throughout and they are very easy to sail and are pretty fast. The only complaint I could make is that the stairs to the companionway are a bit too steep.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Dangen

I know I'm biased, but the CS36t is very well built. When you start paying attention to the little details, you can see the quality throughout and they are very easy to sail and are pretty fast. The only complaint I could make is that the stairs to the companionway are a bit too steep.

Yes they are great boats. In the 80's when Canadian boat building was booming the C&C's were always 10K or so more for a same sized boat. Now the CS's get much better resale prices than the C&C's. Quality.

[ctl411]

Originally Posted by hamburking

Is this it?

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/6029637058.html

Its a 1989 model...I think they came with sugar scoop sterns starting in 1991 or 1992 along with a few tweaks to the layout below. Makes a big difference.

Our plummeting Canadian Dollar is making those US boats more expensive every day.

Still...good looking boat. And BIG.

Noticed this on the same site:
https://swmi.craigslist.org/boa/5996604683.html

Yes that is the 37.5 I was talking about.

[Mirage35]

Okay, I'm giving this thread a bump in the hope of getting more feedback.

We have visited a few boats. One of the first was a CS36 Merlin, lovely boat, but our gut feeling was that it's bigger than we need and bigger than we want to handle. It made us think about what kind of sailing we expect to do and what will best support it without going overboard. (If you'll pardon the expression!)

So, any thoughts on:

- Mirage 35; we've seen a very nice one, there were some positive comments earlier in the thread. Any further thoughts? Our only real negative on this one is the very small head/shower. Will need to come up with something to protect the wood before using it.

- CS 33; seems to be a very solid boat but older styling, not much light below, I can't put a finger on why it didn't please me but it wasn't love at first sight.

BTW people keep telling me that CS boats are the most solid in the region and price range where I'm shopping. Is it true? To what extent does it matter (i.e. the Mirage of the same age doesn't look like it's falling apart, so ...)

-CS 34; slightly newer boat, newer style, more modern layout. More plastic and less wood than the Mirage so presumably easier maintenance for cosmetic purposes. Decent aft cabin and V-berth and big head/shower, so we like the layout. But considerably more expensive (back to that reputation - you pay for it.)

I like them all, if I had to choose today it would be between a layout that we like better and a turnkey boat that needs no work for the next five years.

So, any specific opinions on the specific boats above? If not, any further general opinions on similar boats that may be available?

Thanks, folks, you've been helpful so far and I'm sure you have more opinions left

[Brob2]

I think there is so little, or none at all, to choose in quality between the Mirages and CS's of the same period that it is practically irrelevant. I would go by condition, what speaks to you and your comfort, and, lastly, price. Neither is a light wind flyer but they are both solid, well made boats. I am certain that you would be happy with either if they were well cared for and suited your needs, the latter being a personal determination. Spend as much time on the two as you can, just sitting, walking through, or what-have-you. That's my 2 cents.

[hamburking]

There aren't a ton of big sailboats on the great lakes.

I like the C&C34 because of the forward sheeting (on the main) that gives a clear cockpit. The standard equipment yanmar is sweet too, as are all the self tailing winches. As a C&C, you know it was a quality build, will point well, and go fast on a reach.
1980 C&C 34 updated | sailboats | City of Toronto | Kijiji

Here are a few more, below, randomly found. Maybe its the weather, or the location, but there aren't many boats advertised that meet your criteria.

Oday 35 | sailboats | Sudbury | Kijiji

Hunter34, renovated/updated | sailboats | City of Toronto | Kijiji

When I wanted something similar, I had to go to Annapolis to buy a Hunter Legend 35.5. When it came time to sell, I tested the waters with a stupid high asking price, and the first guy that came along bought it...supply and demand I guess. IMHO, there seems to be a glut of older boats...but if you want a decent shower stall or a walk through transom, you are outta luck.

[Mirage35]

Always more food for thought. I certainly plan a second look at a couple once the shrink wrap comes off and I can get a better feel. (Visits so far have either been in freezing cold or pouring rain, which isn't really ideal for digging into things.)

The C&Cs are nice boats but I tend to push them down the list because they're pretty deep draft - that 34 draws almost six feet.

Thanks for the feedback.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by AnglaisInHull

Always more food for thought. I certainly plan a second look at a couple once the shrink wrap comes off and I can get a better feel. (Visits so far have either been in freezing cold or pouring rain, which isn't really ideal for digging into things.)

The C&Cs are nice boats but I tend to push them down the list because they're pretty deep draft - that 34 draws almost six feet.

Well the weather today isn't any better. Very heavy rain...again. But the calendar says better weather is coming...supposedly.

I agree with you on the C&C's being too deep. Good for racing, bad for the thin water around here (Kingston). They did make some shoal draft versions...but hard to find. In particular, I'm liking the C&C32, which I think came with an optional swing keel. I don't think any of the larger C&C's had that option.

[Mirage35]

Originally Posted by hamburking

Well the weather today isn't any better.
-snip-

Tell me about it! I went to Mississauga to see a boat Tuesday; round trip drove almost 1,000 km in that slop!

[skipperr100]

You should check out the Island Packets. Great, roomy, and seaworthy.
I have a 31' sloop, rebuilt yanmar, sorlar, wind turbine, radar, auto pilot, chartploter, etc. just finished a 6 week trip to bahamas. send message if interested.

[Mirage35]

Island Packets are definitely nice boats, but there are not many available anywhere near me. If I see one that might be in my price range (not too far above $50k CDN) I'll certainly check it out.

[Mirage35]

Well, it's done. A 1989 Mirage 35. Spent a couple of days with the PO going through all the systems and fixing a couple of little things that suffered over the winter, and she's in sail-away condition.

(You'll see the current name on the side, but I'll be using her new name, the "Melba J".)