Is $15,000 Cheap for a 30ft Yacht?

[sarafina]

There is no such thing as a cheap boat. Not even the free ones. ESPECIALLY not the free ones ; -

I looked over the pics on the website and would hazard a guess that she has been rigged with spit and chewing gum, and has a lifetime of deferred maintenance to deal with.

Looks like the crew on her has had fun, but kept the boat in good shape? Doubt it...

That little line about not being afraid to get your hands dirty and do *some* cosmetics?

heh.

been there, done that...

[roverhi]

It looks like a Rawson 30. These are very strong boats that have sailed almost everywhere but they are utilitarian boats not Hinckleys. Most were owner completed so fit and finish ranges from exquisite to grossly poor. Equipment list sounds good but condtion of sails, engine, rigging has to be determined. If it's no big deal to fly up to Fiji to check it out, take a thoroughly knowledgable friend with you and check her out. The asking price seems fair but not a bargain. Rawson 30's can be had on the US West Coat for under $5,000 in poor condition to close to $20,000 for a really nice one.

Fiji is not a terribly bad place to learn to sail. There are a lot of reefs in places you'd least expect them. A GPS and good charts and knowing how to use and read them is a necessity. Area is subject to Tropical Cyclones so not a place to be in your winter outside of a good hidey hole and there are few of them around. Other than that conditions are pretty benign with hundreds of Islands to visit and 100s of anchorages. If you go up after the cyclone season is over and do a lot of daysailing out of a marina learning the boat and how to navigate it before going too far afield, you should be fine. There's a marina next door to First Landing resort on Viti Levu that seems pretty secure. They've got hurricane pits on shore and the marina seems well sheltered. There are good connections to everywhere via Nadi Airport so would seem a good place to base yourself at first.

Buying a boat in SoPac and cruising off into the sunset is not a venture without negative consequences. If you have someone, professional surveyor or friend who is really knowledgable, look the boat over and you listen to what he has to say, you should be okay as far as the boat is concerned. Learning how to sail it is something that only time, study and practice will accomplish.