Best buy in a solid cruising boat (go anywhere, $30k or less)

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

A friend in FL got a decent shape early 80s Niagra 35 last year for under $15K off a craigslist. Put another $2-3K into it right away and had her sailing few weeks later. His only major issue afterwards was the v-drive, which personally I think is a terrible idea to begin with but that's another story.

So I think the $30K budget is doable but requires lots of leg work and time to go through all the garbage boats at this price range.

I've had 3 V drives and thought they were great. I guess anything can go bad eventually!

[zeehag]

i bought a clapped out formosa 41 for 10,000 usd.
bought used engine for 2500 usd. rebuilt that same engine for under 4000usd.
all systems are repairable readily, and there is nothing wrong with these hulls, deep keel and solid fg, not cored.
so ye have to put some work into it you will get to know what you have and you will have a solid cruising boat for less. learn how to fix it yourself.

[pickpaul]

There is a very nice looking Alberg30 for $12,000 with full keel, yanmar diesel, solar, dodger on the Annapolis MD Craigslist today. I'd think that would do the trick for well under $30k :-)



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[sully75]

Yeah triton to Alberg 30 is not a big jump.

[sully75]

But thanks. I'm in MD now. It's Alberg country. Even more
So than New England.

[Island Time O25]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I've had 3 V drives and thought they were great. I guess anything can go bad eventually!

I personally did not have a v-drive but heard the stories, especially from marine mechanics. Their biggest peeve in addition to higher failure rate is the difficulty to work with them as they're supposedly usually put in tight spaces to begin with. Not as bad as the Volvo saildrives. (I'm going to get some cr*p now for that statement)

PS Not that the regular shafts are a piece of cake to work on.

[JerseyJoe]

Originally Posted by Suijin

Allied Seabreeze.

I know a few previous owners who have moved up and said when it got really snotty that they wish they were in their Seabreeze.

What kind of budget do you have for upgrades/refitting? I ask because I think you're going to be extremely hard pressed to find a $30k 35' boat that is ocean ready. You're likely going to find tired examples of most of the boats mentioned. That said, people do get lucky, searching long and hard enough, and make an extraordinary find.

That's how I found mine, a Rafiki 35. A long, meticulous, patient and well researched search. And being in the right place at the right time to survey and buy boat in cash before other buyers can get involved in purchase process helps.

Curious what OP considers a slow boat though. Was doing 6.5 kts under jib alone on way to winter maintenance haul out the other day. Not bad for full keel, 17,000 lb displacement snail.

[sully75]

Not a speed demon. I'd like to be able to nail it to windward consistently in a chop, hopefully without the motor. I'm not sure what boat does that. Trying to do that this year in crappy conditions was really unpleasant and a bit scary. Might be the nature of the beast but that's something I'd like to be able to do better.

The triton is surprisingly fast in everything else. I can maintain 5 knots pretty easily in any kind of breeze as long as the waves aren't too bad. A chop kills though.


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[barnakiel]

I would opt for something like a PS, SC or their EU equivalents. Basically anything that can take plenty of abuse, sails "fast" and carries some load without losing seaworthiness.

b.

[Terra Nova]

With a $30k budget, I think you should try to be much more open minded about finding "a deal" on a boat that is close enough, rather than trying to seek out a specific model.

[barnakiel]

IMHO

go anywhere

AND

30k

are exclusive to a large extent and thus the phrase simply means a 30k boat that has the maximum seaworthiness/comfort/load carrying/sailing ability/etc. ratio.

So, the exercise is simple:

- go to yachtworld and search with filter max price 30k.

Then order by size. Go designs one by one and decide which one has the features you want.

I think it is essential too to decide if the 30k is your purchase price or ready to go price as these two can easily differ by as much as 100% (a 15k boat may call for 15k upgrades and mods thus becoming a 30k boat in the process.)

Really no rocket science here.

b.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by sully75

Not a speed demon. I'd like to be able to nail it to windward consistently in a chop, hopefully without the motor. I'm not sure what boat does that. Trying to do that this year in crappy conditions was really unpleasant and a bit scary. Might be the nature of the beast but that's something I'd like to be able to do better.

The triton is surprisingly fast in everything else. I can maintain 5 knots pretty easily in any kind of breeze as long as the waves aren't too bad. A chop kills though.


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If its choppy, you have to fall off the wind some in a Triton. (or a Bristol 27)

If you want to go up wind strong and stay close to the wind, something like an Ericson 35-3 with it's 13,000 lb disp and 6'2" fin keel outta do the trick. It also has a 29' LWL.

[barnakiel]

If you want to go, efficiently, upwind, in a chop; then you want:

- narrow entry,
- no bow overhang,
- small bow volume,
- flattish, efficiently placed sails,
- low drag rig and hull,
- etc.

Alas, a boat sailing efficiently (quickly) upwind in any reasonable chop will quickly become wet. This is OK racing but not too desirable cruising.

As said, bear off some and live happy with the design you have.

b.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

As said, bear off some and live happy with the design you have.

b.

Yep, many folks would love to have a Pearson Triton. This guy even has it on one of his Cruising Boat lists:

Sail Far Live Free - Sailboats, Sailing News, and Gear: Blue Water on a Budget: 5 Budget Cruisers for Crossing Oceans

[belizesailor]

A couple I did not notice mentioned:

Tavana 33. Proper little classic yacht. Solidly built. Sails great. Traditional design so not overly roomy below, but good functional layout. Uncommon.

Pearson 36. I've seen them rigged as sloop, cutter, and ketch. Sails well. Comfortable. Wide variation in listing price range, but have seen them listed around $30K.

And I'm sure I'll get the standard knee jerk reaction on this suggestion...likely from people who know absolutely nothing about this boat but...

Hunter 37 Cutter. Not your typical Hunter. Strong, stiff, and sails great. Traditional layout below, but comfortable. Cult-like following from current and former owners (including me). Several listed on YW around $30K.