Catalina or Hunter?

[JK n Smitty]

Here's my input, for what it's worth.

I would go with the Hunter because it will be easier to live on (walk around berth vs. crawl over berth). I think the Catalina 36 is a better sailor (slightly slower but stiffer) but not by much. And I really like the walk through transom on the Catalina for safety and convenience, if you are going to have dogs on board this might outweigh the berth issue. As Stu and others pointed out, pass on the C34 or look for one that wasn't struck by lightening.

As to the survey, unless you are going all cash and not carrying insurance you are going to need a survey of your own. You're lender or insurance company can't rely on a survey done for someone else. So since you are likely to get one anyways, why not do it pre-purchase?

[JTSmith]

Originally Posted by JK n Smitty

Here's my input, for what it's worth.

I would go with the Hunter because it will be easier to live on (walk around berth vs. crawl over berth). I think the Catalina 36 is a better sailor (slightly slower but stiffer) but not by much. And I really like the walk through transom on the Catalina for safety and convenience, if you are going to have dogs on board this might outweigh the berth issue. As Stu and others pointed out, pass on the C34 or look for one that wasn't struck by lightening.

As to the survey, unless you are going all cash and not carrying insurance you are going to need a survey of your own. You're lender or insurance company can't rely on a survey done for someone else. So since you are likely to get one anyways, why not do it pre-purchase?

Excellent advice. I am paying cash, but as my home base will be either Regatta Pointe or Twin Dolphins in Bradenton, insurance will be necessary.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by JTSmith

There they are. What do y'all think?

Is this a trick question

2 boats with known problems that could easily be a lot worst that you think (if 1 chainplate is bad what do you really think the others are like and what cause the the first ones' problem, boat that has taken a lighting strike will chase related problems from it for years), and 1 boat with no problems and above average condition.

[RTB]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

and 1 boat with no problems

Well now, I'd be willing to bet there might be a problem or two. Maybe JT will share any concerns listed on the survey? Having a recent survey to look at is certainly a plus if it was done by a reliable guy. Of course, that's the fun part.....finding the things wrong that the surveyor missed. But hey, it's a boat and there will always be a "to do" list. It is a 25 year old boat.

Ralph

[ianjoub]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

I didn't bother inspecting the links but have this to offer-

Forget the name plates. They are essentially the same in terms of build quality.

Which offers the best equipment? Best maintained? Best size for the value?

pick the one which answers the above 3 questions. Anything else is just background noise or subjective.

I have been in the process of buying used cars for my wife and daughters for a year now. I tell them it is nice to have wants: style, color, brand, etc... but we are buying the best deal we can, period. best deal meaning the best cross of price and condition.

[ianjoub]

Originally Posted by JTSmith

Here's something else. The Hunter was under contract a month ago, but the financing fell through. Before that happened the buyer commissioned and completed a survey of the vessel. I have the survey, completed September third, which the prospective buyer provided the seller when the seller returned the deposit.

The boat surveyed as "Above Average Condition" and was valued at $89,000 with a replacement value of $175,000.

With a survey that recent, and one that is in my hands, do I need to have it surveyed again?

If you are borrowing for it, likely the lender will require another one. If a deal fell through, the seller will be anxious. Use that to your advantage

When my wife and I buy, we will pay cash. We will not have a survey done until after taking possession. We will pay so little though, that we could fix anything that needs it and still be ahead.

[RTB]

Originally Posted by ianjoub

We will not have a survey done until after taking possession. We will pay so little though, that we could fix anything that needs it and still be ahead.

Why have the survey done after purchase? No sure I am following your logic here.

Ralph

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by RTB

Why have the survey done after purchase? No sure I am following your logic here.

Ralph

Insurance prerequisite.

[Captn morgan]

Go with Catalina. The spreaders on the Hunters are swept back at an extreme angle so you can't let the main out for beam reaching or running.

Captn Morgan

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by Captn morgan

Go with Catalina. The spreaders on the Hunters are swept back at an extreme angle so you can't let the main out for beam reaching or running.

Captn Morgan

Generalizations are almost never true. On Catalinas, the main is the 'driving' sail. Not so on most Hunters of that design, therefore, the spreader configuration is largely irrelevant.

[ianjoub]

Originally Posted by RTB

Why have the survey done after purchase? No sure I am following your logic here.

Ralph

Not requiring/requesting a survey speeds along the sale. We will likely be buying from someone desperate. We will be looking at $300k to $400k boats and offering 1/2 of asking price. We will offer to a dozen people or so, someone will need the money...

[JTSmith]

Originally Posted by ianjoub

Not requiring/requesting a survey speeds along the sale. We will likely be buying from someone desperate. We will be looking at $300k to $400k boats and offering 1/2 of asking price. We will offer to a dozen people or so, someone will need the money...

I did that with a house once and it bit me in the ass to the tune of about 90k. Just sayin'.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[CruisingCouple]

Originally Posted by JTSmith

Yeah, yeah, I know, most of you will shout "NEITHER!" But let's skip that part. Here's my thing. After years of chartering, I'm buying and planning to live aboard. The parameters of that are these: $50k boat budget. 34-36 boat length. Beamy enough to be comfortable below. That said, I've narrowed the search down to Catalina and Hunter 34-36s. Which direction should I go?

Let the production boat bashing begin.

We bought a Legend 37 a year ago and spent most of the winter refitting her the way we wanted. I asked a few questions on things like removing our roller furler with hank-on headsails and a religious war almost erupted over it. I was even told I don't know what I'm doing and we're going die because it's not safe. If the poster that told me that knew anything at all about Hunter Legends he would've known that the Legend's B&R rig has a huge main with a relatively small headsail and that a two-person crew can handle them with no problem, even in rough seas. But that's not the "advice" I got. I said f&*k 'em and did it anyway because I didn't want no roller furler on my boat.

We ended up trucking our boat to New Orleans and sea trialed all the refits. Then sailed her to Belize and Puerto Rico (WITH hank-on headsails no less) where she's waiting for us to go cruising again this upcoming winter.

Meanwhile all the internet sailors are still typing away and debating whether or not it can even be done, what's a so-called "blue water" boat vs a "coastal cruiser", Hunters are the ultimate "dock queens" and on an on. That's why I don't waste much of my time on these internet sailing forums anymore.

Buy the boat you like, that's equipped the way you want for the crew you got, and that you can afford. If you have to do some refits figure that in. Then go sail her. You ain't gonna learn much about what's the right cruising yacht for you from an internet forum.

On the Catalina vs Hunter issue I can only offer that in your price range you can buy a Legend-series Hunter. We got $62 Grand plus about $18,000 in refits in ours and she is absolutely a SUPERB ocean cruiser. She's faster than hell and she'll easily outrun most 44's, she handles heavy weather and seas with no issues, she's easy for a husband/wife crew to sail, economical to maintain, and plenty of room and living accommodations for two for 10-12 days at sea. We are thoroughly pleased with her and don't care what anybody else thinks about "production boats" (whatever those are because they're all "production").

[arne]

I have heard more complaints about Hunter than I have for Catalina.
So therefore Catalina is the probably the best of the two.

[sailorchic34]

Originally Posted by CruisingCouple

We bought a Legend 37 a year ago and spent most of the winter refitting her the way we wanted. I asked a few questions on things like removing our roller furler with hank-on headsails and a religious war almost erupted over it..

Cool on using hank on jibs. Nothing wrong with that. I'm sure you knew to up size the forward stay one size to allow for wear and tear on the stay caused by the hanks sliding up and down and twisting around the stay under load. That's how it was done old school.