I need some feedback on this
boat. It is an ad off of Craigslist in
California. I want to day sail often then increase to weekend trips, a season or two in the
sea of cortez and then start a
circumnavigation in 3-5 years. If I bought the
boat I would
live aboard right away. In my mind I had a $50k
budget plus
refit money but this boat checks all the same boxes for much less
money. Asking
price is $12k (more refit/cruising money).
Here is the ad; "For
sale here is my wonderful CT35
cutter rigged
ketch. She is a solidly built
blue water cruiser, sister ship to the famed
Tayana 37 (without the canoe stern that gives the extra 2') but much rarer. This is a boat is for a lover of the classics, evocative of the tall ships from her
shroud mounted nav lights and fife rails w/belaying pins to her elegant ships
wheel. Her dramatic sheer line sweeps upward to a traditional
bowsprit giving her the look of a much larger ship. The
interior is beautifully hand crafted in Burmese golden
teak all done in Hershoff joinery. She offers rugged construction, pleasing looks, seakindly accommodations, an easily managed sail plan and an ability to tick off the miles no matter the
wind or seas. Equipped with a full suite of
sails including an light
wind Genoa, powered by a workhorse Volvo-Penta MD11C with a three blade 16x12 prop (she nearly idles at 4 knots!), ground tackle is handled by a
CQR on 300' chain with a backup
Fortress on 80' chain to 200'
rode, in the
galley is a Shipmate three burner w/oven stainless
propane stove, worm-drive
steering which is almost an
autopilot,
Kyocera 140w
solar panel with Morningstar duo charge controller to keep the
batteries happy and a Wilcox-Crittenden
head to take care of the rest (those things can flush down the NY Times Sunday edition). As the second owner of this vessel I have full
documentation right down to the "New boat order form" before she was laid up. She has been gently used and served as a comfortable
liveaboard, had weddings performed aboard and plenty of parties (oh lordy), now she seeks a new owner. One who is willing to do a little
sanding and painting, a bit of fixing up. But don't doubt that she isn't ready to go to sea at a moments notice. The
price reflects that she has minor needs, she is easily worth more than twice what I'm asking."
Things I like about the boat; heavy
displacement, flexible sail plan for
single and double handing, great tankage 120gal of
water and 80gal of
fuel.
I talked on the
phone with the
current Captain for about 20 minutes (I have not seen the boat). The boats original owner really used it as a showpiece and didn't sail it that much. He had it at a private
dock off his home (salt water). Hence the
diesel only has 1100hrs. The
fuel tanks need to be taken out and scrubbed. The Capt. uses the boat about 3 months a year. The other 9 months he works as a
delivery capt. and works on others boats for a living. I would imagine he has maintained it. He removes the
sails and keeps them indoors when not on the boat.
The standing
rigging was replaced about 5 years ago but the masts are timber and are original. Probably fine for day sails but probably need to be replaced before a serious
ocean crossing. Thoughts? Prices to replace (probably with aluminum) two masts?
Also not a big fan of
teak decks. He says they are
water tight so far. Also, no soft spots
Bottom paint is about 2 1/2 years old. Can I get one more year out of it?
The boat has minimal amount of
electronics which I could add over a few years. Only has a
VHF radio.
Anyway, I love the looks of a
cutter as well as the sweeping sheerline. Overall a beautiful boat. Of course I'' have it hauled out and surveyed.
Thanks for any feedback,
Dave