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Old 08-01-2021, 13:34   #1
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Oldest Boat to look at

I have a Chriscraft Ketch on Lake Michigan that I have been learning on. Cold stopped the use and learning. I am looking at spending the rest of this winter and most to come in either Deston or Key West. I will probably look at picking up a boat there also. What is the oldest boat you would look at for playing in the Gulf or crossing to the Islands. I will be looking at a 30'-38' boat, preferably a ketch but will decide more when the wife makes up her mind where. Do have grandkids in Deston so think that will be where she wants to go. When visiting we did look at a condo with boat slip in our price range. I fell Key West would be better temp wise for getting out on water but haven't done any pricing yet.
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Old 08-01-2021, 13:45   #2
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

About early 80's is the oldest I'm usually prone to looking at.
Many 70's boats had a big learning curve to construction techniques as well as getting very old.
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Old 08-01-2021, 14:59   #3
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

I don't think it is as simple as the age of the boat. Some 40 year old boats are in better shape than many 20 year old boats. Newer boats may have better design features. I don't think you will find many newer ketches though.
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Old 08-01-2021, 15:14   #4
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

I'd say it is not the age as much as the original build quality and then the current condition, maintenance and upgrades it has had. I prefer my boat from 1963 over just about all of them from the 70's due to build quality that came out of the 70's along with blistering from the early flame retardant resins then. Perhaps you mean age in terms of hull or rig design, and that is a personal preference of course. Certain models have not aged well, some with cored decks or hulls may need to be scrutinized carefully.
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Old 08-01-2021, 15:31   #5
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

The research I did before buying our 1989 Catalina 42 is that before the late eighties interior designs were not as efficient (3-d computer design?) and seemed dark and smaller. We love the openness and light wood stains in our boat.
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Old 09-01-2021, 10:04   #6
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

1966 has been a good year for me for both plastic boats and wood.
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Old 09-01-2021, 10:20   #7
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

Something worth considering with age is the condition of the standing rigging and blisters.
If an older boat has survived without blisters, not being "repaired" it will probably never develop them since the builder knew what they were doing and using. I'd have a pro. look at the rigging. Sail age/condition could be a major expense. I'm probably not saying something you don't already know. I'd bet location wins, where the grand kids are.
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Old 09-01-2021, 10:23   #8
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

As an engineer, my professional thought is that the design useful life of something like a boat is 50 years. But my "professional thought" is often wrong. It depends on initial build quality and how the boat was maintained over its life. In other words,"Maintenance is everything." If I were in your place, I would look for a popular boat in whatever area you chose and find the best maintained boat I could find. (In my case in SoCal I found a well maintained Catalina 36, not the best build quality but good and well maintained).
That said you can expect to replace electronics, perhaps some plumbing, possibly sails and rigging.
Good luck and keep us informed.
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Old 09-01-2021, 11:02   #9
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

Cheoy Lee has ketches in that size range, late 60's -70's.
They are well built and sail well.
As others have posted, the condition is everything.
I would not worry too much about age.
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Old 09-01-2021, 12:10   #10
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

Own a 50 and 44 year old boat and the 46 year old Westail I built is just a few slips away. All are doing just with the 50 year old doing a TransPac a few years ago. Maintenance is the key determinate of the usefulness of a boat not age. The worst age in my mind is a 10-15 year old boat that hasn't been upgraded. That age boats are just a bunch of systems waiting to fall apart. If it hasn't been upgraded rigging, electronics, sails and every other system is reaching the point where they need to be carefully inspected and replaced if necessary. Older boats that have been properly maintained and loved will have had stuff replaced.

There are design differences that may make a newer boat better suited to your needs. Newer boats tend to be more open and brighter inside but caution that open may mean no proper storage and an interior that doesn't work at sea. Must admit that those 30-60 year old boats did love the dark wood cavern look. Painting out the flat surfaces and varnishing the wood can significantly 'open up' the interior of an older boat.
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Old 09-01-2021, 12:35   #11
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

Age is irrelevant.
A good friend has been restoring a 150 year old gaff-rigged fishing ketch.
It's now stronger and better than new (added watertight bulkheads, fully re-planked and ribbed etc).

Another friend spent a huge amount having a beautiful 8m racing yacht restored. It too is better than when first built in 1924.
https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats...re-varg/241442

I understand that this isn't really what the OP was meaning but these are examples that show that age is not really very relevant.

My own 40 year old and very strongly built aluminium cruising yacht has no structural defect, no significant corrosion and a recently installed new motor. With new rigging and sails she would be ready to sail anywhere in the world. Certainly a lot more able than me!
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Old 09-01-2021, 12:44   #12
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

My boat is 42 yrs old and will be around and sailing long after I'm pushing up daisies. Have noticed that "newer" boats offer more interior space at the same or shorter LOA than my 42 yo given their wider beam. But agree with earlier comment that original build is key...I have never had any doubts about my boat regardless of the weather/seas...I did with my 1984 Catalina 27...but really not a fair comparison. good luck in your hunt. Oh, and the recently completed Golden Globe sailed solely with boats of the 1970-80's did just fine in the southern ocean..okay with a few modifications..
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Old 09-01-2021, 12:44   #13
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

Quote:
Originally Posted by warren5421 View Post
I have a Chriscraft Ketch on Lake Michigan that I have been learning on. Cold stopped the use and learning. I am looking at spending the rest of this winter and most to come in either Deston or Key West. I will probably look at picking up a boat there also. What is the oldest boat you would look at for playing in the Gulf or crossing to the Islands. I will be looking at a 30'-38' boat, preferably a ketch but will decide more when the wife makes up her mind where. Do have grandkids in Deston so think that will be where she wants to go. When visiting we did look at a condo with boat slip in our price range. I fell Key West would be better temp wise for getting out on water but haven't done any pricing yet.
The condition of the boat is much more important than the age. You don't want something that needs a lot of expensive upgrades and constant maintenance. Are you thinking about a live aboard? If so, the chances of finding a place that allows that are disappearing by the second. Given you're considering your kid's family, would this be day sailing or multi week trips? For anything longer than day sails, a catamaran would be your best option (also for liveaboard purposes) But cats are difficult to find a home for. For ease of parking and day sailing a 30' to 36' monohull would probably work - big enough to take the family out for the day but large enough to do some Caribbean cruising as a couple. As for age, I'd get the newest one you can afford as there will likely be less repairs (at least for awhile). Amel was the last company I know of that made a ketch. That would be a great boat if you could find one but the Super Maramu was 53' so maybe too much boat for you. Get something you can sail rather than something you'll be fixing constantly (newer is usually better).
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Old 09-01-2021, 12:45   #14
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

I would agree with the comments of early 80's being best.

hope this chart works:

70's boat ............. 80's boat
----------- ............ -----------
gas engine .......... diesel
gate valves ......... ball valves
fuses ................. breakers
no anchor locker .. anchor locker
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Old 09-01-2021, 23:24   #15
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Re: Oldest Boat to look at

I have a 1980 Mariner 36 that’s a great boat. Solid build, no blisters, sails well. Also, Practical Sailor just had a review on a tartan 33. I think the build quality of an older Tartan., pacific seacraft or Pearson can’t be beat. They just built solid, well designed boats! Good Luck.
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