Shopping for Cheap Sailboats

[SailorRye]

I remember the last time I came on these forums there was a thread where people were posting affordable boats that were a good deal. I cannot find this thread. I was interesting in something very cheap if not free. Prepared to do work as long as it floats. Anybody have any tips where to look. I live in New Jersey. I've been checking Craigslist & Facebook very often with no luck. I'll be saving for something nicer of course, though it would take me longer than I'd like to save any kind of money. But if I could get in the water now as a live aboard on some seaworthy-ish $1-3000 sailboat I would. Headroom is nice as I'm 6ft1in. Been looking at some ranging from 28 to 32 feet. I found a 28 Sabre that could work but its headroom is a little short for me, I'll keep that one in my back pocket. Of course that sort of headroom comes with that length... Any recommendations in boat Make/Model welcome! If you know of a boat for sale that's cool too! If I've posted this in the wrong place please scold me. Thanks.

[JoeRobertJr]

You might be thinking of this thread: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...97948-107.html. There has not been a lot of activity on it lately.

There is also this one: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ts-259980.html

[thomm225]

You could offer $3,000 for this one and go from there.

Remember the base price of $2,000 to about $7,000 is basically the same depending on the boats needs and things onboard that come with the deal

These small Hunters are really good little boats. I have seen them sailing quite a bit, and they are very proportional as far as sail and length etc.

They appear to sail very well also.

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/boa/d...673966394.html

[SailorRye]

I believe that is the thread I was thinking of. The other link looks interesting too. Thanks!

[Capt Clark]

Hey Rye,

I’m not a Facebooker but there is a Free or Bottom Dollar boat group there. Also, if you tour around boatyards, there always seems to be boats available for almost nothing. Good luck and be patient and you’ll find the one.

[Shanachie]

Living aboard any $1-3,000 sailboat I've seen is pretty desperate. Not much better than pitching a tent on a sidewalk.

[SailorRye]

Well I've lived in my car so if the boat has a toilet and a stove that's already a huge improvement. I've seen many boats for sale in that price range in the past. I just hadn't been in a situation where i could go through with it. But I'm ready now and willing to put in the work.

[SailorRye]

Thanks Clark, I'll check out that group on Facebook. I live near a few marinas and I go for walks every now and again. Most of these marinas near me have the wealthier crowds so not too many cheaper boats that people would be willing to part with so easily. Maybe I'll get lucky one of these days...

[NorthCoastJoe]

Try contacting marinas about lien sales, they come up about once a year for boats that are behind in their slip fees here in California. NJ might be the same. You might get something that has good bones and needs some work, or just a good cleaning.

[SailorRye]

Oh that sounds like a good idea. I'll have to call around and see if they do that here. Thanks!

[boatpoker]

Go to the biggest marina around, the one I'm working in right now (400 slips) seizes 10 to 14 boats per year and spends a fortune chopping them up. The marina goes through an expensive legal nightmare to get the right to dispose of these boats including paying me to survey them to establish a value. There are many marinas that would happily give you a boat with the caveat that it must immediately be removed from the property. Some of them might even float.

I call it the field of broken dreams. These are boats that people had the same idea as you and eventually walked away from once they realized what it cost to repair, maintain, insure and keep a boat if not perfect, at least functional.

[SailorRye]

That's a lot of broken dreams! haha
I could hopefully find something that would fit my needs from one of those. I just need something that floats that I can have a little fun with. Maybe upgrade to something else after Ive used up what little life it has left.

[mcon12000]

Originally Posted by SailorRye

That's a lot of broken dreams! haha
I could hopefully find something that would fit my needs from one of those. I just need something that floats that I can have a little fun with. Maybe upgrade to something else after Ive used up what little life it has left.

You’re in NJ? I’m in NJ and not to crush any of your plans but just want to make sure you’re aware of a few things.

It’s going to cost roughly $4k per year to store and slip a small boat anywhere in NJ. My boat is 38’ and I’m paying $7k per year for my slip and winter storage. Oh and let’s talk about winter… All the marinas turn off the water and winterize their bathrooms in less than three weeks. There’s zero chance of living aboard in the winter here unless you go to a place like liberty landing and pay $10k per year this assumes you make it to the top of the waiting list. Believe me if there was a way I would have found it by now as I’m aboard from April through October and typing this from the diner across from my marina.

If your boat doesn’t have heat you’ll freeze to death and AC is almost mandatory in the peak of summer unless you anchor out then it’s not needed.

The Free boat that will require work is really a $15-20k boat and most of the marinas either have a waiting list or are not suitable for a sailboat here in NJ.

There are expenses you simply can’t escape so set aside at least $10k before you locate the “free” or “cheap” boat.

[hukilaumike]

You can also be a bit more proactive at a yard by looking for the boats that either weren't launched that season, or that haven't been launched in awhile. At my marina, there are always a few boats that just don't get put in for that season (or two or three). And there is a line of maybe twenty boats along the back edge of the property that haven't moved in years. At my marina, there is an Oday 28 that hasn't been launched in a couple of years that is still in the "main" storage area, and a Pearson 26 along the back edge that hasn't been touched since I've been at this yard (about 8 years). I mention these two only because they seem to meet or come close to your criteria. There are plenty of other options at my yard and all over. Just ask the yard; they will either know or be willing to contact the owner on your behalf to see if they are interested in selling.

When I was looking for a boat several years ago, I inquired about the availability of one particular boat that hadn't been launched that summer. The yard told me that the owner was a woman who got ownership in her divorce the year before, but had every intention of using it. A few days later, the yard called to say that they had contacted her, told her there may be an interested buyer, and she agreed to sell. I had already bought another boat, so that didn't work out, but you won't know unless you ask.

[SailorRye]

Yes I am unfortunately well aware of the additional costs that will come up. I shop for my boats working around this the best I can. I target boats that have my priority bare essentials as while I do not have the tons of extra spending money today, my new employment will make it much easier to maintain the vessel in the future. Also I have no intentions of spending $10k on a free boat, it will merely get me by as I spend the bare minimum keeping the cheap boat afloat.



I've already prepared to defend against against the heat and moisture, I already have that sort of equipment as well as the marine batteries to power it. I also have no intentions of staying in NJ as when I acquire the boat I'm heading to a marina slip that I am reserving a bit further south. So that at least will not be an issue. I gave up finding a slip here a while ago, the costs were just too high to be reasonable for my situation.