Buy a Cat which is Complete @ $$$ or Requires Refit @ $

[Zonker]

I have started to think about buying a cat for a long journey around the world. As it comes to the budget I see 2 choices :

1. Buy a very expensive but fully loaded cat which has everything needed for a circumnavigation (abt $1 M)

2. Buy a "lean" loaded cat which is much more affordable (abt $400K) but is missing a lot of important things (radar, comm tools, limited nav tools, laundry machine, a nice bathroom, air cond/heater, has only main/genua, solar panels, no bowsprit). My thinking is to add all that stuff by myself or let it do by marina craftsmen.

As I don't have experience in adding all those items, I am not sure which way to go. I have some engineering talent to wok with tools but since I have no clue what to look out for if installing these items in a boat, I am just wondering if it turns at the end more expensive if I go for option 2.

What would you advise me to do ?

[Eleven]

Buy a decent ex-cruiser, not a charter boat, and use the bucks you save to enhance/update what the boat comes with.

[sigmasailor]

A third option would be to buy a used boat (either loaded or not); you can spare 50% when you buy a 5 year 'old' cat and have some room to upgrade as you like.

I don't think the difference between fully loaded and lean is 60% (could be, but than you are just buying 'toys' that will ultimately break down).

If I had the time and money I would like to do it myself and get to know the boat: it would be time consuming if you wanted to do it yourself.

[Zonker]

Ok - lets get specific

1) Catana 50, 2007 ready to sail around the world, 1A condition
2) Catana 471, 2001 - in a pretty "shabby" condition and needs a lot of work

both are 2nd hand, space is abt the same - I think pretty much comparable

Question is really - is it possible to spend like another 50-100K by do-it-yourself and get a proper equipped boat (though may be not so luxurious).

[sigmasailor]

Depends of what a lot of work is.

If the hull, engines, rigging, sails, general condition and other essentials are bad 100.000 will not be enough (can't believe that in a 10 year old boat). If you 'just' need some new upgraded navigation instruments and an oil change, polishing and some anti fouling you will be fine. If you can do all the work yourself you can safe a lot of money.

[category4jay]

Seems to me that if you were not going to install the missing "importand things" yourself you would not save a lot of money if any. Besides money that approach takes TIME. For what its worth I would establish honestly what your true budget was and then go buy the very best, safe, and capable boat you could with that budget. Make a top 5 list of boats that are within your budget and then you can see what "things" are really "important" to you. The real important thing is to get going.
Best of Luck!!

[SaucySailoress]

Do you like rebuilding boats? Or do you prefer sailing 'em?

[44'cruisingcat]

Tough problem... do I buy a million dollar boat, or a half million dollar boat...

Gee, don't envy you that decision.... much.

You should be able to find a boat nearly ready to go for half a million. Then you've got a nice cruising kitty.

[Palarran]

Don't underestimate the running costs of that million dollar boat either. You, no matter how mentally prepared you think you are right now, are going to FREAK out when the bills start to roll in. Trust me on this.

And, a Catana 50 is a nice boat, but no way would I pay more then $700k for one no matter what it has on it.

[S/V Illusion]

The choice probably is not as black and white as it sounds. There are always unanticipated or unforeseen problems with any boat and an older one more so. The real trick is to know the difference and FULLY understand the cost implications. An older boat may very well have less subtle issues than a new(er) one. In other words, neither age or equipment are good indicators of which to choose.

As you are asking here, I can only infer you don't have the expertise to know the difference in which case you would be foolish to rely on internet advice instead of someone with the expertise to look at candidates for you and on whom you can rely.

[cchesley]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Tough problem... do I buy a million dollar boat, or a half million dollar boat...

Gee, don't envy you that decision.... much.

You should be able to find a boat nearly ready to go for half a million. Then you've got a nice cruising kitty.

I would sorta have to confess that these kind of threads seem, (I said 'seem') a bit more like bragging. Frankly, my good friend Zonker, it sounds like you don't have much boating experience at all or you'd have a good idea what it takes to get boat projects done, either by yourself or a professional.

Now that's really not all that bad but dropping a mil or so on a boat without having an idea of which or what way to go, seems (I said, 'seems') somewhat ill advised. Get something a bit less of a financial commitment and try it out for a couple years. Buy a 33' used Seawind for instance, and play around with it. You'd be surprised how a few years experience will affect your choice of the 'next' boat.

Maybe I'm all wrong and that would be great. Cruising on a cat is an awesome way to live for those of us who can, but it's not quite as simple as your question implies.... just sayin'!

[Tellie]

Geesh a million dollar budget, must be nice. A million dollar ready to go boat or a 400K bare bones boat and 600K to outfit her? Really, this is hard to figure out?

[svcambria]

Zonker,

You should check out the on-going discussion about cat equipment at the multi-hull forum before deciding:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post670890

Michael

[Palarran]

After careful consideration, I've decided that I was wrong. I would pay $700,500 for a Catana 50 that had an awesome grill on it.

Michael, you shouldn't underestimate the power a good grill has over men

[imagine2frolic]

What you lack is knowledge, and there fore the question. Cruise the multihull section threads, and get some insight. I personally would buy for less, and add add ons, but then again I will do the work myself. When you do the work yourself you know how to fix it, and where the the wires run, and you save tons of money. BEST WISHES in figuring it out.........i2f