Cat for My Budget ?

[caribcruiser]

What is the cheapest I can get a cat, livaboard size, for under 50,000. If it means putting some money into fixing it up, its fine. I would like it to be about 30 ft, could be more or less. Possible for one man t handle if need be. Links would be great, but I just want to know if they are out there.

[maxingout]

I have never seen a ready for offshore passage making catamaran for under 50K. That doesn't mean people spend less than 50k for a catamaran and still sail offshore. But I probably would not want to be on that yacht when the going gets tough offshore.

Maybe if you built it yourself out of plywood and made it extremely spartan, you might be able to do it.

The small Heavenly Twins catamaran has crossed oceans. It can be done, but it isn't optimal for offshore work.

For that amount of money I would get a monohull rather than a catamaran.

[Tom and Maje]

I just ran a search for catamarans under $100,000 on yachtworld and did not find any for sale. However, there are several listed, of all makes, just over $100,000. The problem is that only a broker can tell you the actual sales prices of the boats.

There have been buying boat discussions in other threads in this forum. The general consensus, it seems, is that one should offer 1/2 the list price and that boats generally sell 20% below the list price. It depends greatly on how much the seller wants to sell.

Take a look at what you need in a boat and what you want. Make sure that you have either cash or financing then make an offer.

Maje

[Doodles]

Wharrams are usually in your price range. People tend to love them or hate them. I like them, assuming they're well made and some are, some aren't.

1995 James Wharram Pahi 42 sailboat for sale in Outside United States

[Doodles]

Another in your price range and a production boat.

1973 Catalac 9 Meter catamaran sailboat for sale in Washington

[Mark Johnson]

If you found a well built Wharram, then you are getting into that price range. However, they are really Spartan, (I built and lived on mine in my 20s), and they lack a dinghy in davits, as well as twin engine close quarter maneuverability. These two features are the main advantages that cats have over tris. The best deals BY FAR in multihulls, is in an older but well built and maintained tri. You have to shop around and know what you're looking at. But they are out there.

At around 34', like ours, the well designed tris are still good cruisers, where as cats of this size either have flush decks, (like a wharram), too tall a superstructure for safety, or too low a wing clearence... (both for safety and peace of mind).

Of coarse like all things, there are exceptions. But in your price range you ARE talking about a 35'er or smaller.

Just a thought,

Mark

[caribcruiser]

Thank you everybody. I now realize that I will be paying more than I really want to be. The Wharram looks like a nice boat so I will definitely look in to that. I was not crazy about how the catalac looked. Happy new year to all.

[simonmd]

Probably your best bet is the already mentioned Catalac. There are two models that would suit you, the 8m and 9m. Both offer nice accomodation with virtualy full sized double master cabins and prices here in Europe fall between £20-30k, so under your $50k budget. They were made in the UK but quite a few have made it accross the pond.

Check out this website for more info and some classified listing,
An Affordable Cruising Catamaran

And how about this little gem from the above site? $31k, cant go wrong!
Catalac 8M For Sale

This one is way up in Washington but still only $37k and is the larger 9m (30ft), maybe worth a look,
http://www.catamaransite.com/night_heron.html

[kenny chaos]

I was just looking at some 30' Geminis in that price range and would like to know what others think about them.

[Mark Johnson]

It depends on wheather you want to really go places with it or not. It is a GREAT, comfortable, marina boat... as its narrow width fits them, and boatyards, better.

They give a lot of bang for the buck, but they are not blue water boats! They were designed down to a size and built down to a price. The visability is poor, and the wing clearence is WAY too low. (Ideally, you should be able to duck way down, and ride your inflatable through the tunnel)

I've seen them out cruising, and it has been done, but they are primarily Marina, ICW, and "coastal cruising only" kind of boats.

The Wharrams are spartain, but for the same price, you can get a big one! IF it is well built, and has, (or you build), a deck pod, it IS a blue water capable boat. The wing clearence, and visability forward are good! Just WET...

Mark

[Palarran]

I thought you where getting a 30' Hunter? Are you actually in St. Maarten right now?

If you want to see some inexpensive cats, go to Pinel Island. On your way out you'll see about 5 that are worth under $50,000. One will need to be refloated.

[boatman61]

If you want a serious sailing production Cat..... the Iroquois 9 metre is the way to go.... daggerboards will let you crawl up shallow creeks or cross oceans... sweet boats that still hold their own 30-40yrs on

[caribcruiser]

Originally Posted by Palarran

I thought you where getting a 30' Hunter? Are you actually in St. Maarten right now?

I was getting the 30 Hunter and then I went to go see it, and it turns out the pics taken were from 7 years ago and a lot changed. Didn't like the interior and it needed a lot of work. Thought id check out some cats before I go searching again. Will check that out though. Thanks to everyone.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Mark Johnson

The Wharrams are spartain, but for the same price, you can get a big one! IF it is well built, and has, (or you build), a deck pod, it IS a blue water capable boat. The wing clearence, and visability forward are good! Just WET...
Mark

Or you can skip the expensive deck pod and, as I did knock up a dodger like this... obviously on a larger scale....... this is my old Wharram Tiki 21

[Mark Johnson]

Boatman61,
Iroquois have always been one of my favorites among the older "small" production cats. They were better proportioned than many. AND had centerboards.

This one is beautiful below, the pine tongue and groove lumber with sheet cork on the ceiling, is very aesthetic. It's rustic like a cabin. Whom ever did the renovation should be commended!

Mark