Conference unifix::sailing

171.0. "Boat Buying Issues" by USMRW1::BRYAN () Wed Sep 11 1985 11:55

In the wake of the Newport boat show I'm finding myself spending even
more time contemplating a future boat purchase.  Why?  I just bought a
used 5 year old CAL 25 which I keep in R.I..  My wife loves the boat
(partially because of the interior) but, while I like and enjoy the
boat, I have never loved it.  Why?  In my mind, most 25' cruisers are
large small boats or big small boats (boats of this LOA are hopelessly
caught in-between).  So why can't I love a boat that sails well, has
taken me sucessfully on several off-shore voyages and has performed
beyond my expectations?  Herein lies a problem that I wonder if other
sailors out there face. 

In the past, I've owned or sailed on boats that I loved.  So, what
forces the heart to love certain boats and not others?  Some people I
know would kill for a classic boat such as Cape Dory.  For me, I seem to
love those boats (as others love cars) that dominate a particular
performance niche. To me, the Laser is the epitomy of simple, yet
elegant, one-design sailing. And in catamaran sailing, I loved my NACRA
5.2 for the same reason a car-lover might love his/her Ferarri.  And in
small cruising boats, the J-24 is the ultimate racer in my opinion. 
After the J-24, the ideal coastal cruising sailboat is no longer a model
but a concept: 28-32' of medium displacement.  While I love the C&C for
the beauty of her hull design, I admire the Sabre for overall quality. 

O.k. so I admit two things: I love the aesthetics of sailing performance
and I have finite expenses.  Already the CAL is a financial burden - not 
so much because of the payments but the little things: winter storage, 
outfitting, repairs, moorings, etc. really break our back.

In my wildest aspirations, I'd love to own a 28-30'. - but for 40-60k, I
know better.  So what to do?  Wait a few years for the Megabucks? Or
maybe I should work backwards: buy a J-24 for half the cost and enjoy
"super daysailing" (I rarely race) with a little money left over. 
However, I wonder if the cost savings is really there since the hauling,
mooring, et. al. costs are still there and cruising range is severely
diminished. Can one really give up the comforts once you get accustomed
to having them?  Has anyone out there done this without regrets. 

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone out there who find himself/herself 
contemplating similar issues.

Thanks,

-RPR-

To paraphrase Mr. Rogers, " I never met a boat I didn't like." Of course I've
liked some more than others.... Hell, I like being on the water!!

As far as sizes go we decided to look at low end 20's and low end 30's. For
our purposes the mid and upper 20's were a wasteland. We had a Pearson 26
and it was a perfect boat for us at that point in our lives but it just doesn't
fit right now. ( I still love the 26!! BTW - there's one offered in anearler
note that seems like a pretty good deal) AS far as costs go I don't know
how much you're going to save by going down to a low end 20' from the Cal
(that's a Lapworth design, yes?). You might try storing it at home if the
transport costs are close to, or less than, winter yard costs. You'd save
on labor on things you did to the boat.

We ended up with a 25 year old SEA Sprite 23 that we'll use to daysail and
overnight. Cruising, we'll charter some nice big lovelies!!

Ed

Ed,

Re 1: Your note struck a chord that I was hoping to hear - moving down
to a smaller boat and chartering dream boats in dreamy locales.  I agree
with you that smaller boats don't offer much of a savings in terms of 
maintenance but do make a difference in monthly payments.  

Next question: any suggestions for 20'-24' daysailer/cruisers?

Thanks,

-RPR-

Bigger is not necessarily better, but if what you want IS bigger then let me
talk to the issue of 'how can I possibly afford the boat I really want'.

All the boat owners I know are financing their boats.  Let me assume then that
you are also in this position.  Small boat (we are speaking relative here) =
small cost (now we're really speaking relative) = short term for loan.  The 
monthly payment is something you handle in order to sail.  It's bad, but you're
doing it.

So after some years you need/want a bigger craft.  Twice as big = twice as
expensive = twice as long a term.  The monthly payment is the same (or roughly
so) as what you were handling before.  Of course all the expenses of a bigger
boat will be more, but now you can handle an increase here as long as the pay-
ments are about the same.

On another point, if the purchase of your 5 yr old boat didn't sour you on used
boat buying in general, the market today on used 28-30' sailboats is more like
35-45K than the 40-60K you mentioned.