Taking the plunge-getting another sailboat!

[JeremyD]

I hear you Ed - things are slow with our business too - Figured I could go 9 miles off - and open up a casino or something -

[Sunroof]

Nice boat Ed.
I sail a Catalina 30 (1988 Mark II) and although the Capri and the Catalina 30 only share deck hardware, fittings and electronics, the Capri is strictly race and designed for speed. We have several Capri 25's here that are beamy and slick sailors. They give the "J" boats stiff competition during racing events. Nice vessel, but your going to miss that Hunter 37 if your thinking of cruising and over-nighting.

Catalina builds excellent boats and I always felt a notch or two above Hunter (no offense of course). The Capri line has a big following in the racing community, parts are readily available, great factory support and proud pedigree. She looks like a beautiful ship. Congrads.

Fair winds

Bob
"Breezin II"
Lake Lanier, GA

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by Sunroof

Nice vessel, but your going to miss that Hunter 37 if your thinking of cruising and over-nighting.

No delusions of grandeur.....it's a day sailer with a couple of amenities. If we spend the night on it, it will be at the comfortable San Diego Yacht Club, which has a LOT of amenities to make up for the simplicity here.

[notfarnow]

Nice! I almost bought a thunderbird a few years ago, but found some bad rot along the seams. There are two moored beside each other down the road... one is beautifyul and one is a complete dog. They're one of those designs that can look DRASTICALLY different with different colors and details. The brightwork on yours really draws the eye "up", looks way better than ones where the cabin & splash guards are painted to match the topsides.

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

You are not alone

[sand_man]

Originally Posted by efhughes3

Yep, the old hole in the water syndrome. One of the reasons this boat is so attractive is that it is pretty darn cheap, and there isn't a lot of upkeep needed. It really is a simple boat. I just get pangs of guilt even thinking about this with things so screwed up. Things are really, really slow in my business world right now.

I wouldn't worry about that, I think there's a provision for every family in America to own a sailboat, in the new "stimulus" plan...just save your receipts and you'll be reimbursed

BTW, I love the lines on that Capri!!!



Please don't banish me to PARF Island...

[JeremyD]

Here's a good site I just discovered that helps you keep track of ship traffic - I thought it was cool enough to share

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/

[afterburn 549]

The Thunder bird has the Cruising House on it, makes it a little more fun for a few.
When I bought it was in Lake Washington (Seattle) water to the top of the bunks !! And full of Mushrooms !
Took it home gutted it, Keel off, decks and house thrown away
Started a new.
I bought the blue prints from the T. Bird club so it is still in racing form and legit even with the cruising house
Makes a race boat real comfortable with heater stove,and all

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Sunroof

Nice boat Ed.
I sail a Catalina 30 (1988 Mark II) and although the Capri and the Catalina 30 only share deck hardware, fittings and electronics, the Capri is strictly race and designed for speed. We have several Capri 25's here that are beamy and slick sailors. They give the "J" boats stiff competition during racing events. Nice vessel, but your going to miss that Hunter 37 if your thinking of cruising and over-nighting.

Catalina builds excellent boats and I always felt a notch or two above Hunter (no offense of course). The Capri line has a big following in the racing community, parts are readily available, great factory support and proud pedigree. She looks like a beautiful ship. Congrads.

Fair winds

Bob
"Breezin II"
Lake Lanier, GA

Hey Bob, I think that there's a Capri 22 still sitting on the bottom of Lanier. A few years back, my friend broached during a race and it swamped and sank.

[Sunroof]

Sign of the times for many sailors.......................

In the restroom at our marina is a list that was posted last week for several boats that are up for auction. All brands, all sizes. Apparently the owners gave them up maybe because of high dock payments no longer affordable or priority from being down on their luck and out of work. In my 45+ years of sailing I have never experienced anything like this.

If you look at Craigslist - Atlanta - Boat - "sailboats", some very decent 25-30 foot sailboats are going for next to nothing! Incredible buys.

My wife and I said that if all hell broke loose with the economy and our jobs, we would leave it all behind, take the Catalina and haul it to Savannah and cruise the ICW for a year!!!! In a crazy way, I actually welcome that..........

before I ever give up my boat, they will have to pry my dead cold hands from the wheel!!!!!!!!!!

Bob

[JeremyD]

Funny Bob - my wife and I talked about that same exact exit strategy. It's the same way around here

[Jim Richards]

Bob, how dry is Lanier nowadays?

[Sunroof]

Lanier has come up to 1057 feet amsl (full pool is 1071 ft). Danger for me, where I cannot get safely out into the lake from the marina is 1054 ft. or so. We have one major marina with a do-it-youself-yard where you could pull out for transport that can accomodate a boat like mine with a draft of 3'10" (winged keel), but requires a depth at 1057 ft. CLOSE!!!!!!!!!

We have had some good rains in north Georgia but the drainage basin for the lake is small. It has to rain north of Lanier for any benefit to the lake. Last year was horrible!!! It appears though we are doing better and good spring rains could take us to 1060 ft. or higher. The severe drought area is moving north-northeast away from Lanier.

Worst scenario, if folks in dire straits had to escape to their boats in this economic climate the ICW could be a real nightmare; marina's gouging on prices, cities and counties charging higher fees for mooring and the waterway jammed.....crazy to think what could be.

[futuresoptions]

Nice Boats Guys! Congrats!

While I have navigated the world's oceans in large vessels and was a master helmsman, I am planning on taking a sailing course locally... What sailboat recommendations would you give me for the following:

I am not interested in speed, prefer something built strong almost tank like.

Thinking 25-30ft good for over nighting...

1 man operation on sails....

swing keel / trailer-able....

[futuresoptions]

PS- Any of you guys frequent Sailnet.com?

[afterburn 549]

I would truly think the swing keel though...in design a great idea...they seem to accumulate problems when you need them the most jmo

[Sunroof]

Bill, I will assume your sailing is inland or coastwise? I owned two Catalina 25's over the years and they are easy to singlehand, were shoal draft, had the amenities you are seeking for overnighting, which would include a "pop-top" that provide an extra 6-10 inches of headroom, head, galley, quarter berth (for storage) and even a shore power package. These vessels are outboard powered (go for 10-15 hp) if your coastal cruising. A swing keel model was available.

The Catalina 25 is a very popular boat with probably over 3,000 hulls built since the late 70's. The 1980's models are to me the best because they are rich in teak inside and out, are excellent sailors and very trailerable. You'll find the 25 a very stable vessel; however, the limits of where you want to go is up to: 1) ballz and 2)seamanship skill!

Unless you have a "mast lift" system on a larger vessel (over 25) the 25 footer is all you need for a trailerable vessel thats not too hard to rig. The newer boats are pricey and many use the water ballast system. So many great manufacturers are gone but research these brands (Cal, Ericson, Pearson, O'Day and Hunter), as they are still around, were workhorses, are excellent values and great sailors. Your not going to find many swing keeled models over 25 but shoal draft boats (3-4') are not that tough to launch. Figure a very decent mid-80's Catalina 25 with trailer under 10K. Great buys on the market now.

Check out the Catalinaowners.com website for everything on the Catalina line.

Good luck
Bob

[Jim Richards]

I agree with Bob. 25' is pretty much your trailerable limit. Other brands to look at in addition to Catalina are Cal, O'Day, S2, Precision, Beneteau.

[efhughes3]

Interesting tidbit on the economy, the SDYC is still quoting about a 2 year wait for slips in the 30' range. Larger slips are out to 5 years. That could change overnight, literally, but all is well there. Most public marinas have slips in the $10-12/foot range-although I suppose that is negotiable.

[Hard-Deck]

I have an O'Day 26, with shoal keel and we trailer it. We've sailed L. Michigan and all over Puget Sound. We love it. Lake Fly-Er in this photo.

[Jim Richards]

nice looking boat.