Taking the plunge-getting another sailboat!

[efhughes3]

I think. When we moved to Texas in 2000, I sold my Hunter 376 that was only a couple of years old. I lived on the boat for a couple of years, so that offset the financial pain I experienced with the depreciation. I kept my membership in the San Diego Yacht Club, and am now looking at getting another boat again after being back 8 months.

I'm pretty much set on a Capri 30, which was a racer built by Catalina in the 80's. They really got the lines right on this one, IMO. In essence, it's a day sailer with some creature comforts-we could spend the night on it, and probably will from time to time. The owner has kept it up pretty nicely, other than he only does the varnish every 2 years, and it is past due. But, it's got VHF, stereo, head and a sink below. He redid the upholstery and the teak/holly sole last year.

Up top, wind and speed instruments,10HP 4 stroke with electric start that's 2 years old. It's got an Autohelm pilot and he rebuilt the hydraulic backstay last year.

The one main, a chute, and 3 headsails (100, 135 & 150) are the sail inventory. All in all, a sound boat that is ready to go. I'm going to probably pull the trigger on giving him a deposit and taking a sea trial to make sure I like it. A great light air boat that will do well on San Diego Bay. It's got a cool name I can live with (bad luck to change) and the price is right too! Some pics:

[VincentVega]

Neat boat. I'm shopping too, lots of deals out there.

[fingpilot]

I just sold my Hunter 433. Will probably miss it too much next spring.

[Jim Richards]

Nice boat, Ed. I always liked the lines of the Capris. I know you'll enjoy it.

[JeremyD]

Nice Ed - I like the 30 - great lines - great light air boat that won't get you into too much trouble and with an outboard even better! More of a day sailor though as long as you know that going in. I just got my new to me boat hauled yesterday for a survey and bottomjob

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

Nice Ed - I like the 30 - great lines - great light air boat that won't get you into too much trouble and with an outboard even better! More of a day sailor though as long as you know that going in. I just got my new to me boat hauled yesterday for a survey and bottomjob

That's exactly what it is and very simple with minimal "systems". If the motor blows, just toss it overboard!

I've gone the exact opposite from before; I wanted new, fairly big and all the latest toys. Now, I'm living on the cheap-trying to get to retirement sooner rather than later. Just like driving a "beater" 911 rather than a 997!

What did you get?? Definitely not much of a sailer, based on the bottom.

[MRM]

That's a great boat. One comment on the price. It will be impossible to lowball the price far enough. Boat prices have dropped off a cliff in the last year or two and are going to drop more. Sales prices, that is, asking prices don't necessarily reflect the market.

My wife is a business manager for a large company that makes widgets that are used in the boat industry. She's pretty in touch with the whole market. 18 months ago the manufacturers were telling her that the under 30 foot market had dried up - as in no sales at all and manufacturers shutting down. The big boats were still selling. Since October they've been telling her that the entire market is gone - it just vanished. There is virtually no sales activity because no one is buying anything, new or used.

So, with that said, negotiate hard, lower your price and lower it again, buy that baby and sail off into the sunset. I will be insanely envious.

[JeremyD]

I just sold my San Juan 24 sailboat and bought this - Bertram 28. Less than 1/2 of what it would have been a few years ago...

[Jim Richards]

Ed, do you sail out of San Diego harbor, or is there some place closer to where you live? Ever since I was stationed at 32nd St NS back in the early 70's, my dream was to live in SD and have a sailboat. I've had a few sailboats, but the combo is on my wish list.

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Ed, do you sail out of San Diego harbor, or is there some place closer to where you live? Ever since I was stationed at 32nd St NS back in the early 70's, my dream was to live in SD and have a sailboat. I've had a few sailboats, but the combo is on my wish list.

I've always had by boats on San Diego bay. The SDYC is on Shelter Island which makes it ideal for a bay sail, or a pop out to the ocean. I'm only 40 minutes away.

[MOMO3.2]

Ed:

I have never heard of a Capri 30 before reading your post. I love Catalina Sailboats. That Capri looks like a very nice boat indeed. The lines are sleek and I like the minimalist design. As long as she has a head and sink, you should be set.

I am curious as to how many people (family) could sleep on a Capri 30? Would it be reasonable to bring 4 or 5 for a couple nights at Catalina Island (assuming everyone is comfortable not having his or her own quarters)?

Gosh Ed, I wish you the best of luck with this endeavor. I sure appreciate your desire to own a sailboat again now that you are in SD.

Owning Ruby and a Capri 30 is far, far, from living modestly. To me, you are livin the dream!

Enjoy Ed!

Mike

[Hard-Deck]

Ed, I've never owned a Catalina, but I've been aboard plenty of them. What I like is the availablity of parts, a following of fellow owners and the company is still in business. I've never seen a Capri 30 though and I'm struck by its' wide beam, very nice.

Enjoy sailing brother.

[David McLaughlin]

I miss my sailboat many times. I don't miss the money going into that black hole though. My wife gets PO'd because every time I see a sailboat on TV or in a movie, I say (now she says it for me) "I used to have a boat once" in which she replies but now you have a Porsche.

I figure the best thing would be to have friends with a boat that I could help out (maintenance and such) on whenever I could.

[Kraftwerk]

That CAPRI 30 looks like it is in very good condition.
Having a sail boat is good for the soul IMO

If you are in San Diego, a boat would seem like an obvious choice, amongst all the other objects one could own in the world.
Here is my 29.6 ' Dragon

[afterburn 549]

You are not alone

[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.

[911Rob]

Congrats Ed! She looks sweet.
I say go for it.

Cut hay when the sun is shining; so if business is slow...... go sailing!
I love to see people enjoying life, why not?

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by 911Rob

Congrats Ed! She looks sweet.
I say go for it.

Cut hay when the sun is shining; so if business is slow...... go sailing!
I love to see people enjoying life, why not?

I agree with your advice. If I was forced into "retirement", I'd have something to do besides work on the car!

[Normy]

Ed that thing looks "Buck". Have you had a survey done? Despite the condition, I would. Money well spent~

17 years ago, I bought a sailboat that was fairly similar to a Laser 19, though it wasn't a laser. It was wide, and it had a transom and a 5 hp British Seagull on the back. I sailed it up and down the intercoastal waterway in Vero Beach, Florida. It was a great time, and I wish I had it today.

Good luck!

N!

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by Normy

Ed that thing looks "Buck". Have you had a survey done? Despite the condition, I would. Money well spent~

17 years ago, I bought a sailboat that was fairly similar to a Laser 19, though it wasn't a laser. It was wide, and it had a transom and a 5 hp British Seagull on the back. I sailed it up and down the intercoastal waterway in Vero Beach, Florida. It was a great time, and I wish I had it today.

Good luck!

N!

If she passed a sea trial, I'll do the survey.