Looking at some 27 to 30 footers

[MIKE20244]

Look at a Precision 27 or 28. They are really the same boat. The only difference is the one foot swim extension on the 28 and some minor cosmetic differences. They have more room below than the Cat 27, 28 and have good good sailing characteristics. You find a lot of them in the midwest.

[Newport41]

Once again I find myself pushing the C&C's. what's not to like? There are a lot of choices when it comes to C&C. And there's a lot of them around the Lakes. If you find one with tthe right layout for you I don't think you'll be dissappointed. And as said above. The very late '80's and more so the early '90's boats had a few quality problems. Other than that there are always a few that haven't been cared for bu that's why you get the survey. If you're looking for quality and an easy and quick sail than look for a C&C.

[primerate84]

To all, thanks for your input. I have one more boat to run by you. I found a listing for a 1978 Newport 30 Phase II (I haven't looked at yet) which I understand to have pretty good headroom in the cabin. (I'm 6' 4") It is more expensive than the other boats I've looked at, but is supposedly in very good shape. Keep in mind that I am not interested in racing, just doing some recreational cruising in Lake Erie. Any feedback on this boat? Thanks in advance.

Mike

[mikehoyt]

One poster said "don't get a boat that is too small and then have to sell"

The other side of that argument is that if you are wanting a day sailor buy one. A C&C 25 is a great boat, is capable of weekending or more for two people and ties up a relatively small amount of money. A 35 on the other hand is a serious commitment. I have seen a lot of people upsize til they get a boat that is too big for them to handle and too much work. Remember that you can justify a lesser used small boat much more easily than a larger boat that ties up a lot of resources and time.

This is just a devil's advocate.

If you buy a 25 and its too small then it is not a lot of money and you can have two for a while ... have fun and know what you want the boat for - realistically before you buy. Don't buy a boat capable of crossing the Atlantic to sail in a Bay. The older boats are great and there are tons available - whatever you buy needn't tie you down for long.

Mike

[sailphoto]

A few years ago I was looking for a boat in the same range and looked at many of the same boats you are looking at. I found myself considering the catalinas mor that other boats because the interior layouts simply made them seem bigger and more comfortable. Another consideration to keep in mind is standing room(I'm 6'2"). I was planning on doing coastal cruising with the occasional week or two trip and I didn't want to be bent like a hook if we were fogged into an anchorage for a few days. I liked the headroom the pop-top on the Catalina 25 afforded, but was considering the extra room of the 27. The biggest realization for me was that the V-berth on the 25 was considerably bigger than on the 27 or 30. Make sure that you get into the berths on the boat and make sure you can get a comfortable nights rest. I wound up buying neither of these boats when I found an unusual English Dockrell 27 Cutter with standing headroom inside the cabin and built like a tank. Best of luck in your search.

[CBinRI]

Originally Posted by Newport41

Once again I find myself pushing the C&C's. what's not to like? There are a lot of choices when it comes to C&C. And there's a lot of them around the Lakes. If you find one with tthe right layout for you I don't think you'll be dissappointed. And as said above. The very late '80's and more so the early '90's boats had a few quality problems. Other than that there are always a few that haven't been cared for bu that's why you get the survey. If you're looking for quality and an easy and quick sail than look for a C&C.

Ditto. I have a '79 C&C 36. It's a great boat.

[Gene T]

I had a 78 newport 30 mkII for 6 years, I found it to be an excellent sailing boat. Here is a web page about it if you want more information:
http://sailors.hollosite.com/Boats/N...now___zen.html

I should add that one of the reasons I sold the boat was because I wanted more head room, and I am 5' 10". You might get 6' 4" under the hatch, but the rest of the cabin is about 6' with the head about 5' 10". Finding headroom on a small boat is not easy. A friend bought a 51 footer because he is 6' 4".