C&C, Pearson, Catalina, Hunter....

[prrthead]

I am a beginning sailor with an excellent teacher and high hopes. For now I''m sailing around coastal NC, but I''d like eventually to venture forth to the Bahamas and such. I need a good, forgiving, beginning boat, but one I can grow into since I don''t want to trade up in a year. My finances have forced me to look to older boats and I need guidance and advice on what will be good for me. So far I''ve looked at a ''77 C&C 26 (lot of deck moisture), a ''72 Pearson 30 (not well cared for), a ''78 Hunter 27, and an ''82 Catalina 27. Any advice you can give on these or other good boats would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[mikehoyt]

One thing is very important. There are many many boats for sale in that age and price category. A well cared for boat is not considerably more expensive than one that was not cared for. If you are open to so many models make sure you have one that is in A-One shape and have it surveyed.

Once you have several excellent condition boats to choose from then decide the model.

Mike

[troyaux]

I saw you read my thoughts and I''d like to say that I never seem to get a good handle on what boat is do-able and affordable... I read oday owners are happy but non owners call them weak... lots of rips on catalina but less on hunter... buy one in good condition- as if we''d plan to buy a lemon I''d just like to know what the lemons are What do you hear? I too plan to cruise the Bahamas and Caribbean..

I heard a lot of horror stories years ago about my first boat -A macgregor 25... while I understood it wasn''t ready to cross oceans it took a hell of a pounding on the great lakes and nothing ever fell apart other than the cheap interior......... I found that the complainers never even set foot aboard one.


My question is : What production boat is do-able and which brands are not? if you hear let me know
Best of luck in your search....troy