30K BlueWater Boat on West Coast?

[StupidQuestionFactory]

Hello All!

The Logical Side of me knows that SeaWorthiness and Price go hand in hand and that $30K does not buy an extremely capable boat.

But the Dreamer Side of me is in need of some indulgence...

Assuming an experienced skipper, would any of you consider any West Coast boat at yachtworld.com in the 30K and under price range to be BlueWater Capable?

By "BlueWater" I mean a boat that could reasonably be expected to safely sail from California down to the Galapagos, on to the Marquesas and then either to Australia or up to Hawaii and back to California.

Just to make the dreaming a bit more fun, let's say that I could spend a year, $10K and tons of sweat equity on the boat before heading for any distant horizon.

If this link works, it should search yachtworld.com for Possible Boats.

I know that flogging would be in order for even entertaining these ideas, but if you could somehow bring me back to reality as gently as possible... Then I'll see if I can find a higher bidder for my soul and move my price range to where it might deserve respect.

Cheers!

[Moonfish]

Indulge, my friend! Yes, you can buy a seaworthy boat for less than $30K. You just might have to search high and low for awhile, but they are out there. Even more than Internet sites like Yachtworld and local/regional magazines/classifieds, networking is the best way to discover those "too good to be true" deals - you know, someone needing to dump their boat immediately due to financial difficulties, health problems, divorce, owning two boats, etc. Walk the docks at marinas, check the bulletin boards at marinas and chandleries, talk to as many people as possible. While I don't condone taking advantage of anyone, if someone says "I just need to get rid of it now" and prices it accordingly... well, someone is going to buy it.

Back to seaworthiness and price. My friend Capt. Woody bought a Cal 34 for $3,500, spent less than $10K refurbing it, and proceeded to circumnavigate the globe in it. Now even he admits it was not the ideal boat for the task, but it was all he had, and with a cautious weather eye had no major problems (other than a cracked hull to keel joint which he repaired in Australia). Webb Chiles circumnavigated in an open 18 foot boat, and an Ericson. Some guy went around the world in a beefed-up Catalina 27. People sail across oceans in 20 foot Flickas. The list goes on and on.

Although I would want a heavier, modified full keel cutter for serious blue water cruising, my point is you can do a lot with a little. Money that is. If you do go that route, you will need a lot of common sense, ingenuity, and patience. But it can be done.

Dream on!

[StupidQuestionFactory]

MoonFish,

Thank you for your words of encouragement!

Do you actually know Capt. Woody? I don't know him, but I certainly know of him - of course, anyone who reads Lat's & Att's would know of Capt. Woody. His circumnavigation in Low Key was inspirational.

I'll work on the networking angle. I've never really tried that route since I live at least one hour from water (depending on traffic), but I can only imagine that you're right: It's the best way to discover great opportunities.

With the right mindset, the search for a boat is almost as much fun as sailing. Almost. But from time to time you start to wonder if what you're looking for even exists...

Then MoonFish comes along and gives you a the pep-talk that was needed

Thank you, Sir!

[USCGRET1990]

I have seen many boats of which you are looking for up in Washington and Oregon, extremely resonable. Check that neck of the woods.

[sailingdog]

Many of the boats in John Vigor's 20 Small Sailboats To Take You Anywhere are in that price range and bluewater capable.

[Boasun]

That 41' Island Trader looks like a good deal... but you would need a surveyor's report on it to help make the decision. you don't want to buy a pig in a poke. It looks like it needs TLC. But would be a good blue water boat after you have brought it up to specs.
This all depends on how much work/money you want to invest afterwards.
So get a surveyor's report on it... He will find faults, this is normal, But then it depends on how many and how bad they are before you make the yea or nay decision.

[poopdeckpappy]

YachtWorld.com Boats and Yachts for Sale

[sharkbait]

this guy fitted out and sailed vancouver to tahiti





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