Fast Cruiser <$80k

[PalmettoSailor]

Looking for comments on the construction and sailing qualities of the Caliber 33, Tartan 37 and Sabre 36. Also interested in thoughts on boat age. For example, many Tartan 37's are pushing 30 y.o. which raises some concerns given my experience with components breaking on my 88 model. The Sabre and Caliber are somewhat newer designs but still will be mid 80's to early 90's. I know maintenence is a fact of life, but I'd like to maintain the highest possible sail/work ratio.

For the foreseeable future our sailing will be weekend cruising (2-3 nights aboard) on most weekends with some longer trips of a week or so. We want a boat that we'd feel comfortable could handle coastal crusing anywhere on the eastern seaboard to the Carribean (or further), even though I don't see a trip like that in the short term. Also, while I don't see racing (on our boat) in the future, we do crew on a Tartan 40, so we've come to appreciate a boat with some performance.

Performance wise, it looks like these 3 would stack up Caliber 33, Tartan 37 and Sabre 36 slowest to fastest. The Caliber's base PHRF rating is similar to our current boat which would be OK with me, though we'd prefer a tad faster. Our real bias is towards a sturdily built, comfortable, fast cruising boat equipped as such which for us means A/C, refrigeration, dodger/bimini, lazyjacks/dutchman, etc.

I know there are many other boats in this price range, but I'm trying to focus on boats (other than the big 3) that are commonly available in my area -- That said no Caliber 33's are advertised for sale on the bay right now.

[sailingfool]

You might look into the CS 36T, we been very happy with ours. The PO of our boat cruised it to Latin America for 5 years with several offshore transists. The boat rates 123, and has a displacement of about 17,000 which provides excellent laod carrying capacity. The whole boat is very solidly constructed as it was the first design of Ray Wall after he left Camper & Nicholson, and reflects the construction you would expect to see on a boat used in rough weather the North sea. Check the reviews at http://closereach.com/csoa/cs36.htm
Most of these boats stayed in Canada, but there's always a few for sale in the East. Check Yachtworld.com and http://closereach.com/csoa/buy_sell.htm

Here's a link to mine: http://usedboats.com/sailboats/1986/...043/655232.htm

[T37Chef]

You obviously know a good boat

Although these are not recent, heres a couple reviews if you haven't already read them...

http://old.cruisingworld.com/ssbk/tart37.htm
http://www.boats.com/news-reviews/ar....html?lid=1027

You can find some T37's in great condition, and others not, and will be priced accordingly. Because a lot of the 37's are pushing 30 years they have likely been upgraded and maintained with recent refits. There are 29 T37's for sale on Yacht World right now, from $103,000 to $42,000. For $80,000 you should be able to find a very well maintained, well equipped Tartan 37.

The 37 does have a cored hull, so you would want to pay attention to that, but I have not ever heard of serious problems due to the cored hull, the cored deck is another thing. (mine is dry except for one spot by the hawse plate).

Some infamous T37's:

http://www.caltomaine.com/boat.htm
http://www.ourdotcom.com/AboutRouser/index.htm
http://nicknack.us/
http://windchimetimes.us/

Other T37 related links:

http://www.tartan37.com/t37forum/
http://www.tartan37.com/
http://www.mauriprosailing.com/Newsl.../Tartan-37.htm
https://mauriprosailing.com/sailboat.../Tartan-37.htm
http://www.tartanowners.org/
http://www.cbtsc.com/cbtsc2000.htm
https://www.tartanparts.com/product/...a-33fcf6d105d2

We love ours and would find it hard to look at anything else comparable in size, price, age, and quality, but the Sabre would be one

PM me if you like...

[PalmettoSailor]

Originally Posted by sailingfool

You might look into the CS 36T, we been very happy with ours. The PO of our boat cruised it to Latin America for 5 years with several offshore transists. The boat rates 123, and has a displacement of about 17,000 which provides excellent laod carrying capacity. The whole boat is very solidly constructed as it was the first design of Ray Wall after he left Camper & Nicholson, and reflects the construction you would expect to see on a boat used in rough weather the North sea. Check the reviews at http://closereach.com/csoa/cs36.htm
Most of these boats stayed in Canada, but there's always a few for sale in the East. Check Yachtworld.com and http://closereach.com/csoa/buy_sell.htm

Here's a link to mine: http://usedboats.com/sailboats/1986/...043/655232.htm

The CS is definitely the kind of build quality we're looking for, but a draft of over 6' would be a concern. Our current boat draws a little over 4 feet and even at that, it's not hard to find the bottom. I should have included shoal draft as a major consideration.

[T37Chef]

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...g_id=51730&url=

I would check this one out, in Annapolis, looks like its at Jabins Yacht Yard

[sanctuarysam]

Originally Posted by T37Chef

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...g_id=51730&url=

I would check this one out, in Annapolis, looks like its at Jabins Yacht Yard

nice looking T-37..you can find just about anything at Jabins..although, a broker i was working with couldn't find a boat that was listed as being there..(then again he was a zipperhead anyway)...this boat is priced midway between the really rough 55k boats and the near perfect 80k Tartans (which was on my very short list when i bought my boat last year)

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by midlifesailor

The CS is definitely the kind of build quality we're looking for, but a draft of over 6' would be a concern. Our current boat draws a little over 4 feet and even at that, it's not hard to find the bottom. I should have included shoal draft as a major consideration.

FWIW perhaps 1/3 of the CS 36Ts were produced with a shoal draft.

[welshwind]

Our dock neighbor has an '85 (?) Sabre 36. Beautiful boat and sails very, very well. I've always been partial to Sabres.

[PalmettoSailor]

Originally Posted by welshwind

Our dock neighbor has an '85 (?) Sabre 36. Beautiful boat and sails very, very well. I've always been partial to Sabres.

Me too, and there are a couple on the market locally that meet my upper price limit, problem is, these appear to be priced considerably below others on the market. It seems the boats on the bay seem to have lower asking prices than those further north. It might be regional differences, or it might be an indication these boats have "issues". As I get the chance, I plan to take a look at some of these boats to start forming more informed opinions on asking price vs. boat condition.

Sailingfool -- A CS36 with shoal draft is certainly a boat I'll be adding to the list to look for.

[PalmettoSailor]

Anybody know about the Cal 39?