Cruisers 27-30' range

Stryker72 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-26-2007

So I have been spending my days perusing Yacht World and trying to get a feel for the market. I have come to the realization that my first boat will have to be in the 27-30' range. Now I am looking for recommendations and opinions on the different boats.

I will be sailing Lake Michigan. I am a newbie sailor but looking to do mostly weekend trips. I would like a boat that can handle the weather that the inland seas may throw at her. Looking around I really like the layout of the Pearson 27 but I have seen a couple of C&C's that I would pull the trigger on this year if I wanted. What is your recommendation on these boats? what other boats should I be looking at? my budget is less than $20k.

kbyte · #2 (**permalink**) 08-26-2007

I looked at a number of Pearsons and C&Cs, very nice boats, but I ended up buying a Cal 2-27.

Very fast, and it's reassuring to note that a number of them participate regularly in the TransPac (LA to Honolulu) race.

Not sure about availability in your area, though.

sharkbait · #3 (**permalink**) 08-26-2007

I saw a Triton in Sandusky,Ohio going for 9000 on yachtworld.It's been there allllooooonnnnng time.Offer him 4000 and use the rest of your budget to fix it up

rperret · #4 (**permalink**) 08-26-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stryker72

So I have been spending my days perusing Yacht World and trying to get a feel for the market. I have come to the realization that my first boat will have to be in the 27-30' range. Now I am looking for recommendations and opinions on the different boats.

I will be sailing Lake Michigan. I am a newbie sailor but looking to do mostly weekend trips. I would like a boat that can handle the weather that the inland seas may throw at her. Looking around I really like the layout of the Pearson 27 but I have seen a couple of C&C's that I would pull the trigger on this year if I wanted. What is your recommendation on these boats? what other boats should I be looking at? my budget is less than $20k.

If you're up in Michigan, you should look at the S2 cruisers. I recently purchased an S2 27 "performance cruiser". They also have an S2 8.0 (26 footer), S2 9.2, etc. C&C's are fine boats - especially the C&C 27 Mark III and IV. Ericson's are nice too. J30 is a nice racer/cruiser and is a very good heavy air boat (might be much for a new sailor though). Tanzer's are nice boats, well built and good for first time sailors. The Tanzer 26 would be well within your budget.

Re budget - as a newbie - don't focus so much on the upfront cost. It is the costs to commission the boat, and the annual recurring costs that represent real cost of ownership.

Have fun - now is a good time to look...

BarryL · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2007

Hello,

You should try and define a little more clearly what you plan on doing with the boat. Do you plan on racing (ever?), just cruising? Will you be on for extended periods or just a night or two? How many will be on the boat? If the weather is bad are you going to stay home (or in port) or will you be out there anyway?

If you are an 'average' sort of person and just want to do some sailing, spend some comfortable time on the boat, that sort of thing, there are lots and lots of boat manufacturers that will meet your needs. Some of the name brands you should research include:
Tartan, Sabre, C&C, Catalina, Pearson, O'day, Newport, Hunter, S2, Cal, Beneteau, Ericson, Islander, etc.

Tartan and Sabre will be more expensive than most. Islander, Hunter, Catalina, O'day, Newport will be less expensive, the rest will be somewhere in the middle.

With a budget of less than 20, you should look try to stay closer to 27' than to 30'. It's sort of strange, but a 27' is much less expensive than a 30. For example, you can buy a very nice Catalina 27 for less than 20K. This will have an inboard diesel engine, wheel steering, decent sails, pressure water, etc. To get a decent Catalina 30 would probably cost another 5K.

It is also significantly smaller. My first 'big boat' was a Newport 28. It would fit your requirements very well.
I paid 15K for it with decent sails, diesel inboard, pressure hot and cold water, complete galley (icebox, no refrigeration), lines led aft, self tailing winches, teak and holly cabin sole, nice teak interior, etc.

Good luck,
Barry

sailingdog · #6 (**permalink**) 08-27-2007

Just remember that your on-going maintenance and dock/mooring/storage costs generally go up with boat length. Also, a 30' boat isn't 11% bigger than the 27' boat but more like 37% bigger, since it gets wider, longer and higher than the 27' boat.

If you budget is really that tight, stick with the smaller size.

Stryker72 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-27-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryL

You should try and define a little more clearly what you plan on doing with the boat. Do you plan on racing (ever?), just cruising? Will you be on for extended periods or just a night or two? How many will be on the boat? If the weather is bad are you going to stay home (or in port) or will you be out there anyway?

I plan on using the boat as a 2nd home. I would spend the weekend friday-sunday on it, mostly out and about the lake. It would be a cruising boat, I would not be racing it. (The sailing center has a bunch of racing boats that I could use: J/24, soling, 470) There will be 3 on the boat (myself, my wife, and my son), occasionally another couple. We are not a tall family so that may help with room available. I would like to be able to handle some weather with having to run to a port everytime the wind picks up.

I have been looking at the 27' boats mostly and really like the pearson 27. But I am curious as to what else may be a good boat. I have not been looking at the Hunters or Catalinas. While there are a ton available I get the impression that they are better at the dock than away.

sanctuarysam · #8 (**permalink**) 08-27-2007

give some thought to a Sabre 28. they are extremely well built, fairly quick and if you need practical info, Sabreman had one for 15 years i think. (he now owns a 38' sabre if memory serves correctly)
i have a 30'mkIII and my sister has a 34' and i enjoy sailing on either....(sis's boat has k/cb so they can go places i can't w/ a 5'3" draft)
as mentioned above tartans, c&c and pearsons also make great boats.

RAGTIMEDON · #9 (**permalink**) 08-27-2007

Of the half dozen boats I have owned, the dozen or so I have chartered (up to 40 feet), and the friends boats I have sailed on, my favorite was a 28 O'day. Great little cruiser, fairly fast, easy to handle. Used her for weekend cruising. She had spent 15 years on Lake Michigan before I brought her to the Mississippi river. Bought her for 15K, sold her 7 years later for 14. I'd have her still but for the chiropractor bills to straighten out my wife's neck. She's 6 feet tall, the boat was 5'10. Didn't get to me -- since I am 6'6 I just sat down!

NCountry · #10 (**permalink**) 08-27-2007

We REALLY love our Islander 30. She's great maintenance wise. She's fast as the cals (and a lot more comfortable). I looked at a ton of boats including the Hunters and Catalinas and really thought I wanted one until I looked at my Islander. She's one tough little boat and remarkably well built. We've just added a "New" crew member so with wife and 4 kids I'll soon be giving her up out of necessity but I'm not gonna do it without a fight. The teenagers may just have to sleep on deck this winter.