islander 30 vs Sabre 30

[grnich24]

I''m ready to move up from a 24ft Allied Greenwich to a 30''boat. I found an 82 Islander with a diesel,wheel and furler system in good shape for 15K. I also found a 79 Sabre 30 that has a core problem in the cabin deck area(high moisture reading)for around the same price. I know the Sabre is suppose to be a well made boat but i''ve been told that some ofthe older ones did have some soft deck problems. I''m not overly familiar with the Islander line but it seems to be well made and is in nice condition. Does anyone have experience with Islanders and their sailing charastics. How about doing deck core repairs. Is it beyond the ability of a person with average building and repair skills, Thanks for any responses.

[halyardz]

I''d go for a Tartan 30, these are well constructed solid sailing boats.Maybe even look at some of the early Beneteau First series boats. You really don''t want to mess with deck core stuff if you can help it. Also, find a VERY good surveyor, even if it costs a few bucks more. No experience with an Islander.

[paulk]

Tartan 30''s may be quite a bit older, since they''ve been made for quite a while. It comes down to what you like and what you''re willing to pay for. Do you like the Rolls-Royce with the dented door better than the C mint condition Oldsmobile? Then work the cost of fixing the door into your offer, and be happy. Do you like the Olds, and don''t want to be fixing up something (like a door) right off the bat? Then go that way. Once a problem like a spongy deck has been fixed properly, it should stay fixed unless you do something like drilling new holes to move a genoa track) to make it happen again. In either case, get the best surveyor you can find (for either or both boats) and try to be there for the survey so as to learn as much as possible. (A surveyor can tell you things in person that he simply doesn''t have the time to write up in his report.) The Islander may be in such good condition that it blows the Sabre away -- or vice versa. Good luck!