Please don't laugh of me!

[fdipaolo]

I've just registered to the forum and wandering through it I came across a lot of interesting people, experienced sailors, stunning boats and so on. Please don't laugh reading my thread.

I have very little experience in sailing, but I like it and now that I move to San Francisco Bay Area and am surrounded by water I would like to improve it.

I was thinking of something easy, transportable and cheap and last but not least super secure as I would like to bring with me my two little kids 2.5 and 6 years old.

Looking on craiglist, I found, within my budget, three boats:

1962 Catalina 22 $ 1500
1968 Cal 20 $ 850
Columbia 22 $750

I presume I could negotiate the prices a little bit.

Could you please, between a laugh and another , tell me which is the best one? If you think none of them is good and have something else to suggest, please do that.

Thanks a lot in advance to whomever will waste his/her time to reply.

Greetings,
Fabio

[pedcab]

I have no knowledge about the boats you're evaluating, but I'm having a hard time understanding why should anyone laugh at you.

YOUR BOAT, the boat you can afford, WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST BOAT!

No matter what they tell you...

I know of many people who own small daysailors and sheltered water cruisers that spend much more time sailing and enjoying themselves and their boats than milionaire owners of latest catalogue 40 footers that they use mostly as a pub for them and their friends and as a hideout to take their one night stands...

So, whichever your choice may be I wish you fair winds and much fun with it.

Pedro

[MARC2012]

All are good boats if they are in good shape.There are many threads on here on how to inspect a boat.Or find someone with boat knowledge to look at them.Welcome to the site.marc

[MarkCK]

If transportable is a major concern go with the catalina. Although all the boats you mentioned were built in the 60's. More than likely all of the best that you can hope for is that these boats will a little "tired." In a worst case scenario they will be completely wore out and will require a lot of money to get them in even a minimal ship shape.

You really wont know till you take a look at them. If you are knew to sailing look at as many boats as possible so you get a better feel for what to look for.

[CaptinRedBeard]

I have a cal 20 and love it.

Goods: Super big cockpit for it's size, flush deck (easier for the little ones to stand on, not that you would allow them forward underway). Built specifically to sail in SF bay. light and fast but the fractional rigging allows you to sail in a bit heavier wind. Lots of spare parts due to there popularity. Lots of Cal 20 fleets which means lots of owners who can offer advice and have been there done that. slightly cheaper slip!

Bad: Cockpit well slows the boat and can take on water in heavy weather... not cool at all : ( . I can only fit a maximum of 5 girls on the boat... I wish I had a 40 footer.

MARC 2012 offers great advice on the shape of the boat. The goal is to buy a boat that is ready to sail and in good condition because fixing up a cheap boat is more expensive than just paying the extra for one ready to sail and you will spend more time on the water.

If you can get on a race crew, your more experienced team mates will be priceless when it comes to finding the right boat for you and helping you become more experienced. 2 and 6 year olds can't help much when s&!t hits the fan

Whatever your choice i'm sure you'll love it

[JimsCAL]

At that price range, you will be lucky to find something that will not need a lot of work (and money) to make it safe and seaworthy. Replacing only the outboard with a new one would exceed the prices you quote. Figure in the cost of repairs and replacements. And don't forget the other costs of ownership - insurance, mooring/slip, etc.

[KindOfBlue]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

At that price range, you will be lucky to find something that will not need a lot of work (and money) to make it safe and seaworthy. Replacing only the outboard with a new one would exceed the prices you quote. Figure in the cost of repairs and replacements. And don't forget the other costs of ownership - insurance, mooring/slip, etc.

You sound like Debbie Downer.

[sailingdog]

I agree with JimsCAL... those boats at those prices are likely to be in very poor shape. Restoring a boat to good shape is generally more costly than buying the same make/model in good shape in the first place. I'd highly recommend you read the Boat Inspection Trip Tips thread I started, as that will help weed out the real lemons that you look at.

Given where you are sailing, you will want a fairly capable boat unless you plan to remain in the very protected waters. However, expect to be paying a good deal more than the boats you have mentioned are priced at to get something seaworthy and in fairly decent shape.

[sailingdog]

He's not being a downer... he's being REALISTIC. If you've looked at the boats in that size range and at that price range, most are in pretty sad shape and in need of serious refitting or repair. Please remember that one of the OP's requirements was to have the boat be "super secure" as he is planning on sailing with his two children on it.

Giving someone bad advice, especially when kids are involved is stupid.

Originally Posted by KindOfBlue

You sound like Debbie Downer.

[Sixpoint]

Well, I for one will never laugh at anyone's desire to go sailing. Especially since all I have at the moment is the desire; I have no boat yet.

Still...looking at the choices you have suggested, I think I would recommend waiting a bit and saving your money. Just a little bit more money to invest would open your choices up quite a bit.

Above all, I would say don't rush into anything. Listen to the people here; they have good advice to offer.

Best of luck to you in finding your perfect boat. Fair winds and smooth sailing.

SP