thoughts on used 31-35 foot options?

[gregwet]

I am looking to purchase a used 31 to 35 foot sloop, having recently sold the Catalina 25 I had for many years and much enjoyed. I am looking to spend less that $40k, and hoping to find a relatively recent ('98 to 2002) used boat. The Hunters and Catalina's seem most attractive and available, but I am open to other options that might be available in that price range. The Hunters seems to have especially attractive interiors but I am unsure about how they sail. I'd welcome insights on the seaworthiness, performance, comfortability of the various Hunters v Catalinas verses Pearsons or whatever else may be out there.

[sailingdog]

It would help if you said what kind of sailing you intend to do with this boat.

[gregwet]

Thanks for asking. Mostly I am looking to use the boat for cruising on the Chesapeake Bay. I am hoping for a boat that can comfortably sleep 2 couples, and sail well enough to not make my wife too nervous in adverse weather.

[sailingdog]

Two couples is going to be pretty difficult on most boats in that range, as many will not have two separate cabins.

[Loaf1967]

Gregwet,
there is a Catalina 30 for sale in the Baltimore area.

1979 catalina 30 sailboat for sale in Maryland

I bought my Catalina 30 in October after searching for over 5 months it came down to this boat and the tall rig I actually bought. I still wonder if I passed up a great deal.

Loaf

[JimsCAL]

Your budget and size/age requirements aren't realistic. if you want a boat in the 33-35 foot range to make cruising with 2 couples comfortable, you are going to have to look at older boats or increase your budget.

[PBzeer]

As with any boat, you have to realistically define how you'll use it. You say cruising the Chessie with two couples. That's a start.

Now, anchoring or marinas for overnight? Overnight, weekends, or longer? What level of comfort at rest do you require, or need? See where I'm going with this?

[MSN2Travelers]

I think you have to either increase your budget, accept an older boat or leave the second couple on the dock.

My wife and I are also looking for a larger boat. One we can cruise the Great Lakes with or take out another couple for a long weekend. This calls for a boat in the 34-36 foot range. Anything less than 33 feet will not work for your intended use.

Do a simple search on yachtworld.com. Plug in 34-36 foot, 1998-2002 for age and select $30,000-$40,000 as your price range. How many boats came up?

I suspect you should look for something in the 1990-1997 age bracket, 33-35 foot and then you might start to see boats come in under $50K.

[blt2ski]

Any of the larger brand boats will work. Include Jeanneau, beneteau, Dufour, Dehler, hanse, Elan.............

Shoot for something 2-3 cabinish. @ would realistically be better than a 3 cabin. The aft cabin will be a bit wider and larger. Even then, things will be tight. So hopefully the two couples are reasonably happy being in a tight place together, Otherwise, you may want to look at 38-42' boats, then you can get decent 2 bed/head boats. Especially if they were n the charter trade.

Boats in the age you want, will be $50-75K some to 100K depending upon quality of the boat etc.

Marty

[eherlihy]

As someone that has been boat shopping for over 3 years, I agree with the other posts about increasing the budget, or looking at older boats.

While you might actually find a 31-35 foot boat in the 98-02 time range for under $40K, it is likely to either be a salvage vessel, or one in need of serious work.