Haven't quit ;) - Need a little further direction on finding my home

[maine89]

After several months of daily effort to find my liveaboard home, I've made little progress in finding the right boat for the right price.

I would love some more direction from you guys.

I'm 22, 6' 2", single and have very few necessary belongings - my space issue is simply not feeling cramped.

I've bounced around from people saying Catalina 27s are not suitable for liveaboard to threads talking of small families living on them for years. I was in a 27 and it felt cramped. One part of me says go with your gut, it's not for you, and the other half says well maybe you are asking for too much.

On the other hand, I loved the Catalina 30 (the 10' 10" beam and layout felt like I was in a nice apartment). The price however is nearer the $20k range. I was hoping to spend in the $10-$12 range. I DO see some Catalinas going for this price but they are outliers and I'm naturally reluctant. Again I have two sides disagreeing... one saying the Catalina 30 is clearly the boat for me and I should keep my eyes peeled, the other says the boat is clearly out of my desired budget and I need to look elsewhere.

Another runner is an O'Day 28" as it has a 10' 3" beam. Some are in the $8-$10 range but then some are $15k+.

I'm open to any input and direction!

[Harborless]

Well, I personally am 23 and just about 6'2" . Bought a 26'4" 1979 AMF Pace-ship for $2800 about five weeks ago. I can stand upright fully in the main cabin and head and stretch outright in the V-berth. Not only that but the boat is particularly spacious even for someone my height and size (180lb). Yet, with your budget, your options are countless. You can find some seriously nice boats for cheap right now and if you want to start bigger a 28' would probably be your best bet. You would be able to have ample room to live aboard as well as find a boat that size worth getting at about $6,000 or up.
Sailboatlistings.com boats.com boattrader.com
I bought my boat off craigslist.
The more luxuries the more time and $ for maintaining them. I think with $15,000 you could find a nice boat ready to sail away to any destination so far as the skipper is up to it.
It is scary buying a boat man.. Being so close in age I can probably relate to the worries you have.. What if I buy a lemon or turn out to regret it or how will I ever own and operate a big @$$ sailboat by myself!? You just have to plunge eventually though. When I got serious I would just check adds around 25 miles of my area or so and go check out boats. I took a few tools with me and my inspecting aging sailboats book and would crawl around shining a flashlight and banging on things. I saw lots of examples of crappy boats that were more liable to sink when sailed then stay afloat. One day five weeks ago on the way home from school I stopped to check out a boat from an add on craigslist and it turned out to be the one.
PM me if you want to ask any specifics. I do not want to continue droning on. GL

[maine89]

Thank you! PM in progress, it's not droning at all!