Tri Cabin Sailboats for around 50-60K

[stephenbennhoff]

Hi fellow sailors,

I'm brand-new to SailNet. My family and I (2 parents, 1 kid, and 1 dog) are moving back to the east coast (Stonington CT) this summer, and we are in the process of reviewing boats that we are interested in purchasing. We are favoring something in the 36 foot range (give or take a little) that has two private sleeping cabins (ie: two cruising couples that can each have their privacy) yet small enough that I can single hand it for those impromptu evening sails after work.

I have seen several Pearson 36 tri-cabins (private aft, main salon, and v-berth) on Yachtworld (MA, ME, FL). Are they solid fingerglass? Does anyone know much about them? Reliability? Durability? Sea-worthiness? Degree of high maintenance areas?

The other boat that caught our eye was the C&C 34 (really a 35.5). Again, it has a private aft cabin in addition to the v-berth. I know it is balsa-core and thus faster, but does that make it much more high maintenance?

RSVP. I'd love to know anyone's thoughts. Thanks for the input!

Cheers,

Stephen

[Boasun]

You could check out Yachtworld.com and see what they may have there.

[Faster]

There are several boats that would fit your criteria - including our own rare Fast345, but easily the most common would be the Catalina 34 or 36. C&C didn't really buy into the 'aft cabin' concept until the 37+ and 34+ models in the 90s.

I know it is balsa-core and thus faster

This statement is an oversimplification and certainly not necessarily true. Shape, sail power and overall weight will have more to do with speed than simply the construction technique. Nothing wrong with a well built cored hull - in fact it would be in many ways superior to solid glass, but a cored hull with problems is more trouble than it's worth. The difficulty is in being certain either way.

Beneteaus from the 80s featured aft cabins too, and from 35 and up I think they work.. the 30 footers always looked to me like they compacted everything in the 35 footers down to 30 feet - leaving berths pinched and cramped, and storage minimal.

The late 80s/early 90s Hunter Legend series (33.5, 35.5, 37.5) are boats that I think ticked the right boxes in layout and rig porportions (and in the 'row away' factor) and a good one would make a fine coastal cruiser.

But take a serious look at the Catalinas - including the early (95) 320 - literally dozens for sale at any time anywhere - lots to like there.

[eherlihy]

The Pearson 36-2 is a fine boat. Solid glass HULL and end grain balsa cored deck. The biggest single area of concern is moisture intrusion. Common locations for moisture on this boat are through the deck around the stanchions, particularly on the port side (look behind the electrical panel) and through the Beckson ports. Most had the Yanmar 3 cylinder diesel (3GM30), which is a well built, and easy to maintain engine. The engine is mounted under the galley counter top, next to the sink. Engine access is not particularly great (especially to starboard, which is where the dip stick is) but it should be workable.

Comfort wise, my biggest complaint is over the table, bolted to the side of the mast, in the salon.

I was looking for one for a long time, but finally gave up. Then I looked at the Pearson 33-2. The 33-2 has the engine mounted under the companionway steps, a fold down table, and also has an aft cabin. There have been a bunch of threads on them throughout sailnet.

[CruisingWolf88]

I've been a fan of the Beneteau 323. It's a nice mix between cruising and performance. If you want to race it you've got a competitive edge, and if you just want to cruise you're not left without the creature comforts that make cruising sailboats so impressive today.

[sailingdog]

Other boats you may want to consider are the O'Day 322, though a bit smaller than your other choices, and the CS 36T, which is probably a bit more expensive than your current choices. AFAIK, all four of these boats have balsa cored decks. Of them, the CS 36T is probably the most robustly built of the four, with the C&C next and the Pearson and O'Day about equivalent.

Be aware that just because a boat has been built using cored laminates, doesn't necessary mean that it is a faster boat. A lot more than the construction techniques goes into determining a boat's performance characteristics, as Faster points out--saying such is a gross oversimplification.

[Faster]

SD, as far as I know the CS 36T - no doubt a fine boat - does not have an enclosed aft cabin.. The 36Merlin does but they generally go for a bit more money.

Even so, the OP should realize that 'privacy' is an illusion on most any boat under 60 feet - doors or not.

[smackdaddy]

In general, are O'Days and Irwins on par with one another? I've always heard that O'Days were especially prone to delam issues, though really good boats all-round otherwise.

I was also glad to see the Hunter 37 mentioned up there. Despite the slag that's thrown at Hunters at times, I've actually grown pretty fond of the 37 and the 40.

[djodenda]

Faster is correct... the CS 36T has a quarterberth only... The Merlin, like I just bought, has an aft cabin...

I really do like my Merlin, although they do tend to run more...

Boatpoker will tell you to be careful of the Merlin as many of them have lining problems. Mine didn't.

Depends on what you are looking for, but Faster is giving you good advice to look at the Catalina 34 or 36.

Good Luck!

[eherlihy]

I believe that the Merlin is also a cored hull.