Remind me that buying a 1986 Catalina 36 sight unseen in Hawaii is insane and stupid

[-]

6-20PM@reddit

Just pay for a marine surveyor to have a look at it.

[-]

Karmakazee@reddit

Are you bringing it to the continental US? It’s a lot easier to sail to Hawaii than it is to sail back. This is part of why you tend to find some wild deals in sailboats in Hawaii.

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skatopher@reddit

Just to add the why here: it’s generally upwind the entire way back.

[-]

I was reading about the North Pacific High. North unitl you're about flush with Oregon, then east when you feel the winds start to change, as I understand. My first thought was to buy the boat and just yeet myself into the Pacific. Either I make it, and it's glorious, or it all stops being my problem rather abruptly. I've since found a mooring, which is considerably less dramatic.

[-]

45077@reddit

full send. 🫡

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Helorugger@reddit

If you are going to Yeet, don’t go north, keep going west and discover the South Pacific.

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mtnmanratchet@reddit

Couldn’t you just ship it to the mainland?..

[-]

BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Any tips on how to approach that? I guess I assumed that would be one of the costlier options, but I don't know much about it.

[-]

cjchris66@reddit

Years ago a guy i knew bought a smashed up Alden, i think it was in st Thomas. He flew down, built a crib, and had it shipped up to New York. I’m sure it was expensive as hell. Probably not worth it for a Catalina. That being said I’d want more of a blue water boat for a pacific crossing!

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hanse505@reddit

It’ll probably be more expensive to get that sized boat seaworthy for the voyage back than to ship it. Even just the basic stuff like life raft, EPIRB, Iridium Go (for weather GRIBs) etc.

Look into Pasha Hawaii for shipping.

[-]

MrIncredible222@reddit

A Catalina 36 is not rare or particularly noteworthy. Is it cheaper to ship this one back to the mainland + $450 + any repairs versus just…buying one local to the OP?

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hanse505@reddit

No, probably not

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zoinkability@reddit

And probably that's why this boat is where it is

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megablast@reddit

Check govdeals for a ship.

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mtnmanratchet@reddit

I am not versed in the situation, but I see posts all the time about people shipping their boat to the other side of the world and flying in.

I’d imagine you need to demast, and determine whether you need a trailer or not.

[-]

Cole_Slawter@reddit

If this is not the boat of your dreams, put it in a dock in Hawaii and find somebody to sell it for you.

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ohthetrees@reddit

I have done that passage. 18 days Hawaii to Seattle on a 50’ sailboat in good order. The size of your boat doesn’t put me off. But it being in unknown (aka terrible) condition and you not having much experience….. do you want to die?

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

I like to describe it as 'risk tolerant', but in this case I decided not to.

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rebs92@reddit

I'd come along but sadly I'm in Sweden :(

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PolloPowered@reddit

I use the same phrase, but good choice not to move on this.

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waetherman@reddit

YouTube that whole adventure and you’ll get crazy followers. I’d watch.

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CocoLamela@reddit

If the engine runs well, you may be better off just motoring most of the way back to SoCal. If you can load up on enough diesel, that reduces your number of points for failure and things to fix before you leave.

With an auction boat like that, it's often the sails, rig, and lines that need some attention. Hell it's often the engine too, but at least you can assess that quickly. All things considered, it's amazing how "cheap" it is to drop a new diesel engine in a boat, particularly when you e acquired it for $450

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moto_everything@reddit

That's 500hrs of motoring. And probably about 500 gallons of fuel. I'd personally try to sail most of it.

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kabubakawa@reddit

Gotta say, in this case, username does NOT check out. 😇

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moto_everything@reddit

Haha. I call it trying to be well balanced. I can't afford to burn all the fuel in the world, gotta let the wind do some of the work. 💪🏻

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tnseltim@reddit

Not to mention being very uncomfortable, the sails do a lot to stabilize the boat. I wouldn’t want to rock back and forth for 4,000 miles.

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jeepfail@reddit

I don’t think the not your problem bit happens abruptly in many of the possible scenarios. But love the enthusiasm.

[-]

BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Eh, in the scheme of things. Drowning wouldn't be fun, but it's only a few minutes. Starving/dehydration would be worse.

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fawlty_lawgic@reddit

You only live once bro!

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Ksan_of_Tongass@reddit

I recommend you watch a YouTube channel called Bums on a Boat. A few buddies decided to buy a boat with zero knowledge and yeeted on down to Cuba.

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overthehillhat@reddit

Mooring sounds fantastic--but

There are always horror stories about unpaid yard bills

Was it free and clear?

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severalsmallducks@reddit

You 100% sound like my kind of person.

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Ksan_of_Tongass@reddit

This response and your use of 'yeet' make me say buy that boat and go do your adventure. If you're ready to yeet, you're ready to lose it all lol Go for it!

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Hurricaneshand@reddit

I don't know your lifestyle or circumstances, but I love the mindset and enthusiasm lol

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geek66@reddit

For flirthers it is uphill

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TigerDude33@reddit

but sailboats sail best into the wind, right? Right?

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bobber18@reddit

Or sail north toward Canada

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zoinkability@reddit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHbz3i51Lzk

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megablast@reddit

Just sail the other way.

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CulpablyRedundant@reddit

Only if you sail it directly back!

No one seems to be suggesting the clearly obvious choice here...

Go the long way around!

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Leweyb@reddit

And a long slog at that, you make a course towards alaska and then grab the wind and come down the west coast. Its a cold miserable trip.

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kabubakawa@reddit

Well there’s your problem, you just gotta go the OTHER way! Should be home in time for Christmas….2026.

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Karmakazee@reddit

This is what I tell my wife when I bring up the idea of buying a cheap boat in Hawaii 😂

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kabubakawa@reddit

I’m sure that point really helps your case!

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SpaceShrimp@reddit

I think you just raised boat prices in Hawaii by 10%. I suspect decent boats, and a challenge, for a decent price sounds very appealing to a large share of /r/sailing.

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Successful-Place5193@reddit

Send a surveyor pronto.. then think about it!

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photodiveguy@reddit

I’m surprised no one suggested hiring a local company to do a boat survey before the deadline to get a better idea of the actual condition of the boat. It will cost, but probably less than a round trip ticket to Hawaii.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

People definitely suggested that, but it was all such a tight timeline that I guess I assumed it wasn't feasible.

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Zestyclose_Phase_645@reddit

I had a free boat once. The tiller snapped on my five miles off shore and I had to sail back to harbor using the sheets alone in +15kt winds and a 6ft swell.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

That sounds... exciting.

I had a bolt snap on the rudder of my Thistle. Was usable, but didn't want to damage it further, so I spent the rest of the day steering with a paddle. Not nearly as dramatic, but damned if I didn't think I was going to snap that paddle. Good workout.

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Zestyclose_Phase_645@reddit

Yep, it was a wild ride on a little Catalina 22. I was only trying to move the boat to the next harbor a little south. The tiller snapped because I had lashed it in place since it was fairly uncontrollable with the swells coming at nearly 90* starboard.

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Top_Adhesiveness_59@reddit

Damn!! I was hoping to hear you'd taken it so I could live vicariously through this post LOL

[-]

BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Next one! As someone pointed out, you either need money or experience. I'm going to try to scrape together a little bit of both and then find another crazy opportunity.

[-]

IAmA_Nerd_AMA@reddit

Hey everybody, its relisted! Top bid only $5 now! YOLO! https://www.govdeals.com/asset/10/26516

/s

- no motor
- looks like water has been coming on the starboard side..probably the window, floor and counter wood look water damaged
- rigging looks old and dirty
- the bottom is made of barnacles, its been sitting for years
- is that jib exposed or under canvas?
- the wooden rails are looking pretty old
- did I miss anything?

That said... Its not as bad as I thought it would be. The galley and deck look fine...it would probably be a good deal if you lived in HI. 50/50 on surviving the trip home.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

And it comes with free gas cans!

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Bob70533457973917@reddit

450 bucks??

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Salt-y@reddit

Learn by doing.

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Beaver_Feathers@reddit

Ive done san francisco to hawaii twice. 28 days back the first time and 22 days back the second. The trip back is a lot of tacking north and on both trips there was a solid week of 30+ knot winds and heavier seas. Buy a life raft and an epird at a minimum. Its doable, my dad did it in a 28' wood boat in 1980 with a sextant.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

That's so cool

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Live-Dig-2809@reddit

With something like this you start with a full bucket of luck and an empty bucket of skill and hope the skill fills up before the luck runs out.

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OkStandard8965@reddit

So take that $450 and add many many thousands to the figure and you will have a rough number for what you will own it for once it gets to where you are

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Marinemussel@reddit

If it floats you've gotten yourself a great deal. Move ahead and don't look back

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Hot-Umpire-8830@reddit

For $450? I'll take it.

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SnooEpiphanies1220@reddit

I’m a local broker. And I also do deliveries to the mainland. So I might be uniquely able to help you.

Sometimes these things are worth negative money…. If you know where it is I might be able to check it out for you.

If it’s a decent boat, but too logistically difficult for you… you might be able to make a little cash selling it

[-]

BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Rainbow Bay Marina near Pearl Harbor

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SnooEpiphanies1220@reddit

I’ll go look at it this week… I know that’s too late for you.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Definitely let me know what you see. I'd love to know.

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Boating_Enthusiast@reddit

Wow!I grew up in Hawaii and thought that that marina was on base and only available to military. All those years and I had just assumed it wasn't available to civilians...

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

That might be true. The auction was on govdeals.com, and the instructions specified appointments to inspect and retrieve the boat. Not sure why the government had a sailboat to sell.

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zoinkability@reddit

Servicemember goes awol, gotta deal with their boat

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Ok-Novel4218@reddit

Have it surveyed. At least then you’ll have a better idea of what it’s going to take to be blue water safe.

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sinithparanga@reddit

How much does the cost of traveling and sailing back cost? Take that as X, search for a boat for X+450 near home. Decide based on this.

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Sterling_____Archer@reddit

At that price, go for it OP.

But my advice: find a way to sail it around Hawaii instead of lugging it back to the US mainland.

Wholly, sailing is better when the weather is nice.

[-]

badpopeye@reddit

My dad had a Catalina 22 which I learned to sail on was pretty solid boat but if you only have 100 hrs sailing experience crossing the Pacific probably a very bad idea

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Euphoric-Educator-78@reddit

My thoughts: Get a sailboat surveyor to look at it, then fly there if the survey is promising but committing.

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factorygremlin@reddit

its stupid, Catalina boats are garbage and Catalina is a very unethical company, they moved to Florida in the 80s moving into the old Morgan sailboat plant. i worked there for four days. they had 2/16 vent fans originally installed by Morgan in the 60s in their lamination building running. so there fiberglass dust like mad in the air. where the sun shines into the bay doors you could just see a constant sparkle cloud. workers were using power tools making sparks while working around barrels of flammable chemicals. the VOCs on there were insane. i was tasked with getting their lab back up and running and getting vacuum lamination going for small parts. it was disgusting with rodent waste everywhere and so much trash. everyday i came home reeking of VOCs. om the forth day i was there, i went to Jerry who runs the place (not the owner, unless he is now, owner was very old then) i asked Jerry to come look at the lamination building with me. i pointed out some of my safety concerns. right away his #1 henchman shows up on a golf cart and Jerry tell him what i said. immediately they're making jokes and saying it would cost a ton of money which is totally not an option. At this point, knowing the companies terrific sales record, i realized there must be corruption going on. the most successful and active sailboat company in the US can't afford vent fans? yeah right. even if they didn't have the capital on hand, certainly with their proven profitability they would be able to borrow enough money. everyone that worked there were mostly undocumented immigrants who were treated as tools not as humans. every worker had deep bloodshot eyes all the time. i felt terrible for them as they probably had families and felt this was their only option to get food on the table. anyways, i quit during that interaction about the fans. jerry was walking me out and said to me something like, "it's really too bad it had to end like this, with your engineering background, we could have..." and i interrupted him saying "shut your mouth jerry" or something like that.

TLDR; as a former employee, Catalina is a wildly unethical company. I would not feel good about having to buy even the cheapest replacement part from them for one of their old boats.

[-]

dwkfym@reddit

Say its a good boat -- how close are you to having skills to make an ocean crossing? (lets forget about the upwind bit for a second)

[-]

BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

My entire sailing experience is two summers teaching myself on a racing dinghy. I have no illusions about my odds if I were to attempt it now.

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SecureVillage@reddit

I did an offshore race in the army when I was 21 with no experience. About 2000 miles over the north sea over a month. Just pulled strings etc really.

Then, 15 years later, my girlfriend and I bought a little moody 27 which we've been learning to own and sail on.

We did 2 weeks of sailing courses first.

Our first year was a lot. Silly things like getting on and off of our moorings, working on the engine, learning to navigate, enter marinas, VHF courses etc. And this is just hopping around the local coast.

The boat and us are now nearing being ready for some small offshore hops.

I would not have wanted my first experiences to be offshore on an unknown boat.

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SecureVillage@reddit

What i'm saying is that it sounds like had more experience than you when we started, at least with yachts

And, we felt completely out of our depth.

But, because we didn't rush things, we were able to tackle one problem at a time.

Give yourself time to enjoy the process and build up to the bigger stuff. For us, it's nice knowing we're working towards something

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get_MEAN_yall@reddit

It's totally crazy to think a boat that has suffered the amount of neglect necessary for it to cost $400 would survive 1000 miles uphill in the trades.

I have a lower risk tolerance than many, but I would be replacing the standing rigging and the rudder at a bare minimum, as well as dropping the keel to inspect.

If it's that cheap I'd also assume the sails are toast.

You should really go sail upwind in 20 knots before thinking you want to do that for 3-4 weeks.

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andrewembassy@reddit

Yeah if OP wants to spend the next 6 months doing retrofit and fiberglass work and shakedown cruises and stuff (and has the money to spend—AND—can find somebody with blue water experience to go with) then this sounds like an amazing opportunity.

But thinking you’ll be able to walk off the plane, buy a few Dinty Moore stews and sail to America the next day is probably a recipe for severe and possibly permanent disappointment.

[-]

davihar@reddit

I bought a 27 foot, 1983 sailboat via an auction on eBay. It had sat for 8 years and the marina declared it a derelict boat. I could only look at one side of it from the dock. Such a sad sight so complete leap of faith that the builder has a good reputation. I’m very happy with it. I don’t think I would sail it out into the ocean for a month though.

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ThinkerSailorDJSpy@reddit

"Yes it's insane. Terrible plan." I say as I google "Catalina 36 Hawaii craigslist."

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sailorknots77@reddit

That’s gonna be the most expensive cheap boat in Hawaiian history.

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boatrat74@reddit

Can't be as bad as that husk of a wooden schooner I saw from Honolulu awhile back. Somebody was doing a live "Welcome aboard my Restoration Project" 🙄 video of this thing anchored out in that big dredged waterway between the airport and downtown. Where there are apparently a good number of similarly desperate derelicts.

It was supposed to have at one time been one of the venerable old original Alden schooners, in the 60+ ft. LOD range. But someone had long ago done the irreversible suicide play: sheathed it in fiberglass. 🫣😖

Not a typo earlier -- not "hull", nor even "hulk". I said "husk". 'Cause inevitably that's all that's ever left of a traditional plank-on frame construction after that treatment. This was one of those. Original structure basically reduced to stinking waterlogged mulch, only fit for being scooped out with a proverbial spoon. Can't remember the name or other details. 'Cause once I recognized the situation for what it was, I couldn't watch any more.

But yes... all that's to say, specific monetary value aside, your general sentiment stands: "Nothing's more expensive than a 'free boat' !"

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Roccnsuccmetosleep@reddit

Idiots are great entertainment. Thanks for the read OP

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Beelzabub@reddit

Bought. You bought it. You're now legally obligated to safely moor it, pay outlandish slip rental, or sail ot back to the mainland. [Me:maritime lawyer]

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brvheart@reddit

I still can’t figure out how much this boat costs. Did this dude literally win an auction for a 36 foot boat for only 4 hundred and 50 dollars? We aren’t talking about $450,000?

I know nothing about boats, but $450 seems WAY too low.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Yup, $450.00. It's really hard to let it go, but I don't have the resources to get to Hawaii and face all the problems it's definitely going to have.

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Sublime-Prime@reddit

Boat: hole in the water you pour your money into.

There is a reason why winning bid dropped and no one else bid . I don’t know what it is but it is probably valid .

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GlowInTheDarkSpaces@reddit

Not a good idea

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zaxonortesus@reddit

Where in Hawaii is it?

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Near Pearl Harbor

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zaxonortesus@reddit

Damn. I’m walking distance to two of the harbors on Oahu, but that’s out of the way and I don’t have a car to get over there right now.

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PalindromePete@reddit

If you’re gonna do it, I’d consider flying out with new or new to you sails with you. Along with well everything else

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Single_Ad_5294@reddit

This post reminds me of my Ill-advised adventurous spirit. I miss it. I’ve gone so many places. By foot, by car, by bus, I wish I hopped trains.

Now I’m tied down by a lovely partner and a day job that keeps me coming back somehow.

Recently got into sailing, but very small craft and now all I want to do is build my own boat that I can sleep in and travel the oceans.

Are you an early 20something with knowledge of the seas? Dive right in and get that vessel. Do the adventure.

What are you doing now? Probably something way less cool than flying out to Hawaii and attempting to navigate your way east…

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spinningsidebrush@reddit

That’s insane and stupid. Enjoy your new boat

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Stooper_Dave@reddit

Do. Not. Do. It.

I mean, if you want to waste money, my bank account has plenty of space left to accommodate, send it my way.

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MFHolliday@reddit

I was going to fly down to NOLA the week of the 23rd to get out on the water. You fly me out to Hawaii I'll help you take care of getting the boat where you need it to go.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

I really appreciate the offer. I've decided not to go for this one, though.

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Loose-Store-3434@reddit

Send it!! Go sailing

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Gambler_Addict_Pro@reddit

I saw that same boat but after realizing it was in Hawaii, I knew it was a bad idea. You don't want to sail to the US in that boat.

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Candelent@reddit

There are plenty of Catalina 36s around, the smart thing to do is wait for one to come up on the mainland.

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Dockalfar@reddit

For $450?

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Candelent@reddit

$450 is only the price, not the total cost.

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gg562ggud485@reddit

Sail it back and have a great story for your grandkids.

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123xyz32@reddit

Don’t be a pussy. Buy it.

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HelicopterUpbeat5199@reddit

I would wonder what the risk is if you have the boat and it's completely worthless. You'd have to pay to dispose of it, whatever that costs, probably a lot. Are there any other costs you'd have to deal with? Can you afford the total loss scenario with your spirits intact? Can you trust yourself to take the loss and walk away before sinking much more into it? If the boat is borderline unsafe, it's going to take a lot of willpower to walk away. People talk themselves into seriously dangerous stuff to avoid admitting defeat.

Be careful! Have fun!

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justinchina@reddit

First you need to find moorage. The marina where it currently is may not let you keep it there (I know ours don’t when the boats go up for auction.).

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

I found a moorage on the other side of O'ahu. About 50 miles going around the island. Getting it there is another big question mark. I'm just assuming the engine is not operable without some work that I won't have time to do. I don't know the condition of the sails, but a sail cover was visible in the pictures. I could probably manage to buy and mount an outboard motor. I don't think there's any safe scenario where I don't hire a captain to help manage and navigate. I don't want my inexperience to end up anyone's problem but my own.

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justinchina@reddit

(I saw that auction, btw.) If you can get it to the marina, then you probably just got yourself a super cheap condo in Hawaii, even if it’s not sailable right away!

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Boating_Enthusiast@reddit

Super cheap is to Hawaii housing as super cheap is to boat maintenance.

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moto_everything@reddit

Definitely find local knowledge. I sailed all around Oahu and there are definitely some nasty spots.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Do you think Yacht Clubs would be the best place to find a captain?

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mcpusc@reddit

no; i'd talk to a sailing school

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moto_everything@reddit

There are Oahu sailing groups on FB if memory serves right, I'd make a post in there with what you're looking for and I bet someone would be able to help.

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LameBMX@reddit

I'd ask about a tow out of where ever it is. once you are clear of obstructions, you got sails.

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bobber18@reddit

If it can make 50 miles with an outboard why not 2500? /s

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NessunoUNo@reddit

Ko Olina Marina usually had slips available. It’s been a few years though. Not sure about the rates

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sailorDad1776@reddit

Remember, there's nothing more expensive than a cheap boat!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs5f9diRvHo

[-]

BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

I thought the free boat was most expensive, with a cheap boat as a close second.

[-]

gregaustex@reddit

Who passed on it?

If someone outbid you who had the opportunity to take a look then bailed, I would follow their lead.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

I've decided to do pass on it, too.

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G-mann1988@reddit

You aren't buying a boat you're buying an $800 a month obligation to pay for a slip for a piece of junk you can't get rid of like the current owner is trying to do.

[-]

BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Yeah, I'm all for adventure, but I'm going to pass on this one for basically that reason.

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warrior_poet95834@reddit

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I would do it for the adventure. By the boat, go to Hawaii, check it out if it doesn’t work out, sell it.

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Llee00@reddit

you're not going to get the skills to bring it to the mainland in a few months bro

you're gonna have to hire a guy to do it for you

[-]

vtrac@reddit

*checks out govdeals.com*...

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garcilla1983@reddit

Same, I forgot all about that site from a decade or more ago!

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Aggressive-Affect725@reddit

Last time I looked you could ship it to LA ( mast down drained of liquids etc) for $4500 usd

[-]

BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Do you mean that unstepping the mast is included in that service? Could you point me towards a good boat shipping service I could look at?

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Aggressive-Affect725@reddit

Look up Hawaii yacht sales and or we will transport it as a starting point . Matson lines will ship yachts but you need a shipyard to instep the masts etc.

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Potential-Elephant73@reddit

Yolo

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24hrelectric@reddit

If it’s at all possible try to get someone to do a video call with you. There’s a chance this thing could be thousands of dollars away from being able to sail, let alone sail into the wind for several weeks.

[-]

grambell789@reddit

I live in New jersey and have a great one right here. Just hurry up and wire me the money before somebody else gets it!!!

[-]

BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Great what? Catalina?

[-]

grambell789@reddit

What difference does it make, it's great, send money.

[-]

bren_dawg95@reddit

I can’t find the article but I remember reading about a C36 making the trip from LA -> Hawaii(the “easy” way) and ran into a lot of issues eventually leading to rudder failure and they had to be rescued.

I’m not saying a well prepped C36 can’t make that trip but personally I wouldn’t trust a $450 boat especially having a 30 day window to get the boat out of there.

[-]

bren_dawg95@reddit

I missed the part where you talked about repairing it over a few months in Hawaii before making the trip. Regardless, it’ll take twice as long as you’re thinking and cost twice as much.

Not sure what the cost looks like but if you’re getting the boat for cheap you could look into shipping it back to the US and working on it here?

[-]

IanSan5653@reddit

Shipping to the US would probably cost $10k or more.

[-]

smedlap@reddit

You may be able to have it shipped on a ship for less than it will cost to get it up to speed for that dangerous crossing. Plus, you need at least 2 very skilled sailors on board to do a crossing like that. Many have died in those waters.

[-]

IanSan5653@reddit

As much as I think the adventure sounds fun, I also think it sounds extremely dangerous and also just unlikely. I think the most likely scenario is you go see this boat, realize you don't have nearly enough money or time or resources to make this happen, and it continues to sit derelict until it sinks or is sold in another foreclosure auction.

If you lived in Hawaii and had experience I'd say it sounds like a bad but fun and memorable idea. Since you don't, I think it just sounds like a bad idea.

[-]

svhelloworld@reddit

Everybody has their own risk tolerance. I don't think anyone can tell you definitely what to do here so I'll answer this as if I was in your shoes.

There is no way in hell I would get on a Catalina 36 that I bought for $450 and try to sail it back to North America from Hawaii. I have some bluewater sailing experience - not a lot but just enough to know that for me personally, that's a nope.

Catalinas from the 80s are great boats but they're still fin-keeled coastal cruisers. A $450 Catalina from 1986 would very likely need a significant amount of work before you could leave the islands. Hell, it probably needs a significant amount of work before you can leave the slip.

The other thing to consider is cruising around Hawaii isn't as great as you might think. The island chain just doesn't have many good anchorages you can live at anchor for any period of time. If you drop $450 and it doesn't work out and you know you can sell it or gift it to someone else, great. But please don't consider abandoning it like all the dreamer boats that are currently rotting in Hawaii.

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ezbigdawg7@reddit

If you get the boat, spend the $1-2k for a professional survey with haulout. The surveyor will give you a list of must-have and nice-to-have repairs to be made. Attack the list of must-haves in order of what is needed to start sailing her. Then hit the livability items (working head, 12vdc systems, refrigerator, stove, etc.) Finally the cosmetics like canvas, teak, paint.

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Euphoric_Can_5999@reddit

This is a terrible idea OP. You’ll pay more in moorage as you gain the skills to sail it back. Why not gain the skills first then find something similar in the future? You’ll save some money and have more for repairs equipment etc. don’t feel FOMO there will always be another boat like this that comes up

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Plenty_Amphibian5120@reddit

Just a reminder that everything is more expensive and less available in Hawaii. Whatever your boat project is gonna cost add another 30% to that. If something might normally take you a day, it could take you two days in Hawaii, just what it is. I run a business here that depends on equipment and it’s a nightmare at times to run a smoothly functioning business because there’s always some weak link in the process that emerges and often times it’s not you. So imagine that too, you always gotta be the expert on everything cause it’s hard to find people that either are the expert or care enough to help in that way. You might be ready and up for all that, and if so then rock on my friend! Safe journeys

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daveyconcrete@reddit

That’s a terrible idea, when we leaving??

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Brwdr@reddit

DO NOT BUY THIS BOAT

If you had no plan before bidding, walk away and let the next bidder accept.

If you had prior experience with maintaining a keelboat...
If you had rebuilt or partially rebuilt a keelboat...
If you had a surveyor drop by the boat before bidding in the auction...
If you were given a completed survey before the auction...
If you had experience with organizing shipping of a keelboat over seas...
If you had extensive experience with ocean passages including boat preparation and maintenance...

Then perhaps this boat would be a possibility? But from your own admission these circumstances are absent. I've worked on boats most of my life, ocean raced and delivered, raced keel-boats inshore and offshore, and race a variety of performance boats from 70' to 14', even distance raced dinghies (40nm+), shipped boats to other continents and back, and worked as an importer. I hope you trust this unknown poster....

DO NOT BUY THIS BOAT

There are auctions for boats all around the US and you will get another opportunity, but it will require patience. Delivering that boat from Hawaii may just kill you and having it shipped will eliminate all of the savings and than some.

DO NOT BUY THIS BOAT

Sometimes a boat just lands in your lap, but know there is no such thing as a free boat. But if you are excited enough to want this C36 from Hawaii, you'll figure out a more local boat.

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hothamrolls@reddit

It might be as cost effective as I am giving it credit for, but we know some people that were cruising in the South Pacific when Covid hit. When they bailed on the idea of continuing westward on from there, they had the boat shipped back via an ocean liner of sorts.

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th3_eradicator@reddit

It made it to Hawaii. Likely under sail and/or power. Downhill all the way there. Uphill all the way back. Every boat has problems. For that price, and for the adventure back it’s worth it. Do it. This is how memories are made. Disclaimer: get yourself and EPIRB, Garmin satellite comms, and a life raft.

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forewer21@reddit

Lots of boats have made it to Hawaii but then sit for years. I'm currently on Oahu and let me tell you the amount of trash boats Ive seen. One guy gutted a 30' Catalina, and removed all the bulkheads to "make more room". Can't tell you how many boats are worthless and not sea worthy with owners asking a premium cause Hawaii. The fact that someone else passed on this heap at $450 should tell you OPs auction boat is probably trash.

For op, sounds like you found a slip at waianae small boat harbor, one of the few and prob only places that has open slips on the island. Fwiw there's a huge homeless encampment next to it in the woods. The marina itself is up kept but I wouldn't leave stuff without locking it down. That's also a long drive from Honolulu during most weekdays days due to traffic.

I mean yeah you could sail just about anything back to the mainland but not sure it's worth the time and energy to invest into a completely unknown boat. Sails could be trash, rigging could be trash, and you won't know till you've already invested time and money into coming here and securing a slip.

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severalsmallducks@reddit

I second this. It’s probably partly going to feel like a clusterfuck, but true adventures are so rare in our ordinary lives and this sounds just like one.

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the_fresh_cucumber@reddit

My only concern - do you know how to sail? You have experience right?

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Very limited. A friend gave me a 1970's Thistle two years ago. It was sitting in his yard for years, but the sails were adequate, and I was able to patch up the rough spots in the wood. First time took it out was OCMD with some friends, but the second time I took it out was in Outer Banks North Carolina, but that was the first time I actually caught wind in the sails. I was solo and she just took off and flew over the water. It was terrifying and I absolutely fell in love. But that boat is the entirety of my sailing experience.

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the_fresh_cucumber@reddit

Well why not spend a few months doing some sailing with a local club? Maybe get the Hawaii boat in a yard somewhere while you do it. It would make a huge difference in your ability to beat east on the pacific

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Nothing-Busy@reddit

Call the pickup location and determine if they can recommend anyone assist with the moving. If it is on a trailer Veritread can also handle the pickup and move it on a trailer to a location if you need to get it to the boat yard where you will moor it. Proud owner of a 35kw generator trailer with an HVAC unit built in and the accompanying 400 square foot 500 pound military tent. It doesn't have to make sense if it brings you joy.

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garcilla1983@reddit

Please share photos!

Alright..so how I would look at is, do you have 450 dollars you can burn through? Will it put you in a bad position if you lost said money? It's essentially buying a $450 lottery ticket. It could be a jackpot. You could lose it all. Or it could work out that it was a good deal and you now have a cool project and story!

personally, if I had the spare money to cover the boat cost, and the cost of a flight and couple nights stay to decide the next steps, 100% would. I'm not sure what a survey costs, so maybe just do the purchase and survey to see if it's viable to sail mostly at its current condition plus a little work, or if it's worth the time and effort, or if it's a loss you're going to take.

I say take the adventure!

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

The $450 and a plane ticket I can do. What actually scares me is having a hunk of garbage floating in the most expensive and least accessible state legally bound to my name. That could end up being a whole bunch more than $450.

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garcilla1983@reddit

Is it at a marina out of the water? If the boat is in good enough shape to be a viable live on apartment safely for a local, it may be easy enough to sell for your cost of boat, travel, survey, etc. worst case, maybe donate it to a local club? Idk if that's a possibility. But I'm excited for you! If you do this, please document the journey!

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

It's in the water. I think it's this one:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vEBXvofwpvytEaSr7

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garcilla1983@reddit

I don't know why I thought it's on land. One of those days, my brain isn't doing its thing, lol. Well, heck, if it's in the water it's already doing it's job and floating! Possibly, you can call the marina and just hope you find a nice person to walk out to the pier and send you a bunch of detailed photos for like... You ordering them a pizza for lunch, lol. Sounds silly, but Ive done stuff like that before that worked!

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

That's a good idea

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mynameiskeven@reddit

It’ll either be the best decision of your life or your worst. Only one way to find out.

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moto_everything@reddit

For most people I'd say it's a terrible idea. If you're mechanically inclined/can fix things on the fly, if you know what you're doing with navigation, and if you can stay up days at a time on very little sleep, go for it.

Just have the right equipment for the trip, and plan a realistic amount of time. Sailing from Hawaii back is gonna take a month, maybe more.

If I were single handing that I'd want epirb, sat radio, (maybe a backup), radar, autopilot, liferaft, R/O water maker, (maybe a backup), and a survival suit. There's probably a lot more to that list but those are the big ones that come to mind.

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lizerdk@reddit

Where did you find a place to moor it?

Slips in Hawaii are extremely expensive, boats are cheap

It is…suboptimal to say the least to be repairing/prepping/provisioning a boat on a mooring

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moto_everything@reddit

The slips aren't expensive, they're just non-existent.

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light24bulbs@reddit

I mean it's definitely possible though. The boat probably has an inverter, may have solar power. Might be a perfectly viable livaboard, not sure. I did some work on my boat when it was at a mooring and it was okay

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Count-per-minute@reddit

Just do it!

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031569@reddit

JFC, you're going for a childhood dream of mine. Go for it. as others have said, EPIRB, satcom, and a life raft.

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MikeHuntSmellss@reddit

I'm a decent surfer and a good skateboarder. I went away for the first time wuth a load of skiers so I learnt to ski, in half a day. I regret not snowboarding. Skiing was easy, I did Europe's longest black run on my 3rd day. But I wish I learnt smto snowboarder instead, it looks so much more natural and I felt very uneasy on skis in the air.

Good luck and shred some out there kook boarder!

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Illustrious_Bunnster@reddit

I'm a former Merchant Mariner and sailor. Well everyone's thinking about how to sail it back and he could always hire somebody to sell it back, I say put it on a container ship or even better a big roll on roll off ship like Matson lines which will run from Hawaii to California on a regular basis.

Big ships transport yachts all the time. I used to do Marine surveying on large container ships and have seen many large yachts being transported that way.

I'm sure it cost money but it won't cost you your life and then you can have it stateside and figure out what to do from there especially from the comfort of being on land.

It's always better to be on land wishing you were at sea than to be at sea praying to God you were on land instead

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light24bulbs@reddit

You know actually if that's what you're living for in your life I think you should go for it. $450 is pretty damn cheap dude. If it has serious trouble you could probably just give it away and not really be out much more than a plane ticket and a vacation. I was going to say like it's a bad idea but as long as you have maybe $20,000 saved for materials to fix it up, I say go for it. Also why don't you post pictures? It's already sold, it's not like we're going to swipe it from you.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

I didn't download them from the auction site because I wasn't expecting to still be deciding after the auction ended, and now the link is dead:

https://www.govdeals.com/asset/10/26516

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light24bulbs@reddit

Hey fair enough, I bet you wish you had those photos now

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Inner_Importance8943@reddit

You only live once go make some good stories. You also only die once so get a good survey first.

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Antiantiai@reddit

I bought a 1985 Catalina 36 sight unseen in California! Well, sorta. Put in the sales offer sight unseen.

It had significant damage inside. Was abandoned and partially flooded about 4" above the floorboard.

I've had to tear out and redo a significant amount of the wiring and electrical systems. Most/all the electronics don't work.

And replacing all the floorboards and lowlaying wood is on my to-do still. Plus there might be some rot in a couple of the bulkheads, which is a whole nother animal.

I'm about 6k into parts and repairs. And I've done the lion share of the work myself.

I'm still well below what I estimated it might cost to get in working order, though. Hull, motor, rigging, sails, all great shape. So it could have been way worse.

Godspeed to you, if you take the risk, it may pay off, it may not.

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Darkwaxellence@reddit

I have a different boat, same story. It's taken me 1year 6months to do everything you listed. Had it pulled from the Ohio River onto a friend's land to do the work. Haul out, storage, and a month tied to a barge to get the engine tested. Motoring south right now.

Once we get to Mobile I will have the rigging inspected as no one in Indiana knows much about what I have.

I have about 12k in the boat now. I would guess OP will hit 12k the first 3 months, even if they just haul it out to do a bottom job. Hawaii is very expensive to do anything at all.

Having a running boat is a great feeling after all the time and effort. I hope OP makes good choices.

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WillfulKind@reddit

If you don't want to live aboard in Hawaii for the six months preparing don't take the boat.

You'll spend $20K getting this thing ready on the mainland and Hawaii is just slower, rougher, and more expensive.

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sailingallover@reddit

Not the smartest move in nautical history. How much of a deal is it going to be after moving it, storing it, plane tickets. Paying a local to go check on it.

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Aquatic240@reddit

Fly out today, inspect it with a professional surveyor who agrees to see the boat before you get there. If you can sink the funds into the boat to make it seaworthy, then yes you should totally go for it. The zero cost will help you justify spending thousands to fix it. You can then buy the parts and have them held at the post office while you fly back and then fly out a second time before the 30 days. I just bought a $900 boat and it’s pretty cool to be able to get new sails, new blocks, new running rigging, new autopilot, new engine, and still come out ahead.

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strictnaturereserve@reddit

I'd get a survey done right away

How much would it cost for it to be put on a boat and transferred to continental US?

Versus mooring it and flights and repairs in Hawaii

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Could you recommend a boat shipping service? I'm not sure what to look for in that domain.

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strictnaturereserve@reddit

God no I'm in Ireland!

I'm betting that there are services that get your boat back to you From Hawaii given it is hard to sail back.

There has to be companies that are shipping cargo to Hawaii by boat and are coming back unladen

Actually found this looking

https://www.pashahawaii.com/services/oversize-cargo/ship-boat

you will need a boat trailer

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kerberos824@reddit

Can you share the govdeals link? Or some pictures? For no reason other than I want to see what a $450 C36 looks like.

Are you young and nuts? Rich and smart? Do you have people who rely on you for support? Will you YouTube your journey back?

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

I feel about as young as ever, though I'm in my thirties now. Definitely nuts. No one relies on me, and I'll definitely youtube it all.

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kerberos824@reddit

Then for my own entertainment's sake, I say go for it!

Honestly, it sounds like an incredible journey and plan. Something I wish I did a thousand times over but was never brave enough to do. Why? I don't really know. But now I'm in my early 40s. And I do not feel as young as ever. And have a young daughter and wife who relies on me and a mortgage and all assorted baggage. So now it is something that I am unlikely to ever be able to do. And that is deeply depressing sometimes. So, take that information for whatever it is worth.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

Unfortunately, the listing seems to get removed after the auction ends. I didn't realize that would happen (or that I'd still be making a decision afterwards) or I would have grabbed the pics.

https://www.govdeals.com/asset/10/26516

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vulkoriscoming@reddit

My money is on young and nuts. I say, let it rock. Worst result you drown in the North Pacific. Best result you have a $450 C36 and a great story.

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Traditional-Lead-925@reddit

Is there pictures?! If not just forget it. Free to nearly free boats are not hard to come by. The amount of work /money required to be safe isn’t usually worth it. Just my 2 cents

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

There were. I didn't realize that listings on this site disappeared after the auction ended. Also didn't realize I'd have the opportunity to consider this after the auction ended.

The pictures themselves were not great quality. The boat looked fine, from what could be seen, but not enough could be seen.

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hankintrees@reddit

Which island is the boat on? I'm on Maui and have survey experience. Happy to drop by and peek if it is close.

Overall this is an awful idea, so many people do this and get rescued or die less than 100 miles from departure. Several times a year.

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BattleReadyZim@reddit (OP)

O'ahu. Pretty sure this is the specific boat in the auction, though hard to tell from satellite.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vEBXvofwpvytEaSr7

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Horse_Cock42069@reddit

I highly doubt the $450 boat has the safety equipment needed to sail 5000 miles back to the mainland US. If you want to do that trip without a liferaft and epirb, you have a decent chance of death.

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Mrkvitko@reddit

Most boats never need liferaft and epirb.

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Darkwaxellence@reddit

This one does.

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suryastra@reddit

Well, it got to Hawaii somehow. Those items may be the only parts in good repair lol

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Horse_Cock42069@reddit

People "row" (drift) to Hawaii. The way back is just a little bit tougher.

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Strenue@reddit

Looking at you Lia Ditton

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Monkey_Fiddler@reddit

I don't know your financial situation or the state of the boat. At least one of those needs to be in really good condition.

If you can get a surveyor to it ASAP, do that. Failing that, anyone who knows anything about boats and is relatively independent, ring around boatbuilders, riggers, sailing clubs etc.

Bear in mind the winner of the auction backed out for a reason, so it wasn't worth $500 to them.

If you are going to buy it, be prepared to get to it, tally up the costs, eat the costs of mooring, transporting it to it's mooring, surveys, and air travel (you'll at least have accommodation) and do whatever is necessary to sell it while you have a nice holiday in Hawaii (I've heard it's beautiful).

There is a slim chance that it doesn't go tits up and you end up well ahead with many thousands of dollars worth of boat, but far, far more likely you'll be out several thousand, even if you only make good choices after buying it.

There are better deals to be had closer to home.

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mictwist45@reddit

Don't do it. Hawaii is where boats go to die. There's a reason it's so cheap....someone's dreams got crushed, don't let them be yours

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stubobarker@reddit

Sight unseen? The winner dropped out? Do NOT do this!

Not only does it sound like you do not have the requisite skills to both sail and repair the never-ending list of things requiring repair on a 36 year old boat, you will be stuck with a boat that is now YOUR responsibility to deal with. If it requires more work than you can afford, or in essence is a “total” (which you cannot determine from a few selective pictures) you could be saddled with something you can’t use, but are forced to put money into.

Bid your time, look at many boats. Do general research on what to look for during an inspection. Do research on EACH brand/manufacturer of boat you’re looking at- every one has its type of unique potential problems in design, so you at least know what to look for when inspecting.

Again, the odds of this being a good thing are extremely low. Don’t try to hit an inside straight…

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jh937hfiu3hrhv9@reddit

Too many reasons to list why that is a really bad way to get started as a sailor.

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rotortrash7@reddit

Go for it! Keep us posted

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archlich@reddit

For perspective if you purchase make sure you have enough money to make it open ocean worthy, hiring a captain to sail it back, or prepare to have it for a few years before you can sell it, or scrap it.

Potential Costs associated with seaworthiness:

rigging 15-30k
engine up to 30k
sails 10-20k
tankage, fuel water, not sure thousands of dollars
electronics up to 30k for replacement

Hiring a skipper and crew: 10-30k Insurance: 1-3k/yr Slip fees: 5-12kyr Misc maintenance 10% cost of boat per year, not what you paid but what the replacement value is

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CreepyOlGuy@reddit

450$ for a good story is about worth it alone.

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dawa43@reddit

Whatever happens... I want to hear the end of this story.... Please update us!

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raehn@reddit

I say do it!

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FlexVector@reddit

$45,000 C36s are typically cheaper than $450 sight-unseen C36s

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Oceanvisions@reddit

OP, there are flights from the SF bay area to Hawaii for $170-ish bucks. You could take a budget airline to SF, then Hawaii, stay a night or two, and fly back for under a grand if it's worth it to you.

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OGPOKEDUDE@reddit

I mean i'll take it

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johnbro27@reddit

Run away.

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Mehfisto666@reddit

I'd say it's entirely dependant on the conditions of the boat. Do you know anyone over there that could go look at it? Imo these kind deals are only for restorers that go as far as remake it from scratch if they need to.

Personally I'm over buying old pieces of trash with the dream of fixing them myself, it's just not worth it for me. I can't afford new but a decent second hand at a fair price is going to cost a fraction of that and it's pretty much ready to go.

But to each their own. People cross oceans in homebuilt 20ft sailing rafts. As a solo sailor i love to go on long trips with the freedom to explore the islands of the coast. As a new sailor i found coastal cruising in a sound boat gives me more than enough thrills as it is at times.

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permalink_child@reddit

Have you identifed a marina that can haul it for you and will accept payment to keep it on the hard while you enact repairs?

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lizerdk@reddit

Zero chance you can find a slip in Hawaii in 30 days.

They want the boat out because the slip is extremely valuable

Boats are cheap, slips are expensive

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Defiant-Giraffe@reddit

Is it crazy?

Yes.

Do it.

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carrburritoid@reddit

No experience, but don't let the price fool you, they should pay you to take it, possibly. There are plenty of nearly free boats this side of the Pacific.