Considering buying this, opinions?
Posted by Trail_Dog@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 9 comments
Hey all,
I have owned a canoe with the sailboats2go kit now for a couple of years and I love it. I'm considering buying a little dinghy as whole the canoe is really great, it would be nice to hav
This came up on sale on FB marketplace. It's a 1999 Capri cyclone 14.
The guy wants $400. It's an hour away. There's some damage to the rubrail. The price does not include a trailer but I bought a nice 18 foot boat trailer for my canoe that I can use for it.
I am pretty handy and have done minor fiberglass and bodywork on cars and trucks, but I don't know anything about boats. Still, the price is pretty good. The sail, keel, and mast are in good shape according to the photo. The guy says there are no soft spots on the fiberglass. All the rigging is there and in good shape.
Is this something that is fixable but me, and worth me shelling out $400 for? I don't mind doing the work and painting and sanding the boat to match. I don't care if it looks professional, just as long as she floats.
pdxparasite@reddit
Seems like a good deal. Would be more expensive for a boat 20 years older around here. The rubrail is mostly aesthetic. I guess it could let water in the hull/deck joint if really messed up. You'd have to sail all day with the rail in the water to ship a few gallons - that's no biggie.
As previously stated: if it has a decent sail, you should be good to go.
Took my catalina 14.2 out for the first time this year. It's great to hear the gurgle and watch the wake as the boat picks up speed
cagehooper@reddit
I agree with everyone here. I got my Capri 14.2 last year for $500. The best money I've spent in a while. (Mine came with a trailer though). If the wife likes the water it'll be an easy sell.
Parasite? Did you get yours to hummmmmm?
Trail_Dog@reddit (OP)
The wife begrudgingly said "ok go look at it" which is a "yes" in my book. I'm waiting to hear back from the seller but if all goes well I'll snag it this weekend. It is Facebook marketplace though so anything could happen. Fingers crossed.
pdxparasite@reddit
I'm not there yet. Gotta build some skills and sand/refinish the rough hull. Maybe new(er) sails. Would like to get faster for sure!
Trail_Dog@reddit (OP)
That's awesome! I'm taking my sailing canoe out tomorrow for a spring shakedown and I can't wait.
Yeah I think it's a pretty good deal. I'll contact the guy and see if I can arrange a pick up.
From what I I understand these small fiberglass boats don't need much on the way of winterizing do they? We have 10 acres so storing it on my property is not an issue, but I don't really have a way to store it indoors, and Michigan winters can be tough.
Blue_foot@reddit
If the sail is in ok shape it’s a good buy.
Trail_Dog@reddit (OP)
Thanks, I'm thinking so too.
Looks like I might need to talk the wife into letting me take another toy home.
Bigfops@reddit
A boat designed to be sailed is going to be a much better experience than a retrofit for a canoe. You will have a sail, mast, centerboard and rudder engineered properly for the correct balance which will help with steering and likely allow you to sail more upwind. I think you will enjoy it more than a canoe conversion. You are also more likely to be able to find parts that fit and are designed for it. Not likely that you will be able to get OEM parts, but lot of parts are interchangeable (shackles, blocks, etc).
If you are handy then it is also a good platform to learn more about boat and fiberglass repair, gelcoat, etc. Whether it's worth $400 is up to you, that my be a lot of money or a little for you, but it seems like it might be worth it for you. I'd say if it has sails and all the parts, it's worth more than $400 and they guy may just be trying to get rid of it, but I don't know much about those boats or thier worth.
Trail_Dog@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the feedback.
Actually the canoe sails surprisingly well. The kits from sailboats2go are really well done and well thought out. It has a 65 square foot larteen sail. You can adjust the mast fore and aft to tune weather vs lee helm. It has leeboards on the bow, so it tacks upwind with no issues, though it is a lot harder to tack it over than the little sunfish boats I learned on as a kid. The kit also includes stabilizers floats that keep it upright. I have yet to capsize it.
I absolutely love sailing it. I am out on her at least a couple times a week if there's good enough conditions.
And unlike a sunfish I can fit three grown adults and a dog in her when I take her out.
But I'm sure that a dinghy will sail better and probably tack a lot nicer. For the price he's asking I am really tempted, even if it means fixing it up. I just don't know much about buying used boats.