Thoughts on a 1972 Catalina 30 for a first boat?
Posted by NotMonicaLewinsky95@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 40 comments
I've been talking about wanting to own a sail boat for years. There's a Catalina 30 near me with a transferable slip for an asking price of $12,000. It's been remodeled on the interior and seems to be relatively well taken care of. I'm going to view it this weekend and will negotiate on price but I'm hoping for some feedback as a first time buyer. Thanks!
I'll link the listing here for reference.
pakek123@reddit
My first boat was a Catalina 30 (1980). It was a great boat with which to learn how to be a boat owner- the sailing part is fine, but I am really talking about the systems parts. I was never afraid to TRY and fix something, and it was never all that difficult. If i ran into walls, I would call in for pro support, but with that boat, I was always comfortable trying. There is great after market parts support from Catalina Direct and a big group of owners with tips and mods specific to the boat. She sailed well enough and tons of room for a 30 footer. I had mine for 10 years before I moved up to my current J40 (which is far more complicated and far more costly, though I love it). All in all, the C30 is a great boat to get started with. Fair winds to you.
PrizeAnnual2101@reddit
The 30 weak spot is the keel bolts and smile gotta research the specific year to know what to expect
SVLibertine@reddit
Man, a lotta’ hate going down on this post. My first boat, bought at auction in Long Beach was an Ericson 23, no motor, great interior, newer sails, and was $2k. Bought it, then promptly sailed from Long Beach to Dana Point where I lived and had a slip.
My only point…be prudent, do your due diligence, hire a diver to check the hull, and read up on rigging and ground tackle (and failure points). But a $12k boat doesn’t need a full mechanical, electrical, hull, etc. survey if you know what you’re doing.
Buy the boat. Haggle a little. Have fun! This is a “fun” sailboat for bombing around, not a bloody J-Boat.
SweetSeaCaramel@reddit
In the USA hiring a diver is cheaper that crane the boat for 30min?
SVLibertine@reddit
It typically is much cheaper. Also, I dive, so I take care of that aspect on my boats both pre-purchase and post (scrubbing the hull).
For my newest boat purchased a year ago (1985 Ericson 30 Plus), I dove her a day before I met the owner...pounded the hull, brushed off growth easily, and then used the paint condition as a way of beating up on the price. Got it dropped from $12K to $4K, all cash. I basically stole the boat. She's insanely great. "Andiamo!" is her name, which is Italian for "Let's go!"
More Andi photos...
SweetSeaCaramel@reddit
Thanknyou for sharing and nicely done on that negotiation! I speak Italian, Andiamo! is a great name too. She's a beauty inside and out ! I could crane my 25 footer for 80 bucks and a diver would be north of 500 certainly here in Switzerland. My plan for next spring is actually to take the crane on a week day at 11:30 am and have it hang until the port master comes back to work at 13h30. Typically doing the scrubbing, sanding and painting in that time window with one or two friends. Not ideal but good enough for our fresh water lakes. Still haven't posted pictures of my boat yet. It's my first sailing boat, a 1973 Rawell Rebell mkii built in germany that already proved herself in the med! Port slip availability is so bad in here that I got her delivered, remasted and rigged with a perfectly serviced inboard (in a well) and 4 almost brand new sails. The previous owner was so happy to not have to scrap her. He will be visiting her and sailing with me every now and then. Markets can be so different from a place to another...
SVLibertine@reddit
Definitely post photos of the haulout and cleanup. Congrats!
vtrac@reddit
Wow. That interior looks amazing - better than many newer boats.
NotMonicaLewinsky95@reddit (OP)
Totally agree, that's what really caught my eye. There are a couple others in the market around the same price but none look to be as nice as this one.
FlickrPaul@reddit
The stuff you are seeing in the pictures matter less than how the stuff behind it looks.
The bones are more important than the skin.
Do not let a good looking interior fool you.
vtrac@reddit
It's likely that if someone went through the trouble of restoring that interior, they probably kept up the rest of it as well. But yeah, get the survey done.
FlickrPaul@reddit
They also went through the trouble of covering all of the wood with a wrap which makes me wonder why.
This is what a good looking Cat 30 interior looks like:
SweetSeaCaramel@reddit
The difference in looks is so stark I would definitely think it was intentional. Sadly. Still needs to be checked though.
NotMonicaLewinsky95@reddit (OP)
Fully agree, hence why I will have a survey done.
overthehillhat@reddit
Designer standards at that time were using more 'glas in the hulls
and also better resins --
the thru hull cores drilled for the instruments
were surprisingly thick and bullet proof
overthehillhat@reddit
When this boat first hit the boat shows
It was called 'The WoW boat'
Someone would look thru the companionway at the interior
And exclaim ''WOW''
IntelligentPension12@reddit
Yall taking about a survey on a $12,000 boat 🤣🤣🤣 Catalina 30’s are comfortable and stiff, amazing first boat. I wouldn’t buy one that didn’t have the diesel though. Survey a $30,000 boat for sure but a $12k boat, you should expect some issues. And unless you’re going to be racing it or sailing it around the world, you’re not likely to have anything serious crop up. Hell it’s worth the $12k just to get the slip in the PNW.
Venture419@reddit
Yes, a hull survey, engine survey, rigging survey, mold analysis, tank survey, prop survey, bonding check, lightening arrrestor check, asbestos check, lead keel radiation check and also radon ;) the tests will be about $12k but you can never be too sure!
This owner lavished attention on the boat. No one goes to this level of detail on a 30ft boat unless they intend to keep it. It is certainly possible it could have a bunch of things wrong with it but if the mission is sailing in the Seattle area + San Juan’s you could not ask for a better locale for services and expertise.
I would buy it and enjoy the wonderful late summer/fall season. State Farm usually does not require surveys. Also Progressive. If they are on the fence send them photos ;)
After you buy it keep us updated on your sailing adventures.
IntelligentPension12@reddit
Surveys: The best way to guarantee everyone goes into $70,000 of debt for a starter boat.
Venture419@reddit
Yes, I think we both agree that the surveys would recommend replacing all standing and running rigging, the keel, rudder rebuild, sail replacement, complete electrical wiring replacement, lifelines, anchor and windlass with a chain regalvanizing. It is also customary to haul out and let the hull dry out for 6 months, then peel back and apply new glass with barrier epoxy.
Obviously needs about 20 coats of varnish on the bright work, awlgrip on the hull. I would not risk going out of the marina without removing the cabin top and rebedding the top to the hull. With the cabin top off it will be easier to rewire the entire boat with modern standard wire, repanel and replace all electrical terminations. Of course all fluid hoses, clamps and thru hull fittings.
It is bad luck to use old sails so these will need to be replaced along with the boom. Winches have a 4 year service lifetime as long as the weekly greasing has been documented.
The diesel has 500 hrs on it and likely has not run in weeks so it will need an overhaul or replacement. Props should be replaced annually in seawater. Cutlass bearings every 6 months. The prop shaft packing is replaced weekly but the prop shaft can go 2 years between replacement provide the engine mounts are replaced every 3 months and the drive train was professionally aligned.
Most good surveys will recommend a professional righting moment test if you are sailing in anything more than light chop. Will need an autopilot and a backup autopilot linked to a chart plotter in the cockpit and in the head. AIS transponder, life raft, emergency beacons and a starlink system with an iridium backup.
In the Everett Wa area you may wait days for rescue - should have provisions for a week, an immersion suit for all crew + a water maker and a hydroponic seed kit for growing fresh vegetables while awaiting rescue.
Many people skip hiring a professional gel coat pinhole filler and regret it later.
I bought my first boat 20 years ago and am just now wrapping up the survey recommendations so I know what I am talking about ;)
IP12, in all seriousness I would go out and sail that boat any day and if something happened to maybe start to break I would fix it. I think you would do the exact same.
I would negotiate some post sale sailing with the seller to pick their brain on what they have done and why. I am sure like any boat there are thousand of dollars of stuff that could be done - how much of it needs to be done, if any?
Popeye-SailorMan@reddit
Funny. Good dig on surveyors.
Venture419@reddit
Thanks. Survey’s are important and often required but for a 12k, 30 ft boat with few systems I would skip it and go sailing. ;)
george_graves@reddit
I started with a 27. Wish I had started with a 22. And every old salt I tell that to shakes their head up and down and says...yep. Start small. Enjoy the freedom a small boat gives you - skipping that is like getting married in high school. It doesn't make sense.
MaterialEgg5373@reddit
I bought a 1971 Pearson 30 a few years back. $13k. Newish diesel, sails and standing rigging. I replaced running rigging and cockpit cushions. And installed a roller furler. Sailed her for 6 years on Puget sound…good experience. Sold her for $13k. So I guess I’m saying it can be good buying a well maintained old boat.
Pale-Egg-251@reddit
Your $12k Catalina will cost you another $4-8k to replace the rigging and lifelines plus chain plates… I can guarantee you they haven’t been done. Plan on another 5-10k if you hire someone to do the work instead of yourself. The masthead and base will need to be replaced. The electrical is probably toast. Where to start. A $12k Catalina will take another 50k to make safe and reliable. Many people prefer cheap to safe and reliable.
vulkoriscoming@reddit
I have a 1986 Catalina 25 that I love. I had an 11 foot boat before it, but it was my first "big boat". It has not been hard to handle. My friend has a Catalina 31. From a handling standpoint, it seems about the same
Ybor_Rooster@reddit
The Honda Accord of sailboats
FvanSnowchaser@reddit
I did the same thing recently. 1974 Erickson 32-2 for $12,000 with slip (5 year wait list). Marina requires insurance and it was pretty hard to get insurance on a 50 year old boat. State Farm did it without a survey thankfully,
ruxing@reddit
Nice find! Love the remodel in the cabin. Looks like a nice boat. Like everyone else has said, get a survey or a few extra eyes to go over it. But, seems like a great deal!
Dstegs_@reddit
My first boat was a Cat 30 ‘77. Super fun to sail and boomy if you plan to live aboard. Def get it surveyed!
danielt1263@reddit
For $12k, I would get a brand new dinghy rather than a 50 year old 30 footer. But you do you.
OrneryJavelina@reddit
Looks like a great first boat. Research the “Catalina smile” and consider getting a survey before making a decision.
NotMonicaLewinsky95@reddit (OP)
Great info, thank you
2lovesFL@reddit
That's the main thing to check, keel bolts and keel seal.
if they did the engine, probably took care of the keel, but get a survey
2lovesFL@reddit
c30 is a great big little boat. this one has a diesel too.
Emergency-Doughnut88@reddit
Probably not bad for a first boat, but the age means you need to really look it over for condition. If possible, get a survey done or bring a friend that knows what to look for. Soft spots in the deck or rot at the bulkheads can be very expensive to fix.
NotMonicaLewinsky95@reddit (OP)
Thank you! I've been planning to get a survey done as most boats I'm looking at are from the 70s-80s.
Serious-Catch-5523@reddit
1976
NotMonicaLewinsky95@reddit (OP)
Oh duh, I don't know how I missed that. Thank you.
Serious-Catch-5523@reddit
Great idea 💡