Want To Buy: 33FT Cruising Sailboat On A $30k Budget

[Sailboat Story]

I've had my eye on a CSY33 somewhere in West FL. It's just a touch outside of our reach financially though. Seems like a really solid boat. The biggest drawback for us is the lack of a quarter berth - but we were also considering the Pearson 35s - I suppose we would just work around the sleeping arrangement issue. I wouldn't pass up a great boat over that.

[Don C L]

I'd second the Tartan 34C. Or another classic S&S design... but personally I'd look for a boat that sails well and then find the ways to live on it comfortably rather than find a comfortable boat and find a way to make it sail well. But that's just me. 12+ foot beam on 33' boat is pretty wide, unless its a Nonsuch or something like that... again, that's just my humble opinion...

[brucep2100]

We're thinking of selling our 1982 Sabre 34 MkI.
-masthead sloop rig
-Keel CB - 4'/7.5'
-wheel
-spade rudder
- westerbeke 27
- fuel/water/holding = 20/40/30
- vberth, two settees, one a double in main cabin, quarter berth.
- 2 burner cng stove with oven
-bimini and recent dodger
- recent main with Dutchman
-Raymarine autopilot
- no AC, no refrigeration
- spi with sock
- 30A shorepower
- 2nd owner
Location-Stamford, CT. Asking 32,999

[CSY Man]

Originally Posted by Sailboat Story

I've had my eye on a CSY33 somewhere in West FL. It's just a touch outside of our reach financially though. Seems like a really solid boat. The biggest drawback for us is the lack of a quarter berth - but we were also considering the Pearson 35s - I suppose we would just work around the sleeping arrangement issue. I wouldn't pass up a great boat over that.

Instead of the quarter berth on a CSY 33, you have tons of storage.
Previous owners of my boat lived on it for 5 years cruising between South American and the NE coast of the US.
Owners before that couple sailed across the Atlantic and cruised the Med a few years before they sailed back to Florida.
Great boats and you can occasionally find one for $25k

[Jack Lahr]

A Tartan 33 or 34 could respond to your general criteria.

[Bay Breeze]

Originally Posted by smj

In that size range I would be looking for a Freedom 33 with a centerboard. They seem to be quite roomy for a 33'er, well built and no standing rigging to worry about.


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We had a Freedom 28 CB cat ketch for many years - agree that the 33 would be a good fit for this bill. Loved ours!

[sagablu]

A bit out of the price range but might be negotiable. The season is ending in the NE in another couple months, so might be negotiable.

FREEDOM 36 1986 CRUISING SAILBOAT

[SaltyMonkey]

I like freedoms but watch out for delam. Cat ketches are nice

[CampDavid]

Lots of ideas on how to spend your money. Remember you can't buy the wrong boat cheap enough and when you see the right boat it will be more than you want to spend.

A friend of mine bought an Ontario 32 a few years ago for under 20k. Thought he got a great deal. First year he spend just short of the purchase price on upgrades.

What does he have now. A boat worth just over 20k. Not good math.



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[josmason]

Ben, we have an 31' Island Packet which has all you want except an Auto-pilot. We are in St. Pete Beach just 3 hrs east of Melbourne. The boat is for sale with Massey. It is a bit above your price point. We have redone the interior and the engine has been recently rebuilt and she does not look like a 1988 vessel any more and sails wonderfully. Please look up Massey Yachts and look for Dreamtime. Send me a PM for other details.

[SaltyMonkey]

31' Island Packet near or about 30K? Thats a great deal

[Sailboat Story]

CampDavid - Yes, I don't want to end up in the same situation. Being in Real Estate, I am already kinda thinking "exit strategy", although I certainly know that boats are certainly not an investment in the vast majority of cases. I don't expect to get all my money back, I just want to start off with a boat that's in good shape concerning the big ticket items, then spend the money on the adventure and maintenance instead of unnecessary upgrades.

I'm much more concerned about the basics (hull, rig, sails, engine, etc) than the luxury items (fridge, AC, electronics, etc). I'm not at all interested in paying a premium for the fancy stuff. If the seller of a boat is looking for a premium price because of all the bells and whistles they added - there's no chance of a deal there.

On a similar note, I've talked to quite a few sellers whose prices are so ridiculous that all I can think of is that they are looking for a greater fool who will bail them out of their own mistake. i.e. - They paid too much.

I've seen a few boats so far that are teasingly close to what we want, but they're just a bit off in a design sort of way that can't be easily (and cost effectively) remedied.

[SqPeg]

We bought a 1990 Hunter Vision 32 as boating newbies several years ago. It was in your price range and spent its days in the Great Lakes. It's a free standing rig so no stays to worry about or trip over. 11.5 foot beam. shoal draft, sleeps 6, 30 hp diesel. No speedster but comfortable cruiser. However, in this price bracket you are going to have to do some work. We reconditioned the sails, replaced some running rigging, and all the batteries.

Good Luck.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

31' Island Packet near or about 30K? Thats a great deal

What I was thinking, I went to look and didn't find it, seemed to be no way to search by builder

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by smj

In that size range I would be looking for a Freedom 33 with a centerboard. They seem to be quite roomy for a 33'er, well built and no standing rigging to worry about.


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Also the Freedom 32. They are a very big small yacht that have 2 seperate cabins and do most things quite well.

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