Want To Buy: Girlfriend and I are looking for a home. 32' - 40'

[sainted]

Originally Posted by jwcolby54

Right down your alley?

1982 C&C Landfall 37 Ft Sailboat

The landfall is a great boat. At $10k, it would be a fabulous deal if the engine and rig is in decent shape.

[hamburking]

OK...my turn:

In the water ready to go this weekend | sailboats | Kingston | Kijiji

Asking $15k cdn... = $12,000 usd asking price.

And its a seriously nice boat.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by sainted

The landfall is a great boat. At $10k, it would be a fabulous deal if the engine and rig is in decent shape.

That's a lot of boat for the money. There are some deals out there if you're willing to do the leg work.

[BlueDream420]

Thank you everybody for your responses and input.

Also thanks for your opinions. I will ignore them.

20k is an absolute budget for an absolute perfect boat (perfect for us, not you) however around 15k is ideal.

I do not have time or money to travel around (out of state) searching for a boat. I also do not have time or money to sail a boat home from somewhere else. My girlfriend and I both have jobs and cannot take off for work like that. Some of you can afford to do that, cool, I can't.

That being said....does anyone know an honest somewhat affordable surveyor in Maryland?

[Scout 30]

You can get a list of surveyors in your area from Boat US. If you get insurance with them they will accept a survey from anyone on that list.

[Azul]

You are in the perfect location to find a good boat at a good price, although this is the worst time of year to buy. I was temporarily stuck in Ohio when I was looking for my boat (along the entire east coast as I was planning to keep it in NC) and I found mine on Craigslist Eastern Shores. To get the really good deals you have to know what you are looking for and read the ads every day. Mine was posted during the night and by 8AM there were already three calls. The owner had become disabled from a bad back and just wanted to get rid of it in a hurry. I asked the owner to hold the boat for me and drove nine hours to see it, then spent several days checking the boat out, including staying on it during a rainstorm. I paid his asking price minus the cost of an alternator, the only thing that wasn't as advertised.

I have read too many horror stories of incompetent surveys to trust a surveyor, especially on a budget boat. Make an offer, then do a self-survey, then hire a surveyor if you feel the need to confirm your findings. You can learn about what to look for on this forum, on reviews about the specific boat type and by reading blogs on extensive restorations.

You should be able to buy a very nice boat in your price range especially if you are willing to clean, fix a few things and update the cosmetics. Look for a slightly neglected classic with good bones that is over-equipped and has a good diesel. BTW, the surveyor probably won't even bother to check out the diesel or the rigging... they put a disclaimer on that and you have to hire a specialist. I was about 40 miles from Annapolis and couldn't find a single diesel mechanic that would inspect a small sailboat diesel even offering $100 per hour, it didn't seem worth their time so I had to read up on that as well. With a budget boat, you should keep in mind you are buying a good diesel with a boat thrown in- diesels are that expensive to replace.

[wedoboats]

So here's a thought. I have a 34' SeaRay (lots of pictures) my customer (I do marine repair) has no time for her and wants to sell her. She is a 34' 1988 SeaRay Express. Only 530 hours (see what I mean...no time to rack up the hours) Twin 454 Mercruiser. She was a fresh water boat, stored inside and covered.... and is really spacious, plenty of storage. would you consider something like this? I can send pictures. He is asking 19,995.
Cheers,
Susan
262-305-3608

[sailpower]

Originally Posted by jwcolby54

And I recommend the older hunter 33s. They are good solid boats and there are LOTS of them available in the OP price range.

This is just on YachtWorld. Others out there.

Hunter 33 Boats For Sale

I am curious how you know that? Have you ever sailed one?

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by wedoboats

So here's a thought. I have a 34' SeaRay

Don't do it... How much to fill the tanks...$500 for a weekend? Stay gold, go sailboat. Getting there (incredibly slowly) is half the fun.

[hamburking]

Here's another one, going super cheap, not far from you:

1983 Hunter 34' Sailboat Recent Appraisal Available New Jersey | eBay

Its such a good deal, I may have to buy it myself...but what would I do with two boats?

[Scout 30]

In case you haven't realized it yet, stating you are not interested in a Hunter is the best way to have a lot of people recommend Hunters. If I was you the next time I'd say,"I am absolutely not interested in a free Hinckley"!

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by wedoboats

So here's a thought. I have a 34' SeaRay (lots of pictures) my customer (I do marine repair) has no time for her and wants to sell her. She is a 34' 1988 SeaRay Express. Only 530 hours (see what I mean...no time to rack up the hours) Twin 454 Mercruiser. She was a fresh water boat, stored inside and covered.... and is really spacious, plenty of storage. would you consider something like this? I can send pictures. He is asking 19,995.
Cheers,
Susan
262-305-3608

Just what you need, a boat that measures gallons per mile instead of miles per gallon.

[jwcolby54]

Originally Posted by Scout 30

In case you haven't realized it yet, stating you are not interested in a Hunter is the best way to have a lot of people recommend Hunters. If I was you the next time I'd say,"I am absolutely not interested in a free Hinckley"!

LOL I hear ya. At least I am not telling him to go to Louisiana to see it.

[BlueDream420]

Originally Posted by SKI

search for "grab bag sailboats" It's a small brokerage just south of Annapolis. They kinda specialize in the boats your looking for. There's a 37' oday center cockpit there now that could be worth looking into. I don't know them and have never bought a boat from them but check their site often to see what they have. Hope this helps out some.

THIS IS GOLD. THANK YOU

My girlfriend and I drove down here today, nice selection of cute boats, and Greg was super friendly and helpful. Pretty sure we found the boat we are going to purchase also. Is is a 1977 s2 9.2c, awesome layout, although LOA is only 29ft 11in, it was roomier than that 37' cc oday that we checked out. heres the link to the boat, what do you guys think?

Grab Bag Sailboats

Very clean and solid and a solid survey from a year ago(still gonna have another done). New wiring, self charging electric propulsion system, bottom paint, and its clean! The owner is in Spain and will most likely let it go for less than the asking price. On the website its listed as 15,900 Greg said the guy just wants to sell it though. Would 10k be a fair offer?

[SaucySailoress]

Originally Posted by BlueDream420

THIS IS GOLD. THANK YOU

My girlfriend and I drove down here today, nice selection of cute boats, and Greg was super friendly and helpful. Pretty sure we found the boat we are going to purchase also. Is is a 1977 s2 9.2c, awesome layout, although LOA is only 29ft 11in, it was roomier than that 37' cc oday that we checked out. heres the link to the boat, what do you guys think?

Grab Bag Sailboats

Very clean and solid and a solid survey from a year ago(still gonna have another done). New wiring, self charging electric propulsion system, bottom paint, and its clean! The owner is in Spain and will most likely let it go for less than the asking price. On the website its listed as 15,900 Greg said the guy just wants to sell it though. Would 10k be a fair offer?

I'm not familiar with the boating market in The US at the moment, I guess it all depends on supply and demand. If a guy needs money badly enough and needs to get rid of his assets (as well as liabilities, hard stands cost money) then you can squeeze his balls pretty hard since he's probably already on his knees.... Karma never stops going round doing her thing though, and it's your bum she'll bite if you tempt her, so offer what YOU think is a fair price! Good luck!