Boats Less Than $30K Recent Noteworthy Finds

[jpendoley]

good thing I’m up to my eyeballs in alligators or I would be sorely tempted

[SuW]

1976 Bayfield 32 in East Richmond, BC, Canada. $19.kK Canadian (about $14.5K US).

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/del...age/1642459051

This is the older version of the Bayfield 32, without the long bow platform.

Good: Newish engine and sails, batteries. Cutter rig, two furlers. Cockpit enclosure. Hot water. Diesel cook stove. Companionway doors. Dinghy, engine and engine crane.

Not good: V-berth cushions & covers look original. Saloon upholstery. Interior is shabby. All woodwork needs cleaning/refinishing. Pilot berth/nav. station cushions may be missing. Perhaps fixed ports in saloon.

This is a good price for a usable boat especially in BC.
(Mooring and storage is expensive in this area.)

[SuW]

1985 CS33 $31.5K Canadian (<$24K US) in Midland, Ontario (Georgian Bay).

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/bar...cdn/1635901665

This is another decent-looking boat. They have a good reputation as good cruisers.

Newish engine, usual gear, composting head.

And it's close to great cruising grounds - The Thirty Thousand Islands.

[Celestialsailor]

Downeaster 38 ** Price reduced - $20,000 (Bodega Bay)


https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/boa/7563956818.html

[Celestialsailor]

1974 Rafiki 37 - $25,000 (Santa Cruz)

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/boa/7564504128.html

[scandium]

Can we do an inflation adjustment to this thread? Since it was started in 2015, the 30,000 has now grown to $37,720 in 2022 dollars. At least if we want to stay in the same "price bracket"..

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by scandium

Can we do an inflation adjustment to this thread? Since it was started in 2015, the 30,000 has now grown to $37,720 in 2022 dollars. At least if we want to stay in the same "price bracket"..

Why change something that works becide there are many boats posted in these pages that are up to 40k

[Celestialsailor]

My personal feeling is that there are plenty of good vessels out there for under $30K. Although you have to weed through them. Prior to me buying my Pearson 365, I had to kiss a few frogs first before I found..."the deal". My income does not keep up with inflation, so my dollar does not go as far as it use to. I would guess 1% of the people here actually are looking for a boat and the others enjoy the content.

[SuW]

I'm not gonna complain if someone wants to show us a boat that's slightly more expensive...

Celestialsailor: Those two boats, the Rafiki 37 and the Downeaster 38 look pretty good, for someone who wants to sail the Pacific!

Rebuilding the bowsprit on the Downeaster with aluminum looks to be an improvement.

[shrspeedblade]

Originally Posted by SuW

I'm not gonna complain if someone wants to show us a boat that's slightly more expensive...

Celestialsailor: Those two boats, the Rafiki 37 and the Downeaster 38 look pretty good, for someone who wants to sail the Pacific!

Rebuilding the bowsprit on the Downeaster with aluminum looks to be an improvement.

I'm relatively close and would love to go look at that Downeaster, as I've been interested in them as a budget cruiser but have never seen one in person. However, I feel guilty taking up someone's time when I'm almost certain not to buy it!

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by shrspeedblade

I'm relatively close and would love to go look at that Downeaster, as I've been interested in them as a budget cruiser but have never seen one in person. However, I feel guilty taking up someone's time when I'm almost certain not to buy it!

Just be upfront with them. Most sailors love showing off their boats

[SuW]

Originally Posted by shrspeedblade

I'm relatively close and would love to go look at that Downeaster, as I've been interested in them as a budget cruiser but have never seen one in person. However, I feel guilty taking up someone's time when I'm almost certain not to buy it!

When we bought our first "big" boat, we travelled all over US/Canada looking at every example that came up for sale. This took a couple of years, but taught us an enormous amount.

Quite often, I learn something new even just by looking at photos on a boat listing, however you have to actually get on board to see the real picture, to understand if this kind of boat is usable for you.

Some boats we thought were great in pictures had cockpits too short, berths too short, or seats too high with an uncomfortably short squab. Some had rust in weird places. And a sense of smell is highly important...

That Downeaster ready to install a composting head seems pretty good.

[SuW]

1980 Hunter 36 for sale in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. $36K Canadian (about $26K US).
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/van...ico/1643643906
Probably for sale by a Canadian.

Not much detail about the engine, but it does seems to have a new electrical system and instruments, and plumbing. Not enough pictures of the exterior but it has a hard top dodger.

Although old, these are quite comfortable boats. The interior looks good. If it has an engine that is newer than the boat it might be worth a look, if you happen to be in SoCal/Mexico.

[shrspeedblade]

Fuji 35 project that would be a gem for the right person:
(In Vallejo, CA, $5500)

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/boa/7568655180.html

I'm happy with my boat, I need to stop looking at boat listings, it's a disease!

[Celestialsailor]

https://www.latitude38.com/advert/ta...7-mk-2-cutter/