1. This is way to espensive for a 25, even with all the goodies. In a couple of years, that stuff won't be new, and you won't get you rmoney back out of it. 2. I prefer a diesel, but if you like gas.... 3. Too expensive for a '77....
To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:29:03 +0000 Subject: [IC27A] Which Catalina I'm getting back into sailing after 30 years away. I'm hoping my wife will get into it as well, but it occurs to me that even if she doesn't, I'M GOING SAILING. It also occurs to me that the ability to single hand may turn out to be pretty important. The intended usage is day sailing in coastal waters most of the time, a short sail to an overnight once a month and a 10 day excursion once a season. After a bit of time spent looking, the best options seem to come down to three. 1. A LOADED 1988 Catalina 25 with 6 hours on it after a SERIOUS refit. I have all the receipts for $28,000 worth of "stuff". He plunked 6 self-tailing winches on the thing! Spent $500 on custom carpet. More electronic goodies than a Best Buy store. New standing rigging, new running rigging with everything running back to the cockpit. Stainless steel framed dodger, biminis for front and rear, you get the idea. Loaded. And a Yamaha 9.9 outboard; brand new, but an outboard. $16,000 2. A 1978 Catalina 27. Standard dual settee interior (which I prefer), dodger but no roller furling, which I really want but can of course add. Atomic 4 gasoline inboard. Otherwise completely stock. $9,700 3. A 1977 Catalina 27. Dinette arrangement, which I can live with. Dodger, roller furling and self tailing winches. Inboard diesel (not sure what make). Inconveniently located. (LONG sail home .. longer really than this rookie would like to make) $12,500 For a whole number of reasons, it's these three, really. I REALLY like the 25, being COMPLETELY ready to go, but am a bit leery of the outboard and leerier still of falling victim to "2 foot itis" within days of buying it. I like the big engine in #2, JUST in case, and being a mechanic and electronics guy, am not at all put off by a gas engine. I like the fact that #3 comes with the "stuff" already there, making it pretty much ready to go. So I'm looking for opinions, and feel confident that asking 10 different sailors will result in 15 different opinions. <G> Thanks for any thoughts. Alan
