Bermuda

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VirginiaSkip
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Joined: 9/25/16
Posts: 2
Bermuda

EDIT
Scratch this post. After thinking it over, I am getting a 36 to learn and enjoy the Bay and environs of the East Coast. The 36 can handle that and that's all I need and plenty space to ensure plenty long distance runs well within the margin of "coastal" sailing. I realize asking about the 36s offshore handling is either putting your skills, time to sail or budget - probably all - outside of their envelope. Yes catalina says rated A for ocean. But I now see this is a Chris Rock style rating. "Just because you can doesn't mean it's a good idea." You can sail a coastal cruiser in the near ocean even inshore things can get rough. The boat WILL handle weather to save your life in those conditions. She wasn't built to sail in them.
Still any advice on buying a 92-93 MKI or late 80s model - what to look for, watch out for, first boat hard lessons- very welcome!
EDIT

Hi everyone. I am new here I have been sailing about 3 years now. Mostly lower Chesapeake Bay. I am about to buy my first boat. I have decided the 36 probably going for a MKI - hopefully somewhere around late 80s to early 90s - is the best candidate for me. I'm in my early 30s so I need a boat pretty much ready to sail as I can't afford to be a marina mariner. The 36 seems to be pretty plentiful, fits my needs and reasonable prices for the model I am looking range about 35k to 50k. At 50k looking pretty much turnkey - at least online.

While I mostly plan to sail on the James and the Bay maybe few ICW trips and short offshore trips -no more than 100 miles - for trips up/down East Coast. I am wondering if anybody has thoughts on bermuda trips with a 36 from east coast - newport, races, cruising, etc, etc?

That's pretty much the max range of my skills I see for the next 10-15 years and that's about how long I plan on having the 36.

Obviously the Bay and east coast is a HUGE playground and I have time to do improvements over years. So it's not a make a break for me and as I live in Norfolk, catching a ride to Bermuda isn't exactly a scare opportunity on other boats. Just an idea of what expectations and goals I can set for myself and my vessel.

The offshore v coastal debate is confusing. I have my own definition (a distance of half days sail at half max theoretical speed). But Bermuda seems close but right onow the line. Apparently a 36 mk2 is running newport bermuda this year.

All help greatly appreciated in advance. Thank you!

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Catboat Willy
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Joined: 12/22/14
Posts: 385

Hi Skip and welcome to the forum;
You ask a tough question and you'll have as many answers to your question as there are folks on the forum! I can share my personal opinion with you having done the Bermuda race twice in a custom 40 foot Britton Chance race boat.
I bought my late 1990 C-36 MK 1 two years ago and have been quite happy with it.Previously, I had a Pearson 365. There are lots of pluses, this forum being a great one. The boat is spacious, well designed and easy to work on. Parts availability is very good. Something that should not be over looked when buying an older model. Resale value is as good as any. With any boat, a good survey is well worth the money. A surveyor sees things that you do not. Figure at least 10% of the purchase price will be spent putting the boat in shape for your taste and your specific needs.
You might start off with a #2 Ticonderoga pencil and a clean sheet of paper. Put down what features you really must have in a boat and what you can live without. For instance, I wanted a walk through transom, propane gas and a 4 cylinder engine.  The boat I bought was the first model year those things were offered. My boat was readied for a trip from the west coast of Florida to the island of Bonaire. It was off shore equipped.

As you look at the C-36, understand what options were offered in the C-36 and from what year they were offered. For instance, some boats have a different designed interiors with different seating and sleeping configurations. Then say what you are going to do with the boat and how often and percentage of time you are going to do it. No sense having a full keel ocean going boat if all you are going to do is sail the Chesapeake and  coastal cruising then perhaps, one day, sail to Bermuda. You'll be slow on the Bay and hate yourself for it. 
As far as off shore work, any boat must be prepared and made ready  for such an undertaking. On almost all boats the rigging must be changed to be more robust, engines must the in top shape, rudders sound and 10,000 other little things you've seldom thought of.  I could go on and on but the C-36 is a good boat even at older age. If form follows function, you'll find the C-36 works. That is why its so very popular. Why not find a few owners in near by marinas and introduce yourself. I've seldom met a man/woman who does not like to talk about his boat...
You can always drop me a personal note here on the forum.
Good luck in your search,
Bill

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

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VirginiaSkip
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Joined: 9/25/16
Posts: 2

CatBoat,

Thanks for the welcome!  I pretty much concluded what you did:  getting a boat that can legitimately put to sea would be: 1. at least - the very absolute least- be double or triple my realistic budget for spending on a boat (at least until that unknown rich uncle dies) 2. I would be crawling along the bay most of the time and the river most of the time, so it's much more important to be able to do 7.5 knots on the Bay to me than to be doing a solid 5 on the one time I go to Bermuda in 10 years on my own - you're absolutely right about that.  I'll wait until my skills and earning  power match my ambition on that one. 

In the meantime, I think you and I have the same tastes in boats, that's exactly the model I want with those features.  The Catalina is still the far and away winner for me at the moment. Model years 92-93.  I'm determined to wait for the next 2-3 years for the right one of those to come on the market and pounce. 

The main issue for me is I'm from Southeastern VA but I've since moved up west of Richmond, so I'm about 130 miles from where I currently sail (i.e. I have a crew membership with a club and rent a little 22' for soloing).  There is a 'marina' in the city of Richmond but it's hardly a 'marina.'  I would say more a transient dock for people who want to run up the James for the day before heading back down river, so I have a lot of options on that as well (dock at a marina with less facilities that I can access in a 30 minute drive OR keep the boat down where I'm from and have a full marina and mooring dock options but have to drive 2 hours to get on the boat).  So unfortunately, I can't talk to many owners - even though my area is littered with Catalina - as they're all about 2 hours away.  So I'll probably become annoying on this forum :)

 

But thanks again and I'll definitely take your advice to heart.  Exciting time but very scary doing something for the first time, especially a boat.  If I mess up and buy a lemon, my wife might divorce me!

 

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