↵Hello,
I am a new member and thank you for this great forum, it helped me to decide I want a Catalina 36 :)
I have been dreaming to own a sail boat for a long time now, a couple of months ago I decided it was the time to act!
Right now I have been looking for last couple of weeks on which boat I am going to present my first offer.
You can find below the 3 first boats to be my top choices. I like them equally, even if I have a small preference for the one in Marina Del Rey even if the number of hours on the engine is a bit higher than the other one.
Since it's the first time I am going to present an offer on a boat, I would like to get your feedback and let me know what you will advise to do from there and how.
catalina 36 1989 marina del rey ($49,500):
- http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1989/Catalina-36-2943235/Marina-del-Rey/CA/United-States?utm_campaign=em_pbs_yw#.VuL26dUrKRt
- very clean boat, a lot of equipment on deck (blocks, spinnaker pole)
- I like the stack pack other have a more traditional main cover
- electrical head
- a bit over 2,000 hours
- added recently on the market? maybe more difficult to negotiate the price
- I think bought ~$45k 4 years ago, not much added base on the 2012 survey, it kept a good value :)
- already in Marina Del Rey, kind of advantage, but not huge
catalina 36 1989 santa barbara ($47,000):
- https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1989/Catalina--2788153/Santa-Barbara/CA/United-States#.VvAiE5YrKRt
- can be a nice alternative to the one in Marina Del Rey if I am not able to negotiate the price
- nice boat, no electronic equipment, no outboard, no dinghy
- top hull paint very good (better than the one in MDR)
- new running rigging (so I would like to hope the standing rigging is still very good too :))
- 1,000 hours
- on the market for over 6 months
- when was the last the bottom was down? check for the last survey
catalina 36 1989 ventura ($54,000):
- http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1989/Catalina-36-2909519/Oxnard/CA/United-States#.VvdmTMkrKRv
- new engine!
- outboard and dinghy
- not much equipment
- very clean, but more expensive even if the broker said I still should do an offer
Below few more boats we have been visiting, but I don't think we will go further with them.
catalina 34 1988 marina del rey ($39,900):
- http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1988/Catalina-34-Tall-Rig-2920635/Marina-Del-Rey/Ecuador#.VvAh-pYrKRv
- nice but headroom is very low, definitely prefers the 36, but the price of the 34 is more in my budget
- aft berth way better than the catalina 36, will still go for a 36 because of the headroom
catalina 36 1983 ventura ($34,500):
- http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1983/Catalina-36-2887916/Ventura/CA/United-States#.Vu9q2ZYrKRt
- mainsail cover to change (stack pack?)
- gel coat + wax: top + hull
- not well maintained
- roller furler looks new
- no electronic at all, what looks like a positive point in my case, since it’s my main hobby and it’s something I want to upgrade
- look like too much work to be done on it
- on the market for a while now
catalina 36 1988 san diego ($49,900):
- https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1988/Catalina-Sloop-2946631/San-diego/CA/United-States#.Vu_WaJYrKRs
- a potential boat to go to see a bit more south
Thanks again to have a so great forum! Looking forward to join the community :)
Ludovic François
Hotel Catalina - Catalina 36 Hull #883
Marina Del Rey, CA
Ludo,
Welcome to the C36/375IA. Looking over you selection they would all appear to be good boats.As to 2000 hours on an engine I would not worry too much as they say thes engines are good for 3600 hours before much if anything would be required to repair.If you have concerns about an engine than I would go with the one that has the new engine. Electronics and upgrades can be completed by yourself within time. The assets of this organization and wealth of knowledge already available will assist you going forward.
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
Ludo, I am more than somewhat obsessive-compulsive, but to 'level the playing field' when choosing our 1991 C36 I actually created a spreadsheet (attached) and listed ALL the features each boat had and assigned a value of what it might cost us to both build and install each feature. This then gave me a fairly accurate read on what the real value of each boat was to us. Some features are more important (valuable) to one person than another, so it is a personalized list, but it did allow me to 'short list' the boats with precision for our needs, as well as argue the value with the sellers with more certainty than would normally be the case (many sellers unrealistically price their vessels based upon their emotional attachment and unrealistic expectations: "I heard a similar boat sold for $NNN,NNN!").
Check out the spreadsheet if you like. We ended up getting a real 'steal' on the vessel in Manitowoc, WI (and the Admiral decided she wanted the walk-thru transom that came out in '91) and bought it sight-unseen (we'd seen many C36s by that point and had an inspector look it over and send detailed photos) and then had it shipped to Toronto last April. The C36 is an amazingly good layout inside and out and is a lovely boat to sail and use as a 'floating cottage'. Good luck with your shopping!
Kevin Lenard
"Firefly"
'91 C-36 Mk. "1.5" Tall Rig, Fin Keel, Hull #1120, Universal M-35 original (not "A" or "B")
CBYC, Scarborough, Lake Ontario, Canada
Hi Kevin! Thank you for your document it's helping me a lot! :)
Ludovic François
Hotel Catalina - Catalina 36 Hull #883
Marina Del Rey, CA
I'd be patient... when you have the bug, it's hard to hold off... but the more boats you look at, the better idea you'll have of what's out there and relative values. I had my eye set on a 36 MKII... I looked around for a while, looked a handful of boats between Long Beach and Santa Barbara. I actually made an offer on one and the seller balked, when my broker called me and told me of a new listing that I should go see. That ended up being my boat. A nearly mint MKII at a really great price. I almost jumped on several boats before that and I'm so glad I just waited a bit.
However, if you're really into one of those, and chomping at the bit, go see them and really look at the little details. It doesn't matter if there's new engine but the rest of the boat hasn't been well kept.
For reference... by buddy picked up a 86 - 89 (not sure exactly the year) in MDR last year for less than any of those listings. It's in pretty good shape, but needed a bit of TLC... canvas, autopilot, etc. But the engine, sails, rigging, interior and all the important stuff was in good shape.
Jake Z
five o'clock somewhere
2000 Catalina 36 MKII
Hull #1836
Ludo, doesn't look like you listed this one. I know the owner well. Sailed Mexico for 3 years on it and put a fortune into upgrades. He's dropped the asking almost $20,000. If I was in the market, this is a steal.http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_detail.jsp?&units=Feet&id...
I have a "vintage" ('85) MKI, and love it. Get one in good shape at a good price and customize yourself.
Phil L
Southern Cross
Channel Islands, CA
C36MKI #400
Hi Phil!
Actually I thought you were talking about the one I listed it above in Ventura. The one of your friend, the broker was not really motivated to show it to us when I asked for it! He told us it was in way worse condition than the boat in Ventura, and I didn't push for it.
About the one in Ventura at $34,500, it scared me a bit (to see the face of my girl friend :)) since I never owned a boat before, I had the feeling it will be a lot of work to do on it before to get something as good as the boats around $45k.
The deck has a lot of small cracks and something was fixed on the starboard side of the deck but not sure what and why, I asked for the broker about more information, but he never got back to me. Just a patch of a different color on the starboard side.
So I started to check how much will be to get it painted top hull and also to get the deck fixed and I realized, it was maybe too much for a first boat.
You can find my comments below:
catalina 36 1983 ventura ($34,500):
Ludovic François
Hotel Catalina - Catalina 36 Hull #883
Marina Del Rey, CA
Aloha Lugo, I am Phil's friend and the owner of the 1983 Catalina 36, Hull #119 sailing vessel Sweet Lorraine. Give me a call 805-218-4711, I can fill you all in about these boats, I bought mine in 2000 and looked at boats from San Diego to Santa Barbara, bought this one in Los Alimitos, CA.
You are going to buy the boat you want to buy, however, if you buy one before you pick my brain your blowing it; in my humble opinion, forget buying my boat. your a new boating owner; and it most likely is TOO MUCH boat for you; systems wise. . however it is so loaded with upgrades (below decks auto pilot with flux gate compass, ram drive with nav computer, break out another $6000 installed 06) and type it would take you years to figure out they even make sense let along life so much easier, simple with less breakdowns. I never thought i would sell my boat, I absolutely love my boat, Shed a few tears before I flew back home to KONA, thats why she is for sale. I now live in Marlin country, no place to drop a hook over night. I am moving over to the dark side. Good like on your adventures, I look forward to hearing from. Mahalos,
Capt. Dave Leiws
Make it a great day!
Not sure why you would want to paint it. A mid-80's Catalina, while a good boat, is going to show her age, now matter how much TLC you give it. But it can still look good.
Phil L
Southern Cross
Channel Islands, CA
C36MKI #400
Made some progress on my boat search! After a couple of offers not going where I wanted them to go, I finally went to the next step on Hotel Catalina with a very instructive survey.
You can find in this document here the survey (I wanted to upload the document, but it seems it is just over the size allowed)
My accepted offer was at $41k, but based on the report of Ross (who I highly recommend), I am going to reduce my offer. What do you think about it?
This are the main point I am worried about based on this report:
Did I miss anything else in the report I should be worried about? My goal is to give a $37k offer as is on this boat, does it look fair?
Ludovic François
Hotel Catalina - Catalina 36 Hull #883
Marina Del Rey, CA
Check the classified ad, there is a Genoa for sale along with a main sail as well.
Also I would consider going back to the original stuffing box with the new gortex flax that is available now. This would be fairly easy to do while replacing the cutlass bearing.. While on this subject I would have a good look at the strut as well.The metal may look OK but the bronze cast style eventually through age will basically crumble
I believe I would be a bit more concerned about the surveyors comment on blistering and how severe it might be. This could be the most expensive item on the surveyors list. .
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
I second what GaryB says. I chose to stay with the stuffing box. If properly adjusted, the very small drip is not a problem.
If I may suggest. Don't cheap out on the surveyor. Have the surveyor create prioritized maintenance/replace list. Use that work list to establish your spend plan over the first years of ownership. There is a large list of upgrades you can do. Many will take money from the maintenance that should be done list.
Rob Kibler
s/v "Meander"
2003 C36 MKII #2124
[quote=ludo]
This are the main point I am worried about based on this report:
Did I miss anything else in the report ?[/quote]
I also agree with Gary, with some provisos.
As to your second bullet, the cutlass bearing is not a huge repair (I've done it twice -- the C36 Association has a free loaner tool for removing and replacing it), and aligning the engine is routine maintenance that is neither a big job nor hard to learn (but VERY important, because, among other things, a prop shaft rubbing against the tube because of misalignment can eventually wear away the shaft tube, and take it from those of us who've done it that this a very nasty repair job-- see www.catalina36.org/forum/technical-discussion/shaft-tube-removal ).
But to expand a little on Gary's point about going back to the original stuffing box instead of replacing the PSS (so that you don't ever have to go through this again in another 6 years): Unless the boat has a split flange (as we now do on ours) removing the shaft (which you need to do to replace the PSS) can be a real bear -- mostly depending on how difficult it is to remove the coupling flange from the end of the prop shaft. I had to remove the shaft for a different reason, and successfully got the flange off using the technique described here -- www.catalina36.org/comment/56224#comment-56224 -- but it was very time consuming and tedious work in a very confined space; moreover it apparently has some potential risks, as one of our fellow sailors unfortunately apparently discovered recently (www.catalina36.org/forum/technical-discussion/hurth-transmission-bent-fingers-coupling ). The better way is probably to cut off the old coupling flange and replace it with a split flange. I know there are many who greatly prefer the PSS because of the drip-free aspect, but I've found the traditional stuffing box works quite well with the Gore packing, and when its time to replace the packing I've done it with the boat in the water, no haul-out required.
Oops. Sorry for the digression. Anyway, as to the survey's statement that "The hull was found with many blisters which are quite common for this manufacturer and model"; we've never found blisters on our '85 boat in 6 years of ownership (and thus never had the pleasure of attempting to cure them), nor have I seen much discussion of this as a problem on the forums. So I'm not sure if they are "quite common" for our boats, but if there are indeed many blisters, I'd certainly want to get a sense as to how much time or cost this will be to remedy.
Lastly, there was a mention on the survey that the LPG tank needs to have a safe enclosure. Again I can't offer experienced advice on this since our boat is one of the minority that uses CNG (which doesn't strictly require this because its lighter than air), but from what I've read over the years I gather that the separate vented enclosure is is a very important safety concern with LPG. The later model C36s were build with a separate vented well for the LPG tank; I would imagine you should try to cost out what it will take to retrofit something appropriate for this boat.
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
If the boat comes with a manual Jabsco head. Before replacing try rebuilding it. Lots of parts for these heads. http://jabscotech.com/ also has lots of good instructional video to refer too.
Rob Kibler
s/v "Meander"
2003 C36 MKII #2124
My boat is on the hard now and they are replacing the PSS dripless cutlass bearing. $470 all in.
It must be a pretty stellar boat. $41K for an '88 I would think would be the upper range.
Phil L
Southern Cross
Channel Islands, CA
C36MKI #400