Learning by Doing on a $5,000 Catalina 30 Mk II

A $5,000 Catalina 30 Mk II gives two new Florida sailors a hands-on education in boat repairs, refit costs and what it takes to reach the Bahamas.

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Six people aboard a Catalina 30 is doable, but it’s a tight squeeze. Four makes for a much more comfortable passage. (Photo/ Davis-PS Copywriting)

When Davis’s mother started talking about wanting to do something “big” for retirement, Davis and Gloria half-jokingly threw out an idea that seemed suitably ambitious: Why not buy a sailboat? That throwaway idea started taking on a life of its own when Davis and his mom, Kimmy, took an ASA 101 course. But it wasn't until Davis and Gloria saw their friend Lukas buy his first sailboat and set about restoring it that the idea started to seem realistic for them, too.

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Pippa Shaw
Pippa is a marine writer, editor, and storyteller who has lived aboard her 29ft sailing yacht with her partner and Opie the boat cat since 2018. She is currently refitting a 45ft aluminium offshore cruiser, with plans to complete her UK circumnavigation before setting her sights on longer-distance adventures. Combining hands-on cruising experience, refit knowledge, and years of marine industry insight, Pippa specialises in exploring the stories, design decisions, and details that make every boat unique.