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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It would be appropriate, I think, when discussing affordability, to also discuss mooring/docking fees, off-season storage costs, routine maintenance, insurance, etc.
Good write-up! Just two comments:
1) I think they got a bargain. The market scan at the end tells me more realistic pricing.
(2) Notable for its absence is a comment on the state of the sails. I noted they did not replace their sails, implying they are at least decent. Getting a set of usable sails at that price is remarkable!
The sails look pretty good in the photo.
One reason to by an old Catalina (as opposed to some other brands) is a company called Catalina Direct–which is not affiliated with the manufacturer. CD can get you almost any part you might need to repair an old Catalina–they source them directly from Catalina’s vendors, and they are a wealth of knowledge about the brand. No affiliation, just a happy customer.
I would echo the sentiment about Catalina Direct, for more than just Catalina owners. I have a 1982 Newport 33 and love CD for confidently sourcing parts and rebuild kits for my Universal M25.
Owning an older boat can bring a great deal of satisfaction with regard to troubleshooting, innovating upgrades, and restoration. (I live near the Washington San Juan islands) A+ to this couple’s journey and experience.
+3 on Catalina Direct. They’ve saved our bacon on multiple occasions. Love Catalina!