As you may have noticed from our 5 Mistakes People Make When Buying A Boat article, this is a fantastic time to buy a boat. So we thought it would be useful to look at two different categories of boats, and pick out a good option on the brokerage market within a strict price range.

To keep things interesting, we identified two categories based primarily on the speed of their sailing performance – as indicated by their PHRF rating – and their interior accommodations. We also limited the list to boats made after 1975 (we’re not interested in just doing maintenance on the boat), and to under 45 feet (to eliminate the big, low-quality boats out there).

BEST RACER FOR UNDER $50,000
We started by looking at raceboats which we could have within our price range. You have to look carefully at this price range – you can get some old warhorses which are broken, bruised and battered. But you can also get some sweethearts which just need a little cleaning up to make right. We narrowed down the list of boats we could find on the market to five vessels.

Candidates:
Corsair Sprint

http://www.boats.com/boat-details/Corsair-Sprint-750/20153781
From the Windcraft website: The Corsair Sprint 750 has been a popular addition to Corsair’s worldwide-favorite line of trailerable trimarans. Based on the well-proven Corsair 24, the new Corsair Sprint 750 takes performance and fun to the next level and then some: it offers all the performance and flexibility of a beach catamaran with none of the annoyances. It won’t go into irons, it will tack and go to weather as well as or better than any monohull (and certainly better than any beach cat), and it gives you an optional cuddy-cabin and full cockpit enclosure for camp-style overnighting, is fully beachable, easier to trailer, rig and launch than any other trimaran, cat or monohull in its size range, and affordable.

J/33 – 1989
http://www.boats.com/boat-details/J-Boats-J-33/22739701
From the J-boats website: J/33 has more speed, ease of handling, open deck space, and comfort than any comparable performance sailboat under 35 feet. J/33 incorporates unique features which define what an offshore racing boat is all about.

J/33 is a no compromise sailboat with superb PHRF/IMS racing potential. Her record so far speaks for itself, winning major races on both coasts and the Great Lakes. J/33 rates 81/87 PHRF… or faster than most racer/cruisers three to four feet larger. J/33′s design concept with narrow beam, deep lead keel, high ballast to displacement ratio and generous sail plan all indicate fantastic high-end speed potential in any condition, from drifters in mirror-like seas to wave riding in a big breeze.

Cal40
http://www.boats.com/boat-details/Cal-Cal-40/115364991
From the Cal40 Owners Site: “It is hard to grasp the significance of Lapworth’s Cal-40 design without having it surrounded by the rest of the 1963 racing fleet. In 1963 racing boats were all over the map in terms of design, and many of them were not good boats. The Cal-40 has endured as an efficient and handsome design. This modest appearing design changed the direction of racing boat design forever.” Robert Perry, Naval Architect

Racing the Cal40

Runner-up: Custom Taylor IMS Racer
http://www.boats.com/boat-details/Taylor-Custom-Ims-40/117748031
Life is tough for these old warhorses. Squeaking in just under our $50,000 limit, to get a 1997-built 40-foot racer may seem like a steal. But look carefully at this baby. It will need new sails, running rigging, probably some standing rigging, a new bottom, and a full crew to race it competitively. And this is assuming the electronics and engine are still working well. So figure an additional $20k worth of sails, plus another $10k worth of bottom work and paint and rigging, and you understand why the purchase price is so low. Still, you’ll be getting into a good, fast boat which could be optimized for light-air and smooth-water venues like the Chesapeake Bay or New England racing.

LOA 40.0
LWL 35.2
Beam 11.5
Draft (Deep) 8.3
Draft (Shoal)
Displacement 11,045
Ballast 6,417

IG 49.7
ISP 49.7
SPL 14.6
J 14.6
P 51.8
E 18.9
Rated SA 917.1

PHRF (Typ) 24
Aux. HP 27
Builder Mark Lindsay

Winner: J/92
For those of us with limited expense budgets, a smaller and newer boat – such as a J/92 – is the best option. There are several reviews available, but this 26-foot keelboat with a bowsprit gives you all the fun of a J/105 with a much lower initial cost. Look for a fleet nearby where you live to make sure you get the most value from these boats.

This example seems to be in pretty good shape, although the electronics will probably need to be replaced soon. New running rigging also help the purchase price, although the sails sound tired.

The J/92 is a nice mix of racing and cruising, and with its small size you may be able to dry store it, keeping costs down and keeping the boat fast without a diver. Read more about the boat on jboats.com.

LOA 30.0′
LWL 26.5′
Beam 10.0′
Draft 5.9′
Displacement 5,500 lbs.
Ballast 2,275 lbs.
100% Sail Area 526 sq ft
I 37.00
ISP 38.50
J 11.50
P 38.00
E 13.50
Sprit Length 5.50
Dspl/L 132
SA/Dspl 27
PHRF 108

BEST CRUISING BOAT UNDER $50,000

Candidates:
Catalina 28 Mk3 – 2000
http://www.boats.com/boat-details/Catalina-28-Mkii/116920001
Ubiquitious, and probably as roomy as the LeCompte. These boats also have a great network of support from fellow sailors. Not a great boat for serious offshore work, but it would get you down to the Bahamas or perhaps Mexico for your sabbatical.

And since she’s relatively new, you won’t spend all the time standing on your head repairing systems.

LeCompte NorthEast
http://www.boats.com/boat-details/Lecomte-Northeast-Yawl/22429531
I’ll admit – I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for these boats – so I let this get through the filter even though it is from well before 1975. With a lovely sheer line, and beautiful wood interior this example seems like it would make a good comfy cruising boat strong enough to go offshore with the family. Although the yawl rig is a bit less efficient, it makes is very easy to reef down for big breeze – just drop the main and you can sail on with jib and jigger.
From the listing: Stoutly built in Holland by Le Compte yachts, this Bill Tripp design will turn heads in every harbor. Her long lovely lines and yawl rig configuration make her a unique classic. The LP paint job on her hull topsides still looks as fresh as when it was applied in 2003. She is heavily canvassed with covers for everything and a variety of awnings. She is rigged for cruising including a strong anchor windlass.
If you are looking for a boat to fall in love with, this is the one. She is the only yawl of all LeCompte’s available. La Paz is the gateway to the Sea of Cortez with lots of sealife, deserted islands to explore with white sand beaches and clear clean turquoise water.

Runner-up: Sabre 34
1983 Sabre 34
While the interior is dated, these are well respected boats for their build quality and sailing characteristics. This one had a rebuilt Westerbeke engine in 2000, updated electronics, and new sails. It is located on the West Coast.

“The Sabre 34 MK I sails like a dream,” says Dick Coerse who sails Early Light on the East Coast. “It has no quirky qualities.” Coerse notes that the boat is initially a bit tender but once heeled to about 12 degrees stiffens up dramatically. He has sailed the boat through a range of conditions including steady 35 knots with gusts to 40, and has nothing but praise for the way boat handles. Coerse likes his standard keel, especially when sailing upwind. However, several owners also noted that the centerboard model also tracks well. Weather helm is not much of an issue and owners report that the helm is balanced and responds well to autopilots. More from this review is here: http://www.sailingmagazine.net/boats/6-used-boat-notebook/535-sabre-34

Runner-up: Halberg-Rassy Rasmus
http://www.boats.com/boat-details/Hallberg-rassy-Rasmus/118024031
From the HR Webpage: The Rasmus 35 was designed by the leading Swedish designer of elegant yachts of the 1960s, Olle Enderlein.

760 boats were made between 1967 and 1978. The first two Rasmus were built entirely in mahogany and took one year each to construct. From hull number 3 both the hull and the superstructure were made of GRP.

The name “Rasmus” is German and means God of Winds. The design of the Rasmus 35 was in many ways ahead of its time. It was the first sailing yacht in the world with a windscreen. That made her centre cockpit very well protected, keeping with elegant lines. The Rasmus 35 also has a powerful engine. All these important basic points, together with timeless lines makes this yacht pleasing still today and she will also be as attractive in 10 or 20 or 30 years from now. In other words, this is a genuine Hallberg-Rassy.

For an example of an extensive repair of these classic cruisers, check out this site. He bought the boat for $16k, and then spent years repairing it. Not my first choice of what to do with my time, but hopefully very rewarding.

Winner: C&C Landfall 38
http://www.boats.com/boat-details/C%26c-38%27-Landfall/115682181
Part of C&C’s cruising line, the Landfall 38 has a solid reputation. With more storage and tankage than the other boats of a similar era, these are solid offshore boats. You get a lot more space than on the Catalina, for example, yet you still keep the shoal draft characteristics. Yet they also provide a good turn of speed.

Relative to the Sabre, you get some additional waterline and perhaps a bit more speed (PHRF is 132).

From the listing: The Landfall 38 has the reputation for fast and safe offshore passages. She is ideally suited for living aboard for a small family with an occasional quest. The current owner has made many upgrades since he purchased her six years ago. The C&C 38 are dry sailing, shoal draft (4′ 11″) performance oriented cruisers with a turn of speed when needed. This is a substantial and quality built boat. If you are in the market for a quality cruiser then you owe it to yourself to look at this vessel.

Review summary: the Landfall series was C & C’s first attempt to build a large production boat with the emphasis on cruising, as opposed to the racer/cruisers on which C & C had built its reputation. The first of the series, the Landfall 42, was introduced in 1977 and built principally for the charter trade to compete with Morgan and Whitby’s center cockpit models. The Landfall 38 was first introduced in 1979 and continued in production until 1985. The principal dimensions are 37’7″ LOA, 12’ beam, 5’ draft, and displacement is 16,700 lbs with 6,500 lbs of external lead ballast. About 180 boats were built over the seven-year production run.

Construction of the Landfall 38 is typical of other C & C models with composite hull of fiberglass resin and balsa wood core. C & C has more experience with composite construction than practically any other boat builder, and it is unusual to find any significant structural problems with the hulls of these boats. The decks are likewise composite construction with balsa wood core. The deck and hull are fastened on an inward flange. The Landfall series are different from other C & C models in that they don’t have the familiar slotted aluminum rail at the deck edge. Instead there is a teak toe rail that is bolted together with the hull and deck with stainless steel nuts bolts and washers on 6″ centers.

The deck-to-hull joint, deck hardware fasteners, and windows can be an annoying and persistent source of leaks on the Landfall 38. Particularly vulnerable are attachments near the deck edge such as lifeline stanchions. Hardware is through bolted with backing plates or large fender washers. Where these overlap the hull flange, the washers and backing plates do not lie flat on the surface. This results in uneven stresses, loosening, and eventually leaking of the fitting. Fittings that are attached through the cored composite should be checked very carefully, because leaks into the core can destroy the strength of the composite quite rapidly.

Comfortable cruiser for a couple or small family for extended periods with adequate storage and tankage (104gal water/32 gal diesel). Handles well under power and the Yanmar 30hp standard diesel easily pushes to hull speed with plenty of reserve power while burning less than 1 gal/hr. Visually beautiful to look at – fine entry at the bow,wide beamed midships and tapered aft quarters to a wineglass transom. The deep cockpit and coamings make for security in heavy weather

Although the Landfall 38 is a cruising boat, her heritage is that of a racer/cruiser. That heritage is reflected in her handling and performance, and she is easily balanced and driven at all points of sail. The sail area displacement ratio is 15.9 and displacement length ratio is 271, both of which are reasonable for this type of cruiser. The large foretriangle and equally large headsails make a good roller furling system a must.

Length Overall 37’ 7″
Waterline Length 30’ 2″
Maximum Beam 12’ 0″
Maximum Draft 4’ 11.5″
Displacement/Weight 16,700 lbs
Sail Area 100% Fore triangle 648 Sq ft.

Source: Read more at http://www.boatus.com/jackhornor/sail/Landfall38.asp

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