Of the two I would pick the Catalina. That's serious money for a 32 footer though.

junek said..
Sorry for another 'which boat' thread!

However, I'd appreciate your thoughts, positive or negative, on the boats I am seriously looking at:

Boat 1 Catalina 320
https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats/details/1998-Catalina-Yachts-320-MKII/SSE-AD-4956552/?cr=0&psq=%28%28Service%3D%5BBoatsales%5D%26%28Make%3D%5BCatalina%20Yachts%5D%26Model%3D%5B320%20MKII%5D%29%29%26%28%28%28SiloType%3D%5BDealer%20used%20boats%5D%7CSiloType%3D%5BDealer%20new%20boats%5D%29%7CSiloType%3D%5BPrivate%20used%20boats%5D%29%7CSiloType%3D%5BDemo%20and%20near%20new%20boats%5D%29%29&pso=0&pss=Premium

Boat 2 Bene 311
www.dbyboatsales.com.au/listing/beneteau-oceanis-311

I have not started negotiations on either boat yet however I have been on both and both are in fairly good condition with most big jobs completed in the last few years. The Catalina is in need of new sails.

As you can see from the above boats, i am looking for a comfortable cruiser for my family to get into sailing. Pittwater based. We'll stay in Pittwater area for a few years before maybe an adventure north once we are all confident.

Must haves:
-walk thru transom
-traveller out of the cockpit
-lots of shade over cockpit.
-Comfort down below for young family

Cheers!

32 is a great size for a couple or day sailing however if you want to spend a few nights with kids especially teenagers in no time you will find it to small.

Thanks for the replies. Really helpful.

as Ramona said, it is serious money however when i factor in all the requirements of easy family sailing, i cant find a suitable boat for much less. The idea is to get the family hooked, then in 5 years take off on a real boat for a few years. Gotta have goals!

Thanks for the link Echo, but I feel Hunter have a less than stellar reputation (i have no idea if it is warranted or not!) so may be hard to sell?

I like the internal layout of the Catalina over the Bene 311 so good to hear you all think the Catalina is a better option. A very experience sailer mate said the bene would sail a little better, however for us, usability is more important (never through I'd say that! - but kids change everything!)

Ive just found a bene 361 for sale for $99k which is out of my price range a little however I may inspect. Although I am conscious that bigger boats cost more to maintain too.

Thanks again and let me know if you see a suitable boat for sale !

Cheers

junek said..
Thanks for the replies. Really helpful.

as Ramona said, it is serious money however when i factor in all the requirements of easy family sailing, i cant find a suitable boat for much less. The idea is to get the family hooked, then in 5 years take off on a real boat for a few years. Gotta have goals!

Thanks for the link Echo, but I feel Hunter have a less than stellar reputation (i have no idea if it is warranted or not!) so may be hard to sell?

I like the internal layout of the Catalina over the Bene 311 so good to hear you all think the Catalina is a better option. A very experience sailer mate said the bene would sail a little better, however for us, usability is more important (never through I'd say that! - but kids change everything!)

Ive just found a bene 361 for sale for $99k which is out of my price range a little however I may inspect. Although I am conscious that bigger boats cost more to maintain too.

Thanks again and let me know if you see a suitable boat for sale !

Cheers

Phoenix Star's boat is for sale. Does not have a walk through transom but does have an electric halyard winch! I would have given my left nut for a Ranger 33 a few years ago.

https://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/ranger-33-sloop/211593

It depends on the kids and the particular stage they are at in life, in our experience. It's hard to draw any hard and fast rules.

junek said..
Kids are young. 2yr old and the second is not even born yet! So should be right for a few years. The plan is to trade up to something big if 5 years and so some serious cruising.

I looked at the Ranger 33. Pity about the transom. Otherwise an amazingly well set up boat.

I am submitting offers so fingers crossed

Open or walk through transom might be a problem with small kids. I personally like deep and safe cockpits. Small marlin board/ladder set up would solve all the swimming activities. Boarding from the dinghy or wharf is done via the drop down guardrail at the front of the cockpit.