You think boat shopping is hard? Try from New Zealand. Set me on a better course!

[Fleetwood]

Yep, it can be done.
I sold our previous boat, (very well) built in '86 about 5 years ago. I'd kept it up (new paint, deck, rigging, genset, etc over the 15 years we had her) but was looking at an ever-increasing number of age-related problems not too far off: replace all '80s to '00s electrics/electronics; rewire everything; new engine/drivetrain/exhaust, new sails, black iron fuel tanks full of gunk, osmosis repair, etc. I could do much of it myself but it was still $50-100K.
Better answer (for us) was sell it get a new(er) smaller boat mainly for daysailing/overnighting. (Now I'm thinking of buying another in NZ to do a bit of cruising...!)

 

[Blue Crab]

My question is can you please repost photos of the tits you posted when signing aboard? I must have missed them. NZ tits are bestest!
TIA.

on topic: the M34 is a skinny 29 footer without the overhangs

 

[Septic]

As an avid Trademe watcher I will make a passing comment. There are some absolute gems/steals that pop up on a pretty regular basis, often only listed for days or weeks before being snapped up.

If you know what you want and are a ready to pounce cash buyer it may just be a matter of patience.

Could also be worth making some low price offers on some nice but overpriced boats that have been on there for a while.

Another thing to consider is import taxes if planning to buy overseas and bring home for an extended period.

 

[lom]

That Dubois 42 footer would be a serious riot to sail and has space below. Doesn't seem to have been neglected but would definitely require a serious look around if it's been used hard. If it is actually a circumstancial sale you could go check it out and give a bit of a low ball offer

 

[Startracker]

That Morgan looks lovely and would be 50% more here in OZ. The market here is so tight I'm looking at boats in North America.
Anyone want to be a buyers broker for local to them boats?

No. But if you want someone to have a poke around a boat or two here(PNW Canada/Point Roberts USA, which is a good place for deals) shoot me a PM. Has to be in the water though, or have one of those yard stairs, no ladders for me at the moment, unfortunately.

 

[Fah Kiew Tu]

As an avid Trademe watcher I will make a passing comment. There are some absolute gems/steals that pop up on a pretty regular basis, often only listed for days or weeks before being snapped up.

If you know what you want and are a ready to pounce cash buyer it may just be a matter of patience.

Same in Oz. I keep a watching brief on Gumtree because - why not.

The good deals go to those prepared to make a decision and not attempt to fuck the seller about IME. If it's a screaming deal, asking for a survey, making an even lower offer or not being able to have cash means the seller will probably take someone else's offer. But - THAT means you'd better be able to take a personal look and use your own judgement, make a decision and have the cash available.

FKT

 

[Septic]

I check Gumtree periodically as well but probably miss seeing the good boats as I'm not checking it daily.

In saying that I've seen a few goodies. There was an absolutely gorgeous 10m cold moulded Kauri John Lidgard built boat on there a couple of months ago. I damn near fell in love and was seriously considering quitting my job an uprooting my life..anyway the point being it was a glass over timber boat from the 70s, only 32ft and asking AU$62k. It had an offer in days because despite being 50 years old it was in immaculate condition and had clearly been loved by it's owner and came with a huge inventory of stuff.

On paper over-priced but in reality a screaming bargain.

 

[Excession]

No. But if you want someone to have a poke around a boat or two here(PNW Canada/Point Roberts USA, which is a good place for deals) shoot me a PM. Has to be in the water though, or have one of those yard stairs, no ladders for me at the moment, unfortunately.

Thank you for the offer,I will keep you in mind. I had to look up Point Roberts, what is it about the poms and drawing lines on a map.

 

[Startracker]

Thank you for the offer,I will keep you in mind. I had to look up Point Roberts, what is it about the poms and drawing lines on a map.

It is a source of much annoyance and some amusement here, that line also affects the ferries rather unexpectedly. On the bright side it makes moorage well over 50% cheaper and a close drive, and they have cheap gas, smokes and booze so... Also generally speaking a CAN boat in US waters is valued lower than a US boat in US water or a CAN boat in CAN water. I've seen some screaming deals there.

 

[Septic]

Hi Hooky this Cav 38 popped up today. Looks tidy. New engine. New main. Probably worth a look I would think, suspect it won't last long.

Cavalier 38 MkII **New Engine** https://www.trademe.co.nz/3757795986

 

[Hooky]

Hi Hooky this Cav 38 popped up today. Looks tidy. New engine. New main. Probably worth a look I would think, suspect it won't last long.

Cavalier 38 MkII **New Engine** https://www.trademe.co.nz/3757795986

Solid boat, but not sure if the cock pit is big enough for me for extended cruising. Head room could be an issue as well. Worth a look though, appreciate the head's up!

 

[Jono]

You've started with a really wide range.
An alternate for the Morgan is a Cav 32, for the Mummery is a Farr 1220. So that is approximately 50% of the boats in NZ.
Any chance you can narrow down the budget, the likely use (not the dream), the priorities - bunks or cockpit?
Agree the Cav 39 looks good. Good liveaboard for a couple. Seakindly but not the quickest out there.

 

[TheDragon]

I went to Panama from the US to buy my boat and got what I think was a great deal. Completely equipped for ocean crossings by an Aussie couple who bought it in Michigan, sailed it south, and sold it there. Icelanders bought it and added two critical items at each end, Windlass and Windpilot. Still, what with covid etc, I spent double the original price paid on repeated trips down there to work on her, sailed twice to the San Blas islands for practise and sea trials (never sailed on oceans before), and upgraded the things that died, like batteries, more solar, new VHF/AIS, decent ladder, spinnaker pole and whisker pole, decent dinghy and outboard, and lots of repairs to sails, engine, mast steps all re-rivetted, etc. But as shown in my Sailing the South Pacific thread, I've had a blast on her this year. Now the original rigging, and the original sails, are starting to fail after 33 years and some hard Pacific sailing, so another big cost is coming up if I want to continue for another three years. After a year of searching all over the US west coast, and a lot of online research, I made the decision that a PSC34 was the boat I wanted, and the rare version with a tiller and short-handed package, and found this one in Panama. AND critically, I am 5'11" and it has 6'2" headroom in the cabin, so along with the fact everything you could ask for except my kiting gear was already aboard, it was a no-brainer. So, if you are willing to spend a season sailing it home, consider Panama. There are lots of boats get stuck there and sold cheaply. If you can find a PSC37 they are really great boats, especially for a couple. In the US they go for $100 and north, but somewhere else you might find a bargain. About 350 were built, the original Bill Crealock design, and they are really tough boats that will take care of a novice ocean sailor. In fact the company is still in business, now in North Carolina, and they still build new ones, plus 2/3 of their business is refurbishing old ones, which tells you the bones are good. I visited the factory and they gave me the list of 10 things they need to fix on most 30-year-old PSC34s, very useful. The PSC34 is the younger and smaller brother, with a few refinements Crealock thought advisable, but a mite small for you, especially if a couple aboard. Perfect for me.

 

[Black Jack]

I am digging the Woollcott's 29' Ghost. I sail on Vectis her slightly bigger sister. A very capable low maintenance timber boat that Bert designed for himself. A tough full keel Kiwi cruiser - not a speedster but a quality, safe small ship. Enough room to get you anywhere you are going. a canvas dodger would complete the package. Asking $8,500 with an option to purchase a mooring. Small enough to leave inexpensively in secure harbors and marinas and explore the world off the water.

Trade Me

www.trademe.co.nz

 

[Priscilla]

I am digging the Woollcott's 29' Ghost. I sail on Vectis her slightly bigger sister. A very capable low maintenance timber boat that Bert designed for himself. A tough full keel Kiwi cruiser - not a speedster but a quality, safe small ship. Enough room to get you anywhere you are going. a canvas dodger would complete the package. Asking $8,500 with an option to purchase a mooring. Small enough to leave inexpensively in secure harbors and marinas and explore the world off the water.

Trade Me

www.trademe.co.nz

View attachment 540894

You will note Black Jack that she can only safely sail on a port tack which will severely limit her appeal.
However if you also purchase the other Woolacott listed on TM you will then be able to alternate yachts so as to suit the prevailing wind conditions.

Trade Me

www.trademe.co.nz

 

[Priscilla]

The asking price for this old Davidson warhorse is way beyond belief however whilst dining below one can observe which exorbitantly priced replacement spare will next be required for the Volvo.

Trade Me

www.trademe.co.nz

 

[Jono]

Phew! I actually owned her when she was in her original Starsky and Hutch colour scheme. Current owner has had her for a while now. Ongoing upgrades including swept back spreaders, new motor, opened the transom, painted her a second shade of blue (the owner after me painted her dark blue and print through developed) and so on. Not sure about the self tacker track though.
Another recent Trade Me listing that North Americans might like is a (US) Spencer 35 for USD $6,000. Buy it, tidy it up and sail it home.

 

[Kiwi Clipper]

In 1979 I came to Auckland, met Bruce Farr and purchased a Fiberglass Farr 38 (11.6m) from Compass yachts. I brought three of them here to Honolulu and sold the other two; kept mine til 2006 and gave it to UH when I purchased my Farr designed 40.7. All of them are here, in use. On your budget I recommend you think about buying one of those Compass made 38's. There have got to be a load of them down there. Simple rig. Fast, sturdy, fun to sail, easy to sail. Before I gave mine to UH, we stripped out the interior made of mahogany and rebuilt it from carbon and foam. After that it planed on a reach. By now most of them will need work, and that will get the price down. Bruce Farr has often said it was one of his best designs ever. It's a light boat, but not ultra light. In the late 70's that was pretty radical so I asked Peter Walker about that: Peter: "In America your sailors all think a boat has to be heavy to be strong. In New Zealand we just think they are heavy" Then Bruce and Paul Whiting and Laurie Davidson and Gregg Elliott changed the world, proved they were right.

 

[Sailbydate]

In 1979 I came to Auckland, met Bruce Farr and purchased a Fiberglass Farr 38 (11.6m) from Compass yachts. I brought three of them here to Honolulu and sold the other two; kept mine til 2006 and gave it to UH when I purchased my Farr designed 40.7. All of them are here, in use. On your budget I recommend you think about buying one of those Compass made 38's. There have got to be a load of them down there. Simple rig. Fast, sturdy, fun to sail, easy to sail. Before I gave mine to UH, we stripped out the interior made of mahogany and rebuilt it from carbon and foam. After that it planed on a reach. By now most of them will need work, and that will get the price down. Bruce Farr has often said it was one of his best designs ever. It's a light boat, but not ultra light. In the late 70's that was pretty radical so I asked Peter Walker about that: Peter: "In America your sailors all think a boat has to be heavy to be strong. In New Zealand we just think they are heavy" Then Bruce and John Whiting and Laurie Davidson and Gregg Elliott changed the world, proved they were right.

Paul Whiting?

 

[Kiwi Clipper]

Yes, My bad, Paul. It was a long time ago. Darcy Whiting's son who won the world half ton championship about then and to my memory was lost at sea the year after I was there.