Worst Sailboats - What Not To Buy - Ep 254 - Lady K Sailing

This week we take a look at a couple of the worst sailboats you can buy if your boat shopping to go cruising or live aboard in the Bahamas or Caribbean. The bad sailboats that are actually being used as live aboard cruisers right now. Sailboat problems, bad fibreglass work, sinking sailboats.

This week we look at BAD sailboats and what not to buy, how to spot problems with a sailboat before you go see it, red flags in sailboat for sale ads and boat brokers, damaged sailboats, and sailboats that will just cost to mucht o fix. How to not buy a sailboat.

[peterchaloner]

made me chuckle if your looking for a boat to cruise and live on under 100k im looking for a boat to llive on under 10k lol

[bssdragon]

Irwin 37 CC, $12K, got my family sailing.After some sweat equity she's kept us safe all around the Pacific Northwest. Tim's right, She's leaky so 5200 is required, but the decks are hard. Stations solid - maintain.. A great boat to make all of your mistakes on (solid, stubby mast, can bolt things to her without fussing). 2nd head = storage!!! Tim knows his craft, spot on. PS, thanks for the honesty and courage in your booze video. We NEED to hear that.

[ChrisHarding-lkjj]

I owned a MacGregor 65 pilot house, it was my second sailboat and I purchased the boat for $25, 000 and the first thing I did was haul it out and do a bottom job. My boat came with the Volvo TAMD41B which I rebuilt myself for around $4, 000 in parts and I tuned it for 250hp. I did completely rewired the boat with all the newer used electronics. The boat was all fiberglass construction and it was fast, it was definitely a cross between a race boat and a yacht.

[jeffp]

The worst sailboat to buy is one you never sail.

[dougm]

Tim I have owned a MacGregor for 29 years and have sailed it in the waters of Vancouver Island and now the great lakes. In fact I was just across from you in the Clinton River Michigan this summer. The best sailboat is the one that you will use the most. I have spent thousands of hours on my MacGregor 26S and have loved every minute of it.

[ylemoine]

Hi Tim, agree with all your comments. There’s a place for almost any kind of boat for the right person. I do have to add two important cautions for the new to sailing buyer looking for their entry boat and that 1) is it insurable and 2) will a marina or club allow you in? The first point is yes, with the right upgrades and good research prior to sail. The second point is maybe and is becoming more and more difficult as yards are becoming more and more restricted as older boats are being abandoned by owners who can’t afford to upgrade them or bite the bullet to dispose of them. If you’re going to go south and stay on a hook, then no issues, but first you’ll need a harbour/yard to start in to make her ready for your adventure and hone your skills. Thanks as always for share! Fair winds.

[Aussie-ndsi]

I spent a couple years cruising with my family on a 65 foot ketch, and came across a number of Irwin's, my favourite was the 52. We saw several, and the owners loved them. They are not yachts, they are motor sailers, but for many people coastal cruising, that works perfectly well. I think you are being a tad hard on Irwin. Build quality may be an issue on some of their boats, not something i know, but they aren't the lone ranger there. Many usa boat builders cut multiple corners.

[MonkMcG]

I will likely never buy a sailboat (62 yrs old and 2 kids still in college) BUT I am entranced by the whole idea of cruising and find your videos invaluable, If I ever did buy a sailboat, I'd hire you first.

[JollyCaptain]

"For people who want to pull a waterskier behind their sailboat" 🤣🤣

[donaldavera]

As a recovering Macgregor owner, you are correct. The quality of the build has much to be desired and they just don't sail well. All that said, it did meet a need of mine. I had a 6 mile motor to open water through shallow canals and backwater passes. Macgregor was perfect for me but I cannot think of another use for the vessel.

[jasonfrodoman]

Well, I bought a Challenger 35 USA for $500. Its hand laid up and the decks a 1/2" thick glass all backed up with 1/2" marine plywood. But nobody ever looks at these boats....

[jasonmcintosh]

I wouldn't hate on MacGregors... you have to consider a boat for what the need it was designed to fill. A Mac has a very light weight swig keel and will draw less than a foot of draft with it and the motor up. I've sailed mine to Isle Royal in Lake Superior and to the Dry Tortugas in the Florida Keys, all because it could easily be pulled by a low end SUV. You shouldn't compare it to an ocean going boat, that would be like comparing a Cooper Mini to an RV. They're just in different boat categories. If you want to get people into sailing, then a Mac is a great boat to start with!

[chuckaddison]

If you haven't done so, how about an episode on the old boats made in and around Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong etc. Particularly boats like the Choy Lee Clippers, Sea Wolf, Island Traders etc. How are they holding up, who would want one, and so forth.
Thank You.

[boathemian]

I used to laugh at people in the eighties who mocked my old wooden boat telling me how their boat would be around forever and mine would rot to pieces next year… Mines still around.

[kodycorduan]

Irwin hating sounds fun, too bad those who own them are too busy sailing comfortably to care.

[sailingthefreelife]

I'm the guy in the hammock on the macgregor 26. We had a blast on that boat. It led us to buy a Catalina 36 which we appreciated so much more after the Mac 26. And recently we sailed Mexico to Tahiti. If you want to see our modifications and trip on the MacGregor we put some videos up at a time no one else was doing any in the PNW. (Selfless plug as our Pic was used without permission, no hard feelings). Great video Lady K we've watched lots of your vids and always find them informative. We're now on the hunt for a boat for a circumnavigation and tho we have a couple selected we still like watching your videos looking for another to add to the list.

[J.Smith-rcwh]

Macgregors sail downwind and reach for miles . . . that is all fuel you do not pay for, and can keep for later. We use ours all the time

[phuouuz]

I believe the Mac 26 may actually be the safest boat for cruising the Bahamas. Consider that they can be beached or go into water less than 3' deep to get into calm water while her deeper draft cousins are stuck out in the nasty. If the weather starts to turn bad during a crossing, she can be motored at speed much greater than any other sailboat into calm waters.
It doesnt matter that she is a poor sailer and poor powerboat. The Morgan OI was a poor sailer but they sure were popular. People dont cruise to windward, they wait for better conditions. Purists hate them but who cares. Go cheap and go now.

[rioborzeli]

We are in our 50 'S and had a 28 foot pwr 2005 for years. Time for a hybrid, the costs of fuel is now too much. Love the sailing idea, no gas or diesel, solar for power, no smoke for running, use of wind energy to get us slowly moving . Nice

[tblively]

I was lucky enough to get a Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 recently. Love this boat, will serve us fine for the PNW.