New to Cats,Need help with prices

Hello this is my first post.

I was wondering if this was a good price for this cat
http://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/1831442728.html
Also If you have any good info I would need to know before buying one.

Thanks,
TheBigCat

Way overpriced IMO. The hulls are old and probably have soft spots, early 80's hulls had a tendency to do that. The daggerboards are pretty nicked.
When looking for an 18, a very nice looking boat can be had for around $3000.

I wouldn't say its way overpriced, I think they're in the ballpark as long as it's complete, the hulls are solid, the trailer is servicable, and the sails are in decent shape. The hulls look like they don't have much wear, just check for any soft spots. They hulls are probably a little on the heavy side due to them being older generation, but the older boats were also tough as hell, so it wouldn't be abnormal for the hulls to still be totally solid. If it's a fresh water boat, its also likely that the aluminum parts are also still in good shape. Based on the picture of the boom, I don't see any significant corrosion and the anodize still looks good. Daggerboards are a little chipped up, but not bad at all for a 30 year old boat...I've seen much worse. It won't be a top level racer, but for recreational sailing, it's worth looking at.

sm

I'd say they're in the ball park. The bottoms don't look like they have any beach rash at all, although I'd take a closer look at both sides. The other thing I noticed is that they don't have the reinforcement plates which would be an aftermarket thing with something that age. Probably no big deal since it's made it this long, I'd just look for any cracks around the cross bars and add the plates if I ended up buying it.

Site down the mast and make sure that it's mostly straight with out any dings or dents. Also take a good look at the sails and tramp. The pictures of the tramp look very nice, but just take a close look. New sails would run you ~2k.

Also when buying, I would figure in the cost of new standing rigging. Swap it out for piece of mind, unless they have replaced it within the past year or so. Standing rigging is going to run you ~$500.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but the rudder castings appear to be the original version. This probably isn't a problem as long as they work. Just keep in mind that if the cam breaks you'll have to either find another old aluminum cam or do the upgrade which is a bit spendy. If you baby them, that might be something you never run into though.

The boards don't look that bad, just make sure you take the time to fix the dings.

I also took a look at the FAQ sail history, and can't find the exact sail pattern int he pictures, but it looks an awful lot like the "blue streak" from 1978. Probably doesn't matter, but take a good look at the transom to make sure you know how old the boat is. Like what's been previously posted if the hulls are solid it might not be a big deal.

The only other thing that I saw was the mast crutch on the trailer looks like it's way too far back. If you buy it, unbolt it and slide it forward on the tong of the trailer.

Do be patient though, even though the H18 is a bit more rare they do pop up.

Good luck,

Adam

Like I said before, I would pay $3,000 for a better boat coming from a more reputable owner. Here is one from CentralMichiganSailor

http://www.thebeachcats.com/classifieds ... 0602/cat/1

And closer to you I would drive down to lake Tahoe and pick this one up

http://www.thebeachcats.com/classifieds ... 0571/cat/1

That one has been babied all its life and I would want that brand new powder coated Carnai trailer. Look at the other new goodies it has too. The problem with these boats is that unless the owner has maintained it real well by the time you spend the money fixing it up you´ll be well over these figures.

That's about right for an asking price, and I'm sure there's room for negociating. I like the fact that they take the tramp off for storage, that shows that someone has cared for it.

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I do agree with Al, I was just about to pull the pin on an 85 H18 with magnum wings. It was a good buddy that was selling it to me for a little less than the one on craigslist, but by the time I factored in a bottom job, tramp, rigging and sails it was more than I wanted to spend.

I waited a bit longer and found a almost never sailed 99 H18 SX for less than it would have cost to upgrade the older boat. It's 15 years newer and a much nicer boat.

It all comes down to a business decision, what you can afford and how much you're willing to put into an old boat. That boat at Lake Tahoe does look pretty sweet and would be worth a phone call if you're really looking.

good luck,

Adam

Neither of the boats you referenced are listed at $3k, they were $3500 or more. That's a big difference in price as compared to the $1995 for the boat the OP posted. $500 is a complete set of new rigging. $1500 or $2000 is a full new set of sails and then some. $2k for a solid, complete boat in good condition with a working trailer is definitely a reasonable price in my book.



Actually, I'd say that one of the best features of Hobies is that they require such little maintanance that if you inspect just a few critical areas and those areas look OK, then you've probably got a decent boat. Make sure the hulls don't have any soft spots or structural cracks. Make sure the aluminum components aren't bent, and don't have excessive corrosion, and make sure the sails are in decent shape. Anytime you buy a used boat, you have to figure in the cost of getting it up to sailing condition. New standing rigging is basically a given.

sm

Here's an example of a well maintained H18 in your ballpark, right here in this forum, don't know if it is still available but there are similar deals to be had

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=15831

and here's another good deal

http://www.thebeachcats.com/classifieds ... 0613/cat/1



I cannot say for sure to the OP if his prospect in Spokane is as good. The trampoline has been taken off, maybe because the boat does not use a cover. The discolored light blue hulls would support that theory. Anyway in plain view the maintenance cannot be compared to the boats I mention in my previous post.

But by now maybe you've noticed that "fair price" is highly subjective. If you are new to cats, then you are probably not well versed in what to look for when buying a new cat in order to assure yourself you wont be spending a fortune fixing things up. There have been many a surprise in this forum from new owners of such boats. Your best guarantee then becomes buying from someone who has obviously taken good care of the boat.

A while back I posted on a 1981 H18 WITH MAGNUM WINGS on sale for $1,000 in Florida. That one was cheap IMO.

Do a search on Craigslist on the South Florida area, Houston, and other areas where there are boats to get a more accurate figure. A hobie 16 in similar condition was selling for $500 a while ago in Fort Lauderdale.

Anyway look, I should probably withdraw my remark about the cat being "way overpriced", to just overpriced.

I'd say if you can negociate the price down with the owner it would be an OK deal. Do mind to check for what SRM mentioned and the rudder blades too. Make sure the castings and aluminum parts don't have any cracks or bends. The blocks and everything else look OK. I think too that the owner has been very straight and honest describing the cat's condition.