[C320-list] Buying a 1997 C320

[Jack Brennan]

In Florida, a well-equipped, well-maintained 320 from the late ‘90s – AC, all electronics, recent autopilot, newer rigging, newer sails, etc. – might go for 65K US. One in average condition might go for 40 or 45K, especially if all of the gear is older. 

I bought my 1998 for 22.5K, but it was an odd situation. The boat had been repossessed by a bank, and someone had spent some time doing odd bits of vandalism, plus the P.O. had not fixed anything – if it broke, it stayed broke because he only day sailed it once or twice a month.

The bank just wanted to dump the boat, so I worked them down from 40K as the list of broken and vandalized parts I identified grew.

My “deal” became less alluring when I spent another 20K fixing everything that was worn out and/or defective. Still, I have a boat in great shape for the price of one in average condition. That’s not counting hundreds of hours of free labor on my part.

That’s what you have to watch for. If the boat is not well maintained, you can easily toss 20K into making it right. In which case you would have been better off buying the more expensive one in good shape.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.



Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Greg Flanagan
Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2021 8:36 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Buying a 1997 C320

Seems pricey, I had my Hoop Dancer in charter from new (2006) until 2012. When I took it out of charter I had to pay tax (GST) on the market value of it. I did regression analysis on the price of every Catalina 320 in the world (at least on the internet) to support my value estimate for tax. The value I estimated was $110 Cdn. So a six year old 320 was worth ~70% of its cost. You have to consider the value of 1999 boat in 2021 (22 years old) that would have cost far less than a 2006 edition. 

Best luck in negotiations,

Greg
Hoop Dancer #1726
Sidney, BC


> On Aug 8, 2021, at 12:43 PM, Kim Chapman <kim.chapman at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> 
>  Asking $80K CAN ($64K US). I think it is overpriced. It is a bare bones
> stock boat. Been neglected a bit.
> 
> Kim
> 
> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: Bill Aleshire <bill at aleshirelaw.com>
> Date: August 8, 2021 at 12:36 PM
> Can you tell us a price range? Has anything major been added to the
> boat?
> Bill Aleshire
> AleshireLAW PC
> 3605 Shady Valley Dr.
> Austin, Texas 78739
> 512 320-9155 phone
> 512 750-5854 cell
> 512 320-9156 fax
> Bill at AleshireLaw.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf
> Of Kim
> Chapman
> Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2021 11:34 AM
> To: C320 <c320-list at catalina320.com>
> Subject: [C320-list] Buying a 1997 C320
> Hi there, I am seriously looking at buying a 1997 C320. I think the
> hull number is 416...could be wrong.
> I currently own a C400 which is used in the winter for cruising the
> Bahamas and stored in Florida through the summer and fall.
> Wondering if there are any common issues that I should be aware of
> before handing over the cash for this little beautie ?
> Thanks !
> Kim Chapman
> C400 #249
> Quiescence
> Potential owner of:
> C320 #416
> No Pressure
> Lies in Toronto