Hi all,
I'm currently looking at my 1st yacht/boat and need some general advise.
I'm planning on sailing from Sydney up to FNQ and then onto Indonesia, Philippines, Palau then back down thru PNG and back to Sydney.
I have been looking around now for the last 3-4 months and have come across the Cavalier 32 & or Phantom 32 boat.
I will most likely be doing a bit of solo single handed sailing around 50% of the time and just wanted your general thoughts on both boats.
1. Has anyone got a cav32 or phantom 32 and if so have you sailed it overseas. How was it?
2. I have a friend who had one years back and said she can be a little slow esp during light winds but is a sturdy build. (Is this the case)
3. Osmosis issue? I have read a few forums and nothing has come up regarding this.
4. I don't know much about the Phantom 32, but she does look quite similar in size to a cavalier. Ideas?
I'm not looking for a cruiser or a racer and don't mind doing the average 4kt at times but I also don't want to be drifting out to sea with low winds.
I know no boat is perfect so probably all of my queries are stupid but I would love if people could give me a bit of info just so I can have a general feel for things. Ive got a budget of 30-40k and would prefer to buy one around the 30k mark if a few upgrades need to take place ofcourse.
Thanks for your response. Cheers! 
Benjie.
Benjie
Some general advice for a new boat from a Cav 28 owner
* Good on you for your ambition - you will get a lot of advice, much of it confusing, however, don't let it stop you getting out on the water
* Talk to as many people as you can, and get out on their boats as much as you can. The information you get from this will be much better than a forum chat. Listen to the folks at the boat clubs, marinas and ramps - most boats will be known to the "regulars", who can usually tell which boats have been looked after well, and which have not
* Boat prices are inflated at present
* Get a professional survey - a half slip and survey will cost around $1000, but it will be money well spent.
* Either the Cav 32 and Phantom 32 is a nice boat. You'll get plenty of comments here about why you should prefer one over the other. However, no two will be the same. After 30 to 40 years of the previous owners' attentions (some of it applied well, and some not) you'll be hard pressed to find two that are the same.
* If you have narrowed your search to these models, get the one in the best condition. Do not get a project. It will be more expensive, but it is a case of pay once and weep once.
* Be prepared for time and money fixing the stuff you didn't know needed to be fixed at purchase (say, 20% of the purchase price). If you live aboard, its the seemingly small stuff, like a leaky window, that will consume your time and budget.
When I was in your position a couple of years back (after owning a trailer-sailer) I followed the advice at the boat club about my current boat, which was well known by the folks there and was smaller than what I thought I needed, but worked out well. I've been wrangling an annoying drip from the Diesel engine for several weeks. Everything takes way longer than you'd think.
Select to expand quoteAchernar said..
Benjie
Some general advice for a new boat from a Cav 28 owner
* Good on you for your ambition - you will get a lot of advice, much of it confusing, however, don't let it stop you getting out on the water
* Talk to as many people as you can, and get out on their boats as much as you can. The information you get from this will be much better than a forum chat. Listen to the folks at the boat clubs, marinas and ramps - most boats will be known to the "regulars", who can usually tell which boats have been looked after well, and which have not
* Boat prices are inflated at present
* Get a professional survey - a half slip and survey will cost around $1000, but it will be money well spent.
* Either the Cav 32 and Phantom 32 is a nice boat. You'll get plenty of comments here about why you should prefer one over the other. However, no two will be the same. After 30 to 40 years of the previous owners' attentions (some of it applied well, and some not) you'll be hard pressed to find two that are the same.
* If you have narrowed your search to these models, get the one in the best condition. Do not get a project. It will be more expensive, but it is a case of pay once and weep once.
* Be prepared for time and money fixing the stuff you didn't know needed to be fixed at purchase (say, 20% of the purchase price). If you live aboard, its the seemingly small stuff, like a leaky window, that will consume your time and budget.
When I was in your position a couple of years back (after owning a trailer-sailer) I followed the advice at the boat club about my current boat, which was well known by the folks there and was smaller than what I thought I needed, but worked out well. I've been wrangling an annoying drip from the Diesel engine for several weeks. Everything takes way longer than you'd think.
Hi Achernar,
Thanks for that advise...
I definatly will be getting a survey once I come across one that I like... I am slightly leaning towards the Cav 32 but I've still got aleast a month or so to go before I need to purchase as I would like to head overseas say around SEPT. If not then il sail locally and up to QLD for the meantime...
How do you find the Cav 28? Do you sail her locally or have you done a few hops overseas nearby?
I have seen quite a few online that come up and maybe more so then the 32... I quite like the layout of the 28 especially with the head toilet being near the cockpit. Although I do think it may be a little small for live aboard however again the layouts of a cavalier 28-32 are well thought out.
One other thing that I prefer on the Cav 28 over the 32 is the tiller... On most 32's that I have come across, they seem to be wheel based... and id much prefer a tiller... (I wonder if there are a few 32s with tillers instead of wheels?)
Benjie.
Can not go wrong with a Cav 32. For cruising a wheel is probably better in the long term. The CAV 28 is a good boat, but that extra 4 feet does make A difference. CAV 32's had no major problems. They tend to wander around going down wind but that is topical of most boats of that era . Most had Bukh diesels which are pretty Bulletproof. The CAV 32 sails good in all conditions including light airs and are very good to windward. As an all round older boat they would be very hard to go past.
Hi Ben
just a simple bit of advice.
Try to get your hands on a boat that has already done something like what you plan to do.
That way you will end up with the really important gear like extra anchors, larger fuel tanks. and lots of other little nik naks.
A boat that has just sat around for ages and is going cheap might be a good project, but if you are looking at getting away in September you need to think about gear more than the head's location.
Gary
Forget osmosis. Boats that age if they had osmosis it would have been rectified by now.
I would suggest concentrating a search on yachthub in the 30 to 36 range. Use the Contessa 32 as the benchmark, it's the Rolls Royce of cruiser racers and consider other boats like the Nicholson 32 and the Miura 31 for your intended use. Nothing wrong with Cav 32s though.
Select to expand quoteBennjo_1 said..Achernar said..
Benjie
Some general advice for a new boat from a Cav 28 owner
* Good on you for your ambition - you will get a lot of advice, much of it confusing, however, don't let it stop you getting out on the water
* Talk to as many people as you can, and get out on their boats as much as you can. The information you get from this will be much better than a forum chat. Listen to the folks at the boat clubs, marinas and ramps - most boats will be known to the "regulars", who can usually tell which boats have been looked after well, and which have not
* Boat prices are inflated at present
* Get a professional survey - a half slip and survey will cost around $1000, but it will be money well spent.
* Either the Cav 32 and Phantom 32 is a nice boat. You'll get plenty of comments here about why you should prefer one over the other. However, no two will be the same. After 30 to 40 years of the previous owners' attentions (some of it applied well, and some not) you'll be hard pressed to find two that are the same.
* If you have narrowed your search to these models, get the one in the best condition. Do not get a project. It will be more expensive, but it is a case of pay once and weep once.
* Be prepared for time and money fixing the stuff you didn't know needed to be fixed at purchase (say, 20% of the purchase price). If you live aboard, its the seemingly small stuff, like a leaky window, that will consume your time and budget.
When I was in your position a couple of years back (after owning a trailer-sailer) I followed the advice at the boat club about my current boat, which was well known by the folks there and was smaller than what I thought I needed, but worked out well. I've been wrangling an annoying drip from the Diesel engine for several weeks. Everything takes way longer than you'd think.
Hi Achernar,
Thanks for that advise...
I definatly will be getting a survey once I come across one that I like... I am slightly leaning towards the Cav 32 but I've still got aleast a month or so to go before I need to purchase as I would like to head overseas say around SEPT. If not then il sail locally and up to QLD for the meantime...
How do you find the Cav 28? Do you sail her locally or have you done a few hops overseas nearby?
I have seen quite a few online that come up and maybe more so then the 32... I quite like the layout of the 28 especially with the head toilet being near the cockpit. Although I do think it may be a little small for live aboard however again the layouts of a cavalier 28-32 are well thought out.
One other thing that I prefer on the Cav 28 over the 32 is the tiller... On most 32's that I have come across, they seem to be wheel based... and id much prefer a tiller... (I wonder if there are a few 32s with tillers instead of wheels?)
Benjie.
Just on the tillers. The older NZ version typically had a tiller. The newer Australian version had wheel steering. As far as I can tell.
I own a NZ version. Its pretty old and crusty. I have looked at some Australian versions and they have moulded furniture and a V-berth and seperate toilet. They are a fair bit nicer and more comfortable. If I had my time again I should have spent the extra money and got one in better condition. Saying that I do have a near new motor.
wikiyachts.org/index.php/Cavalier_32
See my above attempt at recording some of this information including some common issues. Balsa core in hull. Ply core deck.
I previously had a Compass 28. Solid glass everything. For a cheap boat I would say these are pretty ideal. Not as much to go wrong.
Select to expand quotegarymalmgren said..
Hi Ben
just a simple bit of advice.
Try to get your hands on a boat that has already done something like what you plan to do.
That way you will end up with the really important gear like extra anchors, larger fuel tanks. and lots of other little nik naks.
A boat that has just sat around for ages and is going cheap might be a good project, but if you are looking at getting away in September you need to think about gear more than the head's location.
Gary
+1. Good strategy
Select to expand quoteBennjo_1 said..
How do you find the Cav 28? Do you sail her locally or have you done a few hops overseas nearby?
My sailing has been confined to day trips on Moreton Bay. However, the boat has previously competed in the Brisbane to Gladstone races. The boat can take more than I can, but I would regard it as an inshore cruiser. It could probably do OK on a short passage (say 3 days) in a good weather window, but anything longer becomes risky. The risk is that, on a longer passage, the weather becomes less easy to predict, and you could find yourself out there with nowhere to hide when it turns. Also, I could run out of water or fuel with my smallish tanks.
There are some good videos on why you should not buy a proper blue-water cruiser as a first boat, e.g.
PS I should add that on a short passage, you will need crew. Its a safety thing, and I would not contemplate an over-night passage on my own. More experienced sailors with the right gear will feel more comfortable, but the key difference is experience and gear. I don't have wind-vanes, and the auto-helm will drain the battery if I run it continuously, which means manual steering*, which is fine for day-trips. I mainly use the tiller-pilot to keep the boat on course while I need a break to do important stuff, like having a toilet-break, eating lunch, phoning the Admiral etc. Although the boat is rated for 8 persons, it begins to feel cramped with four people on board for a day-trip. If you have been tiller-steering for 8 hours, you will definitely need a rest. Do the math on the shifts and breaks.
(PPS * Others might post something about sheet-to-tiller steering - I'd like to try it some day, but without the experience and set-up, its not a viable option for me, yet)
Select to expand quoteAchernar said..
PS I should add that on a short passage, you will need crew. Its a safety thing, and I would not contemplate an over-night passage on my own. More experienced sailors with the right gear will feel more comfortable, but the key difference is experience and gear. I don't have wind-vanes, and the auto-helm will drain the battery if I run it continuously, which means manual steering*, which is fine for day-trips. I mainly use the tiller-pilot to keep the boat on course while I need a break to do important stuff, like having a toilet-break, eating lunch, phoning the Admiral etc. Although the boat is rated for 8 persons, it begins to feel cramped with four people on board for a day-trip. If you have been tiller-steering for 8 hours, you will definitely need a rest. Do the math on the shifts and breaks.
(PPS * Others might post something about sheet-to-tiller steering - I'd like to try it some day, but without the experience and set-up, its not a viable option for me, yet)
Hmmmmm yeah as I said once I get started I'll be doing a short 1-2 day trip here and there (SYD-BRIS) for the moment and then later this year I will hopefully be doing the FNQ up to Indonesia/East Philippines (Surigao) then onto Palau and back down...
Again I will be doing about 50% solo sailing especially until I get to the Philippines. With this for sure I will need a wind vane and maybe a tiller pilot. Although I do know that wind vanes are hard to come by and seems to be quite expensive?
Also I have noticed a few friends who have used a tiller pilot and have said they break easily or after a few months use. I think they both had the ray marine T2000 tiller for about 4-6 months... Although I don't know as to what extent they have used this...
Ultimately in the end I would need to consider one especially for the solo passages but I wouldn't be using it for 24hr periods... most likely I would use it for 2-3 hours if need be so I can rest and then use the wind vane if I can find one... A lot to consider.
Select to expand quotegarymalmgren said..
Hi Ben
just a simple bit of advice.
Try to get your hands on a boat that has already done something like what you plan to do.
That way you will end up with the really important gear like extra anchors, larger fuel tanks. and lots of other little nik naks.
A boat that has just sat around for ages and is going cheap might be a good project, but if you are looking at getting away in September you need to think about gear more than the head's location.
Gary
Thanks for the advise. I will defiantly look into that. Cheers.
Select to expand quoteBennjo_1 said..Achernar said..
PS I should add that on a short passage, you will need crew. Its a safety thing, and I would not contemplate an over-night passage on my own. More experienced sailors with the right gear will feel more comfortable, but the key difference is experience and gear. I don't have wind-vanes, and the auto-helm will drain the battery if I run it continuously, which means manual steering*, which is fine for day-trips. I mainly use the tiller-pilot to keep the boat on course while I need a break to do important stuff, like having a toilet-break, eating lunch, phoning the Admiral etc. Although the boat is rated for 8 persons, it begins to feel cramped with four people on board for a day-trip. If you have been tiller-steering for 8 hours, you will definitely need a rest. Do the math on the shifts and breaks.
(PPS * Others might post something about sheet-to-tiller steering - I'd like to try it some day, but without the experience and set-up, its not a viable option for me, yet)
Hmmmmm yeah as I said once I get started I'll be doing a short 1-2 day trip here and there (SYD-BRIS) for the moment and then later this year I will hopefully be doing the FNQ up to Indonesia/East Philippines (Surigao) then onto Palau and back down...
Again I will be doing about 50% solo sailing especially until I get to the Philippines. With this for sure I will need a wind vane and maybe a tiller pilot. Although I do know that wind vanes are hard to come by and seems to be quite expensive?
Also I have noticed a few friends who have used a tiller pilot and have said they break easily or after a few months use. I think they both had the ray marine T2000 tiller for about 4-6 months... Although I don't know as to what extent they have used this...
Ultimately in the end I would need to consider one especially for the solo passages but I wouldn't be using it for 24hr periods... most likely I would use it for 2-3 hours if need be so I can rest and then use the wind vane if I can find one... A lot to consider.
I have a Raymarine ST2000 on my Cavalier 32. I would say it is not suitable for offshore sailing. It cannot handle the waves, down wind etc. Also the boat displacement is higher that what the ST2000 recommends. I am likely going to buy a Palagic auto pilot and I wish I did this from the beginning. It has a gyro so will handle waves better.
