Lady K Sailingvideo

Cheap Sailboat to Live On? 38 Foot Sailboat for $30,000 - Ep 299 - Lady K Sailing

15 October 2024 · 10 min · 55K views

What this video covers

A $30,000 budget for a liveaboard sailboat allows for the purchase of well-maintained, older production cruisers, though buyers should expect to replace standing rigging and sails. A 1982 Catalina 38, located in Wisconsin, offers a heavy-displacement design with a 20-year-old Yanmar 3G engine and high-quality interior woodwork.1:21 An alternative, the 1983 O'Day 39, provides a three-stateroom, two-head layout but likely requires an immediate engine repower due to high hours on its Universal diesel.4:26 For those prioritizing performance, a 32-foot Sabre in Portland features a deep fin keel and Edson pedestal, though potential core damage near the chainplates requires inspection.7:14 Finally, the Alberg 30 remains a proven, full-keel choice for offshore circumnavigations, offering a simple, robust platform compatible with self-steering gear like the Cape Horn windvane.8:28 Freshwater boats from the Great Lakes region often show less structural corrosion than saltwater counterparts.4:15

Watch on YouTube

Boats in this video

Chrysler Marine 22Their boatHughes 35Their boatCatalina Yachts 38ReviewedO'day 39ReviewedSabre Yachts 32ReviewedAlberg 30Reviewed

More from Lady K Sailing

Don’t Live on a Sailboat Until You Hear ThisSept 2026Their First Sailboat Is an Island Packet 40Sept 2026Why Most People Never Live Their Sailing DreamSept 2026Why Are Used Sailboats So Cheap in 2026?Aug 2026

From Lady K Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.

Report an issue