Here’s a 1969 Columbia 28…
As it happens it’s for sale over on Sailboat Listings and the asking price is all of $800 that’s EIGHT-HUNDRED-DOLLARS.
Really.
Looking at the ad it would seem it needs an outboard and maybe some sails. While it appears to be clean and in good shape one expects some sweat equity as well as some money will be needed to put it into cruising trim. That said more than likely a lot less than you’d expect providing you keep the need/want mantra in play…
Eight hundred dollars and lets say another thousand or two and you have a cruising boat/home…
Need I say more except that good deals go fast?
Good to see some posts here…. seems the small universe of homebuilders is asleep right now posting wise. While not a flattie post I thought I'd add that since I have gone shoal on numerous boats, and also lived and sailed on a 32 Pearson Vanguard (with junk rig), I don't think I can ever go back to a keeled boat unless it sits upright once aground. AS31 Luna hopelessly spoiled me. But the utter stark economics of buying used over building are undeniable. Dmitry Orlov recently commented that he has come to the conclusion that he very much dislikes sailing his current Pearson keeler and is selling it in the spring in preparation for (hopefully) building his self-designed scow liveaboard. He bit on the good price for his Pearson after owning a Chris Morejohn Hogfish sharpie and seems to regret the supposed logical economics of said purchase. Once you go shoal just tough to do anything else after that. BTWay: excellent post on Chris Morejohns blog about just this: the joys of sailing a shoal sharpie and lots of bahamas pix to back it up. He is soon creating a site to showcase design elements of his Hogfish line of blue water sharpies. Best wishes from southern Mexico.
As much as I love real (under two feet) shoal draft I have to admit that there's a lot to be said for legs…
http://boatbits.blogspot.com/2012/08/some-legs-and-harle-design-of-note.html