TOPIC: Dorsett Catalina

I'm looking at a couple of Dorsetts. One in Amarillo and one in Austin. I'm leaning away fromt the Amarillo one because can't seem to get a straight answer from the owner about floor and transom.

The one is Austin is very clean, but the owner says he believes the floor is lose from the stringers in at least one place.

How hard is replacing this floor? I have a little fiber glass experience from when I was a kid.

I've attached one photo of the Amarillo boat.

I live just north of Dallas.

thanks,
randy

well, welcome to the site, don't feel bad about the little rocking your gonna get getting use to it....

below the dialogue box where you type in your post, you will see a select image file to attach...and directly below that..select a file..to attach.

if the picture you want to share is one your computer, just find it using the browse "button" and once you find it in the pop-open box you then just select it

one more trick..hit the return key after the end of your post...and then select [/b][/u] and you will see [img] show up one that line. to be really fancy...you then can hit the cursor over (before the [img}) and select the middle lines for "Center" witch will tell the system you want the picture...centered and not set for the left indent which is automatically normal for text... then just hit submit...and walla, sounds complicated but if I typed out how to drive a car around the block, you would read that and give up driving so..welcome to the learning curve...we love pictures! gotta a little thing for dorsetts personally and I would love to see the one your talking about.[IMG][/b][/u] and you will see show up one that line. to be really fancy...you then can hit the cursor over (before the [img}) and select the middle lines for "Center" witch will tell the system you want the picture...centered and not set for the left indent which is automatically normal for text... then just hit submit...and walla, sounds complicated but if I typed out how to drive a car around the block, you would read that and give up driving so..welcome to the learning curve...we love pictures! gotta a little thing for dorsetts personally and I would love to see the one your talking about.[img] show up one that line.

to be really fancy...you then can hit the cursor over (before the [img}) and select the middle lines for "Center" witch will tell the system you want the picture...centered and not set for the left indent which is automatically normal for text...

then just hit submit...and walla, sounds complicated but if I typed out how to drive a car around the block, you would read that and give up driving so..welcome to the learning curve...we love pictures!

gotta a little thing for dorsetts personally and I would love to see the one your talking about.

Ok Ken,
I'll try this again

oh that's one sweet looking boat, there is a guy...-name escapes- right at this moment that can tell you what you could be getting yourself into that has one almost like it, are those twins I see on her stern!

OH MY!

Ok Ken,
I'll try this again

....you can call me Ken if you want, but most know me as Houston, I am just "A" unofficial door greeter of sorts.....

I love that boat. I had my chance at a Dorsett and I passed on it because it had a rotten floor and transom. Owner said it was "solid". Yeah, the bar bolted across it was a dead giveaway. And I was a serious rookie at the time. Bottom line is don't trust what the seller says might be "good". Not always because they are trying to rip you off but they might not know. Can you have someone more local look at it?

Houston,
Yes those are twins. I have another photo from the rear and the transom has no obvious cracks etc.

I most likely will not buy it because it is too far for me to make an inspection trip. The guy uses the library computers to communicate and he has never answered me on the condition of the floor and transom. So "buyer beware"


Randy

Well Tomahawk I agree with you 100% - since I can't see it and don't know anyone in Amarillo I'll pass on the boat. Not to mention I would have to put tires on the trailer and pack the bearings I'm sure before I could drag it almost 400 miles.

wanna see something really COOL?

there are so many people on this website, that I bet if you asked if any one could go an take a look at it for you, a group of folks would load up on a bus and go look at it to let you know what the boat is like.

I just made a post for "help"....in the "Amarillo Texas" area...people will pop up out of the glassed over wood work to help you!

dude, I am telling you that what makes this site rock!
how the members will help each other out!

I called the guy in Amarillo when it came up for sale a month or so ago. His price at that time was $1000.00, and he said didn't want to come off of that because he said that he probably wouldn't have any problem getting that for it. Then when I saw it a week or so later, it had dropped to $950.00. Then, same thing a week later, it dropped to $850.00.

In my opinion, with the twin motors, twin controls, and if all of the glass is there and intact, it would be well worth $750.00. I wish I were closer to it to go take a look at it for you up close, but unfortunately it's 8 hours away from me.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if he would accept an offer of $750.00, I would get it if it were me, if I wanted a Catalina.

I do remember that he said that there was a metal brace on the transom that he thought had been put there to better support the twin motors. Good luck with it if you decide to purchase it...

I had one of those, two year restoration. Pics attached.
JAG

kneeboardingtom - thanks you got more out of the guy than I have, and yes I've seen the one post at $850.00. Most likely I'll keep looking.

Randy

JAG, great looking boat!! Results of some obvious hard work.


Randy

To all who might look at this boat: Finally got some more pics from the guy. Apparently he tried to remove the twin motors himself (on someone's advice)..anyway, the the entire transom is now ripped out. Glad I saw these previous posts and kept after him before I made a 5 hour trip to go see it.

Best wishes to all.

sandp328
Thanks for posting, I'm glad I didn't make the trip now either. One thing about the boat was that it was at an old body shop/wrecking yard. My emails with the guy turned me off.

Your five hours from Amarillo?

Randy

Yes Sir.

Albuquerque

I just found a 1967 Dorsett 26' cabin cruiser in Boulder City, NV. A little bit bigger than I want, but still worth investigating.

He has it on Craigslist and eBay...

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120569239951&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

I can't find that Dorsett made a boat that big in 1967 (or any other year, actually)

Albuquerque - nice city! I'm down near Dallas.

Yes, I saw that one in NV but too far for me right now - thanks.