2007: time to buy our first cruising yacht

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2007 - it's decided. We're going to buy. I've sailed with the Services mainly, on lots of different boats and for what it's worth am a YM(O). My wife, less keen, but a Dayskipper, wants a good safe boat. 2 sons (7 and 4) are getting into it. The parameters are £30k, 32-34 ft, able to be sailed short handed, wheel steering (another debate I know - but have never had a tiller pilot that works in most conditions...), medium displacement, GRP, modernised (I'd like to find one or retrofit furling foresail, ST winches, Everspacher or equivalent, all lines led aft etc) and I am a confirmed cruiser, not a racer. Use would be up to summer Channel / Irish Sea crossings and I may take a sabattical in 4 or 5 years to go round GB & Ireland. Not a bilge keeler (appreciate the advantage but want the performance...) - a short or long fin would be fine. Don't too much care for beauty - I want practicality, reasonable performance, and proven seaworthiness. Forepeak and aft cabin or settee double would suit us fine - 5 berths would be fine, more a bonus.

If you were me...what would you buy? Advice and views appreciated...

Nick
 
I would do what we did...use the 'Boats for Sale' section on this site to look at everything on the market in my price range and do as much internet research as possible before viewing boats. Then listen to the vendors and brokers while visiting, plus take the time to walk round all the marinas you visit. Start with the excellent Boats for Sale section here, tho'. Sounds to me as though you are looking for a heavy displacement vessel so you are looking at a pretty old boat from the top of the market... HR is possible, Nijad and Contest might be possible if you are prepared to take a much older boat.

You'll be much more comfortable if you can get your budget closer to £50k but as a first-time buyer please beware that any boat of that size in that price range will require a vast amount of money spent on it immediately and for the foreseeable future, unless it has just had a total refurb and you are getting a distressed sale.
 
Lemain, thanks. I am at the stage where I've been doing a lot of internet research - not sure I need a heavy displacement yacht (although I've sailed Tradewinds, Victorias and Vancouvers and know the advantages) hence medium displacement. £30k is pretty much it if I'm to pay what it takes to moor, insure and keep on top and slowly improve it...
 
Initial thoughts are that a Westerly 33 and Moody 33/33S/333 might suit and be just within budget if you look around. Be aware that getting a mediocre example up to scratch, will cost more that a buying a good example where the previous owner has made the investment. Don't be put off if a boat is of a less well known marque, they command lower prices and can offer better value for money. Conversely, they may be less easy to sell later. For a little more (but probably not too much more) money, a Sadler 34 would be ideal, or maybe one of the older Contest range. Good hunting!
 
Lots out there under 30k. Also a lot for much less than that.
A quick look at Boatshed.com shows a Carter 33 at 18k, one owner. Loads more besides.
Wheel steering may narrow the field considerably, but I am sure its out there.
Go to the used boat shows at Southampton, Levington or Largs (dont know where you are!)
Best of luck

Jim
 
[ QUOTE ]
£30k is pretty much it if I'm to pay what it takes to moor, insure and keep on top and slowly improve it...

[/ QUOTE ]You can always double or treble what you've estimated to carry out any work on a boat. If you want to do this on your budget then you are going to need to be a good mechanical chap - knowledgeable, diligent, clean worker, and pretty fit. Nigel Calder's books are excellent - I don't think he's written a bad one yet. Someone mentioned the Sadler 34 - yes, nice boat. Westerlys too; very nicely built and will look after you. Also both the Sadler and Westerly will have a good market when you want to sell. The Westerly Owners' Association is very active and helpful - worth joining before you buy so you can ask questions about what to look out for in the ones you are viewing.
 
Agree with most suggestions above... Moody 33 would be a cracking good start.... fits your criteria very well, and the kids will love the aft cabin... and plenty of them around.... don't agree that you need to spend £50k..... lovely Westerly 33 for sale in our marina at the moment for £29,995.....

Plenty of boats around of that ilk and budget that have been re-engined, re-rigged and well cared for.... its just a case of not rushing...

Carter 33 would be a good bet (well I would say that wouldn't I!), as would a Sadler, and perhaps a decent Trapper, She or a Rival...

Personally I wouldn't get hung up on a wheel.... agree that Tiller pilots aren't great in all conditions, but then neither are wheel pilots..... only things that will keep going when it gets tough are either a windvane or a very expensive quadrant mounted hydraulic autopilot, and thats unlikely in your budget range..
 
Thanks for the advice so far. Funnily enough the Moody 33, from my research, seemed right up there. Wheel steering debate is interesting - yes, I appreciate the better feel of a tiller, the fact you can throw it up and have a whole cockpit to eat and drink in (not to mention the mechanical simplicity) ...but I've had so many days of fairly lumpy seas where the tiller pilot just wasn't up to it and a wheel autohelm was. Anything rough enough to demand a wind vane / quadrant mounted autopilot and I wouldn't want to be out with the young'uns...
 
Smaller is Beautiful. 29' Westerly Konsort.No wheel but fits everything else you want. Will get you there and back in safety and comfort. Accomodation huge.Easily handled single or crew.
There is '88 model coming up soon at http://www.retreatboatyard.co.uk/ Bit more than your figure but well equipped and maintained.Volvo 2003 F/W cooled so very happy under power.
Her name is EISE !!
 
Are you considering allowing the Retreat Boatyard to sell your yacht for you?

From experience I wouldn't bother. I tried to enquire about 2 or 3 from there and everytime they never got back to me, so in the end I gave up trying. Have to feel sorry for the owners trying to sell.
 
Look at the Beneteau First range or the jeanneau Sun Fast - the ""racer-cruiser"" ranges; both will sail well & plenty around for your budget - and I suggest will sail better than a Moody/Westerly of that vintage.
Centre cockpit on anything around 33' is a compromise.
Be sure you buy a well known name as it will retain its resale value when you move up.
Probably ditch the wheel option 'cos it will limit your choice; not many on 32-33' boats & you get a better cockpit.
Somethhing like this - http://www.ancasta.co.uk/boatResults.asp?ThisPge=2&BoatID=19824&func=images#pos19824
or this - http://www.eyb.fr/fr/annonce.cfm?NumLang...n_numero=528744
 
We had the top of the range tiller pilot from Autohelm (The 4000 from memory) with a separate course computor and fluxgate compass on our Sigma 33. It was MUCH more powerful and efficient than the all in one units, so don't give up on tillers just yet.

A windvane would be another option. You can fit very small cheap tillerpilots to servo gears for motoring and/or improving their performance in light airs.

Can I suggest that the boat that you buy, and despite all your good ideas, will be the one that SWMBO feels comfortable with!

I wonder if we have sailed together at JSASTC?
 
Suggest you search on this website. Using your search criteria (actually I expanded the size to 30-35 feet) came up with 314 boats in the UK at £30,000 or less.

Good luck.
 
I tend to agree - A Moody or Westerly 33 is an excellent boat available around or less than your £30,000 budget. They were very well built, solid boats that sail well. The centre cockpit - aft cabin versions are good for a family and in fact I prefer I CC - easier to work the boat both sailing and parking. The CC also makes an excellent social centre... for some reason better than an aft cockpit - possibly because it is near the widest part of the boat

The auto pilot problem does get better when you have a powerful one fixed to the quadrant.. They are expensive to buy and the installation is harder but they will control the boat in stronger winds - lumpier seas for longer than the less effective tiller pilot type.

I can see no reason why you should have to spend a fortune on doing up a boat in that price range but do be aware that the max life for any electronic instrument - wind, sounder, log, radar, vhf etc etc is 10 years... Of course some do last longer but in general they will need renewing in that life span.. So when buying find out the age of the electronics and budget to replace them. Same is very true of existing autopilots of all types.

Michael
 
Hi Nick, I have a wonderful Trapper 500 fin keel for sale, £13950ono. Fantastic condition. Fast stiff and virtually vice free, save for the crew and the skipper!!!. More room than the tardis for a 27footer. Comfortable 6ft 4inch V berth double in saloon, settee berth with lee cloth and a 1/4 berth. Having spent 9 months researching yachts before we bought her, I have had 4 years of fantastic sailing in and on her. Sad to see her go, but changes in circumstances dictate.

Don't dismiss a Trapper, they may be 27ft, but from the inside you couldn't tell. PM me if you want more info.

All the best

Richard /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I have just sold my Roberts 34 for £17k, She had everything you describe and more. It was the grp model = rather like a Nic 32 but much bigger inside. We had her for 10 years and found her to be a great boat. (Sister ship sailed single handed round the world 3 times by Lesley Powels)
 
I would echo what someone else said, the Westerly Konsort is a much cheaper alternative and meets all your criteria except a wheel ! I have a share on one of the earliest ones (not for sale). It is used for a cruise each summer of 500 miles ( last three years have been S Ireland, S Brittany and Normandy and Scillies. It provides excellent accomodation as well as huge cockpit locker, but of course is not a very pretty boat.
As more than 700 were made there are alot for sale and a good one should be yours for less tha £25k. Keep the other £5k for running costs which will be more than you expect !!

Andrew
 
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