Advice for first yacht

K

kramma

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Hello,
This is a challenge to the YBW community for 1) either suggestions of yachts I should look at or 2) suggestions boats that are currently for sale that I have missed on my search throught the internet. I am currently looking for a 30-35 ft yacht to take myself and my beloved down to the med and back from feb until sometime 2015. Looking at things like hustler 30/90s but willing to expand my horizons of course! We are both regular crew and have now done a few RYA courses with a view to buy our first boat!

'Must haves'
Maximum cost 10k depends on equiptment but looking for a bit of a bargin (arn't we all!)
Draft max 1.45m as I would like to do the canal du midi
Not a total 'project' as I have no time to spare but I dont mind putting in a little elbow grease here and there to get it up to scratch

'Prefences'
Cruiser/Racer type pedigree
Located in the south
Some form of self steer/autopilot

Thanks for any help
K
 
That's a big boat and an ambitious trip for ' first yacht ', have you got experience chartering or on friends' or similar ?

I'd think a Hustler or similar IOR influenced boat would be too deep draught to really get through the French Canals, which consist of a lot more than just the Midi - options you may well wish to take at some stage.

IOR influenced boats can be a bit demanding to sail too, depending on experience of skipper & crew.
 
Westerly Longbow, its not the cruiser racer you asked for but ticks a lot of the other requirements and would look after you in a blow. Just spent a fortnight sailing in company with one, seemed to go well. However, I think at least one of your requirements won't be met unfortunately. Longbow with tiller steering would be cheap enough or wheel steering if fitted.

http://westerly.apolloduck.co.uk/image.phtml?id=375915&image=4

Another with a yr 2003 engine:

http://westerly.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=369826

Shame about the draft as this is slightly over budget:

http://westerly.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=326167
 
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Agree with Westerly Longbow as possible. Another one well within budget at www.harbouryachts.co.uk

IOR type boat most unsuitable for your proposed use. Budget very limited to get suitable boat of that size in good condition. Unlikely that available boats will have gear suitable for living in hot climates. You could easily spend your total budget of equipment! So concentrate on the essentials. Good living space, sturdy construction, big cockpit, easily dropped mast and good engine.

So, you can see why this is leading to a boat like a Longbow.
 
Thanks for the advice. Certianly have looked at the longbow. I suppose the thing that was steering me away was that on my return I would like to take the yacht out racing and I am not sure that the longbow would be particulartly competitive at my current yacht club. We do have a couple of thousand miles under both our belts, mostly racing, and I have crossed the channel a couple of times (one of which involved myself taking the helm as the captin was a bit too hungover from the night before and we had to get back!). Im sure this is all small fry compared to some of you guys. I suppose all that means is that I would like something to grow into.
K
 
Sounds to me like you need to buy a boat to go to the med, sell it and buy another for your racing on your return....

Long bow or similar for a cruise would be a good starter boat. Then on your return you can buy something for your racing...
 
Boats are a compromise, but when you are trying to find a boat that can do 2 very different things you are unlikely to find a boat that will do both things well.

You need to make up your mind which is more important and maybe concentrate on what is important for the main task. Your initial request was for suggestions for a suitable boat for going through the Canal du Midi to the Med. A Longbow is and a Hustler isn't.

Your Longbow will be worthless in the Med, so you will have to bring it back here. Get your money's worth out of it, then sell it when you get back and buy a boat more suitable for racing if that is what you want to do.
 
onesea said:
Sounds to me like you need to buy a boat to go to the med, sell it and buy another for your racing on your return....

Long bow or similar for a cruise would be a good starter boat. Then on your return you can buy something for your racing...
Click to expand...
+1
 
I do recognise I am being quite demanding and apologies if it is frustrating I moved the goalposts! I suppose that is why I said the cruiser/racer style really. Trying to get the best of both worlds. Thanks for the comments though its just nice to bounce these thoughts I get in my head off people.
 
My only advice is to get the biggest boat you can afford and can single/two-handle. A 40ft (12m) is an ideal size for the Med but your budget is of course limited.
 
Albin Ballad (well I would say that). Swedish, heavily built, forgiving, easy to single handle and safe as houses in a blow. She draws 1.5m so you could go to the med through the french canals (just, publish maximum is 1.4m I think...). Paid £9k originally for Triola, best money ever spent - she did need some work, so is now worth a bit more, however you could pick one up in or around your budget. There has been some concern over the mast truss, however there are signs to look out for, and a community of Ballad enthusiasts to answer your questions.

Edit: http://uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/albin-ballad-14583997/ voila! I have no association to the boat listed and you are not having mine for sure :p
 
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Just did a check with Boatshed for £10,000 or less and sorted by longest.
http://www.boatshed.com/dosearch.php?rank=-boatdetails_loa&bq={%22category%22%3A[%2273%22]%2C%22raw_gbp_price%22%3A[%22..10000%22]%2C%22category_child%22%3A[%2277%22]%2C%22boat_country%22%3A[%22UK%22]}

You could also check the £10,000 to £20,000 band looking at the lower price end. Negotiation will reduce the price and then a good surveyor should find other things wrong that might then need repairing.
http://www.boatshed.com/dosearch.php?page=4&rank=raw_gbp_price&bq={%22category%22%3A[%2273%22]%2C%22category_child%22%3A[%2277%22]%2C%22boat_country%22%3A[%22UK%22]%2C%22raw_gbp_price%22%3A[%2210000..20000%22]}

You may do better to wait until November onwards to buy as you can usually drive an even harder bargain.
 
There is what looks like a very nice Seamaster 925 for sale in Poole. I sail one and it's a great boat - more spacious than most of that length/age, easy to sail, solidly built, sails well. This one looks to have had a lot spent on it so even if you go a bit over your limit, it may save you equipment upgrade/replacement costs. http://seamaster925.weebly.com
 
Bigger boats will probably cost more than your budget unless they need a LOT of work doing, also they tend to have taller masts and deeper keels, so not the boat to take through the canals. Something just under the 30ft mark might fill the bill.
Think bilge, long or swing keels, or go round the outside!
 
Aeolus said:
There is what looks like a very nice Seamaster 925 for sale in Poole. I sail one and it's a great boat - more spacious than most of that length/age, easy to sail, solidly built, sails well. This one looks to have had a lot spent on it so even if you go a bit over your limit, it may save you equipment upgrade/replacement costs. http://seamaster925.weebly.com
Click to expand...

Nice boats.........
 
LadyInBed said:
Bigger boats will probably cost more than your budget unless they need a LOT of work doing, also they tend to have taller masts and deeper keels, so not the boat to take through the canals. Something just under the 30ft mark might fill the bill.
Think bilge, long or swing keels, or go round the outside!
Click to expand...

I agree, none of the fin keelers mentioned sound at all suitable for the French canals, which I have worked on for a season, Kramma...
 
"LadyInBed" is spot on: a budget of £10k for a 30+ foot boat is likely to lead to tears before bedtime. I recently crewed on a friend's Parker 275, spending a week sailing the Channel Islands. Easy to sail 2-handed, a lifting keel so you can get it into shoal waters (and canals), and good performance (I believe they are classified as "racing cruisers"). Not sure if you could find one for the money you have, but the general principle of a sub-30 foot boat with lifting keel might be worth your consideration.
 
I'm not sure what prices they go for, but a Seal 28 - which has a handy aft cabin, or the rarer 850 aft cockpit version - seems a good bet.

Lift keel, a lot of space for 28', quite seaworthy & reasonably fast for passage making.

I know a very experienced couple who transited the French Canals twice Channel to Med', both ways in a Seal 28, and the boat seemed ideal.

One plus for a lift keel rather than twin keeler is that it allows one to get close to a shelving canal / river bank, while the inshore keel of a twin might hold one off, and quite possibly a snag when larger boats / barges go past bouncing it on whatever the canal / riverside consists of.

It should also give better sailing performance when in clear water with the rig up !
 
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