Advice on 30-35ft yacht for Circumnavigation

Moody 33 mk2 - well within your budget with a bit left over upgrades. Well proven - Primrose the designer sailed the first one straight out of the factory in a race and did very well. Another would be the Sadler 32 - similar to the Contessa 32 but more accomodation.
 
It was the moving it and stopping it we had a problem with when our head gasket went.

Someone we met had to take a bus to Skye and then a ferry to Mallaig taking 4 hours, or face a 120 mile car journey without a car to get something welded from Lochalsh. Even next day special delivery takes two days :)
 
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Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. It's good to be made aware of more yachts that could be potentially suitable so will keep on researching and let you know how I get on.
 
If you want maximum space it has to be a cat.
If you want maximum safety a good case can be made for such as a Snowgoose.
If you want a good average cruising speed and can plan your route/season a cat. would be worth considering.
But it isn't everyone's choice as can be seen from the replies - why not try before you buy ?
 
snooks said:
I think you might find the Sadler is faster than the Contessa in lighter conditions :)

If by different you mean a bigger forward cabin, a bigger heads that you can stand up in, a bigger saloon with more headroom and bigger cockpit then yes the accommodation of the Sadler 32 is different :D

Martin Sadler's 32 sailed through the 79 fastnet. That gives it a solid offshore record in my book, and we took one round the north coast of Scotland last year, so I know they are tough boats
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This is a good game if everyone tries to emphasize with the question and use their experience to offer the best advice to the poster. It becomes dull if the same people offer the same repetitive puff on their boat of the moment, or the brilliant boat that they have just sold. You are not the only suspect. There should be a sixth month ban for anyone mentioning their own boat; very bad form.

I know the Sadler 32 well a fine boat and I will not say otherwise. However Sadler was a canny man and knew full well that, as a builder, the best way to profit was to strip out the better (more costly) features of the CO32 this he did to great effect.

The Sadler offers the same number of berths, no separate heads, no aft cabins and few additional features that I have been able to discern. The saloon is very similar except that the Sadler's is shorter with trotter boxes, its settee is far too deep for comfort and the seats at the end would not accommodate Captain Flint's parrot. You are laying both boats open to ridicule, I can see the AWB mob having a right giggle watching two bald men argue over a comb.

You have told me in the past that you feel the Sadler has been unfairly overlooked. She would have forged an offshore reputation second to none on the 79 Fastnet. If only she had not retired to Ireland - due to the weather.
I have pondered this deeply and feel there may be the seeds of contradiction in there.
 
doug748 said:
This is a good game if everyone tries to emphasize with the question and use their experience to offer the best advice to the poster. It becomes dull if the same people offer the same repetitive puff on their boat of the moment, or the brilliant boat that they have just sold. You are not the only suspect. There should be a sixth month ban for anyone mentioning their own boat; very bad form.

I know the Sadler 32 well a fine boat and I will not say otherwise. However Sadler was a canny man and knew full well that, as a builder, the best way to profit was to strip out the better (more costly) features of the CO32 this he did to great effect.

The Sadler offers the same number of berths, no separate heads, no aft cabins and few additional features that I have been able to discern. The saloon is very similar except that the Sadler's is shorter with trotter boxes, its settee is far too deep for comfort and the seats at the end would not accommodate Captain Flint's parrot. You are laying both boats open to ridicule, I can see the AWB mob having a right giggle watching two bald men argue over a comb.

You have told me in the past that you feel the Sadler has been unfairly overlooked. She would have forged an offshore reputation second to none on the 79 Fastnet. If only she had not retired to Ireland - due to the weather.
I have pondered this deeply and feel there may be the seeds of contradiction in there.
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You are indeed right about Sadler being canny. Sadler was so canny that when he went off round the world (two up) he ditched his own designs and went in a Dutch built Contest 43.:)

That apart, the Sadler 32 in the 1979 Fastnet retired safely to Ireland by going UPWIND to shelter, albeit with 30hp engine assistance. I doubt the Co32s of the time had that kind of engine oomph to choose that option.
 
Doug, I don't geddit as to why people shouldn't reccommend their own boat. Why is it bad form??

If, for example, you had a boat of the style and budget of the OP and had, perhaps, sailed that boat across the Atlantic 4 times, wouldnt it be useful to comment on its suitability?

I must be missing something :)
 
capnsensible said:
Doug, I don't geddit as to why people shouldn't reccommend their own boat. Why is it bad form??

If, for example, you had a boat of the style and budget of the OP and had, perhaps, sailed that boat across the Atlantic 4 times, wouldnt it be useful to comment on its suitability?

I must be missing something :)
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Only that if we all took Snooks' approach it would be a relentless repetition of why our own particular boat is best. Be honest, a Sadler 32 may be a good sea boat, good for a couple on holiday and nice for a 12 week trip up Scotland, but the op is asking for a 3 year floating home in which to go round the world. He needs informed honest replies not a constant repetition of "buy one like mine".
 
Thanks for your comment. My problem is still that if someone should have an informed and honest reply, wouldn't that come from someone who has spent time on a boat within the OP's specifications?

That would almost certainly mean someone recommending their own boat based on their experiences. Or, don't touch it with a bargepole!!!!

Anyway, there would not be enough room on a Sadler 32 for my wifes shoes.......
 
Ok don't buy one like mine!

I bought mine after talking to people who had one (like mine), sailing one (like mine), peeps who had done the same sort of cruise as I am planning and their comments. Looking at lots of boats and listining to SWMBO's comments and her 'needs'. (Always a good idea if you want her to come with you)

We have friends who are either doing, have done or planning to do similar cruises on different boats. We feel we have bought the right boat for us. It is not right for everyone and some of our friends boats (lovely as they are) are not right for us.

As to the OP's original question. All input is valid, talk to people who have done the same or are planning. What are their priorities, what went into the pot to help them make their decision, look at lots of different boats not just lots of Nic 35's for example then you will get a feel for what works for you, what you want and what you can't live with. There is no right answer, there are always compromises and you will always be over budget!
 
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