Advice on buying a first boat needed

I had the same dilema this year and bought an e-boat. Very low headroom but wide with big cockpit. It has a lift keel and a trailer so i can be flexible about moorings and storage. I would only echo what others have said. Look at as many boats as you can, and when you think you have found the one spend a couple of hundred quid on a survey.
 
Hi David,

Loads of great suggestions above....

Best bit of advice you've been given so far is to find a boat that you like the look of, and then post on here with details....

The collective experience and knowledge on this forum is awesome, and someone will have sailed the very model that you are looking at.... you'll probably find the chief mover of the owners association on here, and several people who have taken one apart and put it back together!

So you'll get plenty of advice on how they handle, their 'comfort factor', and probably just as importantly, what are their known weaknesses, eg things to pay a bit more attention to....

If there is one thing addicted boat owners love as much as sailing, its seeing someone else discover the same joys, and you'll see plenty of enthusiasm for helping you do just that!!!!

Best of Luck!
 
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I had a Halcyon 23 for a long time and loved her to bits.

[/ QUOTE ] I've had one and agree, a great boat - safe, fun to sail and a good bit of space; but no headroom at all!
 
Many thanks to you all - I'm overwhealmed! The response and sentiments are terribly encouraging and my enthusiasm has now reached a level that my wife will find unbearable. Thankfully I can do some of my babbling to you lot which might give her some respite.

There are 3 boats currently advertised which I will be looking at soon. A Corribee MK1 which is local to me (at Teignmouth - I'm in Exeter) which I saw on Saturday and definitely worth a second look. A Halcyon 23 and a Jaguar 22 which I am planning to see at the end of month.
It seems owners of everything I have looked at thus far veiw the cabin as a storage area rather than a living space and consequently they all look a bit like the most neglected part of someones garden shed. Is this an inevitable consequence of owning a boat thats just a tiny bit cramped? Anyway thanks again and I'll keep you posted
 
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It seems owners of everything I have looked at thus far veiw the cabin as a storage area rather than a living space...

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Hehehe /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif that is a common finding! It took us a while to sift through all the bits and bobs on Cottontail, we had to be careful as there were some really handy/valuable parts in amongst it all. I am happy to report that we now have spare storage space aboard. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Sounds like your well on the road to a good Spring on the water. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
If you have £2/3 k to spend then you should look at boats up to 4k, negotiation is an art and cash in hand is a big test for most sellers.
But do not go off pictures,spend as much time as you like looking at the boat you want or what you save could be peanuts to what you may have to spend to put it seaworthy
Good luck
 
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