Another boat suggestion...

W

wanzap1

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Sep 2018
Messages
87
Visit site
Hi forumites

I know "what boat" questions are asked a dozen times every month but advice from the collective can save wasted time etc...

I am wondering what boat best fits the following criteria:

  • Cruising sailboat for extended West Coast tour (4 to 6 week stints)
  • Easy to handle with only 2 crew.
  • Very safe and comfortable motion at sea.
  • Comfort for 3 large adults, all over 6 foot.
  • Ideally all at a £20k budget (I do have some flexibility but prefer to keep as low as possible)

I have been looking at some of the 3/4 tonners, and Nicholson 32 etc. Any recommendations welcome.
 
wanzap1 said:
Hi forumites

I know "what boat" questions are asked a dozen times every month but advice from the collective can save wasted time etc...

I am wondering what boat best fits the following criteria:

  • Cruising sailboat for extended West Coast tour (4 to 6 week stints)
  • Easy to handle with only 2 crew.
  • Very safe and comfortable motion at sea.
  • Comfort for 3 large adults, all over 6 foot.
  • Ideally all at a £20k budget (I do have some flexibility but prefer to keep as low as possible)

I have been looking at some of the 3/4 tonners, and Nicholson 32 etc. Any recommendations welcome.
Click to expand...
A Twister.
 
Sadler 32 & 34 strike me as good value thesedays but you have to treat each boat on it's merits. Presumably you're looking for something that's about good to go so put your budget parameters in on Yachtworld & Apollo Duck & see what comes up, Finding a decent older boat isn't easy, you have to put time and effort in to finding a good one...
 
I would suggest all of the following would be suitable for consideration and should be available with a £25,000 asking price. I would be looking at the 30 to 35ft range for comfortable sailing.

Centurian 32
Colvic UFO 34, Liberator 35 (variable fit out including home builds)
Dehler 34, 31
Dufour 35, 34, 31, 30 Classic
Etap 31
Feeling 960
Hanse 301, 292
Hustler SJ32
Jenneau Attalia, Sunrise 35, Sun Odessy 31
Maxi 95
Moody 33, 31, 30, 29
Nicholson 32, 32
Sadler 32
Sigma 33 (Many raced hard)
Trapper 700 (Rare lifting keel yacht)
Westerly 33, Discus, Fulmar, Storm. Tempest, Longbow. (I have a Fulmar, so I am biased towards Westerlys)

The main consideration will always be condition for boats.
 
Thanks for the many useful suggestions.

What would be ideal, but probably not achievable on older boats, is to have a sleeping arrangements of either:
  • One large double and a large single berth in two separate parts of the boat (i.e. one in cabin one in saloon etc)
  • two large singles together and one large single separate.
I say large as all 3 crew are over 6 ft, and we wish for comfort on any adventures.

Sadler 34 and Sigma 33 both look fit for the job!
 
At a slight stretch, sigma 362? MUCH better below than the 33, and less likely to have been ragged. I did 2x fastnets on one, wonderful boats IMHO
 
RJJ said:
At a slight stretch, sigma 362? MUCH better below than the 33, and less likely to have been ragged. I did 2x fastnets on one, wonderful boats IMHO
Click to expand...
I set a 35ft length as a limit to my list as I thought most over this size would be over budget. I have since found this Sigma 36 that may still be available at £25,000.
Used Boat for Sale Fife Used Boat for sale Angus
 
wanzap1 said:
Thanks for the many useful suggestions.

What would be ideal, but probably not achievable on older boats, is to have a sleeping arrangements of either:
  • One large double and a large single berth in two separate parts of the boat (i.e. one in cabin one in saloon etc)
  • two large singles together and one large single separate.
I say large as all 3 crew are over 6 ft, and we wish for comfort on any adventures.

Sadler 34 and Sigma 33 both look fit for the job!
Click to expand...
When I bought my28 ft Twister 22 years ago I was over 6 ft tall and could sleep comfortably in any of her four bunks. Also, very importantly, and thanks to the deep keel, I could stand upright in the main cabin. Despite this, the freeboard and coachroof heights are quite low so the boat does not look like a half-submerged caravan, as so many others around her size do.
 
Concerto said:
I set a 35ft length as a limit to my list as I thought most over this size would be over budget. I have since found this Sigma 36 that may still be available at £25,000.
Used Boat for Sale Fife Used Boat for sale Angus
Click to expand...

The 362 is the 36 facelifted with a masthead rig and a cruising interior. The 36 didn't catch on as a one-design and didn't rate well against the extreme IOR designs of the day - which makes it a good boat now.

Assuming the original rig, don't be put off by the runners. You can gybe with them right off.

36s that I raced against had beastly interiors. This example, in contrast, looks lovely. Up to 9 berths if I understand correctly. A lot of boat for 25k. Compared to other suggestions, you'll romp down to Devon, but bills will of course be higher for the extra length.
 
Again thanks for the useful replies.

I have had to reevaluation my options after researching the above boats and their respective prices. For me an ideal used purchase would have the following:
  • New engine within the last 20 years and evidence of routine maintenance
  • New rigging within the last ten - twelve years
  • Evidence of continued updating / maintenance of sails
  • Evidence of routine general maintenance, this lets me know the owner was proud of the boat and not afraid to spend money keeping it in good condition
  • A bonus (but not a deal breaker) is useful additions such as updated electronics, cabin heater, solar panels, good inventory list etc.
To buy most of the previous suggestions with the above criteria blows the £20K budget, though the following boats have piqued my interest:

Twister: whilst a bit smaller than other suggestions it seems between £10K - £15K would get a fully sorted, cherished, example.
GK29: Again smaller than ideal, and also questionable regarding sea-keeping (not absolute safety but a more lively motion). However, they get great reviews from owners, appear to be exciting to sail and £10K seems to get a very good example
Westerly Longbow: Not the prettiest boat but good accommodation and £12K - £15K should get a good example. Also, they haven't been raced - though I'm not sure this is the bonus that people claim it is.
Sigma 33: This would stretch my £20K budget to get a good example and many seems to have been heavily raced. On the plus side they get fantastic reviews and once fully sorted would be a superb boat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top