Any Westerly Pageant Owners?

Thanks for all the replies and lots of useful information.
A little bit more about our grand plan.
I am buying the boat with a friend and we will share it between us. Both of us have families of 4 but shift work dictates that we won't be able sail together so it doesn't need to big enough to fit us all on. 20-26ft is what we are looking at.
We both sailed as youngsters, he grew up in Southampton so was always sailing. I did dinghy sailing at school then sailed across to Cherbourg in a 77ft yacht. So we both know we want a sailing boat, but our experiences were so long ago that we are no complete beginners again.
We are in Essex and the boat will be probably be kept on the river Roach, it's our nearest boatyard and the moorings are reasonable. We will then potter about on the Roach and Crouch before heading at to sea and around the coast. As the Roach is tidal we have to go for a lifting keel or a bilge keel, this I now know thanks to you guys. That rules out Achillies as it's fin keeled.
Keep the suggestions coming, thanks.
Keep the ideas coming
 
£2000 in total. The reason its so small is I am unsure yet how much use my family will get out of it. Summer weekends are taken up by work or cricket, so I will only use it during school holidays or the odd Sunday.
 
OK, that rules out the Pageant but your plan is still doable. There were a number of British boats built in the seventies which are now in your price bracket. By today's standards they are small, basic and probably a bit scruffy, but they will still get you on the water. For that money you are looking for a boat with an outboard. Any inboard engine in a boat of that price will be shot. An outboard has several advantages, not least if it breaks you can take it home and fix it and if it is not fixable then you can buy a secondhand one for a few hundred pounds.
Do a price search on Boats and Outboards to get some idea of what is available for under £2500. Also look at Apollo Duck and local sailing club and boat yard notice boards. Brokers will be unlikely to deal with boats at that price as their commission is too high. As you have identified, part of your problem is finding one near to you but you may be able to hire a trailer for a reasonable amount. You can see the point of looking locally! If you are sailing on the Roach and Crouch then almost any boat will suit you but it is always better to buy a well known brand for when you come to sell. It also depends on how tall you and your family are and how cramped you want to be!
When you have made a shortlist I am sure that plenty of people on the forum will give you advice! Good Luck!
 
I bought family boat last year and went through a long process of working out what I wanted, could afford and which would not end in divorce. The boat share idea is a good one , at least for me and my bro in law. You never use the boat as much as you think you will be able to so it helps to share costs.

I recoomemd going to a boat sale. Hopping on and off a whole load of boats one after the other, all stakeholders there sharing thoughts and priorities . it saves a huge amount of time. We went to Tollesbury Marina.

I'm not sure you will be able to get a boat all in for 2k that will fit a family of four. Not being dismissive. Ive tried. But the danger is that you buy at that price and then have to spend money to fix the engine, the sails or the rigging etc. That said, you might do better than me so the very best of luck to you. I am based on the Medway now so we are not far away. See you on the water!
 
Visited Tollesbury Marina last week and viewed a few boats, it certainly gave us a good idea of what we want and don't want.
There were a couple of Kingfisher 20s that looked quite nice, roomy inside with a separate head.
 
Seamaster 23 is worth considering, similar to the pageant but much cheaper, just bought one in really good condition with a three year old engine for £3000, at the same time there where four others on the market two of which could have been very near your price.
 
 
Nunfa1 said:
That rules out Achillies as it's fin keeled.
Click to expand...

Oops. I thought they were all triple keeled. My bad. Anyway, Tranona has pointed out the other disadvantages.

Tam Lin said:
OK, that rules out the Pageant but your plan is still doable. There were a number of British boats built in the seventies which are now in your price bracket. By today's standards they are small, basic and probably a bit scruffy, but they will still get you on the water. For that money you are looking for a boat with an outboard. Any inboard engine in a boat of that price will be shot.
Click to expand...

Spot on.

Brokers will be unlikely to deal with boats at that price as their commission is too high.
Click to expand...

Boatshed don't seem too proud to do small stuff. I was going to list my last boat with them, and they simply had a minimum fixed commission which on a £2,000 boat wasn't outrageously high.

OP, I'm sure you'll find something. At this price range many sales are fairly informal, so it's worth looking on club and harbour noticeboards. Although I'm a traditionalist at heart, I have to say that I find this Newbridge Eclipse curiously appealing - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22-foot-yacht-newbridge-eclipse-/151658283900.
 
This is a link to the Sprite we have looked at:

http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/112379317/pearson-bros-sprite-sailing-yachtboat.html

It's moored on the Roach and the mooring is also available, so it's very convenient. Looks a solid little boat just needs a clean and tidy up inside. You won't find much information online about the boat, there was a thread on here from about 5 years ago about someone trying to identify it but that's about all.
Would welcome some opinions on it though. My thoughts are that it is overpriced and that we should extend the guard rail before we take the kids out on it.
Thanks
 
Pretty sure it is an American boat and rare here. At that sort of price - difficult to say if it is "overpriced" - you have to take it for what it is a small daysailer with some accommodation. OK for short sails in sheltered waters but not a pocket cruiser for spending any time on.
 
Seawych would be a very good choice. I built one in 1976 and had 4 years good fun with 2 small children before moving up. Stable, not the sharpest performer but safe and enough space to try the odd overnight on board. Very different kind of boat from the Sprite. Kingfisher aimed at similar market, but older and perhaps more basic finish.
 
Tranona said:
Seawych would be a very good choice. I built one in 1976 and had 4 years good fun with 2 small children before moving up. Stable, not the sharpest performer but safe and enough space to try the odd overnight on board. Very different kind of boat from the Sprite. Kingfisher aimed at similar market, but older and perhaps more basic finish.
Click to expand...

Didn't like the Seawych to be honest. Felt very cramped when compared to the Sprite and the Kingfisher. I think it's possibly a bit narrower than the others?
 
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