Basic yacht questions & contemplating buying Beneteau First 20 - good idea?

[jordanbasset]

Perhaps I am biased but something like this would be my choice
https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2006/Bavaria-30-Cruiser-3225194/United-Kingdom
A little over your asking price but you would probably get a little off it

I would also agree with those in saying have a look at a variety of boats for sale, perhaps a weekend looking around boats for sale will be time well spent and also enjoyable. Then you can narrow down your choices, I think you are already aware that it is important to listen to your partner and what they want

 

[john_morris_uk]

Lots of good advice, but my two penny worth is that if you do a Day Skipper Course I STRONGLY recommend that your wife does one too. Not necessarily on the same course as you.

There are far too many sailors whose wives or partners refuse to sail with them ever again. Early days on your ‘new to you boat’ don’t always go to plan and gaining skippering experience at the expense of sailing together in the future is not a good idea. Just go and watch (and listen to the skippers and crew) of boats manoeuvring in most any marina.... I’m sure we are all well balanced and easy going people who are relaxed and never raise our voices or blame the crew, but my experience says different when we are overloaded with the stress of driving the boat into a tricky space with wind and tide not cooperating with our plan.

I suppose one advantage of a second hand boat is that in your early days of boat driving you WILL ding it and it might be less stressful to scratch or scrape something second hand.

Finally, if you really want your wife to enjoy sailing, creature comforts matter. Portaloos don’t count as creature comforts to Mrs M. My wife also has a very strong preference for a reliable Diesel engine, but perhaps that’s just her personal preference?

 

[Norman_E]

Perhaps I am biased but something like this would be my choice
https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2006/Bavaria-30-Cruiser-3225194/United-Kingdom
A little over your asking price but you would probably get a little off it

I would also agree with those in saying have a look at a variety of boats for sale, perhaps a weekend looking around boats for sale will be time well spent and also enjoyable. Then you can narrow down your choices, I think you are already aware that it is important to listen to your partner and what they want

Agreed, and that Bav 30 or something very like it should appeal to your wife much more than any 20 footer as well as being much better at making reasonable length passages, including cross channel. That boat looks quite tidy and the only things in the photos that shouted "change it" to me were the stainless shackle holding the anchor, and the anchor itself.

 

[RichardS]

That boat looks quite tidy and the only things in the photos that shouted "change it" to me were the stainless shackle holding the anchor, and the anchor itself.

I would also change the stainless steel shackle ..... to a stainless steel Kong swivel. In fact, that's exactly what I did.

Richard

 

[Spyro]

I wouldn't buy a new boat in your situation purely down to the depreciation factor and it being your first boat. Generally people buy their first boat and don't keep it very long because it's not until you have one that you really know what you want in a boat so very quickly you are thinking about your next boat. There are so many factors you mention that makes me think you could want to sell it pretty quickly so depreciation from new would be a concern. Your wife may hate it, she might hate you for liking it, you mention maybe having kids, you talk about sailing faster with friends you'll soon realise you won't notice any difference. I'm with everyone else who has said buy something second hand with a bit more room that your wife may enjoy a bit more. It will be a better experience for both of you. If you decide to sell then hopefully you won't lose much money, if you buy well you might not lose any.

 

[PeteCooper]

A mate of mine has a very good Jeanneau Attalia for sale at well under £20k. I can point you towards him if you like?

 

[Spyro]

A mate of mine has a very good Jeanneau Attalia for sale at well under £20k. I can point you towards him if you like?

Are you on commission?

 

[DownWest]

Huge amount of useful advice on this thread.
Best was to join a club and crew for others.

I will chuck in a recent experience.. Guy buys a Trapper 501 27ft that has been left ashore for several years. Price was low, but it was in reasonable condition with sails and old but functioning electronics. Engine (inboard) gave grief and is being replaced.
But, it is a really nice, slightly sporty boat with with decent headroom and a head + shower in the forward cabin. If you treat that as storage, since the main cabin has space for 4 bods, not too bad on the privacy front. There are two berths in the F cabin, but six does sound a lot for cruising!
Price? If one was realistic and included the work to get her back in the water, perhaps £14K. Puchase was half that.

As to where it has cruised... UK to med, via atlantic, on to Greece, then back via Italy and Portugal to here
New owner is like the OP, couple of courses and dead keen. Except his courses were on 30fters for DS and one up. No dinghy experience.
If I had been him, I would have gone for an in commission boat of the same size and had less of the issues of it being on shore for so long. Probably cost about the same.
Like I said, very nice boat and about what the OP would need. OK, plenty others out there.