Beginner: first boat colvic 28 bilge keeler

Typical 1970s sailing cruiser. colvic was a very big supplier of hulls and decks and most boats were home completed from kits so vary in fit out. Basic design is fine, not exciting but won't frighten you. Engine is a good type but a bit on the small side for the boat. There are plenty of boats like this for sale and whether it is worth buyer depends on condition. it says it needs work which is OK if it is just cleaning and tidying, but any significant work like sails, engine overhaul, rewiring, upholstery etc can eat money way over the boat's cost or value. Descriptions like the one in the listing usually seriously understate the real condition as they get into this state because the owner has lost interest and can't face the work and money to deal with it.
 
Hi & welcome.
Colvic moulded solid boats, the 28 is a safe family boat but these days will be somewhat slow compared to a modern 28.
Do you really need a bilge keel, if your not on a drying mooring i would advise against in favour of a deep single keel. it will be a more rewarding boat to sail ( ducks for cover :sleeping: ) no it will really. my first boat was a twin keel Silhouette 2 , after that i never had another, only had fin & skeg ever since.
 
Might be worth thinking on where you intend to keep it. I am in Suffolk and was looking for something to put on Ullswater in the lakes. I discovered that on swinging moorings, I am restricted to 24'. My snapdragon is 23'. Most boats of that age, like mine will need some attention, so be ready to get stuck in and hone your DIY skills.
 
A twin keeler is ideal for a beginner - more choice of where to go and you can dry out to clean the bottom. People don't buy boats of this age and type on the basis of wanting the extra half knot or so that a deep fin keel might promise.
 
I think there was a post on this boat last week and no one could give a positive identification. I don't remember a Colvic 25foot on deck but there was a 26ft sailor and an earlier 24. It looks as though it was designed for a bowsprit which is another little puzzle.

Boats of this type and vintage were not spectacular sailors but a lot of people love them and you can't argue with the prices. But do remember that it is very easy to buy, at this level, and very difficult to sell if you drop a clanger.

"Engine runs ok but could do with a service" is what people say when there is something wrong but they don't know what it is.
 
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sailorman said:
Hi & welcome.
Colvic moulded solid boats, the 28 is a safe family boat but these days will be somewhat slow compared to a modern 28.
Do you really need a bilge keel, if your not on a drying mooring i would advise against in favour of a deep single keel. it will be a more rewarding boat to sail ( ducks for cover :sleeping: ) no it will really. my first boat was a twin keel Silhouette 2 , after that i never had another, only had fin & skeg ever since.
Click to expand...

Come on ..... twin keel design has come a long way since the Silhouette (very pretty little boats though)!
 
Colvic did a Sailor 28 as well, not sure which one this is. No bids at £2000 so worth a £1500 offer. Frankly at anything like that price it's a pleasant winter's project to get looking really nice. The engine is the worry, if that's really knackered you'd walk away. Extraordinary isn't it how prices for this type of yacht have plummeted.
 
Looks good in the pics but that is just the start. What is the issue with the engine? Are the sails shot? Rigging OK? Generally 70s GRP was overbuilt so the hull is probably sound.

28 foot is a nice size. Big enough to have some comfort but small enough to hanlde yourself. I like twin keels too as its easier to get up creeks and less disastrous when you take the ground.

The loo looks dodgy. Are you sailing solo or taking the family along? And what kind of sailing do you want to do? This is a boat for tootling up muddy creeks rather than racing round the buoys.

Where were you thinking of keeping her? Having been through all this relatively recently I can assure you there are clubs and moorings out there but you need to do your research and have a solid think about journey times and likely annual costs.

You need to take a mate along who is somewhat emotionally detached and will help ask the right questions. I find it hard to think with my head too with thisnsort of thing but there are lots of owners out there very keen to get shot of a boat that coast money to maintain. Whatever boat you buy you will end up spending money so haggle hard and make a good start by getting the right boat for you.

Sailing is the most fantastic adventure though so I wish you the best of luck!! And let us know how you get on !
 
Hi guys,
Wow... What an amazing response from so many experienced people out there, I've never known a forum to be as friendly and helpful so thank you!!

I think I'm rushing into things to be honest, it's located in the town I live in and I've seen it many times. Obviously I know hardly anything about sail boats. The engine issue does scare me and the only reason I set my eyes on it is because if I purchased from somewhere else in the country I don't know how I'd transport it to my local harbour to be stored in the marina.

Maybe someone could advise me on what type of boat I should be lookin for, only lookin in eBay at the moment.

Size: 20ft to 30ft

Purpose: learn to sail, must be possible to sail single handed, will be used for short trips maybe even a few days at a time if I get better to travel north west coast of UK, maybe to the Isle of Man and up to Scotland across the solway firth, maybe visit a few islands in the future. I'm not looking for a racer, but would like something cruisable which isn't a slow old pony if you get me?

Space: will be two of us onboard.

Work to be done: I don't mind doing some cosmetic refurbishing, but when it comes to engines and replacing sails I'd probably give up!

Budget: it'd be fantastic to get one for around £3,000! Obviously this isn't always possible :(

Location: do first time sailors always buy close to home to prevent having to skipper the boat home with hardly any experience?


Again thanks very much for the kind and thorough replies, I've read all of them.
:encouragement:
 
Hi guys,
Wow... What an amazing response from so many experienced people out there, I've never known a forum to be as friendly and helpful so thank you!!

I think I'm rushing into things to be honest, it's located in the town I live in and I've seen it many times. Obviously I know hardly anything about sail boats. The engine issue does scare me and the only reason I set my eyes on it is because if I purchased from somewhere else in the country I don't know how I'd transport it to my local harbour to be stored in the marina.

Maybe someone could advise me on what type of boat I should be lookin for, only lookin in eBay at the moment.

Size: 20ft to 30ft

Purpose: learn to sail, must be possible to sail single handed, will be used for short trips maybe even a few days at a time if I get better to travel north west coast of UK, maybe to the Isle of Man and up to Scotland across the solway firth, maybe visit a few islands in the future. I'm not looking for a racer, but would like something cruisable which isn't a slow old pony if you get me?

Space: will be two of us onboard.

Work to be done: I don't mind doing some cosmetic refurbishing, but when it comes to engines and replacing sails I'd probably give up!

Budget: it'd be fantastic to get one for around £3,000! Obviously this isn't always possible :(

Location: do first time sailors always buy close to home to prevent having to skipper the boat home with hardly any experience?


Again thanks very much for the kind and thorough replies, I've read all of them.
:encouragement:
 
With regards to the ebay advert, the seller is really nice and sent me this message, what's your thoughts?

"Hi, to be honest all it requires is a bit of cleaning up it's sat in the dock for two year and haven't had the time to do any sailing or maintain it.
The engine does require a bit of attention it was running and I'm sure will still run but starting wasn't easy we think it requires the injector overhauling.
The for sail was ripped during the last winter gales, there is a spare fore sail available in the yacht, I would suggest ropes on the sail rigging should be replaced but this wouldn't cost much also she would benefit from a scrub and clean on bottom and anti foul again this doesn't need to be expensive.
I would think £300 to £400 pound well spent and she's be spot on, I'm happy to advise on jobs if your new to boating."

Thanks
 
LadyInBed said:
Is it a Countess 28?Check out the Colvic Countess owners website
http://www.countessowners.com/index.html
There are some knowledgeable people there as many of the Colvics were built for home completion. Also check the 'for sale' page.
Re builge keels, unless you intend to race, I think they are an asset but then, I'm biased, my Countess 33 is twin keel.
Click to expand...

One thing it ain't and that's a Countess 28 ! Maybe one of the other designs but Defo not a Countesss .
 
You are starting your search from the wrong end. Where are you going to moor the boat should be your very first question?

Marina - check the costs - if you can afford this the £2,000 Ebay unknown is probably not for you. And it's definitely not a Colvic Countess 28.

Deepwater mooring - check the costs - you can now look at both fin and bilge keelers, and chose depending on whether
going into drying harbours whilst sailing is part of your ambitions.

Drying mooring - probably fairly cheap, but you need a boat that can dry out twice a day.

Right through the price range from £1,000 to £100,000 my advice is always buy a "sorted" boat, not a "project". Look at the big ticket items, engine, sails, mast boom and sails. If any of these are not in fairly good condition don't buy it. There are already two known problems with the Ebay contraption; engine and foresail. There will be more unknowns wrong.....
 
Yeah I agree thanks for that. I would like to keep it in the harbour but obviously the tide goes out twice per day and this would mean I neeed a twin/bilge keel which I believe aren't the best and create a lot of slapping and sloshing at sea? Therefore to get a fin keel I'll need to keep in the marina which is safer anyway. The costs for this is £190 per meter for a year, which is alongside the pontoons.

How far should a beginner look into when buying a boat, I can get someone to sail back with me but how far is too far for a days sailing? (Roughly).
 
What can I say? So many pitfalls for a beginner. £2000 boats are £2000 boats for a reason and the reason is that they need work and work means money, especially if you are a beginner and have to get people like marine engineers in.
If £2000 is all you can afford you need to think about where you are going to keep the boat, as has been well explained. It will cost you money just standing there while you can't afford to have the work done. In the end you will sell it for what you can get just to stop paying out for it.
If you really want to get into sailing then there are other ways, courses, crewing for other people etc. if you must have a boat then get a small one with an outboard motor then if it goes pop you can get a secondhand one for a few hundred rather than several thousand for an inboard.
It is easy to spend two or three times the cost of the boat getting it sorted, don't ask me how I know!
 
You can find cheaper moorings if your willing to travel, our members travel all over for our moorings, our club is USC, based at Upnor, my 23ft costs under £300, The Medway doesn't appeal to some sailors, but you are in a good position for East Coast and France. Able to get to your boat at all stages of tide as well. No drying out, also winter storage no problem, Have a look at our web site, fare selection of older boats always available.
 
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