Best 24-27 ft cruising boat for under £5k?

[aquaplane]

£5K I would say is a rather low budget for a yacht of that size. I would guess a boat that cheap could need a lot of labour time spent on it to make safely useable, so I would advise to be prepared. When you spend labour time on a yacht you are usually spending money on parts at the same time. For example it might need: new sails, new engine, new standing rigging, new running rigging, new windows or resealing, all the deck fittings sealant could need replacing, new anchor and chain, new electronics and VHF, new headlining, varnishing odd bits outside and some inside, re upholstery of a few bunk cushions, new water tank, propeller, shaft, cutlass gland, replacing mouldy water pipes, gas installation and cooker to be made safe by gas installer, new mooring lines, new jackstays, mainsheet track (if fitted) wheels worn out, minor (maybe even major) underwater hull repairs. Then if very unlucky there is painting of faded hulls and topsides, soggy deck balsa repairs. As you can see from the posts on this web site where owners are asking for advise on quite expensive or tedious jobs, All of these things needing doing are I suggest are not unusual for old yacht ownership but if unlucky the previous owner could have saved all of them up as special surprise for the next owner. I am on my 4th boat/yacht ownership so far and recall my 1970s Iroquois catamaran needed I think almost everything I have mentioned above doing, plus replacing drop keel boards, rebuilding rudders and osmosis treatment.

I'm glad I don't sail with you, you are so doom and gloom we would never leave port.

 

[aquaplane]

I wouldn't go for a Jag 25, no standing headroom and it's more of a lake boat than a ruffy tuffy punching into a seaway type boat, I had one. Lots of boat for the money though which is why I got one instead of a Centaur.
Now I have a Centaur I appreciate the difference. Different boat altogether, the Centaur is a proper boat, the Jag is one up from a McGregor, My opinion but pleanty will agree.

I had the Jag 25 on Windermere. The Centaur is west Scotland.

 

[Tam Lin]

And that I think is the crux of it, and why I'm confident I will find something very good, for me, in my budget.

A boat is a liability, not an asset. As soon as you stop using it, or replace it, or need to shift it....it just keeps costing you more and more until it's finally sold. Doubly so if you have replaced it and are spending on two! It's a fine balancing act for the seller getting what they think their baby is worth, against the constant outflow of cash. Once below the 10k mark, if a boat does not sell quickly, I can see it potentially eating up to half the owners considered value in a year or two.

So, I can hope to find maybe a sabre 27or a trapper 500, probably a jag 25, and definitely a Hurley 24 or trident 24 around my budget when I go looking. As someone advised on here, and when I was looking for my first wee boat, I'll probably end up with something else entirely, that fits the specs and price and stands out as a great buy. Until then, any others I should be casting my eye over at marinas etc when I'm passing?

For houses it is location, location, location. For boats this age it is condition, condition, condition. Find one that has been looked after well and then worry about what class of boat she is.

 

[dylanwinter]

For houses it is location, location, location. For boats this age it is condition, condition, condition. Find one that has been looked after well and then worry about what class of boat she is.

centaur

new engine

£5.5 K

no need to spend a penny more on her

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRyD9ZZwRgU

 

[steve yates]

I've deliberately not mentioned the centaur because I suspect it's exactly what I'll end up with!

 

[aquaplane]

For houses it is location, location, location. For boats this age it is condition, condition, condition. Find one that has been looked after well and then worry about what class of boat she is.

Yer but you have been stung on the engine front.

Add up upholstery , sails and some other stuff I can't think of right now and the engine is just another big ticket item amongst some others. Folk need to look at the whole package.

 

[steve yates]

As has been said, you'll get a boat for that price, with a seaworthy design and meeting a lot of your criteria, but...
The fact you want to be looked after in high winds and a seaworthy boat means you also need something that's been well maintained and looked after, and I doubt you'll get anything under 5k matching that category.
The last thing you need is to be worrying about the rigging giving up when you're caught in a blow, or being forced onto a lee shore by the baggy 30 year old sails as the engine refuses to start as 40 years of sediment get shaken up in the tank and clog the filters!

Someone mentioned a Sadler 25, I've got one and it doesn't meet your headroom criteria, (or your price ) but even with a seaworthy design like that, from what I've seen a lot of examples on the market need a good amount spending just to make them seaworthy.

I think someone mentioned 10k, I think it's probable you could meet your criteria for less than that, but I think 5K is unlikely.

Just as an aside, as quite a few folk are adamant that it needs 10k to buy a reasonable boat.... I saw this on Apollo duck,

Macwester Rowan Crown 24 built in 1982 by Dekanian Yachts in Southamton. Plenty of info on the web detailing the pedigree of this class leading family cruiser. This one has undergone a number of recent improvements by myself and the previous owner and benefits from; 13hp Beta Marine diesel engine with less than 8 hours use. Virtually new sails, Genoa only used twice, Main never used. All stainless steel standing rigging replaced in 2013 together with all running rigging. Clipper Wind System and Duet Combined Speed/Depth Log. Professionally anti fouled in 2015 before start of season. Selling as no time to use!

New engine, new sails, new rigging, £4450 asking price.
Admittedly I have only read the specs, and there could be a large hole in the hull, but she looks good in the pics.

 

[Ceirwan]

Just as an aside, as quite a few folk are adamant that it needs 10k to buy a reasonable boat.... I saw this on Apollo duck,


New engine, new sails, new rigging, £4450 asking price.
Admittedly I have only read the specs, and there could be a large hole in the hull, but she looks good in the pics.

This one?
http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=441817

Not really my kind of boat but it seems pretty good for the price. As you say new rigging and engine.
Although looking at photos of the engine it doesn't look that new, more like someone has done a spray job on it to make it look new, the hoses etc are all painted. But then Yanmar spray over all their hoses so maybe it is new.

Though this photo:
http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/image.phtml?id=441817&ximage=273291
Maybe it's been fitted for a while, but not used,

All in all it looks quite nice for the price, and would leave you with some money to buy some extra bits it might need, VHF, GPS, Flares etc.

 

[SteveSarabande]

another one here, only 5'10" headroom though.
http://plymouth.boatshed.com/macwester_rowan_crown-boat-212745.html

 

[steve yates]

Yup, that one Ceirwan. The more I read about those trident 24's, the more I like them, there seems to be some very good ones available for not a lot of money, and they sound very tough. I'll take tough over standing headroom any day

 

[Ceirwan]

I'll take tough over standing headroom any day

If that's the case, as someone earlier mentioned, a Sadler 25 would do you well. If you can find one in good condition for a reasonable price. There are some nice ones, but also some tatty overpriced ones as well, but that rings true for any old boat.
It will sail a lot better than the Westerly, but smaller accommodation.

 

[dk]

I sold my fin-keel Jag27 a couple of years ago for £6K. New standing rigging, reliable 18hp Yanmar, 5yr-old sails and generally quite tidy. Sailed very well and handles the tough conditions with a shrug. I saw one a few months ago for the same money and a newer engine. Headroom 6ft under the hatch (which is very large on a Jag27 - more like a sunroof!) and around 5ft 10in elsewhere. I lived on her for 2 years and I'm 6ft tall - she was very comfortable and I liked the raised dinette, which allows you to look out when you're sat at the saloon table.

 

[doug748]

I don't think the Varne 27 has been mentioned:

http://www.varne.co.uk/index.htm

Not sure about the headroom but they are well respected for sailing ability. There was a cheap, well equipped, one on the East Coast recently but I think it has been sold.

 

[steve yates]

No, it hasn't, but that also sounds like a very good boat.
So, for those of you who know, which do rate best for seaworthiness, and which for space and accom below of these?
Sadler 25,
Centaur
Jaguar 25 or 27
Trident 24
Hurley 24/70
Varne 27,
Trapper 500
Albion vega 27
Macwester 26/rowan crown?

If you had to pick one to do a round Britain, ( over the top) or cross Biscay, which would you choose?

I know it's nothing definitive, I'm curious though.

 

[Tranona]

Any of those are perfectly capable for sailing around Britain - and across Biscay as probably all have done it in the past - as have many other designs. There is nothing magic about a boat being capable of such passages - success is more to do with preparation and the ability of the crew.

Of course that does not mean other boats are not more suitable as choice depends on personal preferences and budget. So, personally I would not choose any of those, simply because I could afford a bigger and "better" boat.

However if you are choosing strictly on that criterion (rather than the more general weekend leisure sailing) then choose the one that has the best, most up to date gear. Even if you have no desire to do such long trips the same basic rule applies. All of those boats have happy owners, but not all offer the same blend of features, so you will only find out if it suits you by assessing it against your own personal preferences. Often difficult without experience which is why many people change boats regularly as their experience grows and they find out more about what they like and don't like.

 

[PeteCooper]

Steve - just a point of clarification - in your list you mention the Trapper 500 - I think that you mean Trapper 300?

 

[dylanwinter]

No, it hasn't, but that also sounds like a very good boat.
So, for those of you who know, which do rate best for seaworthiness, and which for space and accom below of these?
Sadler 25,
Centaur
Jaguar 25 or 27
Trident 24
Hurley 24/70
Varne 27,
Trapper 500
Albion vega 27
Macwester 26/rowan crown?

If you had to pick one to do a round Britain, ( over the top) or cross Biscay, which would you choose?

I know it's nothing definitive, I'm curious though.

the one with the most reliable engine

after that everything else is an optional extra

 

[steve yates]

Let's assumes it usually starts and keeps going when wanted
Pete yes, sorry, the 300

 

[dylanwinter]

how long are you going to keep this boat?

one of the good things about the really common boats, such as Centaurs is that they are dead easy to buy and dead easy to sell

they have all the allure of an an old Escort estate or a series 2 landrover but there is no need to wait for the right person to come along who wants to buy it from you

a realistic price will get you a realistic buyer

 

[Kelpie]

No, it hasn't, but that also sounds like a very good boat.
So, for those of you who know, which do rate best for seaworthiness, and which for space and accom below of these?
Sadler 25,
Centaur
Jaguar 25 or 27
Trident 24
Hurley 24/70
Varne 27,
Trapper 500
Albion vega 27
Macwester 26/rowan crown?

If you had to pick one to do a round Britain, ( over the top) or cross Biscay, which would you choose?

I know it's nothing definitive, I'm curious though.

Just for completeness, stick a Marcon Cutlass and a Sabre on there too. Oh and a Halcyon 27.
Then forget about makes/models and buy whatever has been cherished and well maintained.