Best 32' bluewater sailboat - up to 14.000 pounds budget

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Adrian_

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Hello guys and girls,
I'm getting close to purchaing my next boat, which has to be somewhere within the 31'-33' long (really 27' won't cut it, I know there are some great boats going really cheap in this size, but I'm almost 6' tall with rather wide shoulders and I hate to keep hitting stuff).
Boat will be purchased from The Netherlands/Sweden/UK and sailed to the Med in late spring, but after that I'm looking, on a medium-time perspective, to longer voyages, so it has to be a bluewater boat.

I realise the budget is tight for a well equipped and well maintained 32', but I don't mind if it dates from the late 70's as long as it's in good condition.

I want it to be GRP, either long or medium keel (preferably lead encapsulated), deck mast, have a decent sized head compartiment (a toiled bowl that an adult male can actually use with the door closed :D ) and a relativelly powerful engine. Contessa 32 would be great except I never saw a decent one going for less then 19000 pounds.

What models do you suggest for the short list? No, I won't go for a 26-2' :) , even if a Halcyon fist the bill in anything but interior size.

Thank you for your suggestions :)
 
Since the topic wasn't displayed while my account was pending approval I hope no one will take offense if I bump it once :) .
 
To be honest I cant see you getting anything that is well equipped, and well maintained, and in good condition, for that kind of money. Certainly nothing suitable to do with what you are intending.
 
Adrian, you'veopeneda can of worms everyone willtellyou that theirsis the best. I'dlook for a Rustler but you won't get one cheap. Contessa's look nice but tend tobe 'wet'.
Can anyone tellmehowto fix the space bar on my laptop?
Cheers,
Rick
 
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Sandyman, I realise that I'm close to attempting Al Bundy's feat, to make women shoes that are big on the inside and small on the outside :)

However, i've seen a few well equipped Albin Ballad boats going for less then my budget. The boat has fin keep tho, but still, it's very respectable when it comes to seaworthyness.

I realise that at this budget I won't be able to touch popular bluewater cruises (especially British made ones) but I'm willing to look into less known Swedish models too.


ghostlymoron said:
Adrian, you've opened a can of worms everyone will tell you that theirsis the best. I'd look for a Rustler. Contessa's look nice but tend to be 'wet'.
Can anyone tellme howto fix the space bar on my laptop?
Cheers,
Rick
Click to expand...

Rick, thank you for your suggestion. I saw a decent Rustler on the web, will look into it.

As for the space bar, if it's a spill you might have yet time to open it up and clean it. If it's a mechanical cause (object jammed under the key and so on) it's an easy fix. If any other cause just buy another keyboard :) .
 
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ghostlymoron said:
Can anyone tellmehowto fix the space bar on my laptop?
Click to expand...

Yes, plug in a keyboard (I have to on mine, too).

I would suggest you bear in mind a SHE32 - fin and skeg configuration from around 1970, I believe, but quite a broad fin. Like any design that will fall within your price bracket, you won't get quite as much shoulder room as you might like - they have a fairly narrow beam but that is part of why they are excellent sea boats and can make to windward in a blow.

Just for the record, I don't own one.

Rob.
 
You might well find a Halmatic 30,but it will be a bit tired! You're asking a lot for the money,and boats which have already had the work done are much better value if you want to sail not repair..£10k more would be ideal! Let us know what you go with cheers Jerry.
 
If your budget is pretty much fixed, I think you need to be as open-minded as possible, get the best individual boat you can afford. Best as measured against what you want to do with it.
Lots of people have crossed oceans in quite modest boats by modern standards.
Some people wouldn't cross the channel without spending more.
Are we talking £14k for the boat, or does that need to include offshore stuff like a new liferaft, comms, etc etc. Also antifouling, storage ashore even for minor work, launching and berthing could easily swallow 10% of your budget.
When you say 'Blue water' is that following the trade routes at the best times of year, or bashing upwind regardless?
 
Thank you for the suggestions guys. :)

I realise that the budget is low for a "buy and sail" boat of this class, that is why I'm more then willing to settle with that obscure make/model.

Also I have no problem purchasing the boat in almost any corner of Europe, if the seller is a honest and realistic person, capable of passing all the relevant informations (both good and bad) via the internet before organising a sea trial.

Mogy, what are your friends asking for the boat? Feel free to PM me their contact details if the price isn't horribly out of range.

lw395 said:
If your budget is pretty much fixed, I think you need to be as open-minded as possible, get the best individual boat you can afford. Best as measured against what you want to do with it
Click to expand...

I think I meet the open-minded criteria :)

lw395 said:
Are we talking £14k for the boat, or does that need to include offshore stuff like a new liferaft, comms, etc etc.
Click to expand...

I don't mind if the liferaft's inspection expired in 2010 or if the electronics are a bit dated (say early 2000's) but I definitelly want them to be present and working.


lw395 said:
Also antifouling, storage ashore even for minor work, launching and berthing could easily swallow 10% of your budget.
Click to expand...

I realise that, this is why I'm looking to buy something as ready to sail as possible.



lw395 said:
When you say 'Blue water' is that following the trade routes at the best times of year, or bashing upwind regardless?
Click to expand...

That's a tough one, obviously I'm shooting towards the second but I'm not sure it can be achieved with this budget, even in the current economy.
 
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You might be able to get a tired Rival 32 for £14k. A decent Albin Ballad for the same money might be better though, have you been on a Ballad? Mast is keel stepped though. Westerly's - Longbow et al? Carter 33? Beneteau Evasion 32? Neptune 33?

I've had my eye on this for a while, been for sale quite a while, it might be just what you're looking for...
 
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Thanks BabaYaga, I'm seriously considering one of these Mh32. I tried to get in touch with that guy about a week ago, but he didn't answered to my mail yet.
Norman_E, I think that would be a very interesting buy for someone looking to cruise the Med. Those Moody31's also have VAT paid, which is rather uncommon for boats being chartered in Greece. But I'm definitelly not looking for a shoal keel.
V1701, the biggest problem that I have with the Ballad is the keel stepped mast. Also the interior is far from being surprisinly large, so to speak :) .

But they are good boats that can be purchased even under my budget.

doug748 said:
No more needs to be said that's the boat for Adrian. Well spotted BabaYaga.
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Well, this particular seller doesn't bother to reply to mails written in english (maybe he doesn't believe in someone travelling to Sweden to buy his boat) but I'm sure I can find other Mh32's at similar prices (or even lower). I know a very good one that sold for 15.000 euros in Turkey, but at the time I wasn't looking for a new boat. :)
 
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H e is asking 28,000 euros........There well may be a boat ready to go for what you are prepared to pay but the initial cost is one thing its all the little bits add up before you let go the docking lines,especially engines.
 
mogy said:
Look at a albin Vega,good seagoing cred.I have one the downside is that the toilet is a bit narrow.
Click to expand...

Mogy, I've been on a Vega for a day's cruise, it's a great boat but it's just to small for me. Inside I felt like the elephant in the porcelain shop, so to speak.

As for the Nic 32, 28k euros is some 10k euros off my budget. :(
 
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