Best GRP 30-footer for East Coast?

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OldGaffer

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Now that I have sold my 95-year-old gaffer I am looking for a GRP replacement of about the same length for use on the East coast.
I reckon 30ft would be just about right having spent the last few months sailing with chums on a range of GRP boats of all ages from 24ft to 36ft out of places such as Burnham, Bradwell, Tollesbury, Woodbridge, and Levington, all spots I would be happy to have a mooring at, although Levington is my first choice.
What I need is a boat that is fastish for occasional racing, a good cruiser capable of crossing to Holland, The Baltic, France and beyond, has at least 6ft headroom, a decent double berth somewhere and a good sized galley. The last two would be pretty vital requirements having endured years of cramped conditons on the very old, old gaffer.
Might all be a bit of a tall order because I only have £20-£25000. to spend.
I've always admired the S&S 34 and similar classics but have often felt the accommodation might be too cramped. Should I also go for a lifting keel to make entry into some marinas (such as Tollesbury and Woodbridge) easier.
Any thoughts from the East Coasters on this forum?

cheers

OG



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OG
have a look at the Limbo 9.9 - Flying lift keeler in racing, strong as old boots, not pretty, but all the accommodation and galley you need, and one in Bradwell at 26k... try an offer?

http://www.bradwellquay.fsnet.co.uk/bosun store.htm

Jim

<hr width=100% size=1>Jeanneau 35 - only 13,272 lbs displacement, not even 6 tons,what a lightweight!!!
 
Although its a long time since I was an Essex lad, I did spend a happy year sailing my GRP long-keeler (Elizabethan 29) out of Maylandsea, and my memory is that with a draught of 4' 2" I ran aground on most trips at least once. Most of the classics of this era don't come with a lifting keel option, and as you say are cramped by modern standards although £20k sounds generous for a Liz 30, and especially for a 35 (which is older and probably smaller inside). I don't suppose that the Cornish Crabber and her larger sisters fit your requirements really.

PS what about the GK29?<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Dave_White on 16/11/2004 14:43 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
Have a look at Sadler 29's these come with a bilge option and may have enough room, though almost any 26ft+ modern boat (late 80's - 1980's that is onwards) will probably feel like a palace.

Fin keelers, obviously quicker - but if you interested in taking the ground, accidently or not then bilge / lifting is easier. If you are looking at just Marina's then I have heard of people hitting the bottom at Titchmarsh and Levington with deep fins - but it does n't seem to worry them.


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Try a Mirage 29 later called the 30.5, they have good accommodation are strong and can take the ground well, draft about 1mtr bilge keels - nothing like it is made anymore.

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I sail a 30 footer with a 1.2M fin keel from the Deben & have visited most places on the E Coast with occassional forays down Channel without difficulty.

Levington presents no problem at any tide state - but there is a long waiting list for berths there...

Personally I'd favour the shoal fin or bilge keel options over lifting for that size of boat, as the draft penalty isn't huge, performance/stability may be better, more room down below & there's one less thing to go wrong.

Modern 30 footers with all the characteristics you mention are few at £25k, but some slightly smaller ones may still fit the bill. The Westerly Merlin, Sadler 29, Parker/Seal 27/275 & British Hunter 27 variants spring to mind.

Noticed that there is a Hunter 272 for sale locally that might fit the bill (no connection with seller!) - see: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://home.btconnect.com/moorings/> Morzen's moorings on the web
 
Having had c/b, B/k, and Fin Keel (5'5") Found that kissing the grey stuff was much less likely with the Fin! and didn't have any access problems, apart from waiting for water when going back to mooring. (soft mud) Honestly don't think it matters to much what you draw, so the choice is wide open. Nice Sabre 27 @ Titchmarsh, Though! Regards Tony W.

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony W.
 
Thanks for the ideas folks

I spent an idle couple of hours surfing the net last night and found a brilliant website listing about 2,000-plus yachts for sale. All I had to do was search for boats of a certain size and price and there was a huge selection to consider.
Most of those recommended above were among the list, as well as some others I had been thinking about such as Arpege, Nicholson 30, Twister, Hustler 30/32, Carter 33 or three-quarter tonner, Jaguar 30, GK 29, Moody 29/30, various Westerlys, Sigma 33, Contessa 32 etc etc.
Having spent 20 odd years hoisting gaff sails, tending (repairing, replanking, caulking, scraping, painting and varnishing) wooden hulls and cruising in a no-mod-cons dog kennel for a cabin I have become totally out of touch with the modern boating scene.
I have also found some great websites for class associations and even super sites created by proud owners ( such as Neil_M's delightful and informative pages about his beautiful Dufour Classic) which also give an idea of the comforts I have missed out on all these years.
Sailing gaffers was great and with a ancient and not too power engine on board we tended to sail everywhere and were totally reliant on the tides. But times change, costs were rising and I was hankering for a little comfort. So now I will study the websites, read the books (I have ordered Your Yacht magazine to advice and guides to various yachts) and will become a regular viewer of this website.
Thanks again for your advice so far.
regards

OG


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Shiver me timbers, Old Gaffer. Why on earth is a good ole sailorman like you swapping a wooden classic vessel for one of them thar new fangled fibreglass boots?
You prabably spent years a-learnin' all those traditional crafts of riggin' and plankin', caulkin' and a-varnishin' but you'll lose it all when you git one of them thar new boots.
Mark my words matey, when you are out a-cruisin' down Swin with your gin an tonic in hand and the fancy autopilot plugged in, you'll come over all a-funny when you get passed by a lovely old gaffer a-flyin' alorng with her torps'l set.

Arrr Jimlad







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