Best small seaworthy boat for 2 people?
- Thread starter chockswahay
- Start date
alan17
Well-Known Member
The title included the word "Best". so far something like 15 boats have been mentioned. Obviously "Best" is a subjective term! Very hard to predetermine what somebody else might think of as "Best"
halcyon
Well-Known Member
Good question, I am assuming 1972, as the mast and engine were that date. But outside that, I have no idea, I have no hull number or sail number.
Though it is a little unique, as it has a small cockpit, and a large lazzerette.
Brian
robmcg
Well-Known Member
A nice Trapper 500 would fit the bill nicely. Excellent sea boat with good accomodation and good turn of speed. A couple of them in the Jester challenge and the Jester Azores challenge as well so well capable of going offshore. Look hard and you can find a real good one - or pm me as mine is going up for sale in the next few weeks and she is an absolute gem, inside and out!!!
Rob
Rob
Slowtack
Well-Known Member
If you are looking for an older but solid boat that has not been raced hard look at Contests (Dutch), Scanmars (Swedish), Granada (Danish), Westerly (UK) to name a few reliables
EuanMcKenzie
Well-Known Member
she 27
sparkman and stephens
she 27
nice one near my boat - very rugged and robust looking
sparkman and stephens
she 27
nice one near my boat - very rugged and robust looking
oldharry
Well-Known Member
"I want to buy a small yacht for me and my wife to sail.... I don't need sophistication just good honest to goodness boating. I also want to keep warm and dry."
Some excellent boats mentioned above, but I dont think any of them will keep you 'warm and dry' The only type of the boat that will do that is a motorsailer with a wheelhouse. LM24 and LM27 come to mind as does the Fisher 25, or the Colvic Watson 25.
But Motorsailers are a compromise - they do not sail particularly well as a rule, though more recent designs have addressed this issue to some extent.
But an open cockpit boat is just that: if you intend to sail in rough seas, then those same seas will tend to join you in the cockpit - or at least the spray off them will! And in copious quantities sometimes! Modern heavy weather gear although expensive does a good job of keeping most of it off. The only way of avoiding this is 'staying indoors' on board, and that means a wheelhouse. How often did any of us stay 'warm and dry' at sea last summer?!
There is a lot of truth in the old saying that 'sailing is like standing under a cold shower ripping up £20 notes' - from both aspects!
Some excellent boats mentioned above, but I dont think any of them will keep you 'warm and dry' The only type of the boat that will do that is a motorsailer with a wheelhouse. LM24 and LM27 come to mind as does the Fisher 25, or the Colvic Watson 25.
But Motorsailers are a compromise - they do not sail particularly well as a rule, though more recent designs have addressed this issue to some extent.
But an open cockpit boat is just that: if you intend to sail in rough seas, then those same seas will tend to join you in the cockpit - or at least the spray off them will! And in copious quantities sometimes! Modern heavy weather gear although expensive does a good job of keeping most of it off. The only way of avoiding this is 'staying indoors' on board, and that means a wheelhouse. How often did any of us stay 'warm and dry' at sea last summer?!
There is a lot of truth in the old saying that 'sailing is like standing under a cold shower ripping up £20 notes' - from both aspects!
macd
Well-Known Member
An overrated quality, in my view. Unless you have single line reefing (a mixed blessing), you have to go to the mast, anyway, in order to reef. Many of the boats recommended above will be likely not to have all lines led aft. A retro-fit is usually possible, but not necessarily the best option.
There's also much rubbish written about the qualities needed by a good single-handed boat. The most fundamental of these is a reliable autopilot.
I really do want to encourage you, but if you want to keep warm and dry at all times...perhaps consider a different activity?
firstascent2002
Well-Known Member
This was my order too and here is my solution
Have a look at a hustler 30 with a race layout interior. I can send you photos of my hustler if you want. She is 30 foot although has the internal volume of the 26 footers described here.
I bought my girl for 12K and have spent about 5 on extras (wind gen, sea feather, taylors stove, wallas heater, new standing rigging, baby blakes)
Perfect for a crew of two off shore. The whole forepeak is given over to storage in a deep "pit" where a bunk used to be to port and a head to starboard. The saloon has two 6'6" births with a drop leaf central table. There is a small galley with fresh and salt water on pumps to the sink and a full sized chart table.
To date she has been to canada and back and up to the north cape of norway with me. There a quick enough. Seriously tough and not that expensive. I can recommend. J
Have a look at a hustler 30 with a race layout interior. I can send you photos of my hustler if you want. She is 30 foot although has the internal volume of the 26 footers described here.
I bought my girl for 12K and have spent about 5 on extras (wind gen, sea feather, taylors stove, wallas heater, new standing rigging, baby blakes)
Perfect for a crew of two off shore. The whole forepeak is given over to storage in a deep "pit" where a bunk used to be to port and a head to starboard. The saloon has two 6'6" births with a drop leaf central table. There is a small galley with fresh and salt water on pumps to the sink and a full sized chart table.
To date she has been to canada and back and up to the north cape of norway with me. There a quick enough. Seriously tough and not that expensive. I can recommend. J
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Poignard
Well-Known Member
narcer
Well-Known Member
A picture is better than a thousand words
http://wwwhttp://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4013&stc=1&d=1267781831.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4012&stc=1&d=1267781831
Why not look at the Verl 27 ? I think it´s as seaworth as anything mentioned above. Only consideration with this boat is she´s quite light so you have to keep her light. I´ve been in serious weather in this boat, and she´s always exceeded herself. I´m actually a light displacement man and would always go for a lighter boat than say a Great Dane or a Vancouver - there too heavy for 27ft and just will not perform. I think you would become frustrated with the performance of this type of boat even when cruising, because believe me when your sailing 1000 miles or more you need to get moving ! My vote after the Verl would be the Vega 27 - very similar boat if you at LWL/Disp ratio etc.
http://wwwhttp://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4013&stc=1&d=1267781831.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4012&stc=1&d=1267781831
Why not look at the Verl 27 ? I think it´s as seaworth as anything mentioned above. Only consideration with this boat is she´s quite light so you have to keep her light. I´ve been in serious weather in this boat, and she´s always exceeded herself. I´m actually a light displacement man and would always go for a lighter boat than say a Great Dane or a Vancouver - there too heavy for 27ft and just will not perform. I think you would become frustrated with the performance of this type of boat even when cruising, because believe me when your sailing 1000 miles or more you need to get moving ! My vote after the Verl would be the Vega 27 - very similar boat if you at LWL/Disp ratio etc.
chockswahay
Well-Known Member
Many thanks to every one of you for valued comments, please keep em coming!
I do admit it is a tall order and compromise will have to be made I'm sure. The usual suspects were already on my list but you have given me a few more to look at now.
To be honest I have never used lines back to the cockpit but my missus is fed up with staggering up to the mast in a blow to reef etc!
As for keeping dry............yeah, not really I s'pose! But, a good heater would make up for that.
My current boat is hopefully about to be sold. We will be downsizing on a major scale (big was OK when we were full time cruisers but just a liability now) and after have a boat stuffed full of systems I just want something simple. The problem is that the big boat has spoilt us.
I also want to get away from varnish, teak decks, 240 volts, 2 masts, 7 feet draught, and the notion that I can't afford a night stop in the odd marina!
I want plastic!!
I am lucky (?) that my wife does not want a fat ars*d AWB but something that will look after us in a blow. We sail on the West coast of Scotland now and always seem to end up in a F6 or F7 !
Regarding the budget.........crikey.............I would be happier if the spend was say 10K or so but I would go to about 25k if I have to. I don't really want to invest too much money because despite my wishes we only seem to manage to get to the boat about 6 to 12 times a season max.
Just reading all the above I realise that It does sound like a bit of a rant, sorry about that.
Any more replies gratefully received
Chox
I do admit it is a tall order and compromise will have to be made I'm sure. The usual suspects were already on my list but you have given me a few more to look at now.
To be honest I have never used lines back to the cockpit but my missus is fed up with staggering up to the mast in a blow to reef etc!
As for keeping dry............yeah, not really I s'pose! But, a good heater would make up for that.
My current boat is hopefully about to be sold. We will be downsizing on a major scale (big was OK when we were full time cruisers but just a liability now) and after have a boat stuffed full of systems I just want something simple. The problem is that the big boat has spoilt us.
I also want to get away from varnish, teak decks, 240 volts, 2 masts, 7 feet draught, and the notion that I can't afford a night stop in the odd marina!
I want plastic!!
I am lucky (?) that my wife does not want a fat ars*d AWB but something that will look after us in a blow. We sail on the West coast of Scotland now and always seem to end up in a F6 or F7 !
Regarding the budget.........crikey.............I would be happier if the spend was say 10K or so but I would go to about 25k if I have to. I don't really want to invest too much money because despite my wishes we only seem to manage to get to the boat about 6 to 12 times a season max.
Just reading all the above I realise that It does sound like a bit of a rant, sorry about that.
Any more replies gratefully received
Chox
contessaman
Well-Known Member
Your brief makes me think of:
Contessa 26
Invicta 26
wing 25
twister
Folksong
Seaworthiness and long keels vs fin keels is a large subject of debate (and a can of worms I don't intend to open here!). If laying a'hull is your preferred 'storm' tacktick then your long keeler would probably be the one to go for. But if I were you I would be drawn towards a slightly more modern design with a conservative fin keel arrangement. Given your brief, and if I could find one, I would much rather buy:
She 27
colvic UFO 27
more room below -definately
prettier - my opinion only.
faster -certainly
easier to handle under power- definately
just as seaworthy - in my opinion yes!
Contessa 26
Invicta 26
wing 25
twister
Folksong
Seaworthiness and long keels vs fin keels is a large subject of debate (and a can of worms I don't intend to open here!). If laying a'hull is your preferred 'storm' tacktick then your long keeler would probably be the one to go for. But if I were you I would be drawn towards a slightly more modern design with a conservative fin keel arrangement. Given your brief, and if I could find one, I would much rather buy:
She 27
colvic UFO 27
more room below -definately
prettier - my opinion only.
faster -certainly
easier to handle under power- definately
just as seaworthy - in my opinion yes!
PeteCooper
Well-Known Member
1/4 Tonners
I would look at 1970s quarter tonners - Bolero, Egythene, Ecume de Mer etc. All under £10K(mostly) all good to sail, mostly good sea boats.
I would look at 1970s quarter tonners - Bolero, Egythene, Ecume de Mer etc. All under £10K(mostly) all good to sail, mostly good sea boats.
contessaman
Well-Known Member
Topcat47
Well-Known Member
I must confess to bias, but I've owned a Nic 26 for fifteen years. They are an excellent seaboat, if a little narrow. This doesn't make for much of a marina queen, but for two or (three if you're friendly) I reckon it's great. I sail mine single-handed a lot and the slab reefing main is not a problem, especially if you reef early, neither is having the halliards at the mast (I've a roller reefing Genoa).
The bunks are long enough and the quarter berths more comfortable than the saloon berths, however my wife likes to sleep curled up in a ball which is difficult in any of the berths and she's 5'4". The one at Weymouth is very competetively priced, unless it's got no navigation electronics at all or is very badly osmotic. Mind you you can peel and epoxy a nic 26 three or four times, the hull layup is so thick.
I like the standing headroom below decks.
It's dry enough behind my sprayhood.
If you're not warm enough:- put another jumper on, as my old granny used to say. To quote Billy Connelly " there no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing"
The bunks are long enough and the quarter berths more comfortable than the saloon berths, however my wife likes to sleep curled up in a ball which is difficult in any of the berths and she's 5'4". The one at Weymouth is very competetively priced, unless it's got no navigation electronics at all or is very badly osmotic. Mind you you can peel and epoxy a nic 26 three or four times, the hull layup is so thick.
I like the standing headroom below decks.
It's dry enough behind my sprayhood.
If you're not warm enough:- put another jumper on, as my old granny used to say. To quote Billy Connelly " there no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing"
Quandary
Well-Known Member
Someone above mentioned Trapper 500 and since you are in Scotland thought you might be interested in 79 one, presently ashore at Dunstaffnage currently advertised in our local paper. The asking price is £12k but spec. seems high including 2007 Yanmar, fully battened main, A,helm, dinghy, trailer, plus a mooring at Cardingmill Bay.
The Oban mooring could have value as I supect there is a waiting list there.
Don't know the boat (Trip Trapper) but looks good on paper, contact given is Norman on 7810523800
Additional info. There is also an ad. for a Cardingmill Bay mooring with an asking price of £2,500
The Oban mooring could have value as I supect there is a waiting list there.
Don't know the boat (Trip Trapper) but looks good on paper, contact given is Norman on 7810523800
Additional info. There is also an ad. for a Cardingmill Bay mooring with an asking price of £2,500
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Avocet
Well-Known Member
You'd get a pretty decent Cutlass for £10k - they're remarkably cheap!
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Well-Known Member
Why long keel? ; what is your budget?. seaworthiness is more to do with the condition of the gear on the yacht; hence you need to buy a boat that has been looked after, otherwise, you could easily spend £5 -£10k replacing and repairing gear. Dont forget, a long keel boat will be sailing on its side most of the time which can be tiring. Also look at the Macwester Wight; they have been everywhere.
