Best small seaworthy boat for 2 people?

[chockswahay]

Right then, this is a tall order so here goes.................................

I want to buy a small yacht for me and my wife to sail. It must be around 27 feet or so, long keel, sloop rigged, all lines back to cockpit and VERY capable of cruising offshore. It would need to be easy and cheap to maintain and operate. I don't need sophistication just good honest to goodness boating. I also want to keep warm and dry. Oh, and also cheap to buy!

Just how impossible is this as a notion do you reckon?

We have done the sell up and sail thing and now just want something simple for weekends etc, BUT my wife is adament that the boat must be capable of sailing in big seas and easily sailed single handed.

All advice (easy on me please!) would be gratefully received.

Regds

Chox

P.S And bunks to fit a tall wide bloke!

 

[Scarboroughsloop]

How about an Albin Vega? Seems to fulfill all your requirements.

http://www.albinvega.co.uk/

 

[doug748]

Sounds like the Vancouver 27/8 to me:
http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/vancouver-274/vancouver-274.htm

 

[smonard]

Ah simple, Halcyon 27! Cheaper than the previous 2.

 

[sailorman]

Ah simple, Halcyon 27! Cheaper than the previous 2.

you piped me to it

 

[lw395]

Sounds like you have some fairly set ideas already, you seem to want something like a Twister. There are quite a few similar designs, but they are mostly quite old boats now.
I have an opinion that seaworthiness is about having all the gear in good working order as well as a well designed hull and rig. No point having an excellent heavy weather hull if the sails cannot be controlled due to poor gear!
So look for an individual boat that is well sorted, because a boat that needs a lot replaced is a black hole for time and money.
You might do better with a less ideal design in good order for the same money as a more respected design that has been neglected.
All small boats have limitatons, be realistic about where you are going to sail and keep some money back for the inevitable upgrades/improvements/repairs.
Also 27ft covers a big price spectrum, my first boat was an Impala 28, which was pretty good in a breeze and would be under £10k now. Conversely, you could spend a lot on certain other 27ft boats.
Just my opinion!
Good Luck, enjoy it.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Ah simple, Halcyon 27! Cheaper than the previous 2.

Agreed! But may need minor modification to take the halliards back to the cockpit - AFAIR (40 years ago!), my Dad's had them all at the mast. But a trivial matter to fix.

 

[steveparker]

How about a Nicholson 26 going cheap:

http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/U0VBSzAzLVNFS1crMTgzMH5TRUFLMDM=-Nicholson_Nicholson_26.html

Steve.

 

[sailorman]

Great Dane a very pretty boat

 

[Tranona]

There are many designs that will fill the bill - as you have seen already from the responses. Price range from about £8-30k.

There is no "best" - if there was there would not be so much choice. By the end of this thread you will probably have long short list of about 20, most of which will meet the seaworthiness criteria. Then the next stage is to look for the very best of condition and equipment for your budget - this is much more important than minor performance differences, bearing in mind the boat will probably be anywhere between 20 and 40 years old.

Enjoy your search.

 

[Sequoiah1]

Dunno about the bunks but a 'Twister' springs to mind though no doubt you would need to set up the running rigging accordingly.

 

[doug748]

.....Moody 28 if you fancy a more modern style....... with quarter cabin etc.

 

[Avocet]

I think the Cutlass 27 might "tick almost all your boxes"! Generally pretty cheap, certainly basic and simple, long-keeled, as seaworthy as you could ever want (and then some!), lovely easy motion, surprising turn of speed...

Lines not all lead aft (unless some previous owner has done it) but it's not difficult to do.

Berths to fit a tall, wide bloke....

...er, maybe not!

PM me if you want the lowdown - I'm NOT selling one!

 

[Badger]

You could look at a Marcon Sabre http://www.sabre27.org.uk/sabre-27-for-sale.html

 

[Pye_End]

Contessa 26.
Vertue II
Victoria Frances / Victoria 26 / 800

 

[sailorman]

Contessa 26.
Vertue II
Victoria Frances / Victoria 26 / 800

The OPs words
Oh & cheap to buy

 

[Pye_End]

The OPs words
Oh & cheap to buy

Fair comment. Was focusing more on the VERY capable.
Contessa should fit this ok.
There is a Frances for sale for 22k in PBO this month. Vertues I think tend to be a bit less.
Depends what is meant by cheap really.
Budget price would be helpful.

 

[kesh]

I made a similar thread, based on John Vigor's book

20 small sailboats to take you anywhere

thread is at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229037

covers ones longer and shorter than you stated but should be of interest

the albin vega is dead on your requirements though, but i'm a little put off by the guy who posted saying his looked like it was falling to bits in heavy weather

 

[halcyon]

you piped me to it

Glad I read the posts first.

Just to add our Halcyon 27 did the Atlantic circuit with the previous owners, USA, West Indies, Azors, Gib, Med, and back up through Biscay.

So yes they are good sea boats.

Brian

 

[LittleSister]

It must be around 27 feet or so, long keel, sloop rigged, all lines back to cockpit and VERY capable of cruising offshore. It would need to be easy and cheap to maintain and operate. I don't need sophistication just good honest to goodness boating. I also want to keep warm and dry. Oh, and also cheap to buy!

... the boat must be capable of sailing in big seas and easily sailed single handed.


P.S And bunks to fit a tall wide bloke!

Sounds to me like you're looking for a Samphire 26 or Samphire 29, then!