Best value 32-36ft yacht; under £30k; to get around GB & Ireland this summ

[jordanbasset]

Something like this would do the job, if lucky you may get it for close to your budget
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2002/Bavaria-32-3107500/United-Kingdom

 

[duncan99210]

Just about any boat in your price range will be capable of making the journey proposed. Given that the op is aiming to have guests on board for much of the trip and wants a boat where it's easy to socialise, I'd tend to agree with Spyro that an 80/90s AWB would probably be the best boat to be aiming for, as the accommodation tends to be more spacious than on older boats.
All that said, unless you can find a boat that's been well maintained until it's been put up for sale, it more than likely that there'll be a list of jobs that either you'll have to do yourself or pay someone to do them for you. Our boat sits in the yard in Greece for eight months of the year and there's always things that have to be sorted before we can go sailing, just because things haven't been used. So what? If you're intending to set of this summer, the I'd be looking to buy soon and keeping a reserve of several £k to put things right. I'd buy soon so that there's time for you to go sailing as much as possible, finding out how the boat handles and what doesn't work quite how you'd like it to: that gives you the opportunity to fix things before you set off and also gives you confidence in your purchase.
To set things in context, we bought our boat on the Hamble in January, sailed her round to the Menai at Easter, spent the next few months mainly working on her with the occasional weekend off sailing before we set off to take her to the Med. Without that time spent both sailing her and working on her, we wouldn't have had to confidence to set off.

 

[Kelpie]

Something like this would do the job, if lucky you may get it for close to your budget
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2002/Bavaria-32-3107500/United-Kingdom

That looks like an ex Isle of Skye Yachts charter boat- I wonder what it's doing down there? Seems quite keenly priced.

 

[ashtead]

With the OPs agenda I think it's a case of getting out there and seeing a few boats. The Bav looks the newest so far suggested and if you want to sell on quite tradable and if as suggested an ex charter boat might be more flexibility on price as said . The only observation I would have based on photos is the plotter seems to down below and you might prefer one viewable from the helm but it's personal preference but shows the need to have some budget in hand. If it has the original Elvstrom sails these are not that good but again personal choice and might have been changed given age . As previous posters have said those replying will favour their owns I suspect what other 2002 boats are out there in budget? Once you have seen a few down at Swanwick ask on this forum and I'm sure there will be many forumites who can tell you the things to look for on your viewed model plus there are of course reviews out there from various mags on most marques. Good luck with your exciting adventure .

 

[Quandary]

The Contessa will get you more respect when you get out around Galway, but against that you will hopefully not be intending to motor to windward and you should not mind having to go up to the cockpit for a stretch from time to time. Of those shown so far I would fancy the Maxi but really you need to look at a few, decide what you like, tell us what it is and we can then tell you all the things that make your choice unsuitable.
(Contessa 32s are now regarded as classics, bit like VW Beetles, and as such decent ones tend to be a tad overpriced for what they do.)

 

[Spyro]

Definitely looks like a charter. I would imagine it would go for around the OP's budget.

 

[ashtead]

The Contessa will get you more respect when you get out around Galway, but against that you will hopefully not be intending to motor to windward and you should not mind having to go up to the cockpit for a stretch from time to time. Of those shown so far I would fancy the Maxi but really you need to look at a few, decide what you like, tell us what it is and we can then tell you all the things that make your choice unsuitable.
(Contessa 32s are now regarded as classics, bit like VW Beetles, and as such decent ones tend to be a tad overpriced for what they do.)

Contessa have a strong following but like all classics might need some work or be out of budget. Refurb costs might be more like Etypes than beetles I suspect .Clearly not a spacious as a Bav but if the OP fancy a trip to Lymington there usually a few around I recall down at the Yacht Haven.

 

[lw395]

OP here, thank you everyone so far!! A little bit more about us... in response to all the helpful comments above.

* Budget & timeframe to buy. Budget to buy is up to 30k, inclusive of improvements. Given our timeframe (a rush), we can’t get an overhaul / project boat. We‘ll likely only have ~4-6 weeks to put work in and test her out properly. Why the hurry to go now: we’re still young(ish), just handed our employers our resignations, we have a burning desire to learn, no mortgage, no family, no time like the present.
* Voyage. We plan on taking 3 months (mid May - mid Aug). We’re building experience - going slow to wait for weather windows & to explore new places. We are inviting friends and family to join us, calling on the experienced sailors for the most demanding legs (w coast Ireland etc.)
* What we look for in a boat. Reliability (given age), not fussed by speed but want to avoid excessive motoring, comfort for socialising. 4-6 berths.


Thanks again to everyone for all your helpful responses so far

3 months to get around, involving meeting up with people you've invited, fitting in with weather windows and tide, and exploring as you go, is quite short for around UK and Ireland.
You might do better to go around Ireland and explore some of the Scottish Islands.
Bearing in mind you will have an old unproven boat which you will end up sorting various things as you go.
3 months = 100 days. 20 days of bad weather, 10 days of waiting for parts, 10 days of crew changeovers etc etc.
Where will you start and finish?

I know quite a few people who been around GB, most are Solent based, and once they have reached Inverness, almost inevitably via the Caledonian Canal, the gloss has gone off it and they are trying to convince each other they enjoyed visiting dumps like Hartlepool and Grimsby.

Personally, I'd just sail up the west coast of Ireland and then see what happened, with a view to leaving the boat wherever it ended up for the winter.
The other alternative is to thrash around and not really see anywhere much.

 

[Bobc]

A member of the Bavaria Association did it last year in a Bavaria 32. Took about 8 weeks going anti-clockwise and through the Caledonian Canal.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

We went around Great Britain via Cape Wrath in about 3 months in 2005 but went down the Eastern Irish Coast. Boat was a Centurion 32 which was very suitable for the task and large cockpit handy for socialising. Maximum of 4 for more than a day sail. If you can find a good one for about half your budget, consider. A fairly straightforward yacht to get ready for such a voyage.

 

[Uricanejack]

If you figure it out let me know how it works.
I have a roughly similar budget and a similarly silly idea.
By a mid 30 ft boat in the Uk. Sail around the uk. Not nesceseraly round the Uk. But a few months sailing.
So the ability to re sell quite easily is important.

So far I haven’t gone ahead with this crazy plan. It’s not so much the cost of a boat. I have seen some I might have been interested in. The cost of keeping it somewhere when I am not using it and maintaining it have keep me from buying a boat

Next of course. If I want my wife to come is comfortable. So mid 30s, hot&cold water, heat, fridge, a working head.
No leaks and smells nice.

My current boat fits some of these requirements but not enough of them.

My lists would include Sadler, but my own boat is a bit lighter and faster
So for me a boat like a Sadler would work.
Maybe a Ben or Jen would be be better. Or a Bavaria not sure if any would fit my budget though.

She did like the Elan we saw at a boat show. It definitely doesn’t fit my budget but an older one might.

More modern charter boats are popular for a reason.

I would be quite Happy roughing it on an old contesa or nic but not the misses and my concern about an old cheep boat is being stuck with an old cheep boat I can’t sell with the mooring cost rapidly eating up any value it has.

While my idea is silly. The boat beside me last winter. Is owned by a nice Australian couple who bought it to explore the west coast for a couple summers.
They still have thier boat in Australia just don’t want to sail long passages to get it here.
I thought. I like my boat, but I don’t want to sail it halfway round the world iether
So I am nearing retirement and coming up with silly ideas.

 

[Uricanejack]

Something like this would do the job, if lucky you may get it for close to your budget
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2002/Bavaria-32-3107500/United-Kingdom

K

Almost ready to make an offer just have to figure out where to keep it till I need it

 

[jordanbasset]

K

Almost ready to make an offer just have to figure out where to keep it till I need it

 

[Quandary]

Contessa have a strong following but like all classics might need some work or be out of budget. Refurb costs might be more like Etypes than beetles I suspect .Clearly not a spacious as a Bav but if the OP fancy a trip to Lymington there usually a few around I recall down at the Yacht Haven.

I chose my analogy on the basis of the current prices being asked relative to value, the paucity of space to do much and the decidedly mid level performance.
Can't see why refurbishment should be much more costly than anything else of the age.
I owned some Beetles so know how to get my stern before bow quickly at minimum speed but the only Jag I ever had was an XK 140 which I had to sell because I could not afford the Avons it needed. I do like Contessa 32s, they were special but were slow even in their day and surely not the solution for someone who is coming new to the sport.

 

[doug748]

I chose my analogy on the basis of the current prices being asked relative to value, the paucity of space to do much and the decidedly mid level performance.
Can't see why refurbishment should be much more costly than anything else of the age.
I owned some Beetles so know how to get my stern before bow quickly at minimum speed but the only Jag I ever had was an XK 140 which I had to sell because I could not afford the Avons it needed. I do like Contessa 32s, they were special but were slow even in their day and surely not the solution for someone who is coming new to the sport.

Fully agree, sort of.

The Contessa 32 is very slow if compared to new racers or slow even compared to modern cruiser racers but it was one of the fastest cruiser/racers of it's time and still does very well.

Problem is, folks say it is slow when looking at modern, tubby cruising boats this is demonstrably not so. In this years Fastnet I followed the progress of the sole Contessa 32 entry. You will recall it was largely a very hard beat out and a spinnaker run back. The boat went around, loosely, with the same group of boats, doing very well on the way out and falling away a bit on the run.
This was roughly the finishing order, all within a few hours:

Swan 36
Starlight 39
Sun Fast 37
Sun Odyssey 45
Bavaria 44
First 40.7
X332
Sigma 36

Contessa 32

Nordship 43
Sigma 38
Varentia 44
Rustler 42
Dufour 365
Sun Odyssey 36
Najad 361

It was by far the smallest in the fleet and, of course, beat all of the above and many more on handicap.

Hoooever, As the others have said, picking a Rassy or a Contessa 32 for value is not great as they are generally quite expensive. Nor is the 32 great for entertaining groups of visitors in small rainy harbours. I like the idea of some sort of aft cabin, where at least one crew member can retire out of the way....Sadler 34 would be my pick. Though I still think the best advice is to go not for names but the very best price, particularly if an early sale is on the agenda.

PS
Going round the UK looks very fashionable at the moment, number of posts on here and an article in YM.

 

[steve yates]

Your going too fast, take longer and make sure you don't miss out the top.
Buy the boat in Yorkshire or Tyneside, so you start with the more interesting bits and it gets better and better. You will be less likely to miss out most of Scotland by cutting thro the canal too.
Visit Orkney and Shetland.
When you get down to islay/kintyre, you will have sorted most problems and have the measure of the boat. Then go round the west coast of Ireland.
Keep sailing till end of September.

Best idea, take 2 years, really explore and enjoy it. Leave the boat in Scotland or Northern Ireland or wherever you get to for the winter. Take yourselves skiing or sunning it or travelling over the winter. Comeback in spring and carry on.
You could get an almost sorted Berwick or longbow for half your budget. ( guess what I have )

 

[Yellow Ballad]

My only advice would be don't blow your budgeg on the boat, maybe look at a 20k boat with 10k contingency otherwise your adventure may not get started, or ended early.

As it's obligatory to recommend your own boat, and as you've suggested a Contessa have a look at the Albin Ballad, very worthy boat and you don't pay the scene tax, I would do the trip tomorrow in mine if "life" allowed it. However if you're planning on taking your time, and you've not got a boat yet I would look at something tubbier with space closed off cabins for the stuff you'll be taking with you.

https://www.apolloduck.com/boat.phtml?id=469206

I would also consider something that can dry out to make use of drying harbours.

Another thought maybe? Buy a well sorted Centaur bank the rest of the cash, do your circumnavigation and one you've done that sell it and buy something that works for you after you've gained all that experience.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Problem is, folks say it is slow when looking at modern, tubby cruising boats this is demonstrably not so. In this years Fastnet I followed the progress of the sole Contessa 32 entry. You will recall it was largely a very hard beat out and a spinnaker run back. The boat went around, loosely, with the same group of boats, doing very well on the way out and falling away a bit on the run.

For a full comparison you would need to know if the C32 was in full racing spec with coded jibs, like the fleet at Lymington YH, and whether the same applied to the Dufour 365 (etc) or if they still had roller reefing and the like installed.

 

[Minchsailor]

That looks like an ex Isle of Skye Yachts charter boat- I wonder what it's doing down there? Seems quite keenly priced.

It was in their fleet until about 2013. I guess quite well maintained until then. Anybodies guess since then.

 

[Dutch01527]

I would not look for a specific make / model. I would look for a boat that has been recently refurbished comprehensively.

Newish engine / gearbox / standing rigging would be a must.

There are lots of people who spend a fortune on refurbishment in anticipation of a long term cruising and who have a change of circumstances that prevent them from realising their dream. Their loss can be your gain.