boat buying advice ????

[pikehilly123]

Hello,
I am not sure if this is the correct forum for this but I will give it a go.
I am considering buying a small cruiser to sail around the Mar Menor in spain. I own a property out there and spend a lot of spare time there.
The issues I have are
1) What boat to buy ? I want something around 21 to 25 foot with a retractable keel (mar menor is very shallow in places). I have never helmed a craft of this size. I have spent a lifetime sailing Mirror and Enterprise dinghies !!! so it is time for a good daysailer with facilities for an overnight stop.
The only craft I have looked at so far are Janneua sun 2000/2500 and a bennetau first 21.7. Any suggestions would be welcome.
2)What qualificacations are required to sail in Spain ? Considering taking a RYA dayskipper practical course.
I will register the boat with the SSC, what insurance implications are there as It will be in spain permanently.
Can the metioned boats be put on a road trailer?

thanks

 

[jonjo]

[ QUOTE ]
I have never helmed a craft of this size. I have spent a lifetime sailing Mirror and Enterprise dinghies

[/ QUOTE ]
This means you will helm a yacht better than most yachtsmen.

 

[KREW2]

Hi
Didnt we all start in dinghies? my first sailing boat was a clinker built osprey circa 1970ish although heavy, with a rotund person on the trapeze I could just get her to plane. who else remembers their first road to financial ruin?
K W

 

[Avocet]

25' is pushing the limits for practical road trailing I feel - especially somewhere hot. Of course, it depends on the towing vehicle and there are boats from across the Atlantic (like the McGregor 26 and the Legend) but I think 21 is much more like it for towing. There may be width restrictions for trailers in Spain too. I guess the Caravan Club might be able to help with that.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Quote:

"This means you will helm a yacht better than most yachtsmen."

HEAR, HEAR !!!!

Experience on a dinghy ought to be mandatory prior to the purchase / use of a larger boat. Perhaps that route would alleviate some of the problems caused by people who (seem to) have more money than brains - as in sea-sense - and splurge on a 30ft+ power boat as their first boat. Rather like trying to run before having progressed from crawling through walking.

Fair Winds!

 

[Evadne]

I would say that you are looking at two different types of boat, at least, depending on whether you would normally leave her rigged on a slip or mooring, or whether you want something that is easily trailerable, and the mast goes up and down at the start and end of each trip. As with all things it will help narrow your search if you know what you want in the first place! I would also suggest you look at the second hand market as (a) there is more choice and (b) it is better value for your money.

One is often the classic "dinghy with a lid on" type, at or below the bottom end of your size range. I've always liked the look of the Swifts and Foxcubs, which have a good following so you'd be able to sell again if you decided it wasn't your type, but there are many more.
The other type is more the "little yacht" type, either traditional like the Shrimper, Memory, Hurley (featured recently in PBO) and others, or more modern types.
Either way it sounds a great place to mess around in, in a small sailing boat. Good luck, and tell us what you end up with.