SimonD
Well-Known Member
Indeed, and new boat reviews reflect that. The phrase "sea kindly motion" seems to have gone the same way as "the gear lever falls easily to hand" that consistently featured in car reviews of the 70's.
Boat prices
- Thread starter Way
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Indeed, and new boat reviews reflect that. The phrase "sea kindly motion" seems to have gone the same way as "the gear lever falls easily to hand" that consistently featured in car reviews of the 70's.
Not really what I own. Going by newly reviewed designs from French mass market producers what the markets wants is:
- A very wide stern lifed from the design blurprint of a grandprix ocean racer to facilitate a massive cockpit/outdoor social area in a modest 35ft hull.
- A powered opening transom that becomes a water sports access platforn,
- Twin helming positions and rudders which look cool and are needed to overcome problems of a wide stern.
- A reduced size saloon because who wants to swelter down below at the hight of a med summer given that palatial cockpit.
- An overhead mainsheet arch to keep all that strange string stuff out of sight.
- An optional sprayhood that connects to the arch to keep sea spray off ones iPhone 6S.
- Many will be happy to splashout £98k on the weekender option that forgoes the tacky caravan'esce stuff, after all darling there is a nice boutique hotel that gets rave reviews on TripAdvisor and is only a 10 minute Uber ride from the marina. And who has the time to go sailing for a whole week, three days is more than enough time to capture a digital experience record for Facebook.
Not a description of my boat but I still hanker after retrofitting a Malo style mainsheet arch with a canvas conservatory attached.
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Pete7
Well-Known Member
Had a chat with a Fareham Chandlers this morning. They are downsizing and moving to waterside premises. Difficulty in competing with shops on the internet and very small mark ups on chandlery has made them think about the future. They still plan on stocking small fast moving items, but see a market were they service, maintain and antifoul boats for clients as the way forward for the business.
thecommander
Well-Known Member
Cheeky question but how much do you reckon I could pick up a good condition 26-28ft cruising yacht for?
Not fused on age/era provided the sails, mast, engine and general boat condition are in decent working order.
The wife would like a separate heads and separated forward berth with 5-6ft head room and a high freeboard (makes her feel safer for some reason). Westerly Centaur comes to mind, but they're priced anywhere from 5k to 15k. Wife thinks they look a little funny and not as solid looking as the Cobras.
Not sure what the realistic going rate is for a Centaur 26 is...
We recently purchased a Benny First 235, great little boat but I fear we could have got something with a better internal layout, more seaworthy and larger for half the money we paid for the Benny...
I like the look of the Cobra 750. Seem very substantial little boats with the high freeboard and are very beamy (almost 10ft). The Cobra 750 or 850 is what the wife really wanted because they look safe. Or a Mirage 28.
Really wouldn't want to spend anymore than 7k with another 2k spare for repairs. Can't get more than 28ft in the berth.
Not fused on age/era provided the sails, mast, engine and general boat condition are in decent working order.
The wife would like a separate heads and separated forward berth with 5-6ft head room and a high freeboard (makes her feel safer for some reason). Westerly Centaur comes to mind, but they're priced anywhere from 5k to 15k. Wife thinks they look a little funny and not as solid looking as the Cobras.
Not sure what the realistic going rate is for a Centaur 26 is...
We recently purchased a Benny First 235, great little boat but I fear we could have got something with a better internal layout, more seaworthy and larger for half the money we paid for the Benny...
I like the look of the Cobra 750. Seem very substantial little boats with the high freeboard and are very beamy (almost 10ft). The Cobra 750 or 850 is what the wife really wanted because they look safe. Or a Mirage 28.
Really wouldn't want to spend anymore than 7k with another 2k spare for repairs. Can't get more than 28ft in the berth.
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Pete7
Well-Known Member
Judders
Well-Known Member
Funnily enough I just did a search for a 27-30' cruiser racer built between '79 and '82 to see if Impalas are overpriced on account of their race record and a strong Solent OD fleet.
It seems not.
I'm amazed at what folk want for uncompetitive boats of the same ilk. Some of which are known to sail like dogs.
It seems not.
I'm amazed at what folk want for uncompetitive boats of the same ilk. Some of which are known to sail like dogs.
Judders
Well-Known Member
On the flip side, there are some lovely half tonners out there for not a lot.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
You may think they are lovely, but clearly buyers don't if they are being offered at low prices!
Just saying!
Tranona
Well-Known Member
You should be able to buy a reasonable ready to go boat of that type for that money. Asking prices do vary widely partly because condition varies and partly because many owners have unrealistic expectations.
Do not get too hung up about specific models as in this market condition is all. £2k does not go far in upgrading so finding a boat that you can use without any real expenditure is key. Obviously Centaurs feature frequently simply because of the number built but there are many other designs that can give good service.
steve yates
Well-Known Member
Happy days, cheap boats for me then
OCEAN I
New Member
Hello to all.
It is my first post, so allow me to introduce myself.
I am a French, from Madagascar, sea and boat lover, who dreams of an unit with twin nice diesels: I guess that this will tell to some, ‘’that’s a lot for one man’’…
So, being thousands miles away from the first marina in Europ, I have no other choice than searching on internet.
I see plenty of websites, brokers, boats, high prices, low prices, price reductions: what a difficult jungle for someone like me coming from the bush!
What I can say is that the best advices that I have found are on this forum, and I want to thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge.
My English has deteriorated trough lack of practice, but it will be a pleasure for me to share the little I know of the sea here.
Cheers!
It is my first post, so allow me to introduce myself.
I am a French, from Madagascar, sea and boat lover, who dreams of an unit with twin nice diesels: I guess that this will tell to some, ‘’that’s a lot for one man’’…
So, being thousands miles away from the first marina in Europ, I have no other choice than searching on internet.
I see plenty of websites, brokers, boats, high prices, low prices, price reductions: what a difficult jungle for someone like me coming from the bush!
What I can say is that the best advices that I have found are on this forum, and I want to thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge.
My English has deteriorated trough lack of practice, but it will be a pleasure for me to share the little I know of the sea here.
Cheers!
doug748
Well-Known Member
Happy days, cheap boats for me then
It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good.
I think you could buy a very handy 28footer for 7k, in the present market, thecommander. However you could also buy a lot of trouble, enough to put you off for life.
I would be tempted to get plenty of use out of you present boat first. Swapping boats is always frustrating and expensive. Waiting has the additional advantage of giving you time to be really sure and perhaps moving on to an even more suitable boat, 4 years on.
Lots of folk have tried changing boats on the premise that this or that level of size or comfort will tempt the family to become interested. Often it does not work and you could end up with a boat that suits no-one.
Otter
Well-Known Member
What kind of 28 footers are you looking at - most sell for sub 4k. The under 30 footer with no aft cabin and a dark interior barely has a market anymore. Face it, if Austin Allegros, Austin Maxis and Morris Marinas were make out of GRP and 95% of them were still driveable, how many of us would actually want one?
doug748
Well-Known Member
Ownership of that type of boat does not give any intrinsic insight, if you have looked after it I think you might be pleasantly surprised at it's value.
However it is a thin market, looking at a few distressed sales, of the worst types on E bay is a poor touchstone. "Most sell for sub 4k". I doubt it, Sadlers, Moodys and even older Twisters and the rest all seem pretty popular, condition is all.
Otter
Well-Known Member
Asking prices bear no relation whatsoever to final sale prices, and I did say "most", there aren't that many Sadlers and Moody's under 28 feet!
SiteSurfer
Well-Known Member
I purchased a Prospect 900 last year, in a similar state of mind to you. SWMBO didn't like the clunky look of the Centaur (sorry Dylan) so we settled on something like a Mirage 28 or Cobra as you mentioned. The Prospect simply came out at the right price with the right gear - however I have spent north of 2K fitting it out to my personal choice so whilst I got the boat at the right price, I wasn't deluded that the cost would be 'it' so to speak.
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Judders
Well-Known Member
What are all these 28'ers selling for less than £4k? That sounds like most exciting news.
Ceirwan
Well-Known Member
Found some of the statements about 'young people' afraid to work on their boats and afraid to go out in anything over a F4 quite amusing. As a 'young person' that couldn't be further than the truth for me, having rebuilt almost every part of my boat, I also find in general that 'young people' are just as happy to go out in whatever conditions are present on the day, if not more so.
Maybe some forum bias coming into play?
Its hardly surprising older boats aren't selling as well, because, well they're older. You don't expect people to buy the same cars their parents did, much the same applies.
It doesn't help that half the boats up for sale are ill maintained, poorly equipped and just look a mess in general. In theory there's nothing wrong with an older boat, but in general from some of the ones I've looked at, they just aren't maintained, and most require a lot of money spent to bring them up to date and make them seaworthy.
Point in case is a Contessa 32 I've seen up for sale recently, nice if old design, but she's advertised as 'ready for an ocean crossing'. Now maybe the owner has a different idea of what classes as an ocean to the rest of us, but looking at it realistically I think it needs money spending before I'd even want to go on a short coastal passage.
So yes there are lots of cheap old boats out there, that are potentially a 'good boat for somebody', but if you price in upgrading the rigging, servicing the equipment and updating old and knackered deck gear. New sails if required and bringing it cosmetically up to scratch, you're far better off buying the best example you can.
Or just a newer boat
.
Maybe some forum bias coming into play?
Its hardly surprising older boats aren't selling as well, because, well they're older. You don't expect people to buy the same cars their parents did, much the same applies.
It doesn't help that half the boats up for sale are ill maintained, poorly equipped and just look a mess in general. In theory there's nothing wrong with an older boat, but in general from some of the ones I've looked at, they just aren't maintained, and most require a lot of money spent to bring them up to date and make them seaworthy.
Point in case is a Contessa 32 I've seen up for sale recently, nice if old design, but she's advertised as 'ready for an ocean crossing'. Now maybe the owner has a different idea of what classes as an ocean to the rest of us, but looking at it realistically I think it needs money spending before I'd even want to go on a short coastal passage.
So yes there are lots of cheap old boats out there, that are potentially a 'good boat for somebody', but if you price in upgrading the rigging, servicing the equipment and updating old and knackered deck gear. New sails if required and bringing it cosmetically up to scratch, you're far better off buying the best example you can.
Or just a newer boat
.thecommander
Well-Known Member
People don't want sub 30ft boats anymore? Don't quite believe that. We've no need for a rear cabin or a rear heads - only the wife and I. To be honest I wouldn't choose to have a 30ft+ boat unless regularly cruising with company or had a family interested in sailing.
@SiteSurfer Nice boat, but probably verging on the too big for us
@SiteSurfer Nice boat, but probably verging on the too big for us
Strolls
Well-Known Member
If this is the one I'm finding, it's already had a price drop from asking £25,000 to £17,500. Rather illustrates OP's point.
That one does look pretty clean and capable to me, though. Not sure if we're talking about the same boat.
