Poignard
Well-known member
Sorry - I'd mistakenly got the idea that you had not had one before
Boat recommendations
- Thread starter lustyd
- Start date
Sorry - I'd mistakenly got the idea that you had not had one before
lustyd
Well-known member
No probs I'd have probably said the same thing it was good advice 
prv
Well-known member
Personally I'd rather lose the sea-toilet than lose the oven, though that's partly because KS's loo is so cramped as to be more or less unusable.
Pete
Pete
rob2
Active member
Another (biased) vote for the Varne 27 or the same boat known as the Varne 850. The third and final iteration was the Weston 8500 in which the freeboard was increased by a couple of inches as was the coachroof moulding so as to give around six foot headroom in the main cabin.
Most are advertised at around £12000 at the moment, although one Weston was bought for nearer half that this year as the seller was determined to make a quick sale - who knows the reason? The new owner has just done his delivery trip across the Thames estuary and was delighted by her sailing performance, manners and motion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yoJvQ0jsPQ
Rob.
Most are advertised at around £12000 at the moment, although one Weston was bought for nearer half that this year as the seller was determined to make a quick sale - who knows the reason? The new owner has just done his delivery trip across the Thames estuary and was delighted by her sailing performance, manners and motion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yoJvQ0jsPQ
Rob.
Tranona
Well-known member
You are going to be spoilt for choice - at least in the variety of boats on offer. However, as you already know most will be 30 or 40 years old, had multiple owners, many modifications and replacements, and have got to the age (and value) where owners usually do the minimum to keep them functional. Many will be on the market simply because the cost of keeping them going exceeds their value.
It is relatively easy to exclude the type of boats you don't want, and the short list will be very short, probably focusing on the type of boat that was popular in its day for the type of usage you intend (which is pretty mainstream) - plus a few wildcards of worthy boats that were never commercial successes in their day and maybe come into your budget because of their scarcity.
Suggest you don't get too hung up about a specific model because the chances of finding that - in good condition with no major faults is small. Be aware of picking anything with significant work required unless it is free (or almost), when the cost of upgrading and replacements will quickly exceed both the purchase price and value. Buy the boat in the very best condition you can (particularly rig and engine, the replacement cost of which together will eat most of your budget) - there are very few that are not capable of doing what you want.
BTW on the many occasions this type of question is posed, the list of suggested boats runs to 30 or more as everybody pitches in their own favourites - but there will be a hard core of maybe under 10 serious contenders that are both suitable and regularly available in the market.
Happy hunting - now is a good time to buy.
It is relatively easy to exclude the type of boats you don't want, and the short list will be very short, probably focusing on the type of boat that was popular in its day for the type of usage you intend (which is pretty mainstream) - plus a few wildcards of worthy boats that were never commercial successes in their day and maybe come into your budget because of their scarcity.
Suggest you don't get too hung up about a specific model because the chances of finding that - in good condition with no major faults is small. Be aware of picking anything with significant work required unless it is free (or almost), when the cost of upgrading and replacements will quickly exceed both the purchase price and value. Buy the boat in the very best condition you can (particularly rig and engine, the replacement cost of which together will eat most of your budget) - there are very few that are not capable of doing what you want.
BTW on the many occasions this type of question is posed, the list of suggested boats runs to 30 or more as everybody pitches in their own favourites - but there will be a hard core of maybe under 10 serious contenders that are both suitable and regularly available in the market.
Happy hunting - now is a good time to buy.
V1701
Well-known member
IMHO very hard to do better than a Vega for £8k, you'll get a reengined one for that now...
lustyd
Well-known member
Thanks but the vega is discounted for the reasons I mentioned. I'm happy with a boat that's a bit aged but have decided not to go for an intermediate size as that won't fulfil my needs and I'll therefore have to change it again in a year or two. The plan is to get a boat I can fully commit to and therefore won't mind investing money in. A boat that I know needs changing in a year or two will mean that any money spent is effectively lost as generally speaking the value of a boat doesnt go up.