Boat selection for sailing around Britain

djbreeze said:
Wouldn't rush your purchase, lots of bargains to be had at the moment. Albin Vega's are very suitable for this sort of trip, one's just finished circumnavigating the N & S American continent via the NW passage. You might well get one for £6 or £7k. Look for something that's been reengined as well if you can. Good luck...:)
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Wholeheartedly agree. A friend had a Vega, in which I sailed a fair way. Proper seaboat. Sails very well. Many many made and strong. W'ont steer astern though under power!
 
One boat not mentioned is the Achilles 24.

Fast, very seaworthy - limited accom but if its just you going plenty of space :)

Also has outboard well in the cockpit, and is very well balanced.

I have the triple keel version (which is for sale ;) ) & it offers the flexibility of drying out with very good performance for a 24 footer ( 7knts in a F5 with main reefed is my personal best).

Take a look at the achilles website www.achillesyachts.co.uk.

good luck with whichever you choose
 
Some thing I have not yet seen mentioned - but apologies if I have missed it.

Think about your electrical needs - VHF - autopilot - chartplotter - GPS - etc - all add up and you need a big enough battery and a means of charging it. An inboard diesel will be better than an O/B and you may need to augment it with wind/solar. If usually o/n in a marina, then shorepower lead and charger.
 
Kurrawong_Kid said:
Wholeheartedly agree. A friend had a Vega, in which I sailed a fair way. Proper seaboat. Sails very well. Many many made and strong. W'ont steer astern though under power!
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Even the cheaper Albin Vega's seem a bit out of my price range, although as PeterR said, I suppose people may accept less in this economical climate. Also, there doesn't seem to be many on sale, in order to compare and see a range of conditions etc. The Albin Viggen 23 popped up whilst searching for Vega's, and seems more in my price range, any thoughts on these?

£5k would really be the most I could go to, unless it is well kitted out then I could justify it, as there would be less to spend on the refit.

aroona said:
One boat not mentioned is the Achilles 24.

Fast, very seaworthy - limited accom but if its just you going plenty of space :)

Also has outboard well in the cockpit, and is very well balanced.

I have the triple keel version (which is for sale ;) ) & it offers the flexibility of drying out with very good performance for a 24 footer ( 7knts in a F5 with main reefed is my personal best).

Take a look at the achilles website www.achillesyachts.co.uk.

good luck with whichever you choose
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The Achilles looks a good boat for the money.

However, as many have said, this trip may be quite tight- having to average 4+ knots throughout I think. I doubt a 20ft Corribee, for example, could keep that pace with ease? Any thoughts on this?

Joe
 
Hmmm I have lots to say don't know where to start. Your problem is time and budget, the limited £££ means a short hull and poor hull speed which in turn means it is improbable that you can make it around in 3 months. Small yachts tend to be blobby in shape to accommodate humans who don't shrink in proportion to LOA.

A rotund 2.5 ton boat is going to bounce around once beyond sheltered coastal sailing and impede progress compared to a guy making the same passage in a classic 6 ton 35' yacht. On top of this your weather window will be a force or two lower than the guy in the 35' yacht. You are the weakest link, not the boat.

Spend some time considering Dylan's advice about lowering your sights and setting a less ambitious objective. Assuming the Solent is the centre of your universe, how about single-handling to the Fastnet and back, with a few beer stops along the way. I did that 3 years ago, as an achievement it has a public rating way beyond the actual endevour. Circumnavigating around the UK would fill me with 5 to 10 times more foreboding than did the Fastnet trip. The voyage should be about meeting people and with 3 months you can loiter in southern Ireland and get to know the henna coloured curly haired Irish damsels of Kinsale.

If you are absolutely determined to scoot around the UK in a high speed dash then ignore Dylan's advice, he is a ditch crawler ambling around the UK. You don't want bobby tub sprouting multiple keels, you want a narrow beam and as much keel deep down to grip the sea.

To get around in 3 months you should aim to bank about 6 long hops of about 36 hours in duration and about 100 to 130 miles each. I am twice your age and can do this about once a week without cumulative fatigue setting in.

Start your search with a fin Hurley 22, then branch out to similar designs.

p.s. Small yacht prices are totally random. Larger boats are typically priced to within 30% of fair value but in your price range fair value is all over the place.

p.s.2 Budget for a simple boom tent.
 
Thanks for your input, Jonjo5.

I disagree that I am the weakest link- maybe in that I may give up before the boat does, but in terms of progress throughout the voyage, the boat would be the weakest link, yet this may be caused by me having limited funds.

I'm also not after a "public rating". Sure, who doesn't like some moderate recognition, but I'm not trying to impress anyone. The proof is that not many of my peers care a great deal about sailing, some actually see me as some snob for doing it. I'm doing this for myself.

Going around the Fastnet seems a good idea, however that'd be the kind of trip I'd plan on doing in the many months prior to the trip, once I get the boat.

Thanks for the info on long passages- they'll be inevitable on this trip.

Boom tent? some tarp should do ;)

I've looked at a few Hurley 22's and similar, and also cheaper Halcyon 27's for the inboard, long keel and LOA... I've heard the deck to hull joints can be a weak spot on these, other than that they seem fairly well suited (at the right price) any opinions on these?

Joe
 
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As Dylan has mentioned people will forward their boats or past boats for consideration, with their bias towards their pride and joy.
I've raced in europe and the Uk and cruised in and around this beautiful island of ours, but this yacht stuck out when I helmed a friends, which I subsequently bought and kept for 11 years.
I was throughly pleased and surprised by their speed especially for such a small yacht. It will point like a GSP and still go to windward in a blow. It has the tendency of being able to stick on the stern of much larger yachts, much to their suprise, and make superb passage times for such a small boat.
It's easy to sail, no weather helm unless stupidly over canvassed, will steer itself when left to it's own devices and tracks beautifully, one advantage is it will not overwork an autopilot.
Roger Oliver sailed one around Briton twice I believe and on you tube there is the blof of alan who followed the arc sailing over 1000 miles with a make shift rudder (ym covered I think) and as the magazine mentioned coming on before much larger yachts.
Price wise they will look over your budget but a good friend bought one off eBay for £3200 and it is a cracking yacht in good but tired condition (sails etc) so they are out there.
Try and sail a few before you make a choice if you can.
 
I believe the previous poster is referring to a Sadler 25 as he was keeping it secret.
An excellent choice for this task I would agree.

I would avoid the cheap heavy 22 footers with outboards. I had a Hurley 22 with such a thing for 3 years and while it as cheap, it was not that useful for passage making.
Aside from the well documented uselessness of them in a seaway, actually the biggest problem is the fuel itself.

You will need a lot of it, its dangerous to store, and you will have trouble getting new supplies. Maybe get a nervous looking taxi driver to take you to the nearest petrol station which could be quite away away. Refuelling at sea isn't much fun either.

Either something bigger with an inboard or a racing type thing that goes well in very light winds, if you're into spinnakers etc.
 
Solent Joe said:
I disagree that I am the weakest link- maybe in that I may give up before the boat does, but in terms of progress throughout the voyage, the boat would be the weakest link, yet this may be caused by me having limited funds.
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Not exactly, sailing around the UK on a short waterline length is a handicap but the greatest impediment to making it around will be the British weather and your inclination to spend another day in harbour hoping tomorrow will be better.

Some of the designs recommend earlier in this thread almost guarantee that outcome.

Solent Joe said:
Thanks for the info on long passages- they'll be inevitable on this trip.
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From your response I can see I did not make my original point very well. Sure there are some unavoidable long hops e.g. Falmouth to Pembroke. What I was trying to say is that when the weather is conducive just keep going because so much of the time the weather will be your enemy (too much, too little) in such a small boat.

Say your daily objective was a 10 hour, 40 mile coastal passage and you can make your destination by 7pm. If the weather is fair and you feel good keep going through the night and put another 80 miles in the bank. You can recharge your sleep batteries later in the week when another weather system passes through and keeps you in harbour.

In order to achieve this you need a design that will not tire you out.
 
Solent Joe said:
Is this one yours?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Achilles-...ng_Boats_ET&hash=item27c6d6c9a9#ht_500wt_1288

If so, how did you alter the windows? They look superb, much more modern in comparison to the original ovals.
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Yes this one is mine - the old windows were taken out, the openings smoothed where needed then pieces of tinted perspex fitted with s/steel bolts & the ever useful sikaflex !

One of the benefits of these boats is that the maintenance is very easy - even for a man of my moderate abilities :)
 
You think you're not the weakest link? You've obviously not suffered from seasickness, exposure, fatigue, injury, passage planning error etc. We're all human, and need to take these things seriosuly. Don't think for one moment I'm trying to discourage you: you just need to have thought about the risks and have them planned out and as under control as you can.
 
Achilles

Never sailed one - but I have seen them sailing lots of times and looked them over both in and out of the water

they have many good points

inboard in a well

triple keel

plenty of space for one bloke

stands up when aground or ashore so should you run out of money or time you can park it up almost anywhere


astonishingly good value

the reason they are cheap is because they are long for the accommodation so marinas and mooring places will give you a financial kicking

but the length is a good thing when it comes to sailing well

the other reason they do not fetch high prices is

not full standing headroom and no heads

but if you can live with that I think you stand a good chance of getting a viable one - pretty much ready to roll

and with enough money left over to buy a brand new six hp four stroke - or even bigger

some people have made some insane suggesions to you on here

so please feel free to ignore any or all advice you receive

yoou cannot follow it all and the chances of it all being good advice is negligable

Dylan
 
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I have

Seajet said:
Dylan,

have you been inside an Achilles 24 ?! I was amazed, a chum bought one and it could stow either the inflatable or him, but not both at the same time...
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agree

but this bloke is going to beither sailing or sleeping for three months

that is why the achilles are cheap

women don't generally like them

D
 
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with an achilles it does help if youre a bit of a short arse !

did your mate deflate the dinghy before he put it in :D
 
Seajet said:
Dylan,

have you been inside an Achilles 24 ?! I was amazed, a chum bought one and it could stow either the inflatable or him, but not both at the same time...
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I lived on board in a london Marina during the weeks for a year. My brother joined me for a few months and brought his guitar (I grew to hate that guitar). Then I sailed it on my own to Inverness and back. Took about 3 weeks each way. Great trip.
 
Achilles it is then

this is the only boat that ticks all the right boxes

and if you are man enough to take the rough stuff because the boat is and if you are prepared to turn your brains to jelly by motori ng through the windless days then I reckon you could do it

let us know how you get on

write a blog, take lots of pictures, film anything that moves - if you have wind noise over the mike then slap your favourite music over it

and do it for love and personal fulfillment - not for charidee



Dylan
 
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