Boat Type Advice

[dangrant]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a boat use mainly in Chichester Harbour to cruise not race. It will have 4 on board maximum mainly 2. Ideally it would be a sit in rather than sit on boat made from wood. As much character as possible and ideally light enough to launch. Not bothered about speed. Would be good to be stable so a work boat would fit the bill. Have looked at loads of different boats but nothing seems to fit the bill.

The closest would be a drascombe scaffie (but made from wood).

Any help would be hugely appreciated as I need to get back on the water and teach my 3 year old son?

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

Dan

 

[Pete7]

Dan,

Power or sail?

Approx budget?

Any towing limits?

Able to dry out or deep water mooring?

 

[dangrant]

Firstly thanks for responding Pete.

Apologies for not being clearer.

Sail boat, no budget limit, not really a towing limit as a single person launch and recover so thinking 12-16 foot max, dry out for sure.

Also no cabin requirement (I guess obvious at the above length).

Thanks again,

Dan

 

[fireball]

TBH - sounds like a wayfarer may fit the bill ... good stable boats with a good load capacity - plenty of room for 4 loads for 2!
Sail plan can be done to suit the crew and weather ...

 

[Fantasie 19]

Think I spotted a Drascombe for sale in the Boatyard in Emsworth when I went past the other day - the one next door to the Raglan pub... sorry didn't see what type....

With your spec and requirements either a Wayfarer or one of the Drascombe's seems to fill the bill.....

 

[dangrant]

That's interesting, I will go and have a look at the boatyard. I'm based in Langstone so just round the corner.

My heart still says wood though. Got my first Mirror when I was 3 and I've never owned a GRP boat 36 years of sailing later.

 

[fireball]

My heart still says wood though. Got my first Mirror when I was 3 and I've never owned a GRP boat 36 years of sailing later.

yer - but GRP is just so much easier - none of the annual painting/varnishing ...
I started with a wooden mirror and had a wooden fireball too ...

 

[TQA]

You could try a similar post in the Classic Boat forum.

 

[ianat182]

A YW dayboat or a Devon yawl would give you a boat to explore, race or potter and have plenty of space for 4 persons and, with a heavy-ish centreplate on a tackle, is stable and Ok for beaching at say, Newtown, Lepe, Bembridge or any of the local beaches.
Some have a small cuddy added which provides some dry shelter in a sloppy sea, and with a 5hp outboard you've got a lovely set of kit that will take you anywhere in the Solent.
Adding a slab reefing to the mainsail together with the furling jib makes it even more comfortable in a blow.
They sell for around £3-4000, have the clinker classic look about them and are veritable wolves in a sheep's clothing in regard to speed,and can be sailed without the mizzen as well, comparable to S/H Wayfarer and cheaper than many of the Drascombes too.

ianat182

 

[dangrant]

Thanks Ian,

That's great advice, I'd looked at Devon Yawls but hadn't heard of YW dayboats.
They look exactly what we're after so I'll trawl the web to find some for sale.

Thanks again for your help.

Dan

 

[rwoofer]

For singlehanded launch you'll be looking for something that weighs less than 150kg, which rules out wayfarer.

How about a Trouper 12 from swallow boats? Seems to meet all your requirements and at 52kg is car toppable.

 

[Seajet]

Dan,

I agree with the Devon & Salcombe Yawls, especially the latter being pure nautical crumpet !!!

However rather heavy to trail & rig, let alone pricey.

May I suggest the opposite end of the spectrum, the Miracle dinghy ? 13', relatively light for a slipway or trailer, wood, designed with young crew in mind, easy on the wallet so new sails would be possible, then quite decent performance...

No I'm not selling one, just a thought...

 

[Swg]

I've just spent a holiday week with another 2 families and a Lune Pilot. We had 6 and a crel on board at one point. Easily trailed launched and recovered and well behaved under sail oar and motor.

 

[BAtoo]

If you are desperate for wood the the Wayfarer, IMHO, is the probably the best bet. Might be a tad more difficult to launch than something smaller but I think I'd take that for it being an overall good boat.

 

[dangrant]

Thank you to everyone for posting.

Whilst a little heavy and not the sail configuration I'd normally go for the YW day boat ticks all the rest of the boxes nicely. If all goes well this year then perhaps we'll move onto something with even more character next year.

Thanks again all and good sailing.

Dan

 

[Tranona]

You are more likely to find a YW Dayboat if you go to a club that races them - they are more commonly raced rather than used as family daysailing craft. There are more than 60 in Poole Yacht Club for example, and there is a very active owners association. Most of the competitive boats are GRP, although really good wooden ones can still be up there. Well used original wood are cheap to buy. I paid £350 for mine a few years ago, kept it for 3 years and sold it for the same. Do need a lot of work to keep looking good, though.

 

[BAtoo]

Thank you to everyone for posting.

Whilst a little heavy and not the sail configuration I'd normally go for the YW day boat ticks all the rest of the boxes nicely. If all goes well this year then perhaps we'll move onto something with even more character next year.

Thanks again all and good sailing.

Dan

One here....http://www.ywdb.co.uk/data/Boats_for_sale_view.php?editid1=65