Budget Yacht choice

Concerto said:
Your first consideration is where are you going to keep your new boat as this can restrict your choices. If it is in a marina then the rates change at 10 metres length overall. That means a hull length of 9.5 to 9.7 metres to allow for overhangs like pulpit and davits. If on a swinging mooring this is much less of a consideration.
Click to expand...

Only place I can think off a price change at 10m is Lymington Yacht Haven and only because it’s prices are in 2m bands.
 
Unlikely to find one sub 20K but a Midget 31 would tick the boxes. It's definitely on my wish list for when we go back into yacht cruising
 
andya24 said:
Evening.
I’m looking for a unicorn I know. I just wondered if anyone had some outside choices.
I’m upgrading from a sabre 27. And I’d like something moderate to heavy with enough room for comfort at anchor. My dream boat is a Hans Christian 47 to give an idea. There is no way I could afford such a boat, I couldn’t afford to varnish it never mind buy one!
But what else gives that little ship feeling on a budget? I’m drawn to something like a Nicholson 32 or the like, but the compromise is the old school narrow beam. Comfortable underway but restrictive at anchor. Anyone got any outside choices? Sub 20k budget. Thanks
Click to expand...
Screenshot 2026-02-21 204349.png Screenshot 2026-02-21 204616.png


In the "little ship" line this Neptune 33 Ketch has been up for sale, in Chatham, since the autumn. Recently reduced in price. Niche boat looking for niche owner, I suspect (long keel, medium-heavy, ketch rig, wheelhouse). Don't know the owners but she's regularly out and about and seems cared for, when she's back home.
 
Last edited:
potentillaCO32 said:
I think a sigma 33 woukd be a much nicer sailing boat that a westerly fulmar.
Click to expand...
I've sailed both regularly.

Depends on what you're after, Fulmer solid as a rock, Sigma 33 not so much.

I get there are reason for that, but personally, I quite like the rock bit.

Depends on what you want to do with it.
 
sigma38dave said:
That's a really decent article, hopefully any new comers to sailing and boat ownership browsing YM will notice you don't need £300k for a new AWB to get involved.
Click to expand...
It’s good to know that you can get a classy boat, and quite possibly a slice of sailing history with a used car outlay. Recently a small collection of S33s has appeared in the west solent, including Shadowfax, which I remember well from her racing heyday.
 
The OP has given us a sighter with his liking for Medium to Heavy displacement and liking for the Nicholson 32.

Given his experience of encapsulated ballast, long, or long fin keels with skegs and his dream boat a Hans Christian; I doubt either a Sigma or Westerly will be on his shortlist.

.
 
A search on Apollo Duck for GRP sailing yachts £15-20k, produces a lot of yachts that might suit the OP.

Apollo Duck £15k to £20k Search GRP Sailing Yachts

If I were the OP, I would go and look at many to see what would suit the criteria, especially the room at anchor. Many of the smaller boats are a bit pokey down below and might not suit the the OPs stated criteria. Going and looking is far better than asking on here. Ask once you get a short list.

Nothing better than putting the leg work in and go see, do the Gemba Walk.
 
doug748 said:
The OP has given us a sighter with his liking for Medium to Heavy displacement and liking for the Nicholson 32.

Given his experience of encapsulated ballast, long, or long fin keels with skegs and his dream boat a Hans Christian; I doubt either a Sigma or Westerly will be on his shortlist.

.
Click to expand...
Probably not. He might benefit from turning over the idea of the Westerly in his mind, though the Sigma is probably a step too far. There’s a nic 32 for sale in Yarmouth, or there was last time we spoke. One of the harbour staff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top