Buying a small yacht

When I was looking to go up in size I finally settled on a Pilot house Colvic Counted 33, that was 20 years ago and I haven't regretted my choice. Encapsulated bilge keels and a skeg hung rudder, center cockpit so I feel nice and safe.
They aren't to everyone's taste, beamy heavy and a bit slow but you will be hard pushed to find a boat that size with as much space.
A lot were home completed so you will be lucky to find a well fitted out one, I was :)
 
I would be wary of thinking that because you are beginners you want a slow "safe" boat. You are not buying an Olympic 49er. Nothing you are likely to buy will be scary fast or difficult. On the kinds of days you are likely to be sailing .. summer force 2,3,4 , you want something that responds and is enjoyable. We had a Spring 25,( tutting and shaking of heads from the salty seadog brigade). On a nice day we were sailing while the seadogs were motoring and if it got too too windy we reefed or stayed in the pub.
 
oldbloke said:
I would be wary of thinking that because you are beginners you want a slow "safe" boat. You are not buying an Olympic 49er. Nothing you are likely to buy will be scary fast or difficult. On the kinds of days you are likely to be sailing .. summer force 2,3,4 , you want something that responds and is enjoyable. We had a Spring 25,( tutting and shaking of heads from the salty seadog brigade). On a nice day we were sailing while the seadogs were motoring and if it got too too windy we reefed or stayed in the pub.
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Absolutely agree. A slow boat is not usually easier to sail. I think a centaur would sail much better than that colvic. Plus the colvic really does look like I fitted it out from a kit. Which wouldn't be good. A hunter 24/26/27 bilge would be so much nicer to start with.
 
oldbloke said:
I would be wary of thinking that because you are beginners you want a slow "safe" boat. You are not buying an Olympic 49er. Nothing you are likely to buy will be scary fast or difficult. On the kinds of days you are likely to be sailing .. summer force 2,3,4 , you want something that responds and is enjoyable. We had a Spring 25,( tutting and shaking of heads from the salty seadog brigade). On a nice day we were sailing while the seadogs were motoring and if it got too too windy we reefed or stayed in the pub.
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Thanks for that, makes sense
 
Don’t really see why a Moody 35 is too big -it will take care of you and Moodys don’t have any real vices apart from perhaps being slightly under sail sized but that’s no bad thing generally in uk waters. Clear most are not as new as Bav and such like but if you can live with slightly dated interior much to be valued.
 
We're here for a good time, not a long time, so buy the boat you want, not a stepping stone. You'll soon get used to 33-35 feet, just take your time and enjoy doing things slowly. And don't be fixated by bilge keels, my boat is a fin keel drawing 5'5" and she sinks into the east coast mud beautifully straight!
 
For the way I cruise it makes a huge difference to have a good tender - I like 2.7m and an outboard large enough to get it on the plane. I cannot articulate how satisfied I am with this combination.

You can save marina fees by anchoring, and you can get into town and back easily with a tender like this; from the anchorage you can explore the whole island.

I'm at a marina at the moment, but did 6 miles in the tender on Tuesday, visiting a sailmaker and a bicycle shop, returning to the boat in between; yesterday I did just over 7 miles, taking it up the river to the other side of town, where I found a public slipway near a supermarket; this was within walking distance of my main destination, the auto parts store where I bought an alternator belt and fuel- and oil filters. Oh! And I have to run out back to the sailmaker today - it's 1.5 miles across the bay.

In my opinion you need a boat close to 40' for a 2.7m dinghy to look fine on your davits but, from experience, a 40'er is a handful as a first boat. I get respectful nods from marina staff when they realise I'm bringing it in on my own.

I'm lazy, so I'm glad I don't have to inflate and deflate the tender all the time - there are probably people who do, but that seems like a huge faff, so I'm very pleased with the davits.

As I've said before, I think some of the folks on this forum have forgotten how much they learned with their first boat, 20 or 40 years ago. Sailing with a club, with people I found on the Facebook crewing groups and by paying for mile builders I got up to coastal skipper (4000nm total), and yet I've made a number of expensive mistakes with my own boat. I'm fairly convinced I would have got away with these mistakes if the boat had been under 25', but they cost me money because the loads are higher on a 40'er.
 
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I think your cheap boat idea is a good one.

At this end of the market the figures are so small, compared to running costs, it hardly matters if you bag a bargain or not.

Buy something like this, for 3.5k + :

Hurley 24/70 for sale UK, Hurley boats for sale, Hurley used boat sales, Hurley Sailing Yachts For Sale Hurley 24 7 sailing yacht. - Apollo Duck

And it seems unlikely that you would not be able to sell after 2 oe 3 years, maybe for 2 grand plus. Your couple of thousand "loss" would have bought you a load of experience and fun. OTOH you may even break even....even.

.
 
James W said:
We're here for a good time, not a long time, so buy the boat you want, not a stepping stone. You'll soon get used to 33-35 feet, just take your time and enjoy doing things slowly. And don't be fixated by bilge keels, my boat is a fin keel drawing 5'5" and she sinks into the east coast mud beautifully straight!
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Thats an interesting comment

Can I find a cheapish mooring (say £100 a month) for a fin keel on South coast

It would open up a LOT more choice

?
 
doug748 said:
I think your cheap boat idea is a good one.

At this end of the market the figures are so small, compared to running costs, it hardly matters if you bag a bargain or not.

Buy something like this, for 3.5k + :

Hurley 24/70 for sale UK, Hurley boats for sale, Hurley used boat sales, Hurley Sailing Yachts For Sale Hurley 24 7 sailing yacht. - Apollo Duck

And it seems unlikely that you would not be able to sell after 2 oe 3 years, maybe for 2 grand plus. Your couple of thousand "loss" would have bought you a load of experience and fun. OTOH you may even break even....even.

.
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That does look nice, wonder if I can stand up in it, not a deal breaker but I have kept banging my head on viewings ?
 
KompetentKrew said:
For the way I cruise it makes a huge difference to have a good tender - I like 2.7m and an outboard large enough to get it on the plane. I cannot articulate how satisfied I am with this combination.

You can save marina fees by anchoring, and you can get into town and back easily with a tender like this; from the anchorage you can explore the whole island.

I'm at a marina at the moment, but did 6 miles in the tender on Tuesday, visiting a sailmaker and a bicycle shop, returning to the boat in between; yesterday I did just over 7 miles, taking it up the river to the other side of town, where I found a public slipway near a supermarket; this was within walking distance of my main destination, the auto parts store where I bought an alternator belt and fuel- and oil filters. Oh! And I have to run out back to the sailmaker today - it's 1.5 miles across the bay.

In my opinion you need a boat close to 40' for a 2.7m dinghy to look fine on your davits but, from experience, a 40'er is a handful as a first boat. I get respectful nods from marina staff when they realise I'm bringing it in on my own.

I'm lazy, so I'm glad I don't have to inflate and deflate the tender all the time - there are probably people who do, but that seems like a huge faff, so I'm very pleased with the davits.

As I've said before, I think some of the folks on this forum have forgotten how much they learned with their first boat, 20 or 40 years ago. Sailing with a club, with people I found on the Facebook crewing groups and by paying for mile builders I got up to coastal skipper (4000nm total), and yet I've made a number of expensive mistakes with my own boat. I'm fairly convinced I would have got away with these mistakes if the boat had been under 25', but they cost me money because the loads are higher on a 40'er.
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I want a nice tender too!

Thinking of calling the boat "Owl" and the tender "Pussycat"
 
ashtead said:
Don’t really see why a Moody 35 is too big -it will take care of you and Moodys don’t have any real vices apart from perhaps being slightly under sail sized but that’s no bad thing generally in uk waters. Clear most are not as new as Bav and such like but if you can live with slightly dated interior much to be valued.
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Yeh I like Moodys

I just meant was it too big for bilge keel hulls
 
Looking at a Sabre 27 tomorrow, the Mrs likes Sabres

It looks sound

Only slight concern is the1992 BD622 Beta marine engine

Parts and spares? Can only find the BD 722 online
 
GrantD said:
Only slight concern is the1992 BD622 Beta marine engine

Parts and spares? Can only find the BD 722 online
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Ring Beta Marine and they'll tell you whether they have spares for it. You only need genuine Beta spares for the marinisation parts (heat exchanger, etc.).

The 'service parts' oil and fuel filters, alternator belt etc. will all be industry standard parts also readily available from auto-spares shops etc. (once you've identified the number).

The base engine is probably a Kubota, and also used in industrial diggers, generators, fridges, etc. around the world. If you can find the model number you will almost certainly be able to obtain spares for the engine itself.

p.s. Presumably the Beta BD622 is based on the Kubota D622, for which a very quick Google search showed all sorts of parts, including pumps and piston rings, etc., available from various supplier around the world.
 
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LittleSister said:
Ring Beta Marine and they'll tell you whether they have spares for it. You only need genuine Beta spares for the marination parts (heat exchanger, etc.).

The 'service parts' oil and fuel filters, alternator belt etc. will all be industry standard parts also readily available from auto-spares shops etc. (once you've identified the number).

The base engine is probably a Kubota, and also used in industrial diggers, generators, fridges, etc. around the world. If you can find the model number you will almost certainly be able to obtain spares for the engine itself.

p.s. Presumably the Beta BD622 is based on the Kubota D622, for which a very quick Google search showed all sorts of parts, including pumps and piston rings, etc., available from various supplier around the world.
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Thanks for that detailed reply I really appreciate it. I will ring Beta.

From an older thread you seem spot on about the Kubota D622

I'd also imagine the BD722 might have some commonality.

And absolute worst case it seems you can stick on outboard on the back easily enough (PBO Refit August edition!)

Cheers
 
They say "there's many a slip twixt cup and lip" but with that slight reservation in mind I am pleased to say we have shaken hands on a Sabre 27. Plenty of cosmetics needed and some jobs a little more than that but a full professional survey 3 days ago found her to be basically sound though in need of a little tlc. Vendor has agreed to fix all red items on the report before transfer, plus a short sea trial. Engine ran sweetly from cold.

Can I say a big thankyou to all of you that have shared insight and opinions.
As I have aged (and played more chess) I have become a big fan of patient reflection; your opinions have been a big help in helping me do that and are much appreciated. Thankyou all.

A big thankyou especially to Moby of Trident 24 fame who gave me a lot of behind the scenes help and the inspiration to join Langstone Sailing Club.

And now the million other threads will start on choice of tender, how big can my tender outboard be, best type of sealant, headlining repairs, condensation, recommended marine engineers and yards and how can I get an electric toaster running onboard ?

Oh, and where are the best Sunsets in the South UK ?

Cheers all

Grant.120396365gallery_wm (1).jpg
 
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