Buying a small yacht

Absolutely agree with Moby . i have been lucky enough to have owned boats over £150,000 and cruised for many years in the carribean, med and canaries - and now on my old mac 27 in the solent i am enjoying sailing as much as ever . its not the boat that matters its the mindset .
 
Hi Grant,

Yep it is that edition, I`ll bring it down when we meet and you can have it as it`s relevant to your new aquisition, I would suggest joining the Sabre Owners Association, as mentioned Ken I beleive is the chap who knows all things Sabre, and like the Trident Owners Association they are a wealth of knowledge.
 
Don't waste precious time buying and selling little boats .Buy the boat you need for your ultimate dream now .
 
I couldn’t afford the boat for my ‘ultimate dream’ 14 years ago when I bought my first and only boat, and I still can’t now. In the meantime I’ve had 14 years of sailing, learnt loads, made plenty of relatively inexpensive mistakes and have a much better idea of what I’ll need for my ‘ultimate dream’ when I’m in a position to buy it.
 
Buy what you believe you can afford to run. Seen others buy classic Fairey type mobo which become moneypits at Destry or suchlike so be very careful what you take on . Also recognise that perhaps what you can fund as a working person might be a stretch as a retiree when other priorities intervene.
 
An interesting thread, relevant to my own current thinking. I bought my Achilles 24 TK about 11 years ago and have had a great time with her. My retirement is probably six years off and at that stage I am currently thinking about getting something decent for more extended cruising, a HR352 type boat. I was thinking of an interim boat between the Achilles and the future boat as though I love my Achilles I'd like something with a bit more space and the Sabres are on my list.
 
I haven't read through this whole thread so apologies if I'm repeating earlier advice.
What do you want to buy, a boat, or a bargain ?
Aren't you starting from the wrong end ? If all you want to do is buy cheap and sell high to make a profit, there are easier places than the yacht market. Ask any broker.
Buy several yachting magazines and read them cover to cover including all the advertising.
Start your boat search by looking at all the boats in the classified and brokerage adverts, of around the length which you think will give you the performance and accommodation which you want, and for which the general range of asking prices is affordable.
Do you need a lifting fin (often incorrectly called a 'lifting keel') for sailing in shallow waters like our East Coast ?
Do you need to be able to sail alone, or with only one other (such as your wife), or with a numerous crew ?
Do you want to go long-distance cruising, or Sundays and weekends only ?
Do you want ample accommodation (usually least expensive), or speed (more expensive), or both (most expensive) ?
Your choices will change anyway, once you've actually owned and sailed a boat (any boat) for a while.
THEN bookmark every one which matches your short list.
Then compare where they are (or you'll end up paying huge transport costs) ; and what prices are being asked.
If your ideal boat is available for sale, count yourself very lucky and grab it before someone else does.
If you can find only an "oh well, it'll probably do", then haggle.
Best of luck, and concentrate on the boat not on the price !
Rob.
 
MOBY2 said:
Hi Grant,

Yep it is that edition, I`ll bring it down when we meet and you can have it as it`s relevant to your new aquisition, I would suggest joining the Sabre Owners Association, as mentioned Ken I beleive is the chap who knows all things Sabre, and like the Trident Owners Association they are a wealth of knowledge.
Click to expand...

Thanks

Missed this sorry

I will join SOA once we are safely moored in Langstone ?
 
skipperob said:
I haven't read through this whole thread so apologies if I'm repeating earlier advice.
What do you want to buy, a boat, or a bargain ?
Aren't you starting from the wrong end ? If all you want to do is buy cheap and sell high to make a profit, there are easier places than the yacht market. Ask any broker.
Buy several yachting magazines and read them cover to cover including all the advertising.
Start your boat search by looking at all the boats in the classified and brokerage adverts, of around the length which you think will give you the performance and accommodation which you want, and for which the general range of asking prices is affordable.
Do you need a lifting fin (often incorrectly called a 'lifting keel') for sailing in shallow waters like our East Coast ?
Do you need to be able to sail alone, or with only one other (such as your wife), or with a numerous crew ?
Do you want to go long-distance cruising, or Sundays and weekends only ?
Do you want ample accommodation (usually least expensive), or speed (more expensive), or both (most expensive) ?
Your choices will change anyway, once you've actually owned and sailed a boat (any boat) for a while.
THEN bookmark every one which matches your short list.
Then compare where they are (or you'll end up paying huge transport costs) ; and what prices are being asked.
If your ideal boat is available for sale, count yourself very lucky and grab it before someone else does.
If you can find only an "oh well, it'll probably do", then haggle.
Best of luck, and concentrate on the boat not on the price !
Rob.
Click to expand...
Cheers Rob this was all good advice

I think we followed most of it ?

The idea of making a profit never occured to me, I know how to do that with houses and shares but boats .... ?

We eventually got the boat that called to us, when we sat in it we looked at each other and smiled

Decent reputation Sabre 27
Set up for 2
Not toooooo big
Standing headroom
Nice layout.

Then we went and found a bilge keel version of the fin keeler we fell for. Same layout, tattier, no fancy kit.... but with a 4 day old survey that said it had plenty of life left in it and a clean hull. And we could afford it because it was 4k less. We will have to spend £750 (which will turn into £1500) but can do that over the off season. That Seductive idea that if you pay for it over 6 months its less expensive ?

I'm nervous and constantly questioning my sanity but the one thing I do not regret is getting a bilge keel.
 
Vid said:
An interesting thread, relevant to my own current thinking. I bought my Achilles 24 TK about 11 years ago and have had a great time with her. My retirement is probably six years off and at that stage I am currently thinking about getting something decent for more extended cruising, a HR352 type boat. I was thinking of an interim boat between the Achilles and the future boat as though I love my Achilles I'd like something with a bit more space and the Sabres are on my list.
Click to expand...
Where are you based?
 
ashtead said:
Buy what you believe you can afford to run. Seen others buy classic Fairey type mobo which become moneypits at Destry or suchlike so be very careful what you take on . Also recognise that perhaps what you can fund as a working person might be a stretch as a retiree when other priorities intervene.
Click to expand...
Yep, very much on my mind

Hence the bilge keel, this fundamentally affects my "mooring costs anxiety"

Thanks to help from this forum, we are lucky enough to be joing a cool sailing club near Hayling Island and fingers crossed have an affordable mooring.

But even when ringing around for a backup plan it made such a difference.

And the engine factor I covered because in extremis the Sabre will take an outboard as per that PBO article which I found convincing.. .... And which I will make the subject of another thread on Tenders/Outboards ?
 
GrantD said:
Yep, very much on my mind

Hence the bilge keel, this fundamentally affects my "mooring costs anxiety"

Thanks to help from this forum, we are lucky enough to be joing a cool sailing club near Hayling Island and fingers crossed have an affordable mooring.

But even when ringing around for a backup plan it made such a difference.

And the engine factor I covered because in extremis the Sabre will take an outboard as per that PBO article which I found convincing.. .... And which I will make the subject of another thread on Tenders/Outboards ?
Click to expand...
An outboard is useless on a yacht of 27ft unless an extra long shaft. With a normal outboard, in any sea the prop will be out of water half the time, or if set low will be immersed - I tried it when an inboard failed whatever PBO says It needs a outboard well for outboard to be viable except in harbour. And for the cost of building outboard well you may as well maintain the decent inboard.

Income when aging is an issue, as well as agility of crew. We abandoned our £70pa all inclusive Somerset mooring to put boat down in Cornwall for £500 moor plus club. Hope my kids help out and I can still drive to Cornwall
 
oldmanofthehills said:
An outboard is useless on a yacht of 27ft unless an extra long shaft. With a normal outboard, in any sea the prop will be out of water half the time, or if set low will be immersed - I tried it when an inboard failed whatever PBO says It needs a outboard well for outboard to be viable except in harbour. And for the cost of building outboard well you may as well maintain the decent inboard.

Income when aging is an issue, as well as agility of crew. We abandoned our £70pa all inclusive Somerset mooring to put boat down in Cornwall for £500 moor plus club. Hope my kids help out and I can still drive to Cornwall
Click to expand...
So if it does have a extra long shaft?
Would that work?

They are available

Fingers crossed my engine will be fine, she did start and run fine from cold so optimistic.
 
Don’t forget if calm you can tie that lovely rib you will buy alongside and power your 27 along in calm waters . There is a vid on sailing uma of them doing this . It’s not ideal but a 5m rib will do it easily . If you are worried about your engine you might also buy a membership of Seastart. Enjoy Hayling island and hope the traffic reaching your club isn’t too bad. Lovely location and you can take your bilge keels up to a buoy off Prinsted for a quiet evening if weather ok.
 
GrantD said:
So if it does have a extra long shaft?
Would that work?

They are available

Fingers crossed my engine will be fine, she did start and run fine from cold so optimistic.
Click to expand...


Extra long shafts only readily available in the 2hp tender propelling range, and even then rare in second hand. By the time you buy a new 20hp extra long shaft for £1500 to £2500 you may as well just get your old diesel fixed.

You might get away with simple long shaft but even that will cost about £400 second hand for maybe 5hp.

Look after that old thumper under the cockpit sole
 
oldmanofthehills said:
Extra long shafts only readily available in the 2hp tender propelling range, and even then rare in second hand. By the time you buy a new 20hp extra long shaft for £1500 to £2500 you may as well just get your old diesel fixed.

You might get away with simple long shaft but even that will cost about £400 second hand for maybe 5hp.

Look after that old thumper under the cockpit sole
Click to expand...
Cheers

I intend to, will put myself on an RYA marine diesel course, part of the long term round the world plan learning curve.
 
ashtead said:
Don’t forget if calm you can tie that lovely rib you will buy alongside and power your 27 along in calm waters . There is a vid on sailing uma of them doing this . It’s not ideal but a 5m rib will do it easily . If you are worried about your engine you might also buy a membership of Seastart. Enjoy Hayling island and hope the traffic reaching your club isn’t too bad. Lovely location and you can take your bilge keels up to a buoy off Prinsted for a quiet evening if weather ok.
Click to expand...
I should stress I have no real reason to worry about the engine, the vendor is a mechanic, it started first turn after months not running, it's internals are freshwater cooled and we will run it under load as part of sea trials

But my life contains a few comic "incidents" and I don't want to be "that headline"

Was thinking about the Uma option and thus a bigger 6hp engine but a 2.6m tender???
 
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