Buying first Boat - any recommendations?

[newtosailing]

Hi

Having spent the last few seasons sailing on friends boats I am going through the process of looking for my own. I have recently done my days skipper theory & practical. I would welcome any advise/comments on what boat i should go for. It is likely that most of my sailing will be in and around the solent. Although I would like to do the odd channel crossing and trip to Ireland etc.

The majority of my experience is on a Sigma. Sigmas seem relatively quick yet comfortable. However, I am put off as they are now quite old. I am looking for something 33 - 38 ft and am prepared to spend upto £50k. Any advice would be welcome.
thanks

 

[Talbot]

define quite old. I am more than happy with my 22 year old boat, and there are some on this forum who reckon anything less than 50 years old is new-fangled rubbish.

Do you intend just leisure sailing with an occasional foray across to france, or are you looking for some racing as well.


I enjoyed some racing in a sigma 362 and was very happy with her performance, but would not want to cruise in her.

how many people do you want to sleep and how many in the cockpit?

 

[ArgoNot]

The surveyor when I bought my boat reckonned that many people bought boats 33% more expensive than they could afford!

My own experience suggests that fewer people will ACTUALLY sail with you when you own the thing than say they will before you buy it. I like to think this has more to do with people's time commitments than my personal hygene.

Whatever you choose, enjoy.

 

[demonboy]

I've just gone through the same process, i.e. buying my first boat. My circumstances were completely different, however, as I was looking for a live-aboard. However this simple piece of advice holds true for whatever you are looking for:

Listen to everyone's advice, views, opinions, gripes and recommendations, take them on board ('scuse the pun). Then put everything they have recommended behind you and go for something that you feel suits you best.

Do consider what other people say but don't get too worried about the thousands of options. You'll know when the boat is right when you step on board.

Oh, and remember, it is a game of compromises. You can't have everything. Work out what's most important for your sailing requirements. It sounds to me like sleeping accomodation isn't an issue, so compromise on that for starters.

AND don't be afraid to look abroad either. The UK is an over-priced market compared to places like Holland and further east down the med, if you are prepared to travel and sail it back.

 

[webcraft]

The Sigma 33 is a good boat and makes a quick, cheap cruiser which is (IMHO) fun to sail; you can also race it if your inclinations take you that way. There is a 33C cruising version which is a masthead rig - harder to find, but better if you are not planning to race. You could pick a good one up for under £30,000. If going for the standard fractional rig boat it will quite likely have been raced hard, so be aware . . .

Otherwise, with your budget there are many 33 footers you can afford and still have some money left over - provided you are prepared to accept an older boat. Osmosis aside, GRP boats age very well, and you need to look more at the age of the gear - rigging, sails, engine, instruments - than at the age of the hull when deciding.

If it's your first boat then it's probably best to spend less and buy a boat that will hold its value, in case you decide it's not the boat for you after a season. 33 foot will be quite big enough for a first boat.

Hope this helps,

Nick

 

[dulcibella]

A good Sadler 34 should be well within your range and my experience of them in all weathers is excellent, especially the deep-keel versions. Not a proud owner advocating his own boat - I have always owned long keelers.

 

[Birdseye]

Hmm. Ignoring what you have been told and going for something you fancy is a bit like marrying someone young and flashy and ignoring what her mother looks like! In other words, something that in the cold light of subsequent reality might no longer see such an obvious best step.

You need to have in mind a clear and realistic view of how you would use the boat. Dont equip for the southern ocean if you are not going there. Or for racing if you intend to cruise.

Then for your first boat, I would suggest something that you can readily re-sell. Because the actual use may well not be what you expected. This is not a council of defeat, just being realistic about your chances of choosing the boat of your dreams first time round. Again, a bit like wives!

If you are planning on taking a non sailing wife with you, dont do the macho man bit with an old stripped out racer, or a floating shed. Internal decor does matter.

Finally, chose something you can single hand. There is nothing worse than a good sailing day when you cant find the necessary crew.

On this and other forums you will come across a fair bit of snobbery about what are referred to as AWB's ie Beneteaus, Bavaria etc. As if the large majority of the boat buying population who buy them are daft because the boats are dodgy. It is, of course, tosh. They are ideal, economic solutions for many people, particularly those who are day and weekend sailing and not crossing Oceans. In no way are they second best to the mass produced boats of the 60's and 70's, any more than modern cars are compared to their predecessors.

All of which is IMHO of course

 

[demonboy]

[ QUOTE ]
Hmm. Ignoring what you have been told and going for something you fancy.......

[/ QUOTE ]

Did I say that? No, I did not. You misunderstood. You've actually reiterated the point I was trying to make!

My point was that you should concentrate on what is most suitable for YOU, not what other people tell you is best for you, otherwise you'll spend the rest of your life 'umming' and 'ahhhing' about what to go for.

I DO agree, however, on your comments regarding the 'production-line' boats. Sailing snobbery really annoys me so don't let a label put you off.

 

[Gunfleet]

Just buy anything. The first boat will undoubtedly be wrong and will get on your nerves halfway through the first season.

 

[demonboy]

lol@johnm /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[newtosailing]

Thanks for all the replies. I like the wife analogy - although it does give me some concern that i may never buy as i've managed to avoid getting married so far. As for us (the boat that is) I suspect i will end up doing more cruising than racing - largely at weekends and holidays. I should imagine i would have 4 - 6 people on at anyone time but also would like a boat that i could sail on my own (especially - given that the girlfriend may read the above comment re: avoiding marriage)

Thanks again - more comment welcome

 

[Evadne]

Realistically, from a pure sailing point of view, your ambitions could be realised with a 26-30 footer at a cost of £10k-£20k, so unless you intend to take six mates with you each time £50k should buy you more than what you want, in decadent luxury, regardless of the details, unless you get seriously ripped off.

IMHO (and many will disagree) buying a newish boat is like buying a newish car except that an old car will get scrapped whereas an old boat will go on as long as she is maintained. You will pay a premium for something new, so make sure it is the design you are paying for, not the perfectly working engine, glitch-free electronics or shiny plastic surfaces. These will fade in time unless that is what you consider her most important feature and you are prepared to throw money at her. Either you will sell her as a slightly-less-than-new boat, in which case you will lose money, or you will decide she is the love of your life and eventually all the features of a MAB will emerge.
If you are in a position to buy, (marina?) berth and maintain a 38 footer as your first boat, then you are obviously fairly well off, so money and deterioration may be very low in your priorities.

 

[[3889]]

As stated before it is mostly personal preference. I own a beneteau 305 and the sigma 33 was on my shortlist. The ben scores nil points for pose value but I find it a reliable good value boat, as I am sure similar Bav Jen etc are. I am glad I did not buy a Sigma as I have raced one since and find it more tender ,needing very early reefing and having a deepish draught. I also like a double quarter berth which only the 33c has. If you don't mind this they are good fast boats and reasonably easy to find. If I had your budget I would look at a late Ben First 300 spirit.

 

[Anonymous]

Also consider where you will berth the boat, summer and winter, and the implications of cost, availability and practicability (e.g. will you take the mud, be in a marina....?).

 

[chrisb]

surely bavaria will have something new with hull warrenty etc in your price range. i remember looking at sigma in the 1980s. they sailed well but were certainly made to a budget. im surprised that they have lasted must be caring owners

 

[sailorman]

my first boat wos five hundred quid /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[30boat]

This "old" thing really bugs me.My Fulmar is only 25 this year and she is actually in a newer state than when I got her.
I spent hours and hours and money and more money to bring her to her present condition ,ie still a bit scruffy,and wouldn't trade her for a much more expensive more recent boat even for free.
If you're lucky enough to spot an older boat with a daft owner like me grab it because it can't be worth much in money terms but you'll still have a jewell.
IMHO

 

[billmacfarlane]

You're actually asking a question that is almost impossible to answer with such a scant amount of data to base an answer on. So your best bet is to go for a moderate, well behaved cruiser, sail it, and develop your own opinions as to what constitutes a good boat, because we've all got different opinions on it. My own take on it is that you should by something like a Fulmar or a Sadler, sail it for a few years, then move on. Both makes of boat should sell easily and thenyou can buy something to suit your own tastes. I personally can see nothing wrong with a Sigma. If you like its sailing qualities, then think very seriously if you want to buy newer production design. You might be very disappointed.

 

[jonjo]

[ QUOTE ]
they sailed well but were certainly made to a budget.

[/ QUOTE ]
So were Contessa 32's, maybe there is a message here?

 

[aidancoughlan]

I've club raced and cruised on a Westerly Storm 33, and it's a good fast cruiser with good comfortable internal accomodation, and built very strongly to last well. It comes into your size and price range and is definitely worth a look.