buying first yacht

[Jono]

Hello,

I am in the process of buying my first yacht. I have sailed and raced Mirror dinghies in my youth and now at the grand age of 36 I want to buy a yacht. Wondering if anyone might have sany suggestions - advice...:

Basically I want something that is fast and fun to sail but reasonably comfortable for a long weekend cruise. I'll be keeping her in Poole, Dorset.
I have a budget of £27,000 - and in the last few weeks I'd pretty much decided to go for a Jeanneau 24.2 with a fixed keel. It's hard to find any reports on this boat so I'm wondering if anyone out there could help.

Thanks for any advice.

Regards,

Jono

 

[jamesjermain]

For your first boat I would suggest you buy second-hand and keep well inside your budget, keeping the big-money buy for a second or subsequent boat when you have a bit more experience of boat ownership, and a clearer idea, maybe of your own needs, the market and so on. A second-hand boat will also come with some equipment. If it is not too old, the bugs will have been ironed out yet the boat and equipment will still be in reasonably good condition.

I am sure you will be visiting the Southampton Boat SHow next week which is a good place to start. Don't forget the second-hand boat shows which run concurrently at Moodys, Hamble Point and Lymington.

For fast family cruising in coastal waters, the small Beneteaus and Jeanneaus are fine. You might also consider the Hunter 27OOD or Hunter Horizon 272 (a detuned, cruising version of the former)

JJ

 

[Twister_Ken]

Broader horizons

Don't forget the charms of older boats - was it last month YM reviewed an Elizabethan 29 that can embarrass modern 32 footers?

Given that, for a new buyer, this season is effectively over, why not spend the autumn looking at a complete range of boats in your price bracket, from the 'latest-greatest' to the 'golden-oldies'? What you see, especially in terms of value and comfort, might change your thinking.

 

[incognito]

I would say - don't!!
Get some time in cruising with someone else. Most cruising folk are looking for occasional crew.
This way, you will learn a lot about what works and what doesn't work - and you will also get a line on which boats sell and which boats don't. Believe me, some boats are highly regarded and will always sell, just a question of price - whilst others are a glut on the market.
Whatever you do, don't buy new for your first boat (just like cars) but second-hand boats have (in the past) held their prices very well - hence my comment about not buying a boat which sticks on the market.
Crewing for others will enable you to learn a whole lot you will be glad of when you do go for your own boat. These bigger keel boats require something far in addition to sailing ability - dockmanship, seamanship, navigational skills etc.

The best advice I ever had in your situation was "Buy a boat, any boat, so you can get to know what you really need - but work someone else's boat first to take the edge off your appetite".

 

[lezgar]

buy a second hand boat with inboard diesel engine . You are talking about 24 foot and there are plenty in the market and you will save a lot of money. Before to buy is better if you do a RYA practical course in UK if you are going to sail here.

 

[seahorse]

On a cynical aspect it is like asking someone " what kind of woman should I marry?".
More practically, ask not the size of your vessel, nor built of what art, but how big is your heart!
Realisticly, my wife & I sail a Centaur & we both love it!