Buying - help please

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johnp99

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Hi everyone, need some advice please! I live in the Highlands nr Findhorn and I am looking for a yacht 32 ft to 38 ft for sailing the Highlands & Islands.
My question is which boat will give me the ‘best compromise" for my specific requirements below... especially age vs condition - older good'un or more modern?
Thank you! John P.
Key Requirements (roughly in order of importance):
Age/condition
Budget to £70k including limited mods after purchase
Dry, warm helm (centre cockpit), (or autohelm from cabin?)
Limited maintenance, Reliable engine, Good equipment & Electrics
Single handed sailing (when required), quality roller reefing main & headsail
Safe sailing in all conditions
Comfortable sailing in most sea conditions
Accommodation vs sailing performance about equal weight
Bilge or lifting keel preferred due to Findhorn moorings

Included my 'possibles' list so far:
Westerly 33, & which other Westerly’s?
Moody 35, 36, 37, 376 ?
Colvic Countess 33 or 37
LM32
Hunter Horizon 32
Dufour 35
Skua 36 (steel)
Aphrodite Aphrodite 36
Malö 34
Buchanan Neptunian 33
Skua 36 steel hull
Puma 37
HR / Vancouver / Najad but probably not within budget
 
Thanks CB...The Sadler looks very nice, but has an exposed helm... I must have a sheltered helm as most of the time it is cold and wet up here and I want to be able to sail at anytime.
Ashtead.... not looked at Southerly's yet... don't seem to be many listed in UK, nice enclosed helm though... i'll add it to my list... do you know how they sail, seems to have little keel at all ... maybe a lifting keel, if not then would it point? Cheers John P.
 
...Yes so Southerly's have lifting keel, apparently sails well and build quality looks like its good, but they are expensive, out of my range I expect.
 
I haven’t sailed a southerly -some of the later ones have double rudders but later/larger than your budget- I always wanted a 42 but could not justify the price really. If you want to see more I think distant shores on utube plus the owners assoc best source but it ticks your boxes re shelter, lifting keel, reasonable sailing with keel down etc. there are older ones like a 110 which might interest, otherwise a bilge keel lm 32 or maybe a moody excel has a sheltered position.
 
johnp99 said:
Thanks CB...The Sadler looks very nice, but has an exposed helm... I must have a sheltered helm as most of the time it is cold and wet up here and I want to be able to sail at anytime.
Ashtead.... not looked at Southerly's yet... don't seem to be many listed in UK, nice enclosed helm though... i'll add it to my list... do you know how they sail, seems to have little keel at all ... maybe a lifting keel, if not then would it point? Cheers John P.
Click to expand...
Not sure why you think a centre cockpit should give a “dry / warm helm”. Centre cockpits typically give a large stern cabin, but are often more exposed than a stern cockpit. A really good sprayhood can make a huge difference, and on some rear cockpit boats this can become like a mini cuddy.
 
Yes, thanks Ashtead, the difficulty I am having, not being a guru in all these different boats is working out which ones actually match my criteria best... they all have different abilities but to work out each one against the other I am finding very difficult, especially as there seem to be few expert reviews of their sailing abilities, and the forums have mixed messages... I can do it for motorbikes & dinghy's as I have ridden / sailed most of them... but this doesn't help! Johnp
 
Nab35 or Salar40 if you want a boat that sails and has a wheel shelter .
Find one that has been re-engined. The rest is so simple and do-able. ( imo!)
 
Dunedin - mmm, maybe I am assuming too much, I thought most centre helms were well sheltered and all had a strong hood option, maybe a pilot house with internal helm better... but \i have heard that you cannot see well which makes sailing tricky to say the least. This maybe leaves few choices such as the LM32 or as you say rear helm position designed with a strong hood.. no idea which yachts have those... cheers JohnP
 
A lot turns here on whether the bilge/lifting keel is the priority? You can retrofit a half hard top to just about anything to give shelter-I’ve even seen one on a westerly centaur. If however a full cabin enclosed is needed to helm from an old nautical 33 maybe? Lacks the bilge keels though,
 
Blueboatman, Thanks, added to list! can't find any except an old 1978 Salar... poor condition, I am an old git and my time is not going to be spent on maintenance, I can do electrics, motors, woodwork etc... but I want to spend most of my time sailing or other pastimes... so it's got to be a boat in very good condition and repair for me. cheers Johnp
 
There is a danger of over thinking this. There is no "ideal" boat and even more difficult to get one close when you are buying used as what is available on the market is very limited. It is a truism that there are very few "bad" boats, so many of your criteria are a given whereas some are not feasible such as bilge or lifting keels in the size and type of boat you are looking for. £70k is a healthy budget but will not buy you the many sheltered helm Scandinavian boats that closest to your requirements except older ones such as the HR Rasmus and 352.

Not a lot of point in asking people for suggestions other than in general terms "these are the sort of boats to look at" because few people have wide experience of a range of boats and most will suggest what they would buy or hanker after, not what might suit you. Boats are very personal and that is why there are so many designs around.

In reality there is no substitute for looking at as many boats as possible that you think might suit - not easy when there are so few on the market, particularly where you are located. You will know what is for you when you find it and then you just hope that it is in decent condition and at a price you feel comfortable with.
 
johnp99 said:
Blueboatman, Thanks, added to list! can't find any except an old 1978 Salar... poor condition, I am an old git and my time is not going to be spent on maintenance, I can do electrics, motors, woodwork etc... but I want to spend most of my time sailing or other pastimes... so it's got to be a boat in very good condition and repair for me. cheers Johnp
Click to expand...
Indeed
Time is more valuable than money
Aye??
What about a modern, maintenance free , almost new ex demo/ boat show special /ex demonstrator modern design? … and spend some money having a really good cockpit spray hood/sunawning/sides canvas full enclosure added?
And webasto heating down below too
Best luck
 
johnp99 said:
Dunedin - mmm, maybe I am assuming too much, I thought most centre helms were well sheltered and all had a strong hood option, maybe a pilot house with internal helm better... but \i have heard that you cannot see well which makes sailing tricky to say the least. This maybe leaves few choices such as the LM32 or as you say rear helm position designed with a strong hood.. no idea which yachts have those... cheers JohnP
Click to expand...
A typucal centre cockpit is higher up and further forward, and cockpit generally shallower to avoid impinging on space below. Not a huge problem for most folks, but for cold weather more rather than less exposed than most stern cockpits.
Older boats with separate aft cabin, and nothing underneath the "centre" cockpit may be different.
But hey Findhorn is on the sunny East coast and not too chilly! Most boats I see sailing in the winter in the Clyde are efficient modern aft cockpit sailing yachts, which make going out sailing fun. Rarely ever see pilot house yacht sailing in winter, on Clyde, nearly always motoring (but no problem, most prefer fishing or pottering which is fine).
 
If you can find a Westerly Konsort Duo, it could fit your bill. A little smaller than your spec at 29'. Won't win any races, but a tough, comfy boat with a sheltered helm.

There's even a standard Konsort with a very nice doghouse on a mooring near mine, so that might be an option for any boat that fits the bill in other ways.
 
You could possibly get a Vancouver 34 pilot house and certainly a 32 within budget but considering your mooring criteria then a set of legs may be needed to accommodate the draft of 1.4 / 1.5M.
I would steer away from a centre cockpit at your budget and size and concentrate on finding a good solid boat with a below deck auto helm that will allow you to control the boat from a sheltered location.
 
If you really are going to be out in all sorts year round I think it would be worth looking at what motor sailers (with fully enclosed wheelhouse) are up for sale but as above Moody Eclipse 33 does look just about perfect for you...
 
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