Buying my first sail boat!

[Rhincodon]

Isn't that the truth. Been thinking about a modest move upwards up from our brilliant little day sailer, then recently down the estuary clocked this fab looking HR29 just up the channel from us... smitten or what. I know they aren't cool and trendy but they just look, feel right to me. Anyway OP's long gone.. wonder what he got?

Well I really know that smitten feeling - cant stop thinking about the one I saw in Plymouth, but it is overpriced despite being absolutely "as new" condition with lots of kit included
Oddly high engine hours though.

Hallberg-Rassy 342 - Red Ensign

 

[Rhincodon]

Peter Keats is a good contact for things Bavaria. He worked for Clippper Marine for many years and did the deal for me when I bought my new 33 - and then handled the sale! That 37 looks good.

I can understand the attraction of HRs, they really are lovely, just simply not at home in the Med. Tiller steering, small cockpit, poor access over the stern no bow thruster. Excellent boat for northern waters cruising and would be really good for the trip going down the outside, but once you got through the Straits you would start wishing for a different kind of boat.

TBH the trip to the Med is not what it used to be, particularly if you are limited by Schengen rules as you can no longer roam freely plus it has become overcrowded and expensive. Very different from 25 years ago when we first started. Given your limited time horizon it is probably a bit ambitious to buy a boat now, get to know it and yourself, sail it down to the Med and get meaningful time there. That is really a 5 year plan and you will have difficulty in selling the boat there (and expensive/hard work to bring it back to the UK). Maybe having a couple of years quality time with a boat like the HR, charter to see if you really fancy the Med. Then if you are still capable buy a boat out there. Greece is the obvious place and being a non resident you can own and use a non VAT paid boat. Alternatively you might consider a charter management deal like we did. Ours was a bit restrictive but you can get more flexible deals now. This is worth looking at, both for charter and buying a boat sailionian.com British family run and well respected.

I met Peter on Friday - Thursday

He showed me the Bav 37

https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/yacht/2016-bavaria-cruiser-37-9334936/

I love your suggestion of doing my weekly sailing (I wish) here and then charter for Med rather than the big sail down there given my circumstances, guess ican still have plenty of challenging jouneys in UK.

 

[macca499]

All great comments again - got a flag about this price drop this morning - so popped down there as only 10 miles away.

2017 Bavaria Cruiser 34 For Sale - Clipper Marine

Hell of a lot of boat and potetnial when i consider the HR 342 is almost 2x the price.
Needs some extras and fidning outthe history - Hull wrap - any views? Is it hiding something?

I’m also in the market for similar and had enquired about that 34 before the price drop as seems very well specced if not overpriced at £94k but was also concerned about the hull wrap - it seems to be wrapped in same colour as hull was originally so perhaps covering up something, the broker was vague when I questioned it via email. Best of luck with whatever you purchase, you certainly deserve it!

 

[Rhincodon]

I’m also in the market for similar and had enquired about that 34 before the price drop as seems very well specced if not overpriced at £94k but was also concerned about the hull wrap - it seems to be wrapped in same colour as hull was originally so perhaps covering up something, the broker was vague when I questioned it via email. Best of luck with whatever you purchase, you certainly deserve it!

Yes i was a little disappointed by lack of feedback from the broker - the fact that it has things like second GPS and Jackstays on board but not fitted, is itcovering damage?
Unlikley to be osmosis - but could be I guess
If it is sound - hell of a lot of boat at £79k
Thank you for your kind words - i feel like I deserve some sort of break - so buying a "bad " boat i need to avoid

 

[steveeasy]

Hey, good luck with whichever boat you decide on. Make sure its the one for you though!!

Best Wishes
Steveeasy

 

[Lucky Duck]

Well I really know that smitten feeling - cant stop thinking about the one I saw in Plymouth, but it is overpriced despite being absolutely "as new" condition with lots of kit included
Oddly high engine hours though.

Hallberg-Rassy 342 - Red Ensign

It’s done about 30 hours less than my boat which is 9 years younger, then again I wouldn’t ever claim that it was lightly used

 

[Rhincodon]

Hey, good luck with whichever boat you decide on. Make sure its the one for you though!!

Best Wishes
Steveeasy

Thank you

 

[Rhincodon]

It’s done about 30 hours less than my boat which is 9 years younger, then again I would ever claim that it was lightly used

that is really interesting and please educate me -I looked at 4 HR 342
2007, 2008, 2009 & 2012 - all around same price before negotiation - is yours a 2016 HR? - the model had changed by then?
All the others have half the engine hours , but this boat apparently in last ownership for 4 years has hardly left the marina - the engine looks like new - even the hoses as does every other part of the boat - BUT - the alternator looks like its been left in the rain and that is more in line with the hours - its very easy to "tart" up a yacht - this one has had every hatch window polished up like new - which either means it is the best kept boat ever, but the current 4 year owner told me it was all in terrible state when he got it - so I imagine he has worked really hard and trying to make a decent profit on it - which is fair but he has done all the work himself including engine oil changes, even some electrics i fear etc - sails and covers are all in duplicate and look or are in fact new.
I was tempted to make an offer where I think it should be and just walk away otherwise as it has been on for a while and a similar 2008 boat at Transworld came on at £145k and went almost instantly at £130k - which still seems bonkers versus Bva,Jen,Ben etc

 

[Lucky Duck]

On the engine hours I found that the 20 minutes or so it takes to leave the marina, take off the lines and fenders and then get the sails up (and the reverse at the end of the day) add up if the boat is in regular use for much of the year. Then add, for example, that seemingly every time I cross Lyme Bay it involves motoring most of the way and I end up doing over 100 hours each year.

I own a similar sized Arcona rather than a HR. Not sure when the more modern styled HR340 took over.

A friend bought one of the last Maxi 1000s which despite having every conceivable extra fitted had hardly been used in its four years.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Hull wrap on a non white hull will most likely be for fender and or UV damage, ie nothing to be concerned about.

 

[macca499]

Hull wrap on a non white hull will most likely be for fender and or UV damage, ie nothing to be concerned about.

That makes total sense and the if the broker had relayed this I would have been very interested as the boat needed very little spent but would be too risky to buy without seeing some before photos at least to back this up

 

[Rhincodon]

On the engine hours I found that the 20 minutes or so it takes to leave the marina, take off the lines and fenders and then get the sails up (and the reverse at the end of the day) add up if the boat is in regular use for much of the year. Then add, for example, that seemingly every time I cross Lyme Bay it involves motoring most of the way and I end up doing over 100 hours each year.

I own a similar sized Arcona rather than a HR. Not sure when the more modern styled HR340 took over.

A friend bought one of the last Maxi 1000s which despite having every conceivable extra fitted had hardly been used in its four years.

Very good point I have been too used to motor yacht with little time not actually travelling mainly due to horrific fuel burn costs versus sailing yacht engine

I have a difficult but fun month or two ahead to find something I think before spring makes the market change again

 

[Rhincodon]

That makes total sense and the if the broker had relayed this I would have been very interested as the boat needed very little spent but would be too risky to buy without seeing some before photos at least to back this up

Exactly and they are very sheepish about why etc

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Exactly and they are very sheepish about why etc

Could be that they, like many, are a bunch of useless jerks who’ll be first against the wall when the revolution comes, as Douglas Adams put it. Find someone to ask. The owner, perhaps. Don’t pass up a potential great boat by not putting an easy question to bed. It might be utterly knackered, but, probably not.

 

[Tranona]

I’m also in the market for similar and had enquired about that 34 before the price drop as seems very well specced if not overpriced at £94k but was also concerned about the hull wrap - it seems to be wrapped in same colour as hull was originally so perhaps covering up something, the broker was vague when I questioned it via email. Best of luck with whatever you purchase, you certainly deserve it!

That looks like a really good buy considering all the gear it has. Even the original price is about half what a new boat to that spec would cost. I sold my 2015 33 (essentially the same boat) in 2022 - so much the same age - for £90k. So £79k looks a bargain.

 

[oldbloke]

Very good point I have been too used to motor yacht with little time not actually travelling mainly due to horrific fuel burn costs versus sailing yacht engine

I have a difficult but fun month or two ahead to find something I think before spring makes the market change again

Yacht engines die of boredom rather than wearing out.

 

[doug748]

Well I really know that smitten feeling - cant stop thinking about the one I saw in Plymouth, but it is overpriced despite being absolutely "as new" condition with lots of kit included
Oddly high engine hours though.

Hallberg-Rassy 342 - Red Ensign

I would not worry about the engine hours they are really pretty small, under a 100 per year is light use. Your surveyor would pick up any obvious chicanery if you direct him to give an opinion.

You have no doubt seen the similar boat in Dartmouth, I think the market is getting tougher and, with choices around, you may be able to do a very keen deal as winter turns into spring.
I'm with the other comments, buy what you like not so much to please others. I know a chap who singlehands a similar sized Rassy, lovely boat. He is pushing 80 from the wrong side, last time I spoke to him he had just returned from the Azores.

.

 

[Rhincodon]

That looks like a really good buy considering all the gear it has. Even the original price is about half what a new boat to that spec would cost. I sold my 2015 33 (essentially the same boat) in 2022 - so much the same age - for £90k. So £79k looks a bargain.

Turns out the boat was up for £90k - agreed sale at £79k - deal collapsed at weekend, hence owner trying to move v quickly but wont move on price now which is fair. Covering was a protection thing, no damage and a survey has taken place apparently.

 

[Rhincodon]

I would not worry about the engine hours they are really pretty small, under a 100 per year is light use. Your surveyor would pick up any obvious chicanery if you direct him to give an opinion.

You have no doubt seen the similar boat in Dartmouth, I think the market is getting tougher and, with choices around, you may be able to do a very keen deal as winter turns into spring.
I'm with the other comments, buy what you like not so much to please others. I know a chap who singlehands a similar sized Rassy, lovely boat. He is pushing 80 from the wrong side, last time I spoke to him he had just returned from the Azores.

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Yes I saw 3 of them in Dartmouth, 2000, 2007 & 2012 - there was one at Transworld 2008 but it is under offer.
I am guessing the either Dartmouth boat, there may be a deal possible.
Yes the market seems to be getting a bit difficult, I have a pal who sells mainly Motor and he said it has changed a lot for the worse in last couple of months.
Over 80! wow that is impressive and fills me with cheer for my own situation.

 

[Tranona]

Turns out the boat was up for £90k - agreed sale at £79k - deal collapsed at weekend, hence owner trying to move v quickly but wont move on price now which is fair. Covering was a protection thing, no damage and a survey has taken place apparently.

Is it in the frame for your purchase. Really does look good. I have very fond memories of mine and some of the changes to make it the 34 like the cockpit locker access and electric toilet plus the bits he has added like the downwind sail handling are great improvements.