BUYING OUR FIRST BOAT

[jay]

We (my wife & I) are finally in the market for our first boat. Will be kept in on the NE coast and used for weekend cruising and occasional trips to Holland, Germany and the like – and maybe even further one day!
Looking for something in the region of 30ft (max35ft) that is stable, solid and forgiving with reasonably comfortable accommodation below decks. Originally thought about longkeelers eg Nicholson 32 but could be persuaded to consider a fin & skeg e.g. Contessa 32
Does anyone have any suggestions about suitability of the above (or not) and others to add to my shortlist?


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[john_morris_uk]

I don't believe that you will buy the boat to start with that you will end up sailing the blue waters on. The only sure thing about your first boat is that whatever you buy you will find things you don't like and want to change.

Get something small and manageable now that you can enjoy coastal crusing and occasional hops to the continent and you will soon get an idea of what you want to end up with.

There is a huge price difference between 30 and 35 foot boats.

A Contessa 32 is a great boat and sails well, but not as much room below and some have been raced very hard. A Nicholson 32 is a great boat - but perhaps harder to manoevre astern - (but not half as bad as many!!) and not quite as fast under sail - but if its your first boat, you won't notice that.

How much sailing have you done - why not cadge a few sails on other peoples boats so you can see what they are like. Just bear in mind that everyone thinks their boat is perfect, until they start having dreams of something a little bigger/better etc etc.

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[GrahamSC]

Hi
I would suggest that you first find out where you can get a mooring or pontoon berth and winter storage before you look for a boat. Join a Club where you can perhaps crew on different types. Amble. Blyth, the Tyne, Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby have super clubs, give then a try
Regards
GrahamSC

<hr width=100% size=1>Never recovered from loss of Tot, 1974

 

[LeonF]

Agree with others. Just sailed my new smaller boat home over three days in occasionally challenging conditions. Heavy displacement 26 footer--51% ballast ratio. Yes she won't pick up under power or fly like my Sigma 33 used to but at the same time she is reassuring and easier to helm. Punching big seas around North Foreland into a head wind she inched forward but never gave cause for concern. Yes she is smaller down below but I found the forepeak more comfy and the galley is very user friendly. I am not looking forward to getting access to the stern gland--canoe stern-- but everyting is a trade off. Do a search for buying a new boat and see previous comments.If you want more advice, do as the others say and post details of budget, experience etc.

<hr width=100% size=1>L.A.R.Ferguson

 

[Evadne]

All the Elizabethans fit that description as well, both the long-keelers like the Kim Holman-designed 29 & 35 as well as the David Thomas-designed 30 & 31. There are Elizabethans from the 23 to the 35, although the 33 and 35 are quite rare. They are also a lot cheaper than the more glamorous Nics and Contessas.
Other "non-glamorous" sea-boats such as the Halcyon, Stella and Invicta spring to mind, not to mention Folkboat derivatives and the SCOD, but they may be a bit short for you and I don't have any experience of those.
I would say that I bought a liz 29 as a first boat in 1985 and found that for 1-4 handed coastal cruising I've not had cause to sell her since. Remember: the bigger the boat, the bigger the hole in the water into which you are pouring your money.

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[MASH]

If you lke the Contessa look at a Sadler 32 - same designer, solid, but updated for space without compromising sea-keeping ability, long fin keel is much easier to maneuvere too...

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[Jeremy_W]

You're looking at yachts originally produced 20-30 years ago. Jeremy Rogers still produces a handful of new CO32's a year and does a total refurbishment service for old Contessas where every piece of original kit (sails, fittings, electronics, rig, upholstery...) is thrown in a skip and they start again from bare hull to produce a better-than-new CO32. Unless you find one of these rarities the condition of the yacht is crucial. Better a well-loved and hard-sailed example of a less popular design than a neglected CO32 or Nic32. One you can sail away. The other's a project.

Yachts of this type don't offer massive accomodation or the most spacious of galleys nor are they the quickest in light winds, but if you're happy then great! They'll take care of you in the rough stuff. To your shortlist add the following (all from respected designers): Rival 32/34 (Peter Brett), Centurion 32 (Kim Holman) and the Seacracker 33 (E G Van de Stadt).

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