Caprice 18ft

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Hello - I'm a newbie! I'm considering purchasing a Caprice 18ft (1984). Has anybody got any experience of sailing these boats and could anybody give some advice of what to look out for or what questions I should ask when looking round the boat? Thanks.
 
Re: Caprice 18ft re: Shrimpy

See if your local library can get you a copy otherwise Amazon - at a price
I think you'll find yours is 19', mine is a '78 Mk 4 great little boat, suits me, have no ambitions to go upmarket, mind you as a septuagenarian I wouldn't would I?. Met the original purchaser now a retired Ferry Captain, he sailed it quite extensively over 14 years. I did have a problem with water ingress, like a bucket a day on a drying mooring, traced it, it was due to some bare fibreglass less than the size of a 10p piece under the stub - now a spongeful ev. 3 weeks. Others at the club have had one and look back on them with pleasure. Didn't ask any questions - bought it on Ebay after looking at it externally.
Did put a furling foresail on it - I'm a bit old in the tooth for the foredeck jitterbug
 
Great little boats and very sea kindly for the size. We bought one as a stopgap between boats ....and then kept it for 6 years!! A headsail roller reefing system is a good idea as it keeps you off the small foredeck. Good luck - I´m sure you will enjoy it.
 
I owned an early plywood Caprice Mk I/II (she was a Mk I hull with Mk II keels!) a very long time ago. Ply boats much prettier than the GRP ones, but most ply ones probably very tired now.

Initially tender (tippy) but settles down and stiffens up once she heels. After a while I developed a lot of confidence in her. Took me all round the Bristol Channel and Devon/Welsh coasts, and up into the Irish Sea, mostly singlehanded. No roller reefing, no electronics at all, no guardwires, no lifejacket, no harness: all the usual stuff when you're young and immortal.
 
I too owned a Mk2 plywood, great little boat, and I have no hesitation recommending them. Just one thing to watch for, a number of the MkIVs have had a problem with the bilge keels. The hull at the aft end on some was not sufficiently strong to take the weight, and the keels have started to push up through the hull. In the early stages this appears as a shallow depression in the outside of the hull round the aft end of the keels. As it progresses cracks start to appear both inside and out. I never heard of one actually failing and sinking, and although it is entirely repairable, you would not want to pay full price for one with this fault. Ancient memory says the affected hulls were moulded I think by Yachthaven of Bradford On Avon.

Otherwise they were very tough seaworthy little boats.
 
I built a wooden one in the late 60s.- dame Ellen Mor- Great to sail if you want security not mega fast. Girlfriend on it became wife. Still together !!!
 
Mine built at Bradford on Avon, was a '78 show boat at SIBS - no problems with keels. Pleased that this thread is bringing together some info. on Caprices. Martyn, I rather think this Caprice is driving SWMBO and me apart! Didn't realise that when she said, "We don't want a boat." that she was not using the royal plural!! Still the grandchildren appreciate it.
 
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