Changing boat?

[stav]

It is under discussion at the moment whether to change boat, normal reasons: money, potential mooring cost increases, will not sail forever and want to free some cash to go further etc, etc. In all honesty I am going to do all I can to keep her, might even have to go back to some weekend chippying!

So currently have a Nic 36 which I love and have sorted out but since SWMBO has become less interested I am thinking of down sizing.

So I am wondering if there is any thing out there in the £6000 to £10000 price range that will:

Be able to sail single handed around the channel in winds up to 30 knts.
Accomadate me and one crew for two weeks in the summer and take us to Ireland, S Brittany.
May be over two or three summers go around Uk and Ireland.
Cope with difficult Channel Island weather and tides.
Accomadate the family (SWMBO and two girls) for the occassional weekend in France/Sark/Guernsey. They would probably join the boat by ferry.
Prefer to have a ballast ratio of at least 40%.

Could be a project to start with.

Boats I have thought about:
Hustler 30 but just outside price range.
Westerly longbow, as above.
Trapper 28, 300, 500.
Scampi.
Folkboat.

Any suggestions?

 

[john_morris_uk]

Sadler 25?
Cobra 750
Nicholson 26
Contessa 26
Dufour 30 (there's on on Boats and Outboards at the moment for £9,950)
Some of the early Westerly's - although sailing performance in some models might not be 'sparkling' (and I say this as a Westerly owner.)

Although the 26 footers will accommodate four people, you will miss the space of your 36 footer and it might put SWMBO off sailing even more!

 

[doug748]

She 31? You have proabably seen this one, it has been around for a while so it may come in at under 10k:

http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/boats/b8589/b8589.htm

Folboats, and their derivatives, are lovely but may disappoint for what you propose.

 

[deep denial]

South Coast One Design - SCOD - brilliant and safe sea boat, fast too for its type, and with character. Under 10k easy, a good single hander for channel crossing

 

[Kelpie]

I think you need to narrow down your requirements a bit more- surprised to see a folkboat in there with a Longbow!

The obvious answer, if it's not too small, would be a Nic 26 would it not?

 

[PetiteFleur]

Got to be a Jaguar 27 - in the right price range, can be got for 10k or a bit more, excellent stability, it was my previous boat and it would look after you well. Did several N Sea trips, never had a moments doubt about it's ability to stand up to (almost)any weather. Sails single handed easily, regularly sailed two up without any problem.
Look on the Jaguar Owners website:- http://www.jaguaryachts.co.uk/index.html

Another possibility is a Contessa 28 - my friend has one but not many around.

 

[stav]

Thanks for the thoughts,

I tend to agree with you john morris uk, if the bigger boat goes even less likely to get the family more in to sailing. I guess there is a good selection of affordable 26ish footers out there so no need to rush. I was down there last night putting the main back and she is such a 'lttle vessel'......

 

[john_morris_uk]

Thanks for the thoughts,

I tend to agree with you john morris uk, if the bigger boat goes even less likely to get the family more in to sailing. I guess there is a good selection of affordable 26ish footers out there so no need to rush. I was down there last night putting the main back and she is such a 'lttle vessel'......

Perhaps the real solution is to only give your better half nice sailing trips.

For several years (although I went off and did lots of adventurous sailing without the family) the longest trips we ever did with wife and children were across the bay to the nearest beach and chip shop.

When going foreign the family would go by ferry and I would sail the boat so that we only did short trips along the French Coast in between beaches and cafes. Associate good things and nice times with the boat and this sailing lark become more attractive.

Without being sexist in any way, boats that are 'nice and clean' and 'don't smell' are a winner with lots of crew...

I could go on - but I am enormously saddened by the number of wives/girlfriends etc who start off neutral and are soon heavily put off by one rough trip of being sea-sick and miserable, or with gear breakage or engine failure and without the ability to get off and go home. Not suggesting that this is what has happened to you - but I grind my axe...

 

[stav]

I agree with you john morris but with our first we got away more now with the second SWMBO holds on to her for dear life. We have done the quiet bays and met in the marina in Granville. The issue is the cost of running the boat and how it limits the option (because of cost) for alternative holidays, disney land, water parks etc. Although I still believe a weekend away as a family on the boat is much more worth while and can only get better as thay get older, to a certain point.