Colvic Countess 33 rivals

[SmileyGiley]

Ok, sorry if this is a repeat, but I thought I'd ask around again.

Been looking for our dream boat for a while now.
Requirements in order of importance:
Bilge keels - the beaches of North Wales cry out for sandcastles to be built.
Accommodation - Decent aft cabin, walkthrough preferred
Rig - always shorthanded, so ketch may be a benefit.
Budget - Colvic countess sized (web asking prices less 10% say).

The Colvic Countess seems to pretty much be the ideal boat. The Moodys (34 & 35?) are all a little bit too much, and don't often see bilge keels, the Westerly's don't seem to have exactly the same layout(36s do). I have also noted the slightly larger Macwester Seaforth (I'd have to streeetch to that one), and smaller Macwester Malin.

There was a strong contender in Holyhead, but the boat needed a bit too much work for me to contemplate just now (we have 2yr & a 6month old, brother's partner is also pregnant), as I still have to redo the bathroom (sigh).

The ideal candidate is over in Greece(too far), the IDEAL ideal candidate is only over in Ireland but is beyond my budget, being a 1996 model. The ones in Dover & Netherlands are fin keel. There was one boat (Wychway) I meant to go and look at, but I was abroad for ages and then the broker went into liquidation. So if anyone knows of a reasonable sailaway Countess 33 BK let me know!

Why do people have a BK boat in the Med - is there much tidal range round Greece?

Feel free to add you two bob's worth in defence of Westerlies, comments on the Macwesters or suggest something I have not even considered.

Cheers
SmileyG

 

[alorwin]

Colvic countess 33 ketch rigged bilge keel for sale in Cardiff bay. Know the boat well , owners relocation to warmer places is reason for sale. If interested pm me. I also have the same boat but fin keel in spain and Ilove it

 

[tonykerry]

Hi, If you let me know exactly what you are looking for I will place a Wanted advert on the Countess web site. Also the Countess News will be published in the next couple of weeks so if you would like to produce a similar description of what you want it will be sent to all Countess Owners Association members (about 100 worldwide).
Regards, Tony Kerry Hon Sec COA

 

[Jonny_H]

We have a countess 37 - we are currently en-route to Australia from the UK (in Morocco at the moment) - build quality is excellent. Many were home completed so interior finish my vary.

The Westerly 36 (Conway) has simalar layout - but you have to budget for osmosis and headlining pitfalls with a Westerly of this age (typically).

As Tony says ... the class association is great.

I know what I would be getting if I was you, but then I'm biased!

(Incidentally, there is a 35 and a 33 in Fleetwood - Tony could put you intouch with them I'm sure if you wanted to speak to them about their boats).

Jonny

 

[Tranona]

Won't try and persuade you to get any other boat. The Macwesters are not in the same league as the Countess either sailing or accommodation and Moodys/Westerlys with similar accommodation layouts are generally more expensive.

The one in Preveza looks the biz. I expect it is there at the end of somebody's sailaway dream. Probably built or bought in the UK and taken down to the Med, probably through the canals. It seems extremely well equipped and looked after - even if some features are more Med orientated. There is virtually no tidal range in Greece, so the bilge keels were probably to get the shallow draft for the canals.

Well worth pursuing. You can get charter flights to Preveza until the end of the month, or fly to Athens, usually quite cheap and get a bus. The Broker in Levkas (no connection!) is walking distance from the bus station and the Preveza is about 30 minutes drive.

It is relatively easy to get the boat back to the UK. Sail it up the Adriatic to Slovenia and have it trucked from there to the Channel coast, using one of the transport companies that delivers new boats such as Bavarias to Slovenia. Last time I heard it was about 4500 euros. So when you do the sums you may find that is better value than trying to buy one in the UK.

 

[SmileyGiley]

Tony, Jonny, Alorwin,

Thanks for the replies.. PMs to all

Cheers
SmileyG

 

[SmileyGiley]

Tranona,
Interesting, and detailed, information. However, I'm stuck over in Las Palmas for longer than I should be, so by the time I get back to UK I will only get 4 weeks break before back to work... and I'd like time with the family rather than trucking round Greece. Not to mention the probability that the locks would be changed by the time I got back! Then again... I'd have a boat to live on. Hmm.... nah, I do that for work. To do it full time on break would be too sad. Plus I'd miss the missus and nippers a little bit.

 

[LadyInBed]

Eyes off mine. I wouldn't swap it for anything of a similar size.
On second thoughts, I would swap it for a Colvic Countess 37 /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Csail]

I have a Colvic atlanta for sale in Cardiff but it is long keel but there are always legs. Very safe family boat and loads of kit.

 

[inchman]

hi there is countess 28 for sale in donegal in ireland. i have no connection with the boat just saw it fro sale on apolloduck ireland,

cheers Gary

 

[SmileyGiley]

>Thanks to all for replies...

I have seriously thought about a 28 or many other devices.... but with family, ie missus and 2 kidzzz plus brother & family, plus grandma (who can still cope with gaff cutter)we need lots of space... erm.. Countess anyone,..

 

[Graham_Wright]

You can have a look at mine if you wish. She is ashore in Gloucestershire and approaching completion (after too many years I'm not prepared to reveal!).

P.m. me if you're interested and Tony Kerry is a great guy.