Coming over to the 'Dark Side'

Tomsk

Tomsk

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Coming over to the \'Dark Side\'

Some time ago I started thinking about coming partly over to 'The Dark Side' by changing from a stinkpot to a Motor Sailer. Further down the line and many conversations later I am appreciating that 'in general' motor sailers don't do either very well. So now considering going all the way to sail.

But where do I start looking for the right boat?? I have boiled my thoughts down to the following considerations:

1) I'm a big fat git so need a fair bit of room in hatch and companionways

2) I tend to live aboard 3 or 4 nights each week

3) I would like to 'single hand' occasionally

4) I want to cruise offshore in the future

5) Must have at least 4/5 births

6) Roomy head required for fat git

7) Inboard engine prefered (preferably diesel)

8) Age not important

9) Good cockpit covers required for evening use or some form of 'wheel house'

10) Budget upto £25k.

Any advice other than 'You must be joking..."...

<hr width=100% size=1>Tomsk -

What the hell... it's only money!
 
Sure that it is not LEAVING the \'Dark Side\'?

Have a look at the Mirage 29 and the Sadler 29. Both will meet most of what you are looking for.

<hr width=100% size=1>When God invented time he didn't give me enough of it. ND!
 
Re: Coming over to the \'Dark Side\'

To get all that into a monohull in comfort you are looking at somewhere 30 - 40 feet. I'm not sure what the practical maximum for singlehanding is, but 5 berths in anything less than 30' is likely to be a bit cramped if they are all as big as you say you are. Most boats that size should have the engine, headrooom etc. The cockpit conservatory could be made up by a sailmaker anyway.
If you want a big boat for a small initial outlay, look at wooden ones. Lots of character (i.e. scraping and painting on your part), the Golden Hind 31 springs to mind.
For grp oldies there are more makes than most of us could possibly name from the 60's, 70's and 80's. I'd print off your list of requirements and give it to a local broker, and see what he comes back with.

Incidentally, a friend recently bought a boat, and used the RYA standard contract. That way when the buyer accepted an offer "subject to survey" he had to accept subsequent offer, negotiate or stump up the cost of the survey. Well worth it if buying an old boat whose owner has an inflated idea of its value.

Good hunting.

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Re: Coming over FROM the \'Dark Side\'

Legend/US Hunter seems to be designed for Big Boned Persons...... Dunno about prices in the used market....

<hr width=100% size=1>Never under estimate the strength of human stupidity
 
Re: Coming over to the \'Dark Side\'

Thanks Dave.. it's only be that is a little large.. and it would be very rare that all berths are occupied for more than the odd night! I'm not against older boats, but I suspect wooden hulls would be too much trouble - though I agree about the character!

<hr width=100% size=1>Tomsk -

What the hell... it's only money!
 
Re: Coming over to the \'Dark Side\'

Would you consider really going over to the dark side, and trying a catamaran? -

1. Plenty of room in hatch and companionways

2. Ideal for liveaboard

3. I single hand my own 9m catalac quite frequently

4. I am preparing my boat for a trip to Australia!

5. Mine has 7 berths and 3 separate cabins. and the bunk in the main cabin is a full 6'6" x 4'6" double.

6. Heads are great - 7' headroom and room for a full size shower

7. Can fit 2 inboard engines (which makes easy manoeuvre in a marina)

8. Mine has a wheelhouse, and a cockpit that I have sat 10 people in with ease.

9. Should be able to find an 8 or 9m Catalac within your budget. They dont go to windward like a monohull, but are much better at all other points of sail (the more money you spend, the less this is a problem)

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Re: Coming over to the \'Dark Side\'

Talbot:

I started looking at Cats (originally motor sailers though) a while ago, and your posts have often had me scouring the net for info on Catalac's.. however not yet found anything for sale or to view! As for sailing to windward, isn't that what engines are for? /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Tomsk -

What the hell... it's only money!
 
Re: Coming over to the \'Dark Side\'

Jaguar 27 fits your needs and it has a massive hatch way

<hr width=100% size=1>
hammer.thumb.gif
Stay put when I hit you!
 
cats, seconded...

where else would you be able to do 12+ knots under sail and 10+ under motor in less than a 70 footer? add berths for 10, full headroom and a level platform and you've just about got the lot!

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Re: Coming over to the \'Dark Side\'

Whatever you take, make sure you have full standing headroom. Less is a pain. For most people this means a minimum of about 30 feet. For the amount of time you intend to spend on the boat you would probably be looking for bigger.

If I were to cruise offshore or live for extended periods on board, I would be looking at boats around 40'.

It's really a matrix. The bigger the boat you need the older it will have to be to meet your budget. As a general rule.

John

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Re: Coming over to the \'Dark Side\'

Catalacs are motor sailers - I doubt their sailing progress to windward in anything other than a millpond would be acceptable. Other cats are better, but none are really ideal for single handing because they are all easily blown about when mooring. Good for single handing at sea as long as the weather doesnt get up for a longish time - cats will not manage themselves like SOME monos will do. Nevertheless, they will offer you the room and the comfort for living aboard. look at the Heavenly Twins and the Prout Sirrocco - decent ones of both are available within your budget and they both sail far better than a Catalac.

I wouldnt dismiss motor sailers. If you make a lot of use of your boat, you will find yourself using the engine as much as 50% of the time (that was what Libby Purves did when circumnavigating the UK). So motoring performance does matter and to my mind rules out outboards for serious cruising.

There are lots of oldish GRP boats about. Older Moodies and Westerlies will fit in your budget, though you wont get anything like the space you would in a multi. Best thing (if you can wait that long) is to go to the second hand boat shows at the end of the season and crawl all over lots of them.

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.
 
Re: Coming over to the \'Dark Side\'

A quick google give the following:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.multihulls.uk.com/gbrokerage/catalac1022.htm> A 9m Catalac Mk 1</A> at £26k and in UK.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boat-world.com/boatads/1215053323.html>another 9m</A> at £25k, but in Athens.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.myboatdetails.com/quorsum/> a later Catalac 900 </A> but £36k and with these you need to check build quality - some good some not so good!

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F34608/>Another mk 1</A> at £27.5k and in S. England. you can tell the mk 1 from the mk 2 by the round rear window in the mk 1 and a better interior fit out in the Mk 2.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.multihull.nl/multihulls/mwocc/specs/10487.CL8MLeisure/10487.CL8MLeisure.htm> an 8m</A> in holland for £22.5k

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yacht-boot-bremen.de/liste/3230/3230.pdf> A Mk 2 Catalac 9m </A> in germany at £31k

F34608.jpg

Plus several others available via google


<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Or you could buy a pretty catamaran

Sorry Talbot /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

muz002aT1.jpg


<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.multihullworld.com/>Try here for a multihull brokerage</A>

Ducks!


<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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Re: Coming over to the \'Dark Side\'

> Whatever you take, make sure you have full standing headroom. Less is a pain.
> For most people this means a minimum of about 30 feet...

By 'eck, you must be tall! Are you 28 feet high? ;-)

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.
 
The other side ...

I'm a fat git

I like all boats

I have a race sail boat, a weekender, and a motor sailer.

I am not pleased with some comments about MS's ... as I really enjoy my heavy tub. And lets be honest Centaurs, Colvics etc. are pretty near MS's as well ... so knickers to the people who knock so called MS's .....

Do not be put off by so called 'types' - check out boats and make your own mind up without the bias and prejudice of others ......

25K should find you a nice boat ..... recently I was considering a nice Macwester Seaforth Ketch ... asking 27K, - built to go anywhere and comfortable ...... sadly shes been sold ....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Blimey !!!

My boat is 25ftr Sunrider ... similar to Colvic 26

Headroom is 6ft

There are many boats 25ft and up with headroom, but OK 30ft is a good size to get headroom .... but not a guarantee and also because a boat is less than that is not to say that you are on your knees.

Offshore capability is the more stornger factor that dictates a larger boat .....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Re: Or you could buy a pretty catamaran

I don't deny that they are a nice boat, with slightly better cabin space and probably a bit better to windward, but the saloon is not as good, and you dont have a cockpit big enough for all the people you can get into the cabins. Every boat is a compromise, and I happen to like mine! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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Re: Or you could buy a pretty catamaran

bearfish_1.gif


/forums/images/icons/smile.gif/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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