Complete novice looking for advise

[Victoria Sponge]

Been looking at a couple fo yachts.. and wanted an opinion on keel types?

lift keel or bilge keel?

I'm planning on the yacht being based in a estuary.. but would also like to be able to take it around the coast..(if that makes a difference)?

For the East Coast we chose a life keel and it's been a good decision. There's so much shallow water around the East Coast a lift keel makes your life so much easier, plus getting in and out of places is not a question of waiting around ages for the tide.

Before we moved onto bigger boat sailing my OH sailed dinghies for ages. We both went to Gibraltar with Allabroad for a fortnight's sailing. Best money ever spent. If you learn with a good school you don't learn everyone else's bad habits.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Westerly Jouster is a good trailable centreboarder at around 20'. Accom is naturally limited, but they sure sail well.

The lifting keel Jousters have stubs with a swinging plate below - they draw 2'4" even with the plate up. Better than the fin keel version, but still very uncomfortable for staying on while aground.

While they can be trailed, rigging and launching is a bit of a palaver - it's not something I would care to do very often. They do sail very well!

Reasonable offer accepted!