chris-s
Well-Known Member
First post, but a long time lurker on the forum.
After thrashing around the Carrick Roads and Falmouth Bay in a Graduate dinghy with my son for the last year, entering our first race (and not coming last despite turtling), loosing our rigging and calling out the RNLI (yes, we have a handheld VHF especially when the waters are deserted in February), realising why it might have been better to put a reef in before heading out, my crewmate is heading off to warmer waters as a young marine engineer. The Grad isn't the same single-handed, and I can't persuade the wife aboard, she says it's not a proper boat as proper boats don't fall over (sigh) and have engines for when the wind disappears (apparently a paddle doesn't count). Whilst we also have a Laser that I can continue to hooligan around in, I'd like to get her more involved rather than leaving her at home alone, particularly now our son is about to leave home. She has been out on different friends yachts and enjoyed herself, possibly with the exception of the Leisure 17 which she found a bit cramped and 'rolely'.
So after months of consideration we are close to making an offer on our first 'proper boat', most likely to be a 23ft Pegasus 700. Why this boat? It is really clean and tidy, currently on the hard at the yard where we keep our dinghies so we've seen it around and it has a mooring available in this highly sought after area. We had a good look and poke around the hull before it was recently antifouled and nothing stood out, other than how clean/smooth it was compared to most other boats in the yard. It has perfectly serviceable rigging and sails and a very clean and smoothly running Yamaha 5hp outboard (the current owner never left the engine in the water when not in use). Instrument wise, it only has a compass, not even a VHF, so not much potential for problem there, tho I would definitely add a depth sounder given how shallow it gets around here at low tide and a new VHF despite already having a good handheld one.
We have plenty of sailing friends, one of which has built boats as well as previously running a small yacht charter business. He is going to cast his more experienced eye over the boat but I would still welcome general feedback from yourselves.
The previous owners are retiring from boating, hence the sale and at £3K it's about 50% of our 'comfortable' budget so leaves plenty in reserve. In comparison to other examples of the same boat currently for sale elsewhere in the country (at higher prices + transport) it appears to be equally as good (visually), and compared with other local boats in this price range that we have looked at, again, it seems to be a good choice. Given the concensus that boats are bottomless pits, nothing goes to plan and 'stuff' happens, at least from a maintentance/running cost pov, I'm more than compentent to strip and reubild engines as well as working with wood, metal, electronics and fibreglass and given it's apparant condition, it doesn't look like it needs anything more than a new wood backing for the auxillary engine mount to be made up and a fresh coat of varnish on the table for the first year, at least until the first thing breaks!
How do we intend to use it? For the first year whilst getting to grips with something larger than the Grad, we will be just pottering up and down around the Carrick Roads, out into the bay and around the local coastline, in fair conditions. We don't have ambitions to cross the channel or the like and it's not a lifetime purchase.
So, questions....
1) Is there anything structural or other known-fault/issue/concern with this boat design that we should look out for?
2) Is there any overwhelming reason why this boat would not be suitable?
3) If we insist on a sea-trial, whats the etiquette on paying to get the boat into, and potentially out, of the water?
4) What paperwork is involved with the transfer of ownership?
Postive and the inevitable doom-gloomer feedback eagerly awaited!
Chris
After thrashing around the Carrick Roads and Falmouth Bay in a Graduate dinghy with my son for the last year, entering our first race (and not coming last despite turtling), loosing our rigging and calling out the RNLI (yes, we have a handheld VHF especially when the waters are deserted in February), realising why it might have been better to put a reef in before heading out, my crewmate is heading off to warmer waters as a young marine engineer. The Grad isn't the same single-handed, and I can't persuade the wife aboard, she says it's not a proper boat as proper boats don't fall over (sigh) and have engines for when the wind disappears (apparently a paddle doesn't count). Whilst we also have a Laser that I can continue to hooligan around in, I'd like to get her more involved rather than leaving her at home alone, particularly now our son is about to leave home. She has been out on different friends yachts and enjoyed herself, possibly with the exception of the Leisure 17 which she found a bit cramped and 'rolely'.
So after months of consideration we are close to making an offer on our first 'proper boat', most likely to be a 23ft Pegasus 700. Why this boat? It is really clean and tidy, currently on the hard at the yard where we keep our dinghies so we've seen it around and it has a mooring available in this highly sought after area. We had a good look and poke around the hull before it was recently antifouled and nothing stood out, other than how clean/smooth it was compared to most other boats in the yard. It has perfectly serviceable rigging and sails and a very clean and smoothly running Yamaha 5hp outboard (the current owner never left the engine in the water when not in use). Instrument wise, it only has a compass, not even a VHF, so not much potential for problem there, tho I would definitely add a depth sounder given how shallow it gets around here at low tide and a new VHF despite already having a good handheld one.
We have plenty of sailing friends, one of which has built boats as well as previously running a small yacht charter business. He is going to cast his more experienced eye over the boat but I would still welcome general feedback from yourselves.
The previous owners are retiring from boating, hence the sale and at £3K it's about 50% of our 'comfortable' budget so leaves plenty in reserve. In comparison to other examples of the same boat currently for sale elsewhere in the country (at higher prices + transport) it appears to be equally as good (visually), and compared with other local boats in this price range that we have looked at, again, it seems to be a good choice. Given the concensus that boats are bottomless pits, nothing goes to plan and 'stuff' happens, at least from a maintentance/running cost pov, I'm more than compentent to strip and reubild engines as well as working with wood, metal, electronics and fibreglass and given it's apparant condition, it doesn't look like it needs anything more than a new wood backing for the auxillary engine mount to be made up and a fresh coat of varnish on the table for the first year, at least until the first thing breaks!
How do we intend to use it? For the first year whilst getting to grips with something larger than the Grad, we will be just pottering up and down around the Carrick Roads, out into the bay and around the local coastline, in fair conditions. We don't have ambitions to cross the channel or the like and it's not a lifetime purchase.
So, questions....
1) Is there anything structural or other known-fault/issue/concern with this boat design that we should look out for?
2) Is there any overwhelming reason why this boat would not be suitable?
3) If we insist on a sea-trial, whats the etiquette on paying to get the boat into, and potentially out, of the water?
4) What paperwork is involved with the transfer of ownership?
Postive and the inevitable doom-gloomer feedback eagerly awaited!
Chris
