Family yachts for newbies

PaulJS

PaulJS

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 May 2007
Messages
1,797
Location
Kirkcudbrightshire or off Saudi
Visit site
Hi there,

I've just started to learn to sail and have been well and truly bitten, so now I'm drooling over all of the inexpensive old yachts for sale...
Does anybody have any advice or information about MacWester Wights and their suitability for a family of 4 with 2 young girls just for gentle inshore cruising based around SW Scotland?
I know that I need to learn to walk before running, but I'm thinking ahead, after all, if restoration is needed it will take time. That's my excuse, don't tell the wife!
Any serious, sensible, helpful, or amusing advice will be appreciated.

Thanks
 
Don't know anything about Macs Paul, but could I nudge you a wee bit into looking at a SnapDragon like this 24(mine). Just the job for cruising around the edges of the Solway. Solidly built and very seaworthy with easy handling. You can pick up one like I did for around 5K, even cheaper if you are prepared to lavish some TLC. Loads of storage inside and 4/5 berths. If your girls are teenagers it could be a wee bit tight, but you only go down there to sleep - don't you?. More pics if you want them. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

convoy21600x450.jpg
 
Macwester Wight is a very solid boat, and very seaworthy. They are not the best to windward, but have a biggish engine. I looked at one in Troon last week and it is a lot of boat for about £15k.
 
Thanks for the quick replies.
Rabbie, nice boat. Is she a bilge keeler? If so I would very much appreciate further info.
Pete, were you looking to buy, because there is a cheaper one on the net. If you want I'll send details
 
how much cash do you wanna spend?
there are loads of relatively cheap yachts around
dont get one less than 22 foot
bilge keelers dont sail as well as fin...
do you need to dry out?
 
Anything by westerly, particularly the centor (spelt phonetically I am afraid). Funny thing about these boats they always seem to do more than the average milage. Safe & very roomy. But basically almost any of the 60/70 classics are worth a look and I am sure if you find a particular modle ther will be people on here who have sailed it and will tell you what to expect.
 
No I am not looking to buy thanks. We were looking as my brother wanted a boat and we were looking at a wide range of boats which may or may not have been suitable for his purpose. The one we looked at at Troon that nearly had his cheque book twitching was a Contessa 33, but he has now had an offer accepted on a Moody 31. Thanks anyway.
 
Hi Paul,

I know Suffolk isnt exactly just down the road from where you are but you might want to have a look at the web site of this broker based in Woodbridge http://www.andyseedhouseboats.co.uk/ They always have a really good selection of sailing yachts in the £5000 to £10,000 range. I was up in Woodbridge the other week visiting another boatyard and had a look around and there are some real bargains in there. It is right next to the railway station. This is also a really nice part of the Suffolk Heritage Coast so you could always have a weekend with the family and then they can all get excited about the process as well /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Good luck and have fun.
 
Thanks everyone, I'm definitely drawn towards bilge keelers by preference as high performance won't be an issue. Also I think that where I'll be sailing the option of drying out will be a definite plus, also cheaper mooring, (and more pessimistically, if I do end up aground, I'd like to stay vertical! )

Paul
 
Hello - I was also in your circumstance this past year and ended up with a Snapdragon 26. I started out last summer with an O'Day 22. I have three children and two large dogs. We made it onto the water but it was not very comfortable. Immediately I began to search for a larger boat that I could still afford. I happened upon a Snapdragon 26 that was sitting in a back yard since the Owner had passed away. For $2500 I got a boat and a really rusty trailer. The boat was well cared for but was not updated at all. It had not been sailed in five years and had thirty years of accumulated "stuff" inside. I was impressed with the "SOLIDITY" of the construction. It just seemed to be built really heavy. The interior did not look cheap and flimsy. I likened it to an older home that was built with more care and heftier materials than the flashy new homes that were built cheaply. I found the interior space to be fine for us for puttering around but not for serious trips. My children are 10, 10 and 6 so I'm sure the space will get smaller as they grow but my wallet won't be growing with them so we will have to be happy with this sized boat. The kids like to be out up front near the bow or perched on the sides. I like to think of this as camping on the water if we plan to stay overnight on the lake. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I have a Macwester 26 thet I bought very cheap last year and have been getting sorted. She is just the job for me, a big, solid family cruiser with a big cockpit and enough weight not to roll around on a mill pond like some do. I liken her to a sail powered tugboat, not very fast but powerful. A good tough sea boat that some AWB owners look down their noses at.

I would imagine a Wight would feel the same, with the addition of of a secluded pair of bunks for either kids or parents in the seperate after cabin.
 
Hi again,
Thanks for all of the advice.
I'm definitely keen on the MacWester Wight, mainly because the few articles that I've read all seem to agree that while they aren't brilliant performers, they are all solidly built and dependable. Also, to my VERY inexperienced eyes, 3 cabins, 30 Hp, 18 mpg, and the ability to dry out all seem very useful.
By the way, does anyone know if the engines are automotive derivatives?
I would still like more information from people who have owned or sailed them if possible.
Thanks again for all replies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top