First cruiser

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fastbikes1

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Hello
We have a top budget of 20k but would like to stay under that.
We are looking at 28 to 34 ft boats.
We're looking for a boat to be kept off the crouch probably North Fambridge.
I would like a boat that sails well solo or with crew with a good turn of speed.
We also like to be able to cruise for a week or two with 4 adults.
But normally 3 or 4 days.
I would like to cross the channel and cruise the French and English coast.
we would like a stable safe boat.
Yes I am aware it's all compromise.
We are now looking at Dehler 34 mk1. Moody 31. Cobra 850. Westerly tempest 31. First 32, and may be a jeanneau 30 with wing keel.
Any thoughts or suggestions please?
We did like a moody 30 but the owner decided to keep it and we liked a contessa 28 but think it may be a little too small.
We're looking at having the boat for 5 yrs then trade up when we retire and have more time to cruise and have more experience.
Regards Paul
 
I would eliminate the Cobra. You cannot go far wrong with the Moody 31 if it is tidy & worth what you are paying for it. It should also sell quite well in 5 years time if you look after it which has to be a plus
 
I have owned a First 32, and sailed a Dehler 34. Both are great boats, and would do what you ask of them in terms of cruising ability and standing up to bad weather. The big Genoa on the Beneteau took some handling in a blow when short handed. A lot of boats of this era will have problems with head- and side lining, and the job of fixing it shouldn't be underestimated: the Beneteau was no exception.
I loved the Dehler 34, it sailed like a big dinghy, fast and seaworthy. That would be my pick, if all else (sails, engine, upholstery etc) was in reasonable nick. Good luck!
 
The Dehler might be a good sailing boat but the accommodation is scarcely more than that on a Sadler 29. I may as well mention the Fulmar before anyone else does, but almost any of the above boats will do. I would have a look at as many as possible and go for one that might be easy to sell in a couple of years if you then want to change or upsize. A fin keel would be an advantage for the kind of sailing you want to do, if only because you will be tacking back into the Crouch nine times out of ten.
 
I would second the Fulmar as I own one, but also add the Westerly Storm as it has 2 separate sleeping cabins. Your budget of £20K will be difficult to find a good example of any of the boats mentioned so far, but add an extra £5K and it would be worth it for the better condition.
 
If future resale is important, get something that's got a recent engine and is in generally good nick, and of a well known and respected brand. You really don't need a very big boat for the sort of cruising you're talking about- we used to spend up to three weeks on our 27ft boat and many people have happily spent far longer periods aboard similar boats.
 
monkfish24 said:
Mind if I ask why?
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Yes.- I am not out to wind up the cobra owners assn & this is only a personal view. As an owner you will obviously disagree I am sure but here goes

Chap had one in our club & although inside space was fairly good, the shape of the hull did not lend itself to sailing well to windward in any sort of chop. Sort of thing one gets on the east coast up the Wallet, the Swin or through Fisherman's Gat. Its performance was not as good as , say, the Moody. The Deheler etc would be miles faster than a Moody but I suspect that is not ytheOP's main criteria. Sailability probably is, along with comfort. The Moody would, I suspect, fill that bill admirably. There will be Moody sailors along soon who will sing their praises. However Op has said that he wants to change in 5 years. I would suggest resale would be difficult with a Cobra compared to the others. That is nothing against Cobra owners just a fact of life that some brand names sell easier - ie HR, Westerly (in some models) etc etc
A lot depends on the condition of the yachts on offer & what one is paying to get them. If OP only pays peanuts & wants an interim yacht then it is no big deal.
 
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My choice would be the westerly fulmar.

1.bilge keels which too me is perfect for east coast cruising
2. Older boats are built like tanks
3. It fits your budget perfectly
4. I like the look of them and internal layout.
 
Daydream believer said:
Yes.- I am not out to wind up the cobra owners assn & this is only a personal view. As an owner you will obviously disagree I am sure but here goes

Chap had one in our club & although inside space was fairly good, the shape of the hull did not lend itself to sailing well to windward in any sort of chop. Sort of thing one gets on the east coast up the Wallet, the Swin or through Fisherman's Gat. Its performance was not as good as , say, the Moody. The Deheler etc would be miles faster than a Moody but I suspect that is not ytheOP's main criteria. Sailability probably is, along with comfort. The Moody would, I suspect, fill that bill admirably. There will be Moody sailors along soon who will sing their praises. However Op has said that he wants to change in 5 years. I would suggest resale would be difficult with a Cobra compared to the others. That is nothing against Cobra owners just a fact of life that some brand names sell easier - ie HR, Westerly (in some models) etc etc
A lot depends on the condition of the yachts on offer & what one is paying to get them. If OP only pays peanuts & wants an interim yacht then it is no big deal.
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No, no, don't worry about having an opinion with me :)
I was curious, I am a Seawolf owner and run the website for the association but Don't know much about any other boat than the seawolf 26 so trying to gather as much information and viewpoints as possible.

I am with you on the dehler front anyway and Moodys are fantastic boats.

No offence taken, I assure you, just trying to get a rounded view on different boats before I write up on them on the website.
 
fastbikes1 said:
I would like a boat that sails well solo or with crew with a good turn of speed.
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You maybe don't realise just how open to interpretation that is. Some people will consider a bilge keeler to match that spec perfectly whereas others would look down on anything short of a Mumm 30 as slow.

Of the boats you mention my money on a race between them with equivalent crews would go on the Dehler 34. You could do club racing with a reasonable hope of some success in it too but it would be outclassed if you went for the IRC Nationals. It is definitely a cruiser and not a skittish racer.

The Beneteau would be likely 2nd. They're much more manageable than later Beneteaus with wider sterns.

Having said that, better to take the time to look around and even try to blag a sail on a few (or on a sister ship somewhere) until you can make up your mind. You're going to have to live with it for five years.

And be careful with the budget. Buying a boat only gets you a licence to spend more money, so budget for that too.
 
Tammany said:
1.bilge keels which too me is perfect for east coast cruising
.
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Why do you think a bilge keel boat is perfect for the east coast? I think it is a falacy that a bilge keeler is better on the east coast
Of course it is a case of to each is own but my feelings are this:-
The east coast in areas such as the Wallet,&Swin for example, are renowned for the short sharp chop. Beating against that in bluff bowed bilge keeled yachts is a real pain if the tide is not in ones favour. Beating in & out of the Crouch will be hard work.

There are a few marinas where entry is restricted in depth -& I quote Tollesbury & Bradwell as examples at certain levels of tide but the difference between 6ft & 4ft tends to be as the tide picks up in the 6-8 ft range, so the timing is not that critical & the wait is not that long.

Once, in those marinas at least, the fin or the bilge sits easily in the soft mud. Many berths have fin shaped indents any way. A few French havens will need bilge keel yachts as they are drying but in 5 years I expect that the OP will not get enough holidays to use up all the major destinations that do not dry before he needs to start exploring the harder to navigate drying ones. They tend to need a bit more experience to navigate anyway & i suspect the OP wants to get that first ( apologies if I am wrong!!) in his 5 years

As for mooring up creeks the other couple of feet makes little difference to arrival & departure or how far up the creek they get. I challenge owners to actually say how many times a year it has made a real difference- once - twice. The time could easily be made up in the shorter passage home with a fin!!! (Granted a Fulmar is a reasonable performer)
So what creeks - Walton Backwaters, The Stour, The Orwell, Crouch, Roach, Blackwater up to Maldon, Colne, Mersea Quarters, Pyfleet. No real need to have a bilge keel in most of those

I bet when sand bank hopping, if one runs aground with a bilge one is stuck. True they sit upright but with a fin one has a chance to get off.I doubt that many bilge keel sailors are going to be crossing the Sunk by the Barrow No3 in a 1 metre swell if he has not got lots of water under the keel anyway fin or bilge keels will make little difference
Bilge keels might make the difference between taking the Ray Sand or the Swin Spitway but I took the Ray Sand many times in my fin keeled Stella.
As for long term mooring & taking to the ground, I have very little desire to have my yacht bouncing on the bottom at low tide so the " benefit" of bilge would be a no-no to me, especially in the weather we have been getting lately

I would definitely not make the choice of bilge over fin anything like a priority. I doubt that the OP will need it.
The biggest advantage is in a yacht club where the owner does not have a trailer & wants to lay up on level ground without a stand or cradle.
 
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Just to let anyone that is intreasted .
We have viewed many boats.
We also went to the boatshow and re evaluated our crusing needs.
We started to look at the forbidden fruits.. the AWB..
the first 305 lacked Headroom., as did the Jenny first 32 and it needed updating from the stone age.
We looked at a first 310 but I still felt like I was stooping.
Then by chance we came across a well over our budget first 32s5 with heating hot water and in good condition.
So after a good survey we signed the papers two days ago.
I would like to thank everyone for there input and comments.
 
fastbikes1 said:
Just to let anyone that is intreasted .
We have viewed many boats.
We also went to the boatshow and re evaluated our crusing needs.
We started to look at the forbidden fruits.. the AWB..
the first 305 lacked Headroom., as did the Jenny first 32 and it needed updating from the stone age.
We looked at a first 310 but I still felt like I was stooping.
Then by chance we came across a well over our budget first 32s5 with heating hot water and in good condition.
So after a good survey we signed the papers two days ago.
I would like to thank everyone for there input and comments.
Click to expand...

So, just like the rest of us, you can't be trusted with money when it comes to boats.
 
fastbikes1 said:
Just to let anyone that is intreasted .
We have viewed many boats.
We also went to the boatshow and re evaluated our crusing needs.
We started to look at the forbidden fruits.. the AWB..
the first 305 lacked Headroom., as did the Jenny first 32 and it needed updating from the stone age.
We looked at a first 310 but I still felt like I was stooping.
Then by chance we came across a well over our budget first 32s5 with heating hot water and in good condition.
So after a good survey we signed the papers two days ago.
I would like to thank everyone for there input and comments.
Click to expand...

That's a nice starter boat. The main saloon/galley layout is very comfy IMO. If you still plan to keep it at North Fambridge, that's a nice little marina, i was in there a few weeks ago working on a boat.
 
Thank you.. Yes we have singed up for a mooring at North Fambridge.
I'm also updating the boat and looking at solar panels so may need advice / services.
Regards Paul
 
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