first time buyer

[Guest]

We're considering buying a small yacht - upto 25' - and have been checking out a number of options - Westerly GK 24, Hunter Sonata, leisure 23 - but we came across a Egytene 24 which we liked but don't have much information on this boat- has anyone any information or advice they could offer - what's the best option for a family/cruiser/racer?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Egythene (eighteeen, geddit?) was a successful small race boat. Believe it was the first successful design by Ron Holland. Competed at quarter ton level, I think, in the late 70's/ early 80's.

No idea about its suitability as a small cruiser. Sorry!

 

[TimLamb]

We went for a Centaur.
I read a huge amount and there were many options, but I found that the more options you have the more complicated the process becomes. By focusing on a Centaur we narrowed the process down and it felt more manageable, and we were confident that we would find the right boat at the right price bacause there are so many about (we bought one in our home marina as luck would have it).
We chose a Centaur because everything written about them seemed to confirm that they would be just right for us - safe (for sailing with 2 toddlers), solid, predictable, roomy, cheap(ish), and hopefully easy to sell on.
Best of luck - I've got a lot to learn but I learned quite a bit recently about boat buying, so hopefully it'll be plain sailing from now on (but I doubt it!).

Tim

 

[tony_brighton]

What's your budget?

 

[Guest]

our budget is about £8,000.

 

[Guest]

I had an Eygthene 24 as my first boat. It was fantastic. I could never understand why they weren’t more popular. Ron Holland’s first design, he won the Quarter Tonner cup in 73. You can find out more information on Ron Holland’s web-site www.ronhollanddesign.com

An interesting feature of the design is the very wide side decks, this was so that if you had crew out on the rail they provided the maximum amount of righting force. The knock on benefit of this was excellent interior accommodation for a 24 footer.

Despite it’s racing heritage I found it to be an excellent cruiser, I never used my for racing, and I don’t think any previous owner had either. It sails very well without being tender, I sailed it in all conditions, including a cross channel trip, without any problems.

The only negative point with mine was it had an outboard engine mounted on the transom, I would recommend an inboard engine, as the outboard doesn’t work very well in rough conditions.

I sold mine back in the early nineties, I believe a lot of them went to Ireland about then because someone set up a racing series for them over there.

Hope that helps.

 

[Guest]

Thanks very much for the response - an Egythene it is then! - we had been weighing up the pros and cons of an outboard v an inboard - I think we'll go for the inboard. Thanks again.

 

[lezgar]

If your budget is £8000, don't spend all the money in the boat because you will need to spend in put the boat up to date.

 

[GrahamC]

Hi
Egythene 24 info can be found at www.ronhollanddesign.com. He has a page which gives some info on the development and history plus a page of pictures
There are also drawings available for some parts but you need to contact the office for them.
I own Triones on the Forth and this is our first season, the original Vire engine is coming out and we intend to fit a diesel. We are well pleased with the boats performance, well balanced and will take a bit of weather with out much difficulty, Go for it
GrahamC