First timer...

[hutt]

Hello UK first time poster here,

I'm looking to purchase my first ever boat, it was going to be a RIB, as that's all I've had experience with. But if I'm taking the plunge why not go all the way and a 4 berth sailing boat I can holiday on! We are hoping to start a small family in the near future and I'd like to make our own fun and adventures on the open sea.

I can't afford much, but having moved from Cornwall to Bristol, I miss the sea like a mad thing and want to have a boat back home, to pull me out of the city. I can't afford much £2500, plus a cheap tidal mooring. I've seen a Westerly 25 for sale which apparently was refitted completely 5 years ago so will need no maintenance or work from me (which is good as I can barely change a plug)!

I'm quite tall 6'2 and as such would prefer to stand up inside if possible, and have lots of deck space to jam my double kayak, and dive gear and friends.

I literally know nothing about boats, so I suppose more than anything I'm looking for advice on what NOT to get... as much as specific recommendations on what to look out for.

your thoughts are kindly appreciated.

 

[Lakesailor]

Hello UK first time poster here,

I'm looking to purchase my first ever boat, it was going to be a RIB, as that's all I've had experience with. But if I'm taking the plunge why not go all the way and a 4 berth sailing boat I can holiday on! We are hoping to start a small family in the near future and I'd like to make our own fun and adventures on the open sea.

I can't afford much, but having moved from Cornwall to Bristol, I miss the sea like a mad thing and want to have a boat back home, to pull me out of the city. I can't afford much £2500, plus a cheap tidal mooring. I've seen a Westerly 25 for sale which apparently was refitted completely 5 years ago so will need no maintenance or work from me (which is good as I can barely change a plug)!

I'm quite tall 6'2 and as such would prefer to stand up inside if possible, and have lots of deck space to jam my double kayak, and dive gear and friends.

I literally know nothing about boats, so I suppose more than anything I'm looking for advice on what NOT to get... as much as specific recommendations on what to look out for.

your thoughts are kindly appreciated.

Welcome.
The bad news is that a boat in your price range will absolutely definitely need a lot of fettling. Time to hone your skills.
Engines are the major worry, followed by rubbish sails. It will get less expensive after that, but still be plenty of things to keep your screwdriver busy.

There are a few West country forumites so you may get someone to give a once-over a suspect boat.

 

[stevd]

Remember you can always negotiate quite hard. Keep looking around the likes of apolloduck.Co.uk or boatshop24.Co.uk

Something like a little snapdragon might fit the bill. I have seen them come up on eBay a few times in your budget and they are a strong little boat.

Don't think you will get your standing head room tho.

 

[richardabeattie]

If you have no experience of sailing boats and are planning to learn in the Bristol Channel's tides why not start by crewing for somebody? You'll learn a lot and have a better idea of what to go for when you do finally buy.

 

[pmagowan]

If you are prepared to learn about how to maintain wood then you will find a lot of old wooden boats with decades of life left that would fit your bill. The reason they are cheap is that nobody else wants the hassle of looking after them. The problem with your budget is that you have to make major compromises and, as such, you either need to get something that needs loads of work or is not particularly desirable. You need to think hard because you would be buying into a lifestyle. Boats do take work, even modern plastic ones, and they need quite a lot of time. They also cost quite a bit of money, even if you are going to do everything on the cheap. Not to put you off as they are very rewarding and you can have such amazing experiences but you need to go in with your eyes open. It might be better joining a club and crewing on other peoples boats for a while until you get an idea of what you are in for and what kind of boat you would like. After thinking it all through them go with the heart and not the head, it always wins!!

 

[trapezeartist]

I'm not quite clear on whether you are thinking of keeping your boat near your physical home or your spiritual home. If near Bristol, Portishead Cruising Club has cheap moorings at Pill. Membership of PCC would also bring you a lot of knowledge about sailing in the Bristol Channel and about boats in general. At least one PCC member would consider your budget to be wildly profligate.

Don't let the image of the BC put you off. Do it right and the tides will be your friend. PM me if you want more info.

 

[Avocet]

Our first boat was a Leisure 17. You couldn't really call it a "4-berth" but they're pretty cheap, simple, and they're lovely, forgiving boats that won't fall over when the tide goes out. If you're still at the stage of finding out what you want, I think it's unlikely that you will keep your first boat for very long anyway. Ours didn't cost us anything more than paint really, as we sold it after a couple of seasons for a bit more than we'd initially paid. Our ideas of what we wanted changed considerably over the first 5 years or so. We were pretty naive and bought on price and accommodation because we knew nothing of seakeeping and handling. By the time we had our first child, we had a 27 footer, but having kids brought about so many other changes in our lives that sailing had to take a back seat. Although babies are quite small, the junk that inevitably accompanies them takes up a disproportionate amount of space, and if you're anything like we were, you'd be too tired to sail after having kids anyway!