First Yacht

[claymore]

Yes they are recommendations
They are all tough boats that have a good performance - would be ideal for moing up to from Dinghy, won't cost a fortune to buy or maintain, will take 4 for weekend sailing, will take 2 for extended cruise, are transportable if you wish, can have inboards or outboards.
Not fashionable - so not beneteau's/Jeanneau/Dehler etc - but no-nonsense starter boats.
Ruffians are 23' the Delta is 25. Thats big enough and small enough.
Good luck
js

Sans Signature

 

[Peter_the_Grate]

Save £10,000 and buy a Hunter 26. It was our first boat, shared by two families of four. Comfortable, easy to sail, versatile - dayboat, weekender, extended channel cruising to the West-country and the Channel Islands, French canals to Paris via Calais and Le Havre, Round the Island Race (32nd overall ... a few years ago) and it has been great fun. We were out on Sunday and doing 7.5 knots in Southampton Water. We'll be out again tomorrow too.

Regards, Peter.
www.davill.net

 

[Guest]

OK - interesting spec - i checked your website.

Is she still for sale?

Jono

 

[david_e]

Re: website

Nice photo of the kids! Not in the market for one like yours but she looks good for this man.

 

[Guest]

I moved from dinghies to a First 305 which I sail singlehanded regularly. I wouldn't be put off too much by the size of the boat. I have limited experience in other yachts but have been at sea in an 8 (not through choice) and it was me, not the boat, that was the weak link.

 

[LeonF]

Leave yourself a margin of a couple of thousand pounds for all the extras/replacements that you will want or need. I looked at Springs but unless you want something very sporty then you can probably do better. The british Hunters are worth looking at- you could probably get a very nice Horizon 27 in your price range. Hunters themselves tend to talk up used prices but they tend to go for less. Make a list of priorities-- Performance, what draught, type of sailing, comfort down below. I started with a Fantasie 19 bilge keeler- great for creek crawling- not so great for performance or the narrow berths. Remortgaged and bought a Sigma 33 OOD-great performance and as she is set up for cruising very comfortable as well. I have sailed her singlehanded. There is a Sigma 292- well made, reviewed in PBO, but difficult to find as the high spec made it too expensive to be competitive and only 30 or so were built. Just keep looking and when it feels right you will know it is the one for you. I had many false starts and at the end of a long day boat hunting on the East coast looking at Contessas and Sadlers and others I found my boat covered in dust in a worksop being re-bottomed but I knew it was right. Good Luck and remember that the search is one of the exciting preludes to owning a boat.

L.A.R.Ferguson

 

[jonic]

Very true........and very well put.

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/

 

[Jeremy_W]

I was a sceptic about the MG Spring until I raced one offshore (Liverpool - Anglesey) a few years ago. The motion was far more like a 30-footer than a smaller yacht. The ease of handling under sail and performance were both a lot better than I expected. Those factors would sell the boat to me. Down below you certainly can have 4 for the weekend - we did after the race - but it would be a touch on the cosy side for any longer.

I can't comment on how they hold their value, but check on that before buying as you may want to sell on after a few years as your tastes and ambitions change.