Help just brought a small boat.

[dowot]

Title says it all really.

Only problem is that I know very little and the boat was on the French site of ebay! A CNSO Lotus class 7,5m sloop, with 5 berths a long keel and standing headroom.

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/voilier-snso..._Bateaux_Voiliers&maxbid=400&autorefresh=true It looked a bargain and just what I wanted to learn to sail with.

I need to progress from a few outings in a dingy many years ago and the idea of a lake based boat seemed ideal and safe. I also plan to use it as a holiday home to get away from the rain and gloom of Wales..so sort of live-aboard then.

So I now need to write and ask some pertinent questions like what sails, when was it last lifted/inspected, is the engine ok, where to keep it, but I am sure there are a lot more but I just can not think what.

So can anyone give me some clue?

Does anyone know of this location, Cazaux on the Atlantic coast?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Alan ashore]

Gosh,
congratulations, how exciting!

How long have you got before you have to move her? In general terms where are you aiming to keep her?
Is it really worth asking any questions about the boat now? - sooner or later you need to go and see for yourself what you've got!

Cheers,
A.

 

[[70521]]

Have fun with her.

Are you planning to bring her home or have you arranged a berth in France?

 

[Plevier]

Etang de Cazaux is a very large lake south west of Bordeaux, a bit inland. Surrounded by pine forests.
Sailing club website http://www.cvcl.free.fr/ according to one of the questions on the ebay listing it's based there, afloat on a mooring. There is a crane nearby it says.
Another question exposes that the boat is formally registered (the seller says he has the acte de francisation) you must make sure that is properly released by the customs (another document, a radiation de pavillon) or you will have to pay a French registration fee.
(I haven't done it, i was thinking of buying a boat from France and enquired into the system.)

 

[dowot]

Thanks all, esp Troubadour. Will let you all know how it goes.

 

[Vulkyn]

Well i would suggest lots of reading for starters ! some wonderful information on outboards here:
http://www.spc.int/coastfish/sections/training/fts_pdf/statutory/outboard_lg_en.pdf

You need to make sure the hull is fine as well (maybe a survey or check out http://www.yachtsurvey.com/articleslist.htm wonderful all around guide covering the essentials.)

Wish you the very best she is a beauty

 

[simonfraser]

For that money I would not waste money on surveyors, go and see what you bought, enjoy

 

[Plevier]

For that money I would not waste money on surveyors, go and see what you bought, enjoy

+1

It's in a lovely area if you can spend some time there in summer and the lake would be a great place to learn to sail. The club is at the northern point of the lake.
Pretty bleak now I imagine although I see they are still having events.
The ad does say that the boat needs a little work done....
Bone chance!

 

[William_H]

How very exciting for you. As said you need to ensure that the mooring is oK for you to use and is safe reliable. You then need to go to the boat loaded with tools and optimism.
I would say that first off you need to make it comfortable to camp on. You will need a dinghy to get to it for instance. You will want a cooker that works and some heating.
Once you get that far then look at the engine and get electric generation sorted for cabin lights etc. Then you can look at sails and rigging. Once you want to or need to move it then you can consider the condition of the bottom. Antifoul paint etc. Fortunately most GRP hulls will stand long term neglect but do check for though hull fittings that can disintegrate so sink the boat. The trick is to really enjoy the journey into sailing. Don't rush it and be prepared to ask many questions on this forum. good luck olewill

 

[Davegriff]

Looks like a fantastic buy! Just returned from the area and noticed a lot of boats for sale. Wouldn't bother with a survey. Good advise already given, just go and enjoy. Good luck.

 

[viva]

[Another question exposes that the boat is formally registered (the seller says he has the acte de francisation) you must make sure that is properly released by the customs (another document, a radiation de pavillon) or you will have to pay a French registration fee.
(I haven't done it, i was thinking of buying a boat from France and enquired into the system.)[/QUOTE]
You will only need the "radiation de pavillion" if you decide to put the vessel under another flag. If you intend to keep the yacht in France then you would be better leaving it Under the French flag (pavillion). The boat should also have and you will need a carte d'immatriculation
if you are going to keep her in France. The immatriculation is like a car log book for the boat and gives her a unique number. You will also need an "Acte de Vente" - a bill of sale. The vendor should supply this. You should make sure you have these 3 documents before you part with any money.

 

[DownWest]

Seems like the OP has parted with his money. Note the thread title.

The engine is a VP.10hp, so probably quite old. Best read up on them.

You could keep it in France on an SSR, I know several locals that do. Even French nationals. Nice area, if rather flat, but you have access to the bay of Arcachon via a canal. Not sure if you can navigate it with the mast up. The coast off there is not the easiest to sail, so having fun on the lake for now sounds a good idea.
Good luck
DW

Just looked at the photos. Bit of work to be done.....Like the upside down WC..

 

[Plevier]

The boat should also have and you will need a carte d'immatriculation
if you are going to keep her in France. The immatriculation is like a car log book for the boat and gives her a unique number. You will also need an "Acte de Vente" - a bill of sale. The vendor should supply this. You should make sure you have these 3 documents before you part with any money.

Is the carte d'immatriculation separate from the acte de francisation?

 

[Trop Cher]

Have you made any inquiries as to what the mooring costs are going to be to keep your boat there? Do you own the mooring? TBH, all sounds a bit daft to me!

 

[viva]

Is the carte d'immatriculation separate from the acte de francisation?

Yes the acte de Francisation is the document that gives the boat the right to fly the French flag and is granted by les douanes I.e the customs. The Immatriculation is as I described before and is managed by les Affaires Maritimes

 

[bendyone]

Keep the boat in France on an SSR, and enjoy cheap moorings, good weather, fine wines and food.

 

[Reptile Smile]

Good for you! Awesome bargain, wish I'd seen it!

I've bought 2 boats unseen in the last year off the internet, and haven't regretted either. As long as it's floating, there's not a great deal to worry about at that price.

1st bit of advice - there are plenty on here who have forgotten more than I'll ever learn, and William_H is one of them. Everything he says is always bombproof advice, and I agree with him 100% here. Your priorities may well be different in this particular situation given the whole 'floating camping' thing that if you wee just buying any old sailing boat. Nail that down first to get good hols and great memories.

2nd thing - I *love* this book (note: not everyone does...) because it takes you through from knowing very little and owning a boat through comfortable and confident cruising. As a premise, some will get funny twitches at that, but I really rate it.

Enjoy, and let us know how you get on!

 

[Greenheart]

Maybe the OP can explain something I've often wondered when looking at the Atlantic coast of France on Googlemaps...

...there are several large lakes or etangs down there, typically only a mile or three from the sea shore. And large, highly-developed marinas have been placed on the lake shores...

...so that quite large yachts can be kept on the lakes, exactly as if they were in marinas on the sea (which is very, very close). But of course, the size of the lakes limits these vessels' cruising ground to well within sight of their moorings. I'd understand the appeal, if the lakes were sixty or seventy miles from the coast...

...but when all the opportunities of the open sea are only a quarter-hour's walk away, aren't yachtsmen limiting themselves rather tragically, by berthing and sailing on the lake?

 

[Reptile Smile]

Yeah, but some people just prefer the safety and security of being on inland water, don't they?

 

[Greenheart]

Sure. I wasn't objecting to their choice, just surprised...the beautiful, sheltered Bay of Arcachon is only 7 miles north of Cazaux (and it's about three times bigger than the lake)...

...so it's not as if nervous sailors don't have any alternative.