Simondjuk
Well-Known Member
Storm jibs are only required on Anserson 22s. Eveything else will have fallen apart and sunk long before the use of such a sail is necessary.
Help needed on 1st sailing cruiser
- Thread starter Gav800
- Start date
doug748
Well-Known Member
Best advice is to keep your money in your wallet as long as you can.
There are regular posts on here from people who buy a boat, flushed with enthusiasm, and then rapidly become disenchanted. Do not delude yourself that you will pick up a bargain, you might, but as a newcomer the odds are stacked against you.
Any boat described as needing a little "work", attention or TLC should be strictly avoided unless you are a tradesman and know your onions. The maladies of boats are so diverse that this is unlikely. Ask yourself: "If this boat is so easy to put right why hasn't the owner done it himself?" Any engine not running well should be treated as scrap for buying purposes.
You are in the lucky situation of buying into a buyer's market. Once you have purchased you are in the leaky liferaft with the rest of us.
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Wansworth
Well-Known Member
Old Mr Slocum was asked by passing sailors.... will it pay..... If you buy a boat with the idea of making any money out of it ,no but the hours of fun, frustration and feeling of rescuing a boat and putting to sea is worth a lot.Somepeole actually enjoy the fiddling about and re building more than the sailing
Seajet
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You're confusing him with Mr Slocumb of ' Are You Being Served ' , the fictional department store bod who some here clearly rely on as a sailing guide.
For that matter, have you read ' Heavy Weather Sailing ' - the authors there surely agree with you, ' never prepare and never have storm sails, what could go wrong ? '...
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Kelpie
Well-Known Member
A shame this thread has veered wildly off course.
If the OP is still reading, then don't be put off. Sailing is relatively easy, can be relatively affordable, and can be completely safe. The biggest factor in that last point is the mindset of the sailor.
Lots of ways to 'get your feet wet'- charter, crew for someone (possibly via a club), do an RYA introductory course, buy a cheap little dinghy and splash about in the local duck pond until you get the hang of it. Or just buy a small yacht and have a go, loads of people do that and are still around to tell the tale.
When buying, go in with your eyes open, though. If you don't want to splash out on a survey (probably not worth it on boats under about £5k IMHO) then try ti take someone with you who has lots of hands on experience of boats and knows what to look at. Good luck!
If the OP is still reading, then don't be put off. Sailing is relatively easy, can be relatively affordable, and can be completely safe. The biggest factor in that last point is the mindset of the sailor.
Lots of ways to 'get your feet wet'- charter, crew for someone (possibly via a club), do an RYA introductory course, buy a cheap little dinghy and splash about in the local duck pond until you get the hang of it. Or just buy a small yacht and have a go, loads of people do that and are still around to tell the tale.
When buying, go in with your eyes open, though. If you don't want to splash out on a survey (probably not worth it on boats under about £5k IMHO) then try ti take someone with you who has lots of hands on experience of boats and knows what to look at. Good luck!
Seajet
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fredrussell
Well-Known Member
I like the look of those Pegasus 800's. Has the all important 6ft of headroom (important to me at least) and according to yachtsnet they sail well. If you look at one that has a Dolphin engine - as some do - be aware that engine can be a little bit 'idiosyncratic'.
Myself, I'd be looking for a lifting keel version - trailerable with a 4x4 I would have thought and damn handy for creek-crawling, if thats your thing.
Nice looking boats, good luck with your search.
Edit: According to the yachtsnet page, Pegasus 800 was reviewed by PBO - might be worth looking at the PBO website.
Myself, I'd be looking for a lifting keel version - trailerable with a 4x4 I would have thought and damn handy for creek-crawling, if thats your thing.
Nice looking boats, good luck with your search.
Edit: According to the yachtsnet page, Pegasus 800 was reviewed by PBO - might be worth looking at the PBO website.
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Seajet
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Good advice going on other people's boats; you will learn a huge amount about different designs, let alone varying people's approaches to going about it.
A lot of cruiser owners at every club are always seeking crew, not to be fantastic sailors just to be company !
Make yourself known at what seems the best club near you - - may involve over an hour drive each way - but you don't have to be a member, just ask around.
Edit; if looking at any lift keel boat, inspect it with the keel down.
I keep my lift keeler on trestles for this reason, if she's on a trailer you can't maintain the keel - crucial on any boat - and once she's on site where are you going to keep the trailer ?
A chum who is a very good engineer wouldn't dream of dunking his trailer in salt water, he has her hoisted on & off the trailer, then alternate winters on the trailer or on trestles, he's lucky to have a field to store the trailer with or without boat.
A lot of cruiser owners at every club are always seeking crew, not to be fantastic sailors just to be company !
Make yourself known at what seems the best club near you - - may involve over an hour drive each way - but you don't have to be a member, just ask around.
Edit; if looking at any lift keel boat, inspect it with the keel down.
I keep my lift keeler on trestles for this reason, if she's on a trailer you can't maintain the keel - crucial on any boat - and once she's on site where are you going to keep the trailer ?
A chum who is a very good engineer wouldn't dream of dunking his trailer in salt water, he has her hoisted on & off the trailer, then alternate winters on the trailer or on trestles, he's lucky to have a field to store the trailer with or without boat.
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ostell
Well-Known Member
At least take a course to find out what those things floating in the water are all about !! Day Skipper Theory perhaps.
Had a conversation with someone who has just taken his first boat out for the first time. I asked him where he went. The response was "The Beach" Couldn't explain which beach. (East Head I think). He navigated with his phone.
ProDave
Well-Known Member
Not so utterly stupid. Open CPN is available for Android now and we have it on SWMBO's phone. So it really is a pocket chart plotter with GPS built in.
My phone is too old to accept it and looks too difficult to upgrade.
I still would not want to be without my paper charts in case the electronics failed.
ostell
Well-Known Member
Navigate with phone if you at least have an idea where you are going. He still doesn't understand the buoyage.
dylanwinter
Well-Known Member
My advice is to buy a small cheap, ready to sail, easy to sell boat and aim to keep it for one year. At the end of the year you will know what you want and also have learned to ignore the twaddle about storm sails. We have fantastic weather forecasts in the UK. You will never be out in a storm unless you are either a fool - or on a 1000 mile off shore passage.
thesaintlyone
Well-Known Member
If your not totally focussed on a pegasus take a look here:
http://yachtfocus.co.uk/
£12k would get you alot of boat in Holland and conditions listed are usually correct as the brokerage system is different to the UK, you would only be looking at a short (Maybe skippered depending on your confidence) crossing back to the UK
http://yachtfocus.co.uk/
£12k would get you alot of boat in Holland and conditions listed are usually correct as the brokerage system is different to the UK, you would only be looking at a short (Maybe skippered depending on your confidence) crossing back to the UK
shaunksb
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry, I should know better but I've got to ask.
If your "chum" was such a bloody good engineer how come he didn't notice the boat he'd just bought was knackered?
Or did you simply mean "chump"....?
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Tranona
Well-Known Member
Who knows what he meant. He has a habit of making things up to suit his prejudices.
SiteSurfer
Well-Known Member
I think that the prospect 900 is from the same stable as the pegasus, I have been pleased with the build on mine aside from the inevitable age issues.
The stanchion bases are definitely a bit special.
The stanchion bases are definitely a bit special.
jwilson
Well-Known Member
Back to the original question - new to sailing, first sailing cruiser.
If you are absolutely new to sailing, as long as you are reasonably fit, think about learning to sail a dinghy first: it really will teach you how to sail much much faster than learning in a bigger boat.
After that decide where you are going to moor or keep the boat. Then look for something you can buy for about 75% of the money you have available. Don't focus on any particular design, other than what will work for the mooring situation.
Look for a boat that the owner has clearly looked after, and spent money on. Sometimes that may be under a layer of grime and green on deck, if the sale is because the owner has been ill, or died, but if the interior is dry, smells OK and the sails and engine are relatively new, under the dirt might be a good boat. Either have a survey, or get a genuinely experienced and practical friend look her over with you.
Whilst looking do an evening course on basic navigation. You will meet others and learn from them as well as the instruction.
You won't need a storm jib for a few years. Your first few sails will be on nice days with a good weather forecast. Like most long-term sailors I sailed for years without one, until getting into long-distance sailing. I used one once, for about 48 hours, in just under 50 years sailing. It was needed then, but you won't be in those conditions for many years, if ever.
If you are absolutely new to sailing, as long as you are reasonably fit, think about learning to sail a dinghy first: it really will teach you how to sail much much faster than learning in a bigger boat.
After that decide where you are going to moor or keep the boat. Then look for something you can buy for about 75% of the money you have available. Don't focus on any particular design, other than what will work for the mooring situation.
Look for a boat that the owner has clearly looked after, and spent money on. Sometimes that may be under a layer of grime and green on deck, if the sale is because the owner has been ill, or died, but if the interior is dry, smells OK and the sails and engine are relatively new, under the dirt might be a good boat. Either have a survey, or get a genuinely experienced and practical friend look her over with you.
Whilst looking do an evening course on basic navigation. You will meet others and learn from them as well as the instruction.
You won't need a storm jib for a few years. Your first few sails will be on nice days with a good weather forecast. Like most long-term sailors I sailed for years without one, until getting into long-distance sailing. I used one once, for about 48 hours, in just under 50 years sailing. It was needed then, but you won't be in those conditions for many years, if ever.
Skylark
Well-Known Member
The OP seems to have done a runner........probably terrified by some of the "advice" offered.
It would help to know a little more about his sailing ambitions?? One of the most important considerations, imho, is if the boat is a stepping stone or a long term purchase?
In that price range, I'd focus upon three things: condition, condition and condition. Only by looking at several boats will the definition of "condition" become clear.
I like the idea of looking in Holland. I've no idea about current markets but, many years ago, I bought a boat around this value in Sweden. I sold it 4 years later and made 60% profit!
Remember also that the search and the home delivery can be part of the fun.
One last point, I wouldn't dream of leaving a harbour without a means of cutting away the standing rigging after the mast has come down. I consider those explosive devices, costing about £5,000 to be perfect for the job and, surely, no prudent sailor would get under way without one
It would help to know a little more about his sailing ambitions?? One of the most important considerations, imho, is if the boat is a stepping stone or a long term purchase?
In that price range, I'd focus upon three things: condition, condition and condition. Only by looking at several boats will the definition of "condition" become clear.
I like the idea of looking in Holland. I've no idea about current markets but, many years ago, I bought a boat around this value in Sweden. I sold it 4 years later and made 60% profit!
Remember also that the search and the home delivery can be part of the fun.
One last point, I wouldn't dream of leaving a harbour without a means of cutting away the standing rigging after the mast has come down. I consider those explosive devices, costing about £5,000 to be perfect for the job and, surely, no prudent sailor would get under way without one
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
The OP seems to have done a runner........probably terrified by some of the "advice" offered.
It would help to know a little more about his sailing ambitions?? One of the most important considerations, imho, is if the boat is a stepping stone or a long term purchase?
In that price range, I'd focus upon three things: condition, condition and condition. Only by looking at several boats will the definition of "condition" become clear.
I like the idea of looking in Holland. I've no idea about current markets but, many years ago, I bought a boat around this value in Sweden. I sold it 4 years later and made 60% profit!
Remember also that the search and the home delivery can be part of the fun.
One last point, I wouldn't dream of leaving a harbour without a means of cutting away the standing rigging after the mast has come down. I consider those explosive devices, costing about £5,000 to be perfect for the job and, surely, no prudent sailor would get under way without one
..OMG... Don't have a storm jib, rigging cutters or tinted acrylic windows
ditchcrawler
Well-Known Member
Just to back up what others have said. In your budget there are lots of capable cruisers about.Look at as many as you can and do not get hung up about the prejudices of others .Some people don't like roller reefing,canopies.dodgers etc and may insist you need a storm sail.You will after a while be able to make these decisions for yourself although the fact that a great majority of boats have canopies,dodgers and roller reefing to make cruising pleasant may tell you something.
Being able to stand up inside your boat makes life more pleasant. I started off many years ago with a trailer sailer and had a lot of fun with it, however depending how far you want too sail and who is sailing with you, home comforts just make life more pleasurable. Sailing does not have to be camping on water. People are quite happy to do glorified camping, but sailing is a broad church and do what suits you.
Good luck with your search.
Being able to stand up inside your boat makes life more pleasant. I started off many years ago with a trailer sailer and had a lot of fun with it, however depending how far you want too sail and who is sailing with you, home comforts just make life more pleasurable. Sailing does not have to be camping on water. People are quite happy to do glorified camping, but sailing is a broad church and do what suits you.
Good luck with your search.