How do you choose your first boat?

[TangaraToo]

I'm starting to look for my first boat but finding it very difficult to decide what would be right for me.
The only thing I am certain of is I want something cheap I can rebuild in the 23' to 30' range. Yes, I know I will never get my money back if I decide to sell on but that's not important. I enjoy making silk purses out of sow's ears.
The problem starts with not having any experience of sailing the type of boats I will be looking at. Only sailed (raced) dingies and spent some time on a First 32 so no idea what any of the possible boats are like to sail which is important to me.
Then comes the issue of how I will use the boat. I'm likely to spend most weekends on the boat, probably 50% of the time on my own. The other 50% will be either with my wife on nice low wind summer weekends (F2-F4) or with my son when it's blowing (F4 and above). I've been out on the 32 in F7 gusting F8 and loved it so a boat that can handle some weather is important. Wife is not going to enjoy a boat that is well heeled over with water spraying everywhere, my son (and me) would love these conditions. Son has no interest is pootling about, just wants excitement. I happy with both.
Down below, son wouldn't give two hoots what it's like but comfort would be important to the boss although as she stands 5.'1" head room is not likely to be a problem. Moderate comfort given that I will spend quite a bit of time on board is fairly important to me but so is sailing performance.
Boat will be kept on deep water swinging mooring on south or east coast.
Plan would be to buy boat at end of season and work on it during winter just doing enough to make sure it's sea worthy. Spend a season sailing it then decide if I want to keep it before doing a full scale rebuild. Only major item I would replace initially would be sails if these are not in good condition.
So my thoughts so far are probably around 27ft, fin keel and that's about it. Looking around the net I'm thinking something like a Trapper 300 might fit the bill but also not ruling out something like a Carter 30 or Tomahawk 25.
All advice appreciated. Anyone needing a crew for a day or two on a boat that fits my needs would be great. The first step seems to possibly be the hardest.

 

[Neil_Y]

My only advice is don't rule out any types and go and look at as many as you can within your budget. I've always liked the look of the Trappers.

 

[[70521]]

Make a little list. as the song says.

Think about what you want to do and where you want to go.

I settled on a Mirage 28, but looked at Westerlys. I wanted bildge keels as I sail in the West Country and Brittany.

Take time and look at a lot of boats you can find utter rubbish and outstanding boats within £1,000 of each other.

Don't spend all your cash on the boat as there will be changes you want to make.

 

[Concerto]

The difference in internal volume between a 23ft and 30ft boat is vast. Go and look at a few boats and see the difference. Once you have settled on a smaller size range, then consider where you are going to be sailing and mooring as this will also affect your choice.

Personally I think 23ft would be too small and would suggest 27ft to 30ft - provided you can afford the extra cost. The older the boat will mean it will not be in perfect condition, but some boats can be very well looked after. Try and find a well looked after boat that someone is selling due to giving up sailing. This way you should have a well sorted boat with lots of extras, meaning it will cost you less in the long run.

Boats you could consider should include Trapper 28/500/501/950, Hustler 30/SJ30, Westerly Centaur/Griffon/Merlin/GK29/Konsort, Scampi, Albin 30, Nicholson 30/303, She 31, Dufour Arpege/2800, Moody 29/30, Achilles 9m, Golden Shamrock, Sadler 25/29, Hunter Impala/Horizon 26&27, Maxi 84, Stag 28, Etap 28, MG 25&27, Jeanneau Fantasia 27, UFO 27, Offshore 28, Mystere Flyer 26.

Enjoy looking and something will certainly feel right. Do return and ask more questions.

 

[doug748]

Often the price difference between a project and an up and running boat is derisory. You will have plenty to do without chasing a run down boat, so don't dismiss a boat described as immaculate, they rarely are.

I agree with the others, the price difference between smaller boats and 30 footers has come down. Apart from the cost of your new sails, they are not a lot more to run particularly with a swinging mooring. Look at this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hustler-3...=100009&prg=10670&rk=4&rkt=10&sd=271602864427

A boat that would have been asking £15,000 10 years ago, for the price of a Hurley 22.

However whatever you go for and whatever it's condition, get yourself a bargain. Real iffy projects are only worth in the hundreds.

 

[DanTribe]

With your dinghy racing and First 32 background I would suggest you should look a boats have a reasonable performance rather than comfortable caravans.
Concerto's list certainly does have mostly good performing classes.Perhaps the Moody errs towards comfort rather than speed?
Engines & sails are the expensive bits so pay attention to those.

 

[Kelpie]

It sounds as though your wife and your son are after completely different things, which is a shame.
The one thing that might work in favour of both is the size of the boat. If it's small, and if it has the stability and comfort to keep the wife happy, then it's unlikely to be of much interest to the son. Thinking here of tippy little quarter tonners vs Pageants, etc. However if it's larger, it will have the stability that the wife needs but can also have good performance to keep the son happy. Maybe something like a Ufo 31?

If thinking around 27ft, though, I'll put in a shout for a Vega- had one for four years, it was what got the wife hooked on sailing/cruising- safe as houses yet pretty exciting when the wind picked up- plenty about, and they're not expensive.

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

The difference in internal volume between a 23ft and 30ft boat is vast. Go and look at a few boats and see the difference. Once you have settled on a smaller size range, then consider where you are going to be sailing and mooring as this will also affect your choice.

Personally I think 23ft would be too small and would suggest 27ft to 30ft - provided you can afford the extra cost. The older the boat will mean it will not be in perfect condition, but some boats can be very well looked after. Try and find a well looked after boat that someone is selling due to giving up sailing. This way you should have a well sorted boat with lots of extras, meaning it will cost you less in the long run.

Boats you could consider should include Trapper 28/500/501/950, Hustler 30/SJ30, Westerly Centaur/Griffon/Merlin/GK29/Konsort, Scampi, Albin 30, Nicholson 30/303, She 31, Dufour Arpege/2800, Moody 29/30, Achilles 9m, Golden Shamrock, Sadler 25/29, Hunter Impala/Horizon 26&27, Maxi 84, Stag 28, Etap 28, MG 25&27, Jeanneau Fantasia 27, UFO 27, Offshore 28, Mystere Flyer 26.

Enjoy looking and something will certainly feel right. Do return and ask more questions.

+1 for UFO27

 

[onesea]

Look at any boat you can find in any condition.... Decide what you like and what you don't like do not hunt on one particular boat.

When it comes to boat condition my strongest recommendation is buy a boat you can sail AND renovate. My boat is a work in progress and will be until I sell her when she will look better the best she has under my ownership.

I enjoy turning round a boat but I also enjoy sailing, I bought a boat that was structurally sound. Some gear needed modernizing that I have done through learning the boat in a sensible practical way. Some problems where not problems some unforeseen where...

If I had spend some of the money I was going to it would be a waist then... Build her up gradually listen to what SWMBO wants and son they will join in if you get it right....

 

[PeteCooper]

What you need is an Ecume De Mer - I could be persuaded to sell mine as I want to downsize dramatically

 

[Skylark]

There are a few silk purses around that were once sow's ears, but not many. Do you want to be a shipwright, an adrenelin junkie or a dutiful husband? I'm not convinced that the three are mutually compatible from what you're written.

I wouldn't get constrained by wanting a specific boat. Look at lots of boat in your price bracket until a picture emerges. You'll soon have a clearer view of the compromises that you, as a family, are prepared to make.

 

[mrming]

Just throwing it out there but if you can get away with low headroom because of the compact nature of the Boss, an Aphrodite 101 certainly has that row away factor.

 

[roblpm]

And whatever you get you will start planning the next one shortly after you get it!

 

[[70521]]

And whatever you get you will start planning the next one shortly after you get it!

Very, very true.

The e-mail is ready to send to the yard, just need a good win on the Lottery on Saturday.

 

[PhillM]

After looking at a few boats my wife decided that buying a old, but sail-able wooden boat was the way to go. Her logic was that wood is easier to repair and can be painted to look smart.

Oh how simple (and cheap) it all sounded

Worked out well and Im happy Ive a boat that I will keep for many years to come (hopefully).

Could we have go more for our money, yes. Could we have made a bigger mistake, yes. The point is I think choosing a first boat is as much luck as good judgement.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

In my experience, rather like Harry Potters wand, you'll find that the boat will choose you, not the other way round!

 

[Sybarite]

The same advice that I would give to any first timer: when you have whittled down the list try to charter first.

I changed my mind after doing that. The broker however gave me a free week's charter so convinced he was that he was right.

PS If you intend spending a lot of time on your boat, standing headroom is a must. Even for you.

 

[PhillM]

In my experience, rather like Harry Potters wand, you'll find that the boat will choose you, not the other way round!

Perfect description. Now I've got a with-it way to explain to the kids how I spent their inheritance

 

[Bru]

Your first boat won't be your last boat. Don't spend TOO much time and money on her

And comfortable safe cruising for the missus doesn't go particularly hand in hand with wild excitement for the boys. You could consider a yacht and dinghy solution

 

[jac]

Don't get fixed on one design. Just look for a well kept example you can sail now, not a wreck. There will be loads to do to improve her but it's much nicer adding new things than replacing existing worn out things.

If SWMBO and son want different things, aim for a boat with the potential performance to satisfy son and sail conservatively with the wife. So leave the asymmetric and no1 genny off when SWMBO is with you. It's easy to reef and make a fast boat slightly more sedate (especially in gentle conditions) it's harder to make a sedate boat an adrenaline ride.