mrming
Well-Known Member
+1 to that.
How do you choose your first boat?
- Thread starter TangaraToo
- Start date
+1 to that.
James W
Well-Known Member
I'll second that. I'm about to sell a project on a trailer and buy a boat that I can sail and then work on whilst she's on the water. Being on the water and being able to sail helps you keep focus and remember why you bought a boat in the first place. No boat is perfect first time, but you'll make it perfect for you through experience.
alan_d
Well-Known Member
You won't know whether it is right for you until you have owned it for a while. For this reason, the best advice is to buy a boat which has proved popular and been produced in reasonably large numbers. This will both maximise the chance of finding something that will suit you (as other people have liked it) and give you something that will be reasonably easy to sell on if you find it doesn't suit you.
The worst thing you can do is buy something unusual that no-one else has heard of as: 1. There is probably a reason why they didn't sell, and 2. If you don't like it you will find it difficult to get rid of when you want to buy something different.
The worst thing you can do is buy something unusual that no-one else has heard of as: 1. There is probably a reason why they didn't sell, and 2. If you don't like it you will find it difficult to get rid of when you want to buy something different.
Slowtack
Well-Known Member
Farmers quote: "The day you buy is the day you sell".............and you will - eventually - want to sell.
MASH
N/A
how did I choose my first boat?
I didn't . She chose me.
I saw the advert, spoke to the broker and was pretty much hooked. I flew a couple thousand miles to see her and heard the voices. She spoke to me. I took her.
What else can a man do if he has a soul at all?
I didn't . She chose me.
I saw the advert, spoke to the broker and was pretty much hooked. I flew a couple thousand miles to see her and heard the voices. She spoke to me. I took her.
What else can a man do if he has a soul at all?
oldsaltoz
Well-Known Member
Like many others here I got the sailing bug many years and boats ago.
The best advice I can you is to make very sure the boat has at least some approval by the misses, or you may be up for a cold shoulder.
Try to find out what she wants in aboat, happy wife happy life you know.
You could could all get what you need, performance and stability go hand in hand with most cats.
they also have many other advantages, though cost is not one of sadly.
All my boats were mono hull and I swore I would never own a cat, then I delivered one. Game over.
Good luck and fair winds.
The best advice I can you is to make very sure the boat has at least some approval by the misses, or you may be up for a cold shoulder.
Try to find out what she wants in aboat, happy wife happy life you know.
You could could all get what you need, performance and stability go hand in hand with most cats.
they also have many other advantages, though cost is not one of sadly.
All my boats were mono hull and I swore I would never own a cat, then I delivered one. Game over.
Good luck and fair winds.
PabloPicasso
Well-Known Member
Set a budget. Allow 30percent per year of same for maintenance.
Consider where you will sail and where to keep her. Ie marina, drying mooring etc. look at loads of boats that fit with budget and keel type. Say 10k budget, bilge and lifting keels.
Buy only the boat in the most well maintained condition and do not buy a project unless you want to work on the boat and not sail her
Enjoy.
Consider where you will sail and where to keep her. Ie marina, drying mooring etc. look at loads of boats that fit with budget and keel type. Say 10k budget, bilge and lifting keels.
Buy only the boat in the most well maintained condition and do not buy a project unless you want to work on the boat and not sail her
Enjoy.
TangaraToo
RIP
So great advice on this thread so thanks for that. Really appreciate people taking the time to help me try and avoid possible huge mistakes.
My thinking has somewhat changed.
As I will be the main user the boat has to be right for me both in terms of sailing performance and comfort level although performance is higher on my priority list. Son will be main crew so performance again becomes important, wife will at best be an occasional visitor so lest impact on the decision making process.
So having decided performance is high priority, which boats in my shortlist have the better overall performance. Yep I know, it all depends.......
Wife has no problem at all with me disappearing on a Friday evening until sunday eve.
Of the other two options it's more difficult to say which is more important. Sure, sailing is the end aim but not is a boat that is constantly annoying me because I don't like the way it finished etc. I love building/rebuilding stuff and have the skills to do it. I have a strong suspicion that no matter what boat I end up with that's within my budget will end up being seriously reworked. Just the way I am and projects I undertake do not drag on for years. Rebuilt a glider from a write-off to as new condition in 6 months. Horsebox took 3 months so no concern about my boat joining the mass of unfinished dreams. That said I will be looking for a boat I can sail immediately and decide what I want to do with after I've owned for a while. As per the theme of this thread, not ruling out anything at this stage.
My thinking has somewhat changed.
As I will be the main user the boat has to be right for me both in terms of sailing performance and comfort level although performance is higher on my priority list. Son will be main crew so performance again becomes important, wife will at best be an occasional visitor so lest impact on the decision making process.
The list is a great help. I've trawled the net and come up with a short(ish) list. In no particular order - trapper 950, Hustler 30, Westerly Konsort, Albin Scampi, Nicholson 303, She 31, Stag 28, Etap 28, MG 27 Offshore 28, UFO 27, Golden Shamrock, Achilles 9m. If I had to pick top two it would be She 31 and Scampi although the forward engine and hydraulic drive on the scampi is a little off putting. One thing I'm not particularly keen on is having a traveller in the middle of the cockpit. Prefer either end but this is without having sailed with one so could change my mind.
So having decided performance is high priority, which boats in my shortlist have the better overall performance. Yep I know, it all depends.......
Point well made hence my decision to look at the larger end of the size range I had in mind.
That's a difficult one to answer. Probably shipwright initially then adrenalin junkie. Dutiful husband is way down the list. That may sound harsh but wife has her horses which take up pretty much all her free time. House is rebuilt so no conflict there. I built her a horsebox so she has total freedom to travel to comps without me driving the 7.5t lorry. Daughter also has a horse and spends all spare time with it and wife so wife has company. Both kids now working and have their own cars. My weekends and evenings are completely free
Wife has no problem at all with me disappearing on a Friday evening until sunday eve. Of the other two options it's more difficult to say which is more important. Sure, sailing is the end aim but not is a boat that is constantly annoying me because I don't like the way it finished etc. I love building/rebuilding stuff and have the skills to do it. I have a strong suspicion that no matter what boat I end up with that's within my budget will end up being seriously reworked. Just the way I am and projects I undertake do not drag on for years. Rebuilt a glider from a write-off to as new condition in 6 months. Horsebox took 3 months so no concern about my boat joining the mass of unfinished dreams. That said I will be looking for a boat I can sail immediately and decide what I want to do with after I've owned for a while. As per the theme of this thread, not ruling out anything at this stage.
Good point, well made. Hence my priority of performance.
Another very valid point. I will resist my normal inclination and stick to mainstream (for now).
ronsurf
Well-Known Member
Here's my three tips:
1) Don't buy a wooden boat as a first boat
2) In general, you'll be buying a boat that's in your area, so look and see what's available locally rather than deciding to get a specific model.
3) Don't buy a wooden boat as a first boat
1) Don't buy a wooden boat as a first boat
2) In general, you'll be buying a boat that's in your area, so look and see what's available locally rather than deciding to get a specific model.
3) Don't buy a wooden boat as a first boat
Last edited:
TangaraToo
RIP
I have no intention of buying a wooden boat, either now or in the foreseeable future but never say never!
My area is sadly about as far from the coast as it's possible to get which on the positive side gives me east south and west coast areas to search
My area is sadly about as far from the coast as it's possible to get which on the positive side gives me east south and west coast areas to search
Concerto
Well-Known Member
Well I am glad you liked the list of possible yachts. Do try and choose something that has a reasonable interior as that will make easier to sell on in the future. You have not mentioned a budget you intent to play with, as that may rule in or out many boats. I tried to stay close to 30ft in length, but just going to 32ft makes a huge difference. I bought a Westerly Fulmar for its good all round sailing performance, but it is not an extreme design. You could also consider things like a Hustler 32, Scanmar 33 or a Contessa 32.
My plan was to buy a sound but tired boat and improve it. If you look at my profile you will find a link to my photo file of improvements made so far to Concerto. On the Westerly Owners forum there is a thread (http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/woaforum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2748) talking about what I am doing and intending to do. My ideas have changed quite a lot since I started sailing her, some of the things I thought essential to change like sails and instruments have been dropped, but other improvements like larger winches and fitting single line reefing make sailing a lot easier. So far I have been working mainly externally to improve the looks and protection of the boat. The deck needs the non slip repainting, the gel coat needs compounding and polishing, the Treadmaster in the cockpit has reached the end of its life and will be replaced with synthetic teak, all the woodwork will be taken back to bare wood and refinished, plus some fittings will be removed and resited or just rebedded. Internal things like completing the new headlings, refinishing the interior woodwork, new bunk cushions, new cooker and new lighting, are on the list to be done. Still plenty more smaller jobs to be done. When finished she will look close to "as new" condition as I can possibly get with a 33 year old boat.
One other factor you should also add to your list is how easy is it to sail single handed. There may come a time when your son may have other priorities than sailing, so keep that in the back of your mind when choosing.
Also where you are living will affect your choice of sailing area. My recommendation for you would be the East Coast, probably the Orwell. It will be the easiest to get too, not too crowded, plenty of places to visit up and down the coast and across to the continent and have a healthy racing scene including the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association.
My plan was to buy a sound but tired boat and improve it. If you look at my profile you will find a link to my photo file of improvements made so far to Concerto. On the Westerly Owners forum there is a thread (http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/woaforum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2748) talking about what I am doing and intending to do. My ideas have changed quite a lot since I started sailing her, some of the things I thought essential to change like sails and instruments have been dropped, but other improvements like larger winches and fitting single line reefing make sailing a lot easier. So far I have been working mainly externally to improve the looks and protection of the boat. The deck needs the non slip repainting, the gel coat needs compounding and polishing, the Treadmaster in the cockpit has reached the end of its life and will be replaced with synthetic teak, all the woodwork will be taken back to bare wood and refinished, plus some fittings will be removed and resited or just rebedded. Internal things like completing the new headlings, refinishing the interior woodwork, new bunk cushions, new cooker and new lighting, are on the list to be done. Still plenty more smaller jobs to be done. When finished she will look close to "as new" condition as I can possibly get with a 33 year old boat.
One other factor you should also add to your list is how easy is it to sail single handed. There may come a time when your son may have other priorities than sailing, so keep that in the back of your mind when choosing.
Also where you are living will affect your choice of sailing area. My recommendation for you would be the East Coast, probably the Orwell. It will be the easiest to get too, not too crowded, plenty of places to visit up and down the coast and across to the continent and have a healthy racing scene including the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association.
Bru
Well-Known Member
My area is sadly about as far from the coast as it's possible to get which on the positive side gives me east south and west coast areas to search
Just noiced your location. Another denizen of Northamptonshire hereabouts. There's going to be enough of us to start a club at this rate!
mmorgan@peoplevalue.co.uk
New Member
I cut my teeth on a Jaguar 27, 6 years ago, and then purchased a Bavaria 38 and now the proud owner of a Dufour 425 which I have a great time with. The Jaguar is a very forgiving teacher and taught me all I needed to know (along with several RYA course). However, I could not bring myself to selling the Jaguar hoping my kids would take to the hobby, but sadly they have not. Therefore looking for someone to take her of my hands as she needs to be sailed. I tried to give her to the sea scouts but they wanted coded boats only. I would take any offer knowing she was going to a good home.
