Vid
Well-Known Member
No: where do I start?
Ideal boat for the east coast?
- Thread starter Vid
- Start date
ex-Gladys
Well-Known Member
There's a very nice Colvic Victor 35 for sale at Mersea, all the gear so no need to spend money!
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
Hunter Horizon 30
No harm in looking at the smaller ones in their range (Horizon 27/272/273 or Ranger 245/265) but probably a bit too small.
The majority of their cruising boats left the factory in Rochford with twin keels specified.
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
I'd question going from 24ft to 28ft unless you want to stop with 28ft. If the next step would be 30-32ft, think about skipping a step and going there now. It will work out a lot less money and a lot less work in the long run and the jump in accommodation can be significant.
I'm seeing a lot of comments about Sadlers, so i guess i can upset a lot of people with one comment
Sadler 29s and 32s were undoubtedly good sea boats and were desirable in their day, but i think they are a generation older than many of the other boats being discussed here. Narrow beam ( the 32 is a full foot narrower then the Westerly Storm Peter mentioned), narrow at the stern and bow, poor headroom, cramped quarter berths etc, compared to lots of other boats in the same or similar price range.
I'm seeing a lot of comments about Sadlers, so i guess i can upset a lot of people with one comment
Sadler 29s and 32s were undoubtedly good sea boats and were desirable in their day, but i think they are a generation older than many of the other boats being discussed here. Narrow beam ( the 32 is a full foot narrower then the Westerly Storm Peter mentioned), narrow at the stern and bow, poor headroom, cramped quarter berths etc, compared to lots of other boats in the same or similar price range.
Last edited:
andyj301
Active Member
Little Grebe mentions the models I was thinking of. More here: Hunter Boats
Dee Bee
Well-Known Member
Hunter Association Website
Vid
Well-Known Member
I think you have a point here, my requirements are changing a little since I've been looking more seriously and I do want something which is a meaningful upgrade from my Achilles 24, ie one where I will be able to have crew without expecting them to use a bucket for necessaries, or able to stand up down below. What is noticeable though it that I'm seeing some quite nice candidates nearer to £10k than over £20k. I am looking at this boat being a 5 year ownership as I have ambitions for something a little more substantial for when I retire. Until that point I'll still be restricted to annual leave and weekends so I'm happy with an intermediate purchase for now.I'd question going from 24ft to 28ft unless you want to stop with 28ft. If the next step would be 30-32ft, think about skipping a step and going there now. It will work out a lot less money and a lot less work in the long run and the jump in accommodation can be significant.
I'm seeing a lot of comments about Sadlers, so i guess i can upset a lot of people with one comment
xyachtdave
Well-Known Member
If you can reach the substantial boat you want financially now I’d miss the in between boat out.
It’ll take you 5 years to get the measure of it and fix all the things that are broken ready for retirement!
It’ll take you 5 years to get the measure of it and fix all the things that are broken ready for retirement!
Vid
Well-Known Member
No, I'm not there yet, but I take your point.
[178529]
...
if you look for a secondhand sailing boat in the sub 30ft size, it is incredible the value that you can get now for 10-15k. Compared to ten years ago the value is fantastic. For 10k you should be able to get a really nice, well sorted out boat, with regular maintenance evidence.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Our pre-retirement boat was a Sadler 29 which we kept for twelve years before I bought a 34 on retiring. The 29, which is 28' 6" really, would sleep up to about five for a weekend or four for a bit longer. It was spacious enough inside but only had a zipped blind between foc's'le and head. When you get to retiring age you will value more space and most of the couples we meet sail in the 34-37' range. Before this, 26-28 should be sufficient and will cost a good bit less, unless you have ambitions to cruise greater distances. We regularly sailed our 29 to the Channel Isles and Frisians and back in three weeks, and left further fields for later.
Aquaboy
Well-Known Member
So the title to this thread is incomplete really.....
It should read: Ideal boat for the East Coast in my present circumstances... and only you know that.
And by circumstances I mean everything from budget to crew needs to location to intended destinations/type of use.
I think I would start from there and prioritize everything and possible the right boat will jump out
It should read: Ideal boat for the East Coast in my present circumstances... and only you know that.
And by circumstances I mean everything from budget to crew needs to location to intended destinations/type of use.
I think I would start from there and prioritize everything and possible the right boat will jump out
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Quite so. Some people have very fixed ideas about sort of boat others should be sailing. I see folks sailing around in anything from 18-foot micro-cruisers to 45-footers charging up and down the Wallet. I presume that they are all enjoying themselves, which makes the idea of an ideal cruiser appear self-contradictory.
[178529]
...
Spot on. For me the boats I would be interested in would be sigma 33 or 36, hunter impala, gk29, or more modern a sunfast 32 or pogo. For many others they would be the worst boats in the World. Horses for courses.
PeterWright
Well-Known Member
Hi Vid,
That seems a sensible approach. When we had a Westerly Storm, for several summers we took her away cruising for 2 weeks in the summer, then handed her over to good friends who sailed home for two weeks (or vice versa). When we were all retired, we sold the Storm and bought the current Moody 425 in partnership with those same friends - a lot of boat and costs shared between us - works well for us. The earlier part of this story shows a simple way of extending cruising range, without having to rush, when still working.
Peter.
Last edited:
johnalison
Well-Known Member
That's one way of doing it, for those who want to. In days past it was possible to buy a 'Yachtsman's Rail Ticket' that would allow you to take the train to Newhaven, sail to Poole, and catch the train home from there after the weekend sail.
Vid
Well-Known Member
I think I have my answer to my original question: what is the ideal boat for the east coast?
It is of course any of them - you will have a fine time with all its features, advantages and limitations. Every boat is a compromise in some aspect.
I've now had a couple of weekend trips out to look at candidates. My overall impression is that many of the yacht on my shortlist are indeed suitable for me, but it my selection will come down to condition I think as much as anything, unless I want to put the work in to get it up to standard,
It is of course any of them - you will have a fine time with all its features, advantages and limitations. Every boat is a compromise in some aspect.
I've now had a couple of weekend trips out to look at candidates. My overall impression is that many of the yacht on my shortlist are indeed suitable for me, but it my selection will come down to condition I think as much as anything, unless I want to put the work in to get it up to standard,
xyachtdave
Well-Known Member
Get that boat bought Vid, whatever it is!
Don’t forget to tell us when and what it is. Hope it goes well!
Don’t forget to tell us when and what it is. Hope it goes well!
Daverw
Well-Known Member
For me it was the boat that SWMBO looked at and said I like this one, even though she never planned to go sailing as often as I was. But it made the whole process easier and also the following on years as well.
Adios
...
The only point having a boat that can dry out on the east coast rivers is to have a cheaper half tide mooring. Its the mud isn't it. You can't get out of the boat so you sit there on your little island waiting for the tide to come back. Ok you can have a little extra time cruising around or getting over a bar but its not such a critical difference to decide on.
If you were around the north Norfolk inlets or anywhere you can walk on the river bed then getting a lifting or bilge keel is worth the sacrifice.
Get something made for coastal passages there, like the long keelers you were mentioning earlier that handle the short sharp waves well and roll up an inflatable dinghy on deck for drifting around the top of creeks in the evenings
If you were around the north Norfolk inlets or anywhere you can walk on the river bed then getting a lifting or bilge keel is worth the sacrifice.
Get something made for coastal passages there, like the long keelers you were mentioning earlier that handle the short sharp waves well and roll up an inflatable dinghy on deck for drifting around the top of creeks in the evenings
Last edited: