Ideas for sailing liveaboard

Tim O

Tim O

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Hi all,
I'm currently researching living aboard and am after some suggestions as to some "ideal" boat models to look out for, given the following circumstances.

I'll be living aboard the boat most of the time, planning to be based in Cardiff Bay, working in the South wales area, and sailing on weekends and trips up to a week...i.e. not particularly planning long voyages but need a seaworthy vessel which can handle the Bristol Channel and around the south-west coast and Welsh coast. My daughter (currently 5) will live with me about half the time (and come on shorter trips)....my son 18 will stay occasionally. Given that as a "lifestyle" the following are some of the criteria for the boat,

Two private cabins (one for me one for daughter) plus saloon berths for guests/son - hence looking at aft cabin centre cockpit layouts, preferably with through corridor to aft cabin (though not essential)
Large enough to live on yet capable of being sailed single-handed relatively easily...ketch rig???, and manouvered in and out of pontoons and the lock, therefore thinking about 30-34 feet length
Bilge keel preferable
Budget - will be a real issue....I'll be looking for an initial spend of up to £25k max on the boat and want something that's pretty much ready to go at that price...with ideally the usual live-aboard features like heating, plumbed water system, shower, shore-power hookup etc. In other words I won't have much above that price to spend on any additional work.

So far I have come up with the following boats Colvic Countess 33 (or other Colvic models around that length) because of the aft cabion with throughfare. Moody 34 5? again cause of layout but much pricier!

and with separate aft cabin, MacWester Wights seem pretty good and a much cheaper option....or some of the Westerly models around 30-34 feet with aft cabins

As I say research is at an early stage so any suggestions gratefully received..also anyone with experience of living aboard one of the models I have mentioned?

Cheers, Tim
 
In mainstream boats there are a number of Westerlys, Moodys and the Colvic that would meet the bill, although most of the Moodys in that price range will be 33s which are fin keel. Have look down this forum for a long thread on p2 by Zanziba who did exactly what you plan to do.
 
Sorry to say that £25K "for a ready to go" and "30-34 feet with aft cabin" will be hard to find especially adding "bilge keeler" and "ketch" into the mix. To be realistic the budget is a tad on the low side, IMO. I can think of several but at a much higher purchase price unless they need work and money spent on them.
 
I started off with similar requirements about 5 years ago although aft cabin was for adult kids visiting with partners. I ended up with a Moody 33Mk1 because I like the layout and preferred the complete separation of the cabins rather than a small walkthrough. Asking price for mine was around your budget but she was ashore with no access to water to test the old engine so I negotiated price down to allow for a new engine along with various other bits. The Mk1 layout has a large heads, which I liked, and a better saloon layout in my opinion. Boat came with Eberspacher heating which is superb. When launched the engine started immediately and has run well ever since but this year I had to replace the heat exchanger. First thing I did was have a full cockpit enclosure made which is superb. No problems with weather between main and aft cabins, keeps the boat warm and adds an extra "room" as a liveaboard. I fitted shorepower with a decent battery charger and sockets fore and aft. Also converted one of the lockers under saloon berth to a fridge with one of the Waeco kits and a lot of insulation.
Over 5 years I've rewired most of the 12v electrics and upgraded instruments etc. Converted interior and nav lights to led. Added a 2nd house battery. Early on I bought a proper mattress for the forward cabin where I sleep which made a huge difference.
Total cost for purchase plus everything I've done is within your budget.
I find her an excellent liveaboard boat that is easy to handle shorthanded and comfortable for up to 4 people staying aboard when cruising.
 
This is all really useful everyone..thanks...Theoldsalt - I do appreciate that the budget is tight...and I am therefore trusting to "lucking out" on finding a bargain......but that's the budget!...I dont mind some work to do for instance on interior stuff....so long as the hull, rigging and engine (the expensive stuff) is sound...I'm also happy to go fairly basic as the marina in cardiff has excellent showers/loos laundette etc and is walking distance to Tesco and Aldi so no huge need for fridges, showers etc on board.

Bilge keel is preferable though not essential - just handy in the Bristol Channel everyone says!....and again ketch rig not essential, just many seem to say it has advantages single handed...though of course higher rigging replacement costs etc etc...same old story there is never a "perfect" boat! Looking online last night turned up several Moody 33 Mk 1s in budget,m and more than a few McWester's and Westerlys....Colvic Countess 33s quite sparse on the ground though!!! and most for sale at present are finely-maintained beauties out of my price range!
 
Tim O said:
This is all really useful everyone..thanks...Theoldsalt - I do appreciate that the budget is tight...and I am therefore trusting to "lucking out" on finding a bargain......but that's the budget!...I dont mind some work to do for instance on interior stuff....so long as the hull, rigging and engine (the expensive stuff) is sound...I'm also happy to go fairly basic as the marina in cardiff has excellent showers/loos laundette etc and is walking distance to Tesco and Aldi so no huge need for fridges, showers etc on board.

Bilge keel is preferable though not essential - just handy in the Bristol Channel everyone says!....and again ketch rig not essential, just many seem to say it has advantages single handed...though of course higher rigging replacement costs etc etc...same old story there is never a "perfect" boat! Looking online last night turned up several Moody 33 Mk 1s in budget,m and more than a few McWester's and Westerlys....Colvic Countess 33s quite sparse on the ground though!!! and most for sale at present are finely-maintained beauties out of my price range!
Click to expand...

Neptunian 33
Rasmus / Nab 35
GibSea 96
Jeanneau Espace 10m
 
Bit pricier, but you may wish to consider the early Southerlys. The 105 (hull length 33ft) is centre cockpit with aft and fore cabins. The saloons are immense, for the size of boat. Mrs and I live aboard one, with occasional guests taking the forward cabin.

The benefits of an old Southerly (generally similar with Moodys), aside from layout, is that even older ones tend to come pretty well kitted out, even if the kit is getting on a bit.

Prices have dropped with the recession, but you'll still be looking at over £30k, I'd imagine.
 
I had a Westerly Berwick a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. It would be at the smaller end of your choice but well within your budget leaving spare cash for upgrades/maintenance. However due to their age a good one may be hard to find.
 
It's clearly a buyers' market. Look at yachts which meet your requirements but with much higher asking prices and once you find your dream, make an offer. Maybe make offers on a number of yachts until one is accepted.
 
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