if you were downsizing what boat would you chose?

Bosun Higgs

Bosun Higgs

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Contemplating downsizing from the current 35 footer and instead of summer sailing with swmbo on the south coast, I am thinking of buying a smaller seaworthy boat to potter around on my own in the Bristol channel. It's more about life style than anything else, and the opportunity to spend time doing things other than sailing.

Question is - what boat? It needs to be able to take to the ground, and the channel is not a good place for a mediocre sea boat. But at the same time, I would like something I can race under PY or NSH or whatever they call it. Maybe room to overnight without being totally primitive ( I'm too old to rough it) and if it were small enough to trailer behind a car that would be even better.
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Contemplating downsizing from the current 35 footer and instead of summer sailing with swmbo on the south coast, I am thinking of buying a smaller seaworthy boat to potter around on my own in the Bristol channel. It's more about life style than anything else, and the opportunity to spend time doing things other than sailing.

Question is - what boat? It needs to be able to take to the ground, and the channel is not a good place for a mediocre sea boat. But at the same time, I would like something I can race under PY or NSH or whatever they call it. Maybe room to overnight without being totally primitive ( I'm too old to rough it) and if it were small enough to trailer behind a car that would be even better.
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Just to save you the grief of having to find something... I'll do you a straight swap of my lloyds registered cat a 31 footer.... Bit big for a trailor and deep fin.... But in reaity you will find that whole bilge trailor thing dull dull dull... What you need is something easy to handle, seaworthy, and which the wife can come along on the occasion without being uncomfortable..

But of course it's only cause I like you, I wouldn't make this offer for anyone else.
 
Seajet,

Thanks for your advice re: pulpit & guardrails; by the end of the year my budget should accomodate some further expenditure on her which may also include a tabernacle to make lowering and raising the mast possible single handed which could perhaps facilitate passing under the Langstone road bridge (as discussed in rather a good good current thread.) Best Wishes and hope you feeling heaps better.:)
 
I recently bought a tatty but honest bilge keel Hurley 22. I just drew up a list of all the manageable and reasonably seaworthy small (22' was roughly my upper limit) yachts that would happily take a cheap mooring and waited til one I liked the look of came up at a reasonable price in my area.

No regrets; the boat is what it is but it feels comfortable and reassuring to sail. I'll enjoy doing the little jobs over the coming months/years as spare cash allows. I'm sure had another similar class yacht cropped up and I'd bought that instead I would have been just as content.

If I was after something genuinely trailerable and with more racing potential I probably would have been tempted by a Hunter Medina.
 
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Some of the Mini 650's (i.e series Zero) have a lifting keel. Perhaps a bit feisty for the Bristol Channel, but if I didn't need somewhere to put kids and a wife, I think it's what I'd go for.
 
sighmoon said:
Some of the Mini 650's (i.e series Zero) have a lifting keel. Perhaps a bit feisty for the Bristol Channel, but if I didn't need somewhere to put kids and a wife, I think it's what I'd go for.
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Bosun Higgs,

in answer to your original question I'd suggest moorings make all the differece.

I have a half tide mooring which is a pleasant few minutes' row or motor from the shore or 2 great old pubs, but when I had a fin keeler and sought deep water moorings I found myself in the middle of nowhere, too rough to get to by normal tender so reliant on the boatyard / club ferry service which at one prominent club wasn't reliable in my day - ' stuff your mother and son, I'm too tired ' - I'd think improved now but you get the idea about relying on someone else.

Try to get a decent mooring, sheltered and on soft mud, first then there are some good, fun boats available which will go on it.
 
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