I'm gonna buy a Fulmar tomorrow. Should I?

[roblpm]

I bought an oceanlord for an epic trip after being diagnosed with cancer at 41. Without going into details, after some bad luck with treatment I’ve had ongoing good fortune and went back to work, but am now in possession of a big bus of a boat which is expensive to keep in a marina and not ideal for pootling around the Solent at weekends.

The fulmar is a good boat (although it’s nearly 17 years since I sailed one). Better/worse than a modern awb? You decide. They’re overpriced because everyone wants one but they seem to hold value and let’s face it, mooring and maintenance are the same whatever you pay for one.

My advice is always buy the boat for what you want to do right now, not what you think you might want to do in a couple of years’ time because who knows what the future holds, good or bad. So yes, buy the fulmar (or similar) if it’s right for what you want to do at the moment

Hmmmm. Thanks for your response and all the other replies. Something came up at work so no boat buying this week!

In fact its a total dilemma! Get on with it vs patience and a bit of saving. Or a compromise! I need a crystal ball.....!

 

[John_Silver]

Hmmmm. Thanks for your response and all the other replies. Something came up at work so no boat buying this week!

In fact its a total dilemma! Get on with it vs patience and a bit of saving. Or a compromise! I need a crystal ball.....!

“Grab a chance and you won’t be sorry for a might have been.”
Arthur Ramsome

 

[Blueboatman]

I am a great believer in getting your plans in order . And then the details seem to fall into view .
Tadaah
Best luck
I expect we will have inflation/stagflation /uncertainty next year and a cooling off of current boat prices BUT that means that the refurb bits will cost more , swings and wobble bobbles ?
Sometimes you just need to get on and make a start anyway?
My other ‘tip’ would be that when the right boat magically falls into your lap ( you having done all that prep work as above ) then play devils advocate and jot down the downside of going ahead with it .. and if that sleeps ok with you , get up, get it AND GET GOING ?

 

[mrming]

I bought a Fulmar with Concerto’s help. Needed a bit of tidying on deck so it was very cheap. It’s been great and gets lots of use from the family including a 3 week trip up and down the East coast this summer. Would highly recommend one if you want a tough, no-nonsense cruising boat that’s reasonably rewarding to sail. The interior is also very practical as has been mentioned.

 

[Pete7]

Hold the presses, there is another one just come on the market in Chatham. Now decisions decisions

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[roblpm]

Hold the presses, there is another one just come on the market in Chatham. Now decisions decisions

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Listed 29 minutes ago!

But

I am having a crisis........

So much good advice on this thread. A lot to mull over..... ?

 

[Concerto]

Hold the presses, there is another one just come on the market in Chatham. Now decisions decisions

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I know some information about this Fulmar, but not for public display. Private Message me if you need to know.

 

[roblpm]

In fact. I am 52. The older ones of you were blessed with a British boat industry. The problem now is there is no middle way. These fulmars are old. I had a 1990 Parker which was great but really I would love newer. My father spent more time varnishing than sailing and I'm not sure that is my way forward.

If only there was a 36-38 foot boat that would do Scotland, Baltic, Med and Caribbean! ?

 

[Tranona]

I will chuck in my tuppence worth on 3 fronts.

Carpe diem. Definitely. As many know I had grim prognosis 10 years ago but when things looked up a bit I bought the new Bavaria to make the most of my last 5? years. 6 years later looks even better and now bought a project boat for at least another 5 years!

The "market" . Listed the Bavaria on 18 December, first viewing 22nd, second viewing today and accepted an offer at the asking price.

Choice of boat. If you want to go trouble free (relatively) sailing for a few years just buy the best and most complete boat you can. Avoid major replacements as they always turn out more expensive and more hassle than you think (guess how I know!). In that respect the Chatham boat , based on the information in the ad is way better than the one in Largs - and £2500 will get it delivered and re-rigged where you want it. Don't get hung up on specific designs. This is not THE boat - be pragmatic, it is a means to an end and you will get just as much fun out of almost any well maintained boat from a mainstream builder.

Good luck.

 

[dunedin]

If only there was a 36-38 foot boat that would do Scotland, Baltic, Med and Caribbean! ?

There are plenty of such boats that have done this and more. Key question as ever is budget - because can’t get newer and bigger and quality for the same money as the Fulmar you started the post with.

 

[Blueboatman]

Play the 2 out of 3 game , sorted .
You can have . A job
A boat
Security
Which matters most now , in 5, in 25 years

 

[wully1]

If only there was a 36-38 foot boat that would do Scotland, Baltic, Med and Caribbean! ?

MV Jambo on YouTube has done a Caribbean circuit on a Bav 34 solo, and has solo sailed it from Germany to the Mediterranean this year.
There is another Chanel from an American single hander who has got his 28 ft boat from west coast America to Norway mostly solo.
You just need a good, basic, solid boat that you can easily handle. Most folk buy far bigger than they actually need to do the job.

BTW, 36 ft would be the absolute limit of size I’d take to the Baltic...

 

[awol]

MV Jambo on YouTube has done a Caribbean circuit on a Bav 34 solo, and has solo sailed it from Germany to the Mediterranean this year.

Aye, it's been no fun at Tynecastle this year!

 

[Blueboatman]

It is unusual to get to the point of having the money , the right boat (s) out there waiting AND still be pondering.
Sometimes people just need a little push ??

To the OP. For what it is worth there are a couple posters on here , posting , whom I met when I went off in my cheap little adequate boat some 25years ago .
I went . They did not . Or rather they simply were not in a position to nor inclined to . So I consider myself foolish , lucky , and fortunate .

 

[laika]

My father spent more time varnishing than sailing and I'm not sure that is my way forward.

If only there was a 36-38 foot boat that would do Scotland, Baltic, Med and Caribbean! ?

Your med and caribbean plans are a way off and the boat you want for that almost certainly isn't the one which is ideal for pootling round Britain. One boat for now and another for your far-away plans would seem to be a no brainer. A smaller boat isn't just cheaper to run, it gets you into more places around our crinkly little coastline. In 5 years' time when you sell up you'll have more money and your view on what you want may have changed. If I had my time over again knowing how things turned out, I would have bought a twin keeled fulmar and traded up when I was ready for the off.

As the owner of a 30 year old westerly I'm here to tell you (with some shameful head-hanging given this is PBO) I have never done any varnishing. My external teak is all "natural" and gets treated with boracol and scrubbed occasionally. Hmm yes admittedly the interior could do with a bit of attention with lacquer but I've done very little of that in 12 years of ownership and anything I do do I would expect to last the duration of my ownership. All the big ticket items may already have been replaced on a 30+ year old boat and don't forget that some small boat owners spend many times more than the boat's market price in keeping them in tip top condition.

In short I'm saying don't compromise; buy the ideal boat for what you want to do now, now, then sell it later and buy the ideal boat for what you do later (and your idea of what is ideal and how much you want to spend may have changed by then). And don't be put off by a 35-year old boat because if you choose wisely a significant amount of it may be less than 10 years old (and owning a westerly is more occasional lacquer than perpetual varnish)

 

[roblpm]

Your med and caribbean plans are a way off and the boat you want for that almost certainly isn't the one which is ideal for pootling round Britain. One boat for now and another for your far-away plans would seem to be a no brainer. A smaller boat isn't just cheaper to run, it gets you into more places around our crinkly little coastline. In 5 years' time when you sell up you'll have more money and your view on what you want may have changed. If I had my time over again knowing how things turned out, I would have bought a twin keeled fulmar and traded up when I was ready for the off.

As the owner of a 30 year old westerly I'm here to tell you (with some shameful head-hanging given this is PBO) I have never done any varnishing. My external teak is all "natural" and gets treated with boracol and scrubbed occasionally. Hmm yes admittedly the interior could do with a bit of attention with lacquer but I've done very little of that in 12 years of ownership and anything I do do I would expect to last the duration of my ownership. All the big ticket items may already have been replaced on a 30+ year old boat and don't forget that some small boat owners spend many times more than the boat's market price in keeping them in tip top condition.

In short I'm saying don't compromise; buy the ideal boat for what you want to do now, now, then sell it later and buy the ideal boat for what you do later (and your idea of what is ideal and how much you want to spend may have changed by then). And don't be put off by a 35-year old boat because if you choose wisely a significant amount of it may be less than 10 years old (and owning a westerly is more occasional lacquer than perpetual varnish)

Great stuff thanks

 

[Skylark]

I’m re-reading “A World Of My Own” and in it RK-J remarks about Suhaili saying that it was not his first choice. He says that he wanted a longer boat as 32ft is too short to cope with some of the seas met on ocean passage, as she fitted exactly between waves and could not gather way. He adds that a few extra feet in length would have made all the difference.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Buy a boat soon and enjoy because "tomorrow never comes". Fulmars are great but there are other boats around that may fit your needs.

 

[dunedin]

I’m re-reading “A World Of My Own” and in it RK-J remarks about Suhaili saying that it was not his first choice. He says that he wanted a longer boat as 32ft is too short to cope with some of the seas met on ocean passage, as she fitted exactly between waves and could not gather way. He adds that a few extra feet in length would have made all the difference.

But not many of us actually do a long passage in the southern Roaring Forties. There are other priorities for 99.99% of cruising yacht buyers.
Also re “not gathering way”, Suhaili is classic boat - but extremely slow compared to most 32 footers, massively so compared to a Fulmar (not that I would choose either if forced to sail the Roaring Forties)

 

[Sailfree]

The biggest lottery we enter into is the lottery of life. Some win and some dont do so well.

At 75 and in good health I feel fortunate but not complacent.

Everyone's should try to make this next year the best they can. Sadly due to Covid and other health reasons many cannot enjoy this next year.

If you can manage to buy it and more importantly use it and get pleasure from owning the boat go for it as while we can make plans for 5yrs time the gods may be laughing at us.

Best wishes to everyone for 2022.