Jeanneau Eolia 25

[Sailing newbie selsey]

Hi all,

My wife and I are relatively new to sailing and are looking to purchase our first yacht. We are looking to get something around 8m to keep costs down and have seen a Jeanneau Eolia 25 with a lifting keel for sale in our yacht club. We like the layout and plan to use the boat to gain sailing and boat ownership skills and knowledge before progressing in a few years to something bigger for longer term cruising, the price is also in our budget which means we will not break the bank should we decide this is not the life for us. We are looking for a boat in which we can do long weekends and the odd week cruising either around the Solent or over the channel weather and time permitting.
I have no experience of sailing with a lifting keel does anyone have any views on these in particular on a Jeanneau Eolia. I am interested to hear from anyone who has owned one of these yachts and their experiences, the one I am looking at is a 1985 year.
many thanks.

 

[Jim@sea]

I would be inclined to buy a small yacht which was imported into the UK in greater quantities, although there were a few years when I did not read boating magazines I have never heard of an Eolia 25. Which if you buy one than come to sell it in a few years you will find a lack of buyers.
(I once bought a French boat a Guy Couch, hundreds in France but never imported into the Uk so when I came to sell it nobody in the UK was interested)
If I was buying a 25 ft lifting keel like this I would only go for one with a Trailer. At that length its trailable, It would cost less for winter storage and easier to sell,
Ps I recently bought an year 2000 American 24ft Hunter Legend 240 Lifting Keel which came with an outstanding American Trailer These are available with a trailer at the sort of price this boat is without a trailer. and 15 years younger. I believe there are about 10 in the water at Derwent Marina. And there is an owners association.