List of bilge keel boats, 27 to 33ft or so?

[B27]

I've been asked 'what bilge keel boats are there?'.
I think we're talking 'affordable', let's say under £30k, ideally under £20k
I'm aware of a lot of Hunters, Westerly, some Moody, some Sadler but not sure which models came in twin keel and/or fin.
The ideal would be spacious for two tall people to live on (for a week at a time say!), maybe day sail and dining aboard for four?

Other than ApolloDuck, where to look?

 

[Rappey]

There are a lot of sub 10k bilge keeled boats but often 28ft and smaller and older designed. Bilge keelers seemed very popular in the 70,s and 80,s
I wonder if the "need for speed" meant the demise of bilge keelers in favour of fin ,limiting whats available in more modern styling.
Could plan B be a swing or lifting keel ?

 

[Ribtecer]

I had a Westerly 33 BK Ketch.

Lovely family boat, I regret selling it.

Fabulous value for money.

 

[B27]

Swing keel is a thought, but it would need to be the kind of thing where the hull body stays well clear of the ground, as the mooring available isn't something I'd want to dry out a flat bottom boat on IYSWIM.
A long keeler with legs might work.

If a 'family boat' is one with lots of berths for small people, in multiple claustrophobic cabins, that's exactly what isn't wanted. Particularly lower down the size range.

 

[Bobc]

Moody if you want space. The Angus Primrose designs are tough and roomy.

 

[Ribtecer]

Moody if you want space. The Angus Primrose designs are tough and roomy.

But dated and ugly.

 

[Ribtecer]

If a 'family boat' is one with lots of berths for small people, in multiple claustrophobic cabins, that's exactly what isn't wanted. Particularly lower down the size range.

Family boat for me is one with a big deep central cockpit.

But we're all different.

 

[Bobc]

But dated and ugly.

All depends if you give a sh1t about being a peacock.

 

[Bobc]

Family boat for me is one with a big deep central cockpit.

But we're all different.

and they're not ugly?

 

[mrming]

Our family boat is a Westerly Fulmar. Ours is a fin, but they came in a twin keel version which is well rated. £16k buys a slightly project-y one, £22-25k for the better examples. The saloon is huge for the 32’ LOA, and 6 people can dine comfortably. For a couple it’s very spacious. We sail with our two kids and it’s still not bad. How tall are we talking though? The Fulmar is great for me at 5’ 11” but if you’re a lot taller I think headroom might be an issue. As for where to look, the UK boat market is small. If you check Apollo Duck, boats.com, yachtworld.com and boat24.com you’re unlikely to miss anything, and you’ll often see the same boats on multiple sites.

 

[WoodyP]

I no longer own a Kingfisher 30s. Deep centre cockpit, advertised as 6 berths, but only if two are children.

 

[Ribtecer]

and they're not ugly?

Angus Primrose to me was early 70's

W33 was very late 70's early 80's and showed it.

But as I said, we're all different.

My W33, after a load of work, was a good-looking boat ❤❤❤

 

[alan_d]

I've been asked 'what bilge keel boats are there?'.
I think we're talking 'affordable', let's say under £30k, ideally under £20k
I'm aware of a lot of Hunters, Westerly, some Moody, some Sadler but not sure which models came in twin keel and/or fin.
The ideal would be spacious for two tall people to live on (for a week at a time say!), maybe day sail and dining aboard for four?

Other than ApolloDuck, where to look?

I think the Westerly Konsort (29ft.) might meet your specifications. 704 of them were built between 1979 and 1992, and although fin and swing keel versions were available the great majority were bilge keelers.

 

[Ribtecer]

All depends if you give a sh1t about being a peacock.

Pontoon appeal is important to me, I want to be proud of my boat.

I'd struggle with a 70's Moody 33.

 

[Dellquay13]

I've been asked 'what bilge keel boats are there?'.
I think we're talking 'affordable', let's say under £30k, ideally under £20k
I'm aware of a lot of Hunters, Westerly, some Moody, some Sadler but not sure which models came in twin keel and/or fin.
The ideal would be spacious for two tall people to live on (for a week at a time say!), maybe day sail and dining aboard for four?

Other than ApolloDuck, where to look?

Seawolf 30, designed and built by David Feltham, after designing various Colvics, the Mirage and the Cobra

 

[E39mad]

The best sailing bilge keelers (if sailing well is important to you) are the Westerly Fulmar, Moody S31, MG C27 (very few bilge keelers but more lifting keel versions of the MG). Also consider the Westerly Tempest and Storm. There will be others such as Sadler.

 

[B27]

Seawolf 30, designed and built by David Feltham, after designing various Colvics, the Mirage and the Cobra

That's the kind of suggestion we were looking for.
We're aware of the obvious ones listed in the OP.

Are there not some French twin keel boats? One or two of the mainstream builders as well as RM?
Probably newer and OTT on price?

It doesn't seem easy or effective to search for 'twin keel yacht for sail'.

By the way the issue with 'tall people' is not so much about headroom. Saloon berth length seems limited with many boats?

 

[mrming]

RM will be well over budget I would have thought.
It's small, but the Gib’Sea 76 had a twin keel option.
There's a Beneteau Oceanis 311 with a stub wing keel, lifting plate and reinforced twin rudders. Likely to be north of £30k though.
Can't think of any other European boats in budget.
There's also the Parker 31 / 325 which has a lifting wing keel and can dry out flat / is pretty tough. They're starting to get towards £30k.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Swing keel is a thought, but it would need to be the kind of thing where the hull body stays well clear of the ground, as the mooring available isn't something I'd want to dry out a flat bottom boat on IYSWIM.
A long keeler with legs might work.

If a 'family boat' is one with lots of berths for small people, in multiple claustrophobic cabins, that's exactly what isn't wanted. Particularly lower down the size range.

Indeed avoid stub keel or lifting bulb on a drying mooring. My old anderson 22 sank twice due to such so we then took insurance and ran

I liked our Westerly Pentland but not fast, today I would go for a Fulmar

 

[Kwik Decision]

There were lots of bilge keel Sadler 26s and 29 built, and they have a reputation for sailing very well, although I'm biased, as I owned a BK 29 for 9 yrs. There were also a small number of 32s and 34s built with bilge keels.