Looking for a new boat, but feeling stuck..

JollyRodgers

JollyRodgers

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Hello all,

I'm looking for a boat (it will be my first boat actually) and I am starting to somewhat lose faith in doing so.

I looked at a Jouet 920 down in Southampton the other week. The boat was a great size inside and I really liked the idea of having 2 cabins and the main table part with the sofas around the side. However, it had unfortunately clearly been neglected and there was a lot of problems with it that would've needed fixing - and a lot of money thrown at it.

Having a look at a Jeanneau Fantasia 27 on Saturday, again in Southampton, but have heard that they are VERY playful in slightly bad weather and a few people said they felt uncomfortable on them with family. Someone also said that entertaining on them would be difficult due to lack of size - although the floor plan looked very similar to the Jouet.

Ideally I will be looking for a sailboat, which will be predominantly used by my girlfriend and I and some other friends or family who decide to join us. I would like to be able to do a couple of weekend breaks with it and would also like it to be sturdy and safe enough to do a very channel crosses, and perhaps a few weekend trips to the Channel Islands. :D

Budget wise, I don't really want to be spending over £15K - as like I say, it will be a first boat. It seems to be really hard to find something that ticks all the boxes, that doesn't need a ton of work on it.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 
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The majority of small cruisers are capable of doing a Channel crossing and cruise. I know someone who had a six week honeymoon on a Kestrel in the Channel Isles and I did a lot of foreign cruising in a Mystere, but only committed couples need apply. It sounds as if you have a good general idea of what you want, so I would be guided by a combination of condition and decent sailing performance, putting accommodation third.
 
alahol2 said:
Here you go... http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/stag-28
Click to expand...
Not sure how I haven't noticed the stag before. Looks quite nice and reasonably priced too.

Twister_Ken said:
Two people easily, four at a squeeze. Will cross the Channel and carry on to Cape Horn. Can't think of a better first boat, and knowledgable folk will congratulate you on her good looks and making a wise choice. Supportive owner's association as well...

http://www.twister.org.uk/sales/index.php
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I would like to take friends out quite regularly, so I'd really like it to be comfortable for 4 or so people.

Seven Spades said:
I would seriously look at a Sadler 32. It has a good accommodation and sails well and you can find nice examples in your price range. If you buy a really small boat the risk is that your otherhalf will not want to slum it on the boat and then you won't progress to a bigger and better boat.

http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1979/Sadler-32-2763338/United-Kingdom#.VLlWI6aIQVF
Click to expand...


Sadler 32 looks alright, but they look kind of claustrophobic compared to some of the other more open plan boats, of the same size.

There was a nice Sadler 34 for sale in Chichester the other day at £15K, but it sold within around 48 hours! :O

I forgot to mention that I am also looking at a Dufour Mezzo 28' tomorrow, but I really can't find much about it at all online
 
johnalison said:
The majority of small cruisers are capable of doing a Channel crossing and cruise. I know someone who had a six week honeymoon on a Kestrel in the Channel Isles and I did a lot of foreign cruising in a Mystere, but only committed couples need apply. It sounds as if you have a good general idea of what you want, so I would be guided by a combination of condition and decent sailing performance, putting accommodation third.
Click to expand...

Yeah, definitely the way it will have to be I guess. I don't think that I will be able to tick every box for the price and size im looking at.

The Beneteau First 30 looked quite spacious - http://beneteau.apolloduck.co.uk/image.phtml?id=378460&ximage=217055
 
I like the Sadlers! What about an oyster 26, contessa 28, moody 27-28, first 305. All for sale around your budget. Don't forget there can be some difference between asking price and selling price.

As its your first boat, I would be going for something well know, with a good reputation so if you do sell in the future you have something in value similar yo what you paid for it and is sellable. That's the reason the Sadler sold so fast.

So with a £15k budget I would be looking at boat up to £18k possibly £20k.

Don't forget to budget for a survey; and find youse,f a good surveyor now; as they will help you on the valuation side of things as well. One tip here, ultrasonic testing for osmosis if farly pointless in my opinion, if it is of concern then get a thermographic survey done. It doesn't cost much and will give you a picture of the whole boat, not just the spot where the ultrasonic transducer was placed.

Don't pressure yourself and enjoy the fender kicking; there are lots about!

Cheers
adj
 
Too expensive but you might find one in your range..These have loads of room & a lifting keel option for cheaper mooring:

http://www.theyachtmarket.com/boats_for_sale/1024717/

A linear galley is not to everyone's taste but it saves space and makes a better job of the cabins and heads. Lively sail though.

If you really want to do the minimum of work you may have to think of a smaller boat, or an older design that someone has lavished a load of work and cash on. For example, friends of mine spent serious £££ on making their Westerly GK 29 immaculate and then sold.

Me, I would look at that Sadler and update it as I went along. With boats, unless you are minted, you have to get stuck in in the end.
 
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Boat441 said:
I like the Sadlers! What about an oyster 26, contessa 28, moody 27-28, first 305. All for sale around your budget. Don't forget there can be some difference between asking price and selling price.

As its your first boat, I would be going for something well know, with a good reputation so if you do sell in the future you have something in value similar yo what you paid for it and is sellable. That's the reason the Sadler sold so fast.

So with a £15k budget I would be looking at boat up to £18k possibly £20k.

Don't forget to budget for a survey; and find youse,f a good surveyor now; as they will help you on the valuation side of things as well. One tip here, ultrasonic testing for osmosis if farly pointless in my opinion, if it is of concern then get a thermographic survey done. It doesn't cost much and will give you a picture of the whole boat, not just the spot where the ultrasonic transducer was placed.

Don't pressure yourself and enjoy the fender kicking; there are lots about!

Cheers
adj
Click to expand...

Hi Adj, Thanks for the advice!

I saw a Sadler 25 which looked alright. Not much on the accomodation side of things - but it would definitely do the job, it is already in the marina that I plan on keeping it at and it's well below budget.
http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=314293

I'll check out the Oysters/Contessas/Moodys. I really like the First 305. In particularly, I like this one http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=392030 huge water and fuel reserves too.

Definitely getting a pre-purchase inspection done on it before I sign or pay anything away. I think it would be stupid not to.
 
First boat doesn't matter! As soon as get it you will be planning the next one, or is that just me??!!
 
Different approach, but why not call Peter at Boatshed, tell him what you want and let him do the legwork for you.

I know, asking a broker is not a usual approach BUT Peter is a good guy and he could line you up several decent viewings in an afternoon.

Oh btw I don't have one but I saw a whole fleet at Cowes Classics Week. They looked nice boats, great class association and decent cruiser racers.

Not what I've got and not quite what I wanted, but a decent boat. Oh, and another off the wall ... Don't discount wood. Lots of boat for little money and if you get a decent one you get into all sorts of channel events.
 
Whatever you spend on the boat, you're bound to spend more once you acquire it (unless you get very very lucky). So don't buy at the top of your budget if you haven't allowed another slice to repair/update/add. A major expense can be the engine - which is not covered in the usual pre-purchase survey. Unless you're good with small diesels, get an engineer to give it a once-over before signing a cheque.

A general comment about Beneteau - the First boats were the sporty versions of the range, so a First will probably have a bit more sail area and a deeper keel than a plain Beneteau (or an Oceanis as the cruiser range later came to be called). The First might also be a bit less well specced on accommodation than the cruising version. Bennies are not my specialist subject, so someone might want to contradict me on that or elucidate further.

I note you say you want to take friends sailing - if it's for more than a day sail then they need to be very good friends if you're going to share a 30 footer. If it's just day sailing then the size doesn't matter so much.
 
I suspect that you will get a different suggestion for every post on this thread. My only surprise is that a certain person has not suggested an Anderson 22 yet.
i think you have to look at a few boats & get a feel for what you might like & how you intend to keep/maintain/use it. having seen something"nice" read up about it & ask around for opinions on that boat only. Your replies may then be a bit more focused & beneficial to the decision making process
 
At that price point and size it can generally come down to individual boats rather than models. The original as supplied boat will have been so modified by owners over the last 20 years plus that apart from the basic layout/rig almost everything else could be changed.

My advice would be to buy something popular / well known with good resell demand and in good condition. Assume you will own her for 2-3 years and don't spend huge sums on updating /changing.

You will change your mind about what you want/need with a couple of years experience so having something that you can sell again later without losing too much cash is a good
 
JollyRodgers said:
Hi Adj, Thanks for the advice!

I saw a Sadler 25 which looked alright. Not much on the accomodation side of things - but it would definitely do the job, it is already in the marina that I plan on keeping it at and it's well below budget.
http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=314293

I'll check out the Oysters/Contessas/Moodys. I really like the First 305. In particularly, I like this one http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=392030 huge water and fuel reserves too.

Definitely getting a pre-purchase inspection done on it before I sign or pay anything away. I think it would be stupid not to.
Click to expand...

if i were selling
No deposit = no survey
 
Daydream believer said:
I suspect that you will get a different suggestion for every post on this thread. My only surprise is that a certain person has not suggested an Anderson 22 yet.
i think you have to look at a few boats & get a feel for what you might like & how you intend to keep/maintain/use it. having seen something"nice" read up about it & ask around for opinions on that boat only. Your replies may then be a bit more focused & beneficial to the decision making process
Click to expand...

He must be away! There is another old thread that has been resurrected about Anderson 26s and no comment for hours! Andy are you alive and kicking??!!
 
Sounds like a Centaur is what you need

S2290009-300x200.jpg


now down to £9,700 and ready to go - all you need to do is to stop at tescos on the way to the boat

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/sailing-around-britain/harmony-for-sale-10000/

D
 
The Stag had very good reviews and has a good reputation, sails well and tough, seaworthy.

Not heard anything about the lift keel version though, would require close scrutiny not least as to ballast position and ratio.

A boat worth looking for if a fin keel is OK would be a Dolphin 31, very good sailer and again seaworthy, like the Stag not that many built also like the Stag no fault of the boat.
 
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