Max 20k budget - what boat ?

If I was in the OP's position I would be oh so tempted by a Centurion !

Lovely boat, but in my case it would be heart ruling head; head says well sorted Co 28 I might stand a chance of buying rig or sails etc for, and heart tends to agree this time after my Carter 30 which was like running an old Jaguar racing car...
 
No thoughts on the Sadler 32? good bad or indifferent ?

Fantastic boats, a refinement of the Contessa 32 in almost every respect, according to the designer. Good sea boats, sail well. Perfect for a couple to sail, a bit cramped in the cockpit with 4, heads needs a forward door to use the shower. Can suffer from the big O, small down below by modern standard, but cosier and prettier.
 
Very difficult to beat a Centurion for looks....unless you could find a well kept Northney 34.

The Northney 34 has that bullet proof look and reputation, but we're suffering vicarious ' mission creep ' here; why not a She 36, their reputation is legendary...

Then the poor old OP gets the bill for replacing the rig, engine or even the odd sail and keels over !
 
Well thanks to you guys we've spent two full evenings on the net looking at all the various boats.

The Centurion is indeed one of the prettiest boats and very tempting but the lack of any updating/repair funds moves it into a higher risk category.
The same is true for my personal favourite so far which is the Contention 33 http://alturl.com/yjzba
But my better half pointed out that the standing rigging was last changed 8 years ago so in essence I'd be over budget straight away as the asking price is 19,950. Even if I knocked the price down I'd have little if any wriggle room.

The compromise solution between my lean, sporty whimsy and the comfort, layout preferences of the boss has made the Verl 30 a firm favourite right now as we've now uncovered a few available examples.
One local and the others somewhat further afield.
This also means I'm looking at boats in the 80's which for some reason makes me feel a little better.
Having sailed for 30 odd years I find it strange that I've never knowingly, fallen over a Verl before, especially as they were a British built
boat.

In 2nd place is the local CO28 as I know the boats history in terms of what work we've done on it in the yard.
In 3rd place is the Starlight that needs a fit-out below.

I'm day three into the process of finding my boat with your help.
No rush but would like to be sailing by April.
It'll be interesting what we end up with.

@Seajet - She 36 is a fabulous boat. We have one here at Southwold. Owner wants to sell but wants 20-25K and when I took the mast down recently I had a good look round and reckoned I'd need to spend 15k bringing her back to life, buying gear at trade and doing all the work myself. One thing is for sure he won't let me have it for less than 20k.
 
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Javelin,

I don't know Verls personally but have always thought they seem a good boat and indeed a ' well kept secret ' - the same goes for the Trapper 500 / 501 for cruisers to a lesser degree.

I doubt if it's of the slightest use to you or indeed any owners' association but Maurice Huffey at Blaxton Boats, Doncaster has the production moulds for at least one Verl, don't know which one.
 
I raced a Contention 33 years ago and don't think you'd like that cockpit.It's too exposed and uncomfortable for cruising.They are very good windward boats but terrible on a run especially if pushed.I owned a smaller version a Peterson 30 that was a fantastic sailing boat but had a much better cockpit layout.
 
Ok the goal posts have shifted a little....
The guys at work think I've been a little hasty on a blanket ban on French boats.
tbh we've had issues with just as many UK built boats, it's just we keep seeing an awful Sunfast 36 which we (I) hate working on.

Added to this the mrs really likes the idea of an aft double cabin so we don't have to make/remake beds every morning and the kids, if they come with us, can be chucked up forward.

So my hit list has changed somewhat and I feel somewhat chastened.
Any advice on the following would be great.

1. Jouet 920
2. GibSea 90
3. Kelt 9m
4. Jeanneau Attalia or Arcadia
 
Ok the goal posts have shifted a little....
The guys at work think I've been a little hasty on a blanket ban on French boats.
tbh we've had issues with just as many UK built boats, it's just we keep seeing an awful Sunfast 36 which we (I) hate working on.

Added to this the mrs really likes the idea of an aft double cabin so we don't have to make/remake beds every morning and the kids, if they come with us, can be chucked up forward.

So my hit list has changed somewhat and I feel somewhat chastened.
Any advice on the following would be great.

1. Jouet 920
2. GibSea 90
3. Kelt 9m
4. Jeanneau Attalia or Arcadia

My last boat was a Jeanneau Sundream 28 (29.5ft). Good enough sort of boat for doing what you want & I'm sure you will have seen them, but I would try out one of those double aft cabins on the 30 odd foot boats because one of you ends up sleeping mostly under the cockpit floor so your "ceiling" is only 6 inches or so above your head, meaning at least one of you needs definitely not to be claustrophobic! Personally I wasn't that keen on the double aft cabin...
 
My last boat was a Jeanneau Sundream 28 (29.5ft). Good enough sort of boat for doing what you want & I'm sure you will have seen them, but I would try out one of those double aft cabins on the 30 odd foot boats because one of you ends up sleeping mostly under the cockpit floor so your "ceiling" is only 6 inches or so above your head, meaning at least one of you needs definitely not to be claustrophobic! Personally I wasn't that keen on the double aft cabin...

Yup,

this was another snag I found out the hard way with the Carter 30; the interior looks spiffing, but the saloon berths turned out to be narrow.

Now whenever looking at boats with buying in mind I always try lying on the bunks; on one boat with a double aft cabin ( Horizon 27 ) I found my head lower than feet and the rudder tube a distinct passion killer between occupants !
 
+1.
Why do they use "Aft Cabin" name for those crawl-in quarterberths beats me... (having aft-cabin boat). On such boats try sitting in the cockpit too - many french boats are made for Med, they just raise the cockpit to get berths under, so on some it's shallow, not offering much protection or backrest. But designed for sunbathing :cool:
Then if you're fit and gymnastic person this arrangement could do - otherwise downright uncomfortable both below and above...

BTW, saloon settee to be comfortable for seating must be too narrow for sleeping, no escape from this problem, only a compromise. There are ways; for instance Contest boats I mentioned before have the seats sliding out for sleeping, some 20 cm more.
So to advertise another; Contest 31 HT - later model with aft cabin :)http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o201/bajansailor/Yacht catalogues/Contest31P6.jpg
 
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Ok the goal posts have shifted a little....
The guys at work think I've been a little hasty on a blanket ban on French boats.
tbh we've had issues with just as many UK built boats, it's just we keep seeing an awful Sunfast 36 which we (I) hate working on.

Added to this the mrs really likes the idea of an aft double cabin so we don't have to make/remake beds every morning and the kids, if they come with us, can be chucked up forward.

So my hit list has changed somewhat and I feel somewhat chastened.
Any advice on the following would be great.

1. Jouet 920
2. GibSea 90
3. Kelt 9m
4. Jeanneau Attalia or Arcadia

I like the Jeanneau Attalia very much - I know a forumite who has one and it's a great boat. I would also suggest a Beneteau First 29 - goes well and has decent accomodation.
 
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