More recomendations wanted.

[jac]

In line with a couple of other threads running I'm also starting to look for a 2nd hand boat for next season and would like some help/suggestions.

Budget is £15k-£20k for the boat herself. I'm looking for something with good performance (the ex dinghy sailor in me coming out) around 25-28 feet in length. GRP. Inboard Diesel. Something like a Spring 25 apart from the accomodation.

I will sail mainly with my girlfriend and another couple so really would like forecabin and quartercabin seperate from the saloon. I just haven't seen many designs in that budget range that meet the requirements.

Hoping that someone out there has some models in mind

 

[claymore]

Westerly Griffon would do it. 26ft, bombproof and good sailing capabilities. Well built and spacious below - not open plan. Hunter Delta is another thats worth looking at and you'd struggle to spend more than 10K to pick an excellent one. Tremendous sailor and you just need to dump any inhibitions as far as the other couple are concerned.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by claymore on Tue Sep 11 16:26:08 2001 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[ChrisJ]

Westerly GK29 would give better sailing performance, but with slightly less room down below.

 

[rex_seadog]

As the owner of a Hunter Delta I can endorse the comments regarding its performance. (And ours is the twin keel version). However most have outboard motors and the accommodation is hardly suitable for your purposes! Perhaps worth considering is the Delta derivative, the Hunter Horizon 26 and later the 27. These, at least, have separate aft cabins but with an open plan saloon/fore cabin plus improved head room. Others such as the smaller Sadlers have an enclosed forecabin plus a saloon. Finding a boat in this range with separate fore and aft cabins, together with good performance may prove difficult.

 

[billskip]

You can buy a lot of boat for 20k in Greece also sailing her back is great fun. You will find she will sell for more when you return if you wish to sell. Also keeping a boat in greece is cheaper than UK and much better sailing. I bought a Gibsea 126 ketch and she costs me £600 a year to launch and recover and store not bad for a 47ft loa boat .

billskip@hotmail.com

 

[Stemar]

I sail on a Westerly Chieftain, which is a Centaur (26ft) with an aft cabin that sleeps two. You need to be a bit agile to use the aft cabin, but I doubt there are many in the size range you asked for that would give you much better accommodation. You could get a really good one for change from £15000.

Performance is sedate rather than sparking, or at least ours is, with her knackered sails, but she's got a good engine and is as tough as old boots, and, as we've found, there's a lot to be said for tough, into the teeth of an 8 off Selsey Bill!

 

[Guest]

I know I've posted these boat suggestions before but in case you haven't seen them then they are,

Etap 26, Contessa 28, Pegasus 800, Trapper 300, Sadler 25 and UFO 27.

I think you'll be hard pushed to find the accomodation you want with "dinghy-like" performance in this price/size range as someone has already mentioned. I went for an Etap 26 in the end but all of the above are worth considering it just depends what you're priorities are!

 

[billmacfarlane]

If performance is a priority try the Super Seal. As a bonus you get shoal draft capabilities. Another one to look at is the Kelt 850 - again shoal draught and with a very decent aft cabin. Good luck.

 

[mark]

How about an MG 27? You could just about pick one up for c.£20K. Fantastic sailing performance (and under power) and good in a blow but some have been raced hard so need thorough survey. Quarter berth more of a generous single than a double.