New boat

[merlin3688]

Having sailed in Dinghies all my life the wife and I would like to buy a cruiser, sailing out of the East coast so would need to be suitable to not much water! Have a budget of about 10k, any ideas of a suitable first yacht?

 

[maby]

East coast = bilge keelers. Small bilge keelers = Hunter!

Join the Hunter Owners Association (http://www.hunterassociation.org.uk/site/viewforum.php?f=1) to learn more - there seems to be a couple of potentials in your price range on their For Sale board now.

We had a Ranger 265 for a couple of years and loved her - just eventually out grew it and needed more space.

Mandatory small print : other shoal draft boats are available!

 

[Bobc]

Or lifting Keels. Also look at Parkers (built in Essex).

 

[onesea]

East coast = bilge keelers. Small bilge keelers = Hunter!

Join the Hunter Owners Association (http://www.hunterassociation.org.uk/site/viewforum.php?f=1) to learn more - there seems to be a couple of potentials in your price range on their For Sale board now.

We had a Ranger 265 for a couple of years and loved her - just eventually out grew it and needed more space.

Mandatory small print : other shoal draft boats are available!

East Coast = Bilge Keelers. Small bilge keelers = Trident 24!

You do not need ot join there association just ask them they are very friendly

http://www.trident24.com/

I have one although she is for sail as I have just moved on for more space...

Manditory Small print other small craft are available

Seriously.. Look on as many boats as possible, remember every boat is a compromise. I would consider buying something to get you started with the view in a year or 4's time you will know what you like doing with cruisers.

Then you can make your own judgement on this prickly question..

 

[jellylegs]

You wont get a Parker/Super Seal 26 for 10k. Also, Parker were built in Boston Lincs.

Check out the Westerly Centaur, there are several bargains for sale right now. Make sure you go for a late one with a new engine, for future peace of mind. 9k should get you a nice one.

Also, look at macwester and Snapdragon, very good at settling in mud.
Catamaran, Heavenly twins have a good reputation, whether you like the look or not.

You might even get a Jaguar 25 or 27. Bilge keels, and lifting swing keel on 25, but wont sit upright with the tide out.

 

[WilliamUK]

For completeness, don't forget the Corribee. It comes in fin and bilge keels so look out for the perfect boat with the wrong kind of bottom.

Great site at www.corribee.org (check the For Sale section) or read the Wikipedia page for a summary and a taste of its cruising pedigree.

 

[merlin3688]

Great, thanks for the thoughts, familiar with the Hunter/Parker range of boats so may go down this route but will take advice and look at a few. A few looked at on Ebay and I know a couple of people who have purchased so may give that a try, of course I would look first before bidding but I am sure there are some bargains out there!

 

[Tranona]

You could easily end up with a "long" list of at least 50 boats, all of which will have their advocates here. Look at what other people use in your location. Concentrate on popular models, choose one that is ready to go, in particulr in this sector with a good or recent engine and good sails (these alone new can cost nearly as much as your total budget). This gets you sailing quickly so you can find out what you like and don't like. If you have chosen a popular boat you will be able to sell it easily when you want to move on/up. Very few people keep their first boat for long.

 

[maby]

You can't go wrong with a Hunter - they are tough little boats, well thought out and stable. Not the fastest in the world, but no slouch either. The other advantage over most of the alternatives is that the production line is still open - albeit under different ownership - and British Hunter still can supply spares for many of their older boats.

 

[Leighb]

Lots of us on the East Coast sail fixed keel yachts of moderate draft, don't rule them out entirely.
We draw 1.4m and can go practically anywhere. Admittedly I would not want to dry out on a mudbank.

 

[yodave]

My opinion?

Don't look at anything that won't take the ground easily. We have lifting keels in our club, and they simply aren't as practical as an East coast solution as a bilge/twin keel set-up.

You might have a nice soft muddy mooring to dry out on ...but if you have any intentions of going anywhere for an overnight or longer, you will have no idea what you're going to be settling down on to.

Fin keels? Almost all of the yacht at our club that stay out of the water come the start of the season are fin keels. Don't do it.

Good luck!

 

[Wansworth]

Ask yourself what kind of boat for theEast coast,what will give you hours of pleasure;will give others pleasure when you sail by and will be an endless subject for photographers.....a nice Bawley.