Newbie Advice

[JoeF]

Hullo, I am keen to get into cruising and buy a boat but I am having a hard time justifying the cost to my Mrs. I have thought about doing it in two steps buying a cheap boat that will be good enough learn and give the Mrs a taste and then in couple of years trading it in for a good boat. I am thinking of spending about £2,000 to £6,000 on the first boat and have found a Hunter Eurpoa that seems cheap and suitable.

Do you experienced folk think this is reasonable and could you suggest any boats for someone in my position? We are in the west coast of Scotland by the way.

Thanks very much.


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[AndCur]

Have you had a look at the Achilles 24 which would be well suited to your needs.
Take a look at this site. http://achilles24.users.btopenworld.com/index.htm
They come in a choice of keels and the price range is £4000-£6500


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[Peppermint]

Europa is a good boat. Tight for space but they go well. The usual suspects would include Hurley 22, Achillies 24, Prelude 19ft, Elizabethan 23, Swift 18 or Macwester 22. You'll be spoiled for choice with types but finding a good example might be tougher. Owners associations and local boat parks are as good a start point as any.

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[VirgoVoyager]

Hi, Joe, and welcome to the world of yachting! My recommendation would be Seamaster 23 - bullet proof construction, full headroom down below, nice roomy cockpit, easy to sail and you could get a decent one for your budget. Don't forget to allow about £250 for a survey. When I bought my Voyager (while looking for a Seamaster!) a made an offer "subject to survey". If the owner accepts this, then you don't have to worry about wasting the survey fee as a result of the boat being bought by someone else.

Good hunting

Stuart

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[ashanta]

I agree with Stuart. The Seamaster 23 is an excellent 1st boat. SWMBO would like the room and layout and they are very forgiving boat and built very strongly.

Regards.

Peter.

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[ongolo]

In all due respect, all suggestions here go against logics and experience.

Step One: replace wife and get a keen mate

Step Two: do as you like best

regards ongolo

)))

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[ships_parrot]

I don't know anything really about the Hunter Europa, but the Achilles 24 is a good boat to choose as your first bigger boat. I know this because I bought one last year for the very same thing.. They sail very well, especially if you take the outboard out of the well in the cockpit. Having the well in the cockpit is great too - you don't go aroung with a sting in your tail, you don't have to risk faffing with it over the stern, it's unlikely to get swamped there, and it doesn't lift out of the water going over waves either.

Space wise, you do pay for a quick boat a bit, but the cockpit's roomy - especially if you take the engine out. There's also room for a real sealoo... As mentioned by others, they come in a triple or fin keel, but the performance difference between the two is supposed to be quite small. If you're likely to dry out often, go for a triple...

They're also bang in your price range - I picked one up which needed some work for around the bottom of your price range. (could be worth looking in free ads papers as well as brokerage lists)


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[Aja]

Joe

Welcome. It very much depends on what is available for sale in the area you will be sailing.

The Hunter Europa is a decent day boat with the facilities to go weekending in.

Best of luck

Donald

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[sailorman]

Wot about "Willing Griffin" & David Blagden

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[Guest]

The trick is to ....

find the boat that Mrs. will accept .... if they don't it is like getting blood from a stone to get 'em to like it.
For the money you are talking there are Snapdragon 24's etc. out there ... even the odd 26 that would be better for you ... Why ? You need to make sure she can stand up inside, can sleep reasonably comfortably and have a galley to cook at least the Bacon and eggs that she will knock up for you ....

Honestly skimping on it will be a disaster !! The Hunter is a good boat - believe me, but Mrs will decide - not you !!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
So WHAT does the EU really stand for ????/forums/images/icons/cool.gif

 

[Spyro]

Buying the boat is only the first step its the upkeep and running costs you will have to justify to the Mrs. But you will never know unless you do it.

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[Aja]

Hardly fair for a 'newbie' to do a Transatlantic in his first boat, now is it?/forums/images/icons/wink.gif

Donald

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