Ocean Cruising and Live aboard on a limited budget

[Johan_Sailing]

Hi,
I would like to request advice on which boat would be best suited for my goals.

I wish to sail from Europe to South-Africa.
I have a budget of 50k euro to buy a boot, including upgrades and refits.
What kind of boat would be suitable?


Thanks in advance, Johan

 

[newtothis]

I have a budget of 50k euro to buy a boot.

That's an expensive boot, and a long walk.

 

[14K478]

Hi,
I would like to request advice on which boat would be best suited for my goals.

I wish to sail from Europe to South-Africa.
I have a budget of 50k euro to buy a boot, including upgrades and refits.
What kind of boat would be suitable?


Thanks in advance, Johan

You don’t need to spend as much as that.

Look for a smaller, older, boat designed for longer distances (a Vertue is the classic example).

Look for very high quality, not for gadgets.

 

[dunedin]

Where are you based?
With that budget and going blue water will want as big a boat as possible, then inevitably looking at older boats, possibly around €30k or less to allow for ocean preparations.
But the types of such older boats available will differ significantly in the UK (where most people on here are from) vs other parts of Europe.

Expect a wide range of recommendations based on personal preferences, but the reality is the person makes more difference than the boat for such an ambitious plan.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

 

[14K478]

All very solid recommendations.

 

[Sea Change]

The type of boat doesn't matter very much*.
People get hung up on the perfect bluewater boat. But all that matters is that you keep it in decent condition and you don't try to sail in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Friends of mine are about to complete their circumnavigation on a newish Dufour which has had minimal bluewater upgrades. All done with very little fuss.

Equally, you can fix up an older boat and use that, and it will likely work out a lot cheaper.

To make the most of your budget, look for something where all the expensive bits are already good- engine, rig, sails, instruments. It's rarely financially sensible to take on a project and fix it up.

* One caveat, you don't want a design which represents an extreme end of the design spectrum. So no racers, no motor-sailers. A basic middle of the road cruising boat.

 

[14K478]

/\ Good advice!

Long distance sailing is hard on things that don’t get a lot of use in ordinary sailing. Sails, in particular, wear out, and they are horribly expensive to replace.