OK I admit it I made a mistake !

[wytco0]

I have now spent nearly a year trying to work out which boat to buy that I could use to teach myself to sail and then travel round the UK and then RTW.

I have now realised, just as many of you told me some time ago, that this doesn't make sense and so I am now planning to follow the Dylan Winter method of just buying almost any boat and doing some sailing.

As I have been looking at bigger boats I know next to nothing about the sort of boat I should consider so I would appreciate some ideas of suitable boats for my short-list.

Here is my list of things I would like to have:

1. Bilge Keel as I want to base it in North Norfolk and explore the area.
2. Something that be sailed single handed by a novice.
3. On-board engine
4. Would prefer a sea toilet
5. Big enough for 2 people to sleep on for a week or so at a time.
6. Cheap, under £10k preferably under £5k

Forum suggestions being looked at:

1. Westerley Centaur
   Forum Favorite, lots available,​
2. Newbridge Virgo Voyager
3. Sadler 25
   Seems to be well regarded and built​
4. Four-21
5. Jaguar 25
6. Westerly Pageant
   Had a quick look at one ofthese only outsode though as it was in provate yard, looked like a well made boat.​
7. Trident 24 (triple keel)
8. Caprice's/Pandora's/Hurley's/Anderson's
9. Mirror Offshore
   e.g. slug small <20 foot​
10. Mirage 28
    2 foot longer than the biggest I have viewed before and, thats a lot of extra space inside the boat, really like the Mirage seesm very strong and safe but I am worried that its too much for me as a novice. I will try and find a Mirage 26 to view, that might be perfect for me.​
11. Mirage 26
12. Cobra 750
13. Cobra 850
14. Hurley 24
15. Tomahawk 25
16. Sabre 27
17. Eventide 24ft (Maurice Griffith)
18. Twin keel Seawolf 26
19. Hurley 22
20. Anderson 22
    Lifting Keel not bilge
    [*]Colvic Sailer 26

    Good use fo space internally and nice an easy to move around on deck. Seemed a bit more modern.​

    [*]Hunter Horizon 26
    [*]Atlanta Faroes 24

    2 feet makes a fair bit of difference compared to 26 foot Sailer, also mich more cramped on deck.​

    [*]Leisure 27

    Going to have a look at one of these soon.​

    [*]Gibsea 262
    ​

​

 

[flipper]

Westerly Centaur

 

[Tradewinds]

Sadler 25. Fin or bilge keeler.

I had a bilge keeler - excellent boat.

 

[martyn78]

Folkboat

 

[wytco0]

Sadler 25. Fin or bilge keeler.

I had a bilge keeler - excellent boat.

Saw one of these in PBO this month looks very nice.

 

[armchairsailor]

Four-21 bilge keeler. Good to singlehand, about 2-2.5k, bulletproof, simple.

 

[Tranona]

The inboard engine bit is the key. Plenty of boats to fit the other criteria, but many of the smaller ones won't have an inboard or if they do it will be an old petrol or underpowered diesel. However, £10k is a healthy budget that will open up 25-27 footers which are more likely to have good, maybe even relatively new, inboards. Such boats (Westerly Centaur type but there are many others) are not only excellent for learning but are big enough for quite adventurous cruising as you gain experience.

The trick is to buy one that is in the best condition you can and get sailing, rather than spending less on one that "needs work".

The advantages of buying a popular boat like a Centaur is that there is usually a good choice so you can make comparisons, lots of people have experience of them so can offer help and advice (good owners association) and are relatively easy to sell on when you want to movee up.

 

[the_branflake]

Jaguar 25 can be had for this money with inboard engine. A centaur is probably a better boat, but i like mine.

 

[All_at_Sea]

Westerly Pageant - great small bilge keeler and sails amazingly well. About 5K should find a good one.

 

[Kelpie]

Lots of choice. Might want to consider how you prioritise accomodation vs. performance.
E.g. a Pageant or a smaller Snapdragon can be very good value for money but something like a Sadler would probably sail the pants off it.

Are you willing to consider lift keels as well?

Oh and if triple keels are OK with you, the Trident 24 could be on the list.

 

[Seajet]

A Pageant will sail rings around any Snapdragon, small or large, all day long !

They can be pricey for what they are though; I think a Centaur is probably the best bet, for all the reasons Tranona mentions.

The Sadler 25 is an excellent fast seaworthy boat in a whole other league, but good twin keelers will be expensive and probably thin on the ground.

If buying a boat with an inboard, if you don't know much about diesel installations take someone who does, as repairs can be expensive let alone engine changes; and if this is the case it would be imperative to take an engine course ASAP.

 

[mjcoon]

E.g. a Pageant or a smaller Snapdragon can be very good value for money but something like a Sadler would probably sail the pants off it.

I remember the Snappy 747 (~24 feet) from early years of flotilla sailing, mid 1970s. I'm sure we had four large chaps on one for a fortnight. Don't recollect anything about the speeds, though...

Mike.

 

[Fantasie 19]

Is there a specific reason you want an inboard?

There are a shedload of small boats in the bilge/lifting keel category that would be ideal for your purposes, but are usually propelled by outboard...

I have a Fantasie 19 (probably a bit small for you) but Caprice's/Pandora's/Hurley's/Anderson's can all be had for good money in a sailable condition... chap at my club has just bought a Europa with good sails, almost new rigging, 4 stroke o/board, some electrics, and a tender for £1200.......

 

[davidej]

One of the small British Hunters )not the americam ones). Will sail better that the otrher suggestions.

One of my friend has bought a nice bilge keel 27ft (I think ) well equipped with a newish beta engine for about £8-9K

 

[Seajet]

Not the Anderson 22 briefly alluded to by Fantasie 19 it won't !

Still that seems a good deal on a Horizon.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Mirror Offshore

 

[sailorman]

I have now spent nearly a year trying to work out which boat to buy that I could use to teach myself to sail and then travel round the UK and then RTW.

I have now realised, just as many of you told me some time ago, that this doesn't make sense and so I am now planning to follow the Dylan Winter method of just buying almost any boat and doing some sailing.

As I have been looking at bigger boats I know next to nothing about the sort of boat I should consider so I would appreciate some ideas of suitable boats for my short-list.

Here is my list of things I would like to have:

1. Bilge Keel as I want to base it in North Norfolk and explore the area.
2. Something that be sailed single handed by a novice.
3. On-board engine
4. Would prefer a sea toilet
5. Big enough for 2 people to sleep on for a week or so at a time.
6. Cheap, under £10k preferably under £5k

If based in Nth Norfolk you will only sail every 2 weeks due to the tides

 

[Twister_Ken]

Mirage 26 or 28
Cobra 750 or 850

Both designed on the E coast for the E coast

 

[Kukri]

Westerly Centaur.

 

[dylanwinter]

have the slug

for five K you can have the slug

spend a few thou on the engine

perfecto

and it is already in wells

d