Recommendations for a first sailing boat please.

[Algol]

In a cruising yacht this requirement is best met by having twin keels , which the vast majority of the local boats do.

This is true. But there are a fair number of keelboats locally too. With a single keel you'll be restricted by tides more, and won't have the option of sitting on the mud. It depends whether you want bilge keel performance at sea vs a little more flexibility on mooring/drying out

I would visit the local clubs which include Morecambe, Glasson, Blackpool & Fleetwood and the Ribble Cruising Club at Lytham.

My club, the Ribble Cruising Club has a dock which you can get in and out of around high tides, a crane and onshore hardstanding for overwintering and maintenance. As with all clubs, fees are low compared to the local marinas, in the order of a couple of hundred a year. Preston Marina is about £1400 a year for a 28' boat.

 

[kdband]

Thanks and a little more info

Hi all,

Thanks for all your replies. As I said up-front, I'm not sure I fully understand my own requirements but your comments are helping to give me an insight into some of the things I need to consider. Some of you have been kind enough to offer specific makes and models which gives me something to look at and draw comparisons against.

Thanks particularly to misterg, I was aware that buying the boat was only the start of the spending but your 'incomplete' list certainly helps focus the mind and your other observations and the link to the yachtsnet website are very useful.

Particular thanks also to JimC, your description of my local sailing area is very useful. I knew there was a good reason why I was thinking about twin keels. I was hoping to visit a few of the local sailing clubs within the next couple of months, including your own, but I suspect I may not get a chance to do that this side of Christmas.

I know it's probably not what many of you are into, but the idea of a floating caravan doesn't completely put me off . I want to try and keep the family involved and I can't really see them doing that if we go for a dayboat, no matter how well it performs.

Just a couple of final points, I am hoping to get away for a weeks charter next May, but the costs of chartering regularly are whats making me think about buying. What I really need is more experience, preferably including the family. I'd like to be able to get away sailing whenever we have a quiet weekend.

The budget is definitely not fixed, I would consider doubling the budget if it get's me a much better boat, I'm just not sure I should be doing that until we've seen how it works out, i.e. buy cheap now and upgrade in a year or two's time if we're all still enjoying it. In the meantime, if you think there's a more expensive boat worth of consideration, please feel free to suggest it.

Finally, I'm not sure if it makes any difference to the towing argument, but I do have access to a single-cab Toyota Hilux just like the one that Clarkson and co tried to destroy in Top Gear. This does have low ratio 2 & 4 wheel gearing and I imagine it has a greater towing capacity than the Honda.

Thanks again.

Kevin.

 

[crewman]

Possible boats

I understand you are planning on bringing the boat home in winter for maintenance, not trailer sailing where you tow the boat around a lot. Taking the boat home is great, it means that you can pop out to do 1/2 hr on the boat, and if you have forgotten the tool it is in the garage 2 mins away!
The availability of a Hilux should widen the scope of possible boats particularly if you can increase the budget a little. One possibility is a Hunter Duette which is a bilge keel version of a Sonata with a different topsides giving 4 decent berths.

 

[jac]

I'm in a similar position to the OP but perhaps a bit more experience having sold the 1st boat a couple of years ago and now waiting til the youngest is out of nappies before we buy again!

My 2p.

If you can afford a bigger budget - use it. You will need to keep £1k back for the extras as previously mentioned + club fees, insurance, mooring costs. If £10k is available spending £8k on the boat will get you a significantly better boat that the £3k - £4k purchase that a £5k budget will get you.

Go for something relatively well known and popular. IF you decide it's not for you then it's possible you could sell a duette or similar for what you bought it for and without too much pain. Selling some 1 off speciality boat will be a gamble.

LOOK AROUND A LOT. get to know what your money will buy. When you have a model firmly in mind - go and see lots of them - even just looking at specs online will give an indication of how much your "bargain" really is.

Be aware of the extras. The hull and basic structure of any common boat whould be ok for years - the hidden expenses are the rigging ( replace after 10 years) Sails (depends on use but be wary of 20 year old with original sails - they'll be knackered ) and engine ( which should make 20 years + if maintained) and electronics ( if needed.)

IF the boat looks a little unloved - has all the original equipment ( + the occasional add on) and is over 10 years old then think long and hard - if things are not being replaced then are they being maintained?

 

[kdband]

Hi Crewman, yes you're exactly right. I'm only planning on trailering the boat twice a year. To bring it home in winter and take it back again the following spring. I have no idea whether I'm likely to save any money in doing this but that's not really the point. The idea is that I can work on and improve it whenever I have some free time, even if it's only an hour here and there in the evenings.
The other thing that's been pointed out is that even if the Honda or the Hilux aren't upto the job, it's not going to break the bank to hire a Land Rover or something else with a little more power, if I'm only going to be doing it twice a year.
Thanks for your suggestions, I'll add them to the list of boats to look at.

 

[pmagowan]

I have just got my first boat but have sailed with others my whole life. we felt it was great to own your own as it allows the freedom to just head out on a nice weekend. From what you have said I would consider increasing your budget to as much as you can afford. The attitude of 'buy cheap and if it doesn't work out' will mean it wont work out. You need to have what it takes to interest the rest of the family.
A good heads
A small but neat galley
Some reasonable births
Stability (a decent keel on a boat that is bigger than a dingy)
An engine (inboard pref)

I would advise a good look round. Check the main things when visiting but dont be too worried if a boat is a bit scruffy (thats how you get a bargain). If you are buying an oldish boat and are prepared to do maintenance and a bit of tidying up, then if it doesnt work out you can sell for a similar price, maybe more?

I would look at 26' and over. Find one you like then post on forums and look up owners websites. If the whole family takes to your comfortable leisurely sailer then in a couple of years you may be looking at something a bit racier.

Just my opinion