Sadler 26 Information

[tim_mitchell]

I intend to buy my first boat and will probably go for a Sadler 26. I am looking for yacht with nice lines, sails well, roomy enough for a family of 5 and which will be safe, even in a real blow. She must be 26' or less because of the length limitation of my mooring. I think that the Sadler 26 fits the bill (and also my budget). I would be very grateful to get views from other Sadler owners or owners of yachts of a similar profile. In particular,

Can anyone recommend a better yacht which meets my requirements?
Sadler 25 or 26?
Fin or Bilge keel?
Anything specific I should be looking out for when I view to purchase?
Comparisons of cabin layout variants?
Pros and cons of various years of make
Osmosis suscecptability?

All information and advice gratefully received. Thank you very much.

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[StephenW]

Tim
Both 25 and more recent 26 are good boats and well respected. 26 probably preferable and willprobably hold value/be easier o resell. Mike Lucas Yachting and Sadler and Starlight Owners assn have much info. (see below)

Fin is stiffer (less heel) but bilge means you can enter more harbours etc so for mainly short-hop coastal sailing bilge is probably better.

Suggest post-85/86 if you can becasue I believe the resins changed (for the better) then. It is a double skin foam filled sandwich so worthwhile getting a surveyor familiar with this type of boat who can spot if there's any problem with foam delamination or lifting deck/chainplates - not frequently a problem but worth being aware of. See Mike Lucas Yachting
http://www.mikelucasyachting.co.uk/frameset.htm
and
http://www.sadlerandstarlight.co.uk/

Sadler didn't put filler pigment in their resin or gellcoat below the waterline so less problem with Osmosis.

I know budget and mooring are constraints but if you can stretch to a 29 it is very similar but roomier and better performance when punching through headseas.

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[jorinda]

Go for the 26, our 25 sails beautifully and looks great but the only downside is lack of headroom in the cabin, so most things are done sitting down. Bilge keels as we have a mud berth but they dont seem to affect performance that much. Best of luck with whatever you decide to buy.

<hr width=100% size=1>The Chandler at Bucklers Hard