Sadler 32 - advice

[Johnny Rose]

Hello everyone
For more than a month I have been in Greece searching for a small boat to liveabord in summer months. It will only be my family (I have a son) - so I'm looking for something around 30-35ft . I have seen many boats within my 15 k budget. It is my third time asking for advice in this forum , and I have got good info every time.
I like the classic design boats , and I am more interested in sailing capabilities than space and accommodation. This time I think I found her. It is a 1987 Sadler 32, and it is in a good condition, as good a boat that is not sailed regularly can be. I saw that there are a few Sadler owners in this forum, and they all seem to love their boat - and this must mean something.
I have found a few things to do on this one but what I am concerned about is a softer spot on the deck , about a foot before the shroud on both sides of the boat. Also there is water ingress around the chainplates (I have seen another Sadler and she had the same problem), but this seem to be common. Maybe water ingress around stanchion bases.
Apart from this , boat looks solid. 2016 Yanmar 29 HP. Boat is a little over my budget but, compared to the rest of the boats I found, could be the one.
What do you think?

I attach some pics.

Also, please excuse grammar mistakes, English is not my native language.

 

[Dutch01527]

Each to there own but a boat of that size would not be my choice for the summer in Greece with family. Over 80% of the time you will be at anchor or moored. A lot of the remaining 20% you will be using the engine. The Sadler is a fine boat but better suited to day / weekend sailing because of the accommodation. To me sailing performance would be secondary to space and comfort especially with family aboard. If it is just you and your son it would probably be ok. If you also have a partner I would make very sure that they were also of a like mind to you. The Mediterranean is full of unused boats because the reality of being cramped in a small space in 30 degrees plus heat did not meet a partners dream.

Would also worry about that water ingress. What damage has been done that you can not see?

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Each to there own but a boat of that size would not be my choice for the summer in Greece with family. Over 80% of the time you will be at anchor or moored. A lot of the remaining 20% you will be using the engine. The Sadler is a fine boat but better suited to day / weekend sailing because of the accommodation. To me sailing performance would be secondary to space and comfort especially with family aboard. If it is just you and your son it would probably be ok. If you also have a partner I would make very sure that they were also of a like mind to you. The Mediterranean is full of unused boats because the reality of being cramped in a small space in 30 degrees plus heat did not meet a partners dream.

Would also worry about that water ingress. What damage has been done that you can not see?

I'll second that, and add that I hope not to offend, but the Sadler 32 isn't such a great sailing boat. Fixing soft side decks isn't a trivial job either, you've no idea how far the damp goes, and it all has to come out.

I'd be looking for First 305s and 32s which make great Med boats for small families. And will outsail the Sadler any day.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

You can expect to have to chase out the water logged rotten balsa core under the decks around the chain plates and as you say that extends a foot behind the shrouds it may well be extensive and will almost certainly require cutting out a section of the deck, replace the core material when you get back to sound material. There are various things you can use from a closed cell foam to plywood, then you will need to regales the deck. If the chainplates have corroded then you may have to replace them.
It will be hot below decks but you can mitigate that with a windscoop and a good bimini over the cockpit a lot depends on how used to the heat you are.
The Sadler 32 is a good boat there are always problems with boats of this age so be prepared to have to work on the boat. I used to sail and race on one a lot so I have no hesitation in saying that subject to the maintenance issues she will be a sound boat, if you take the plunge it would be worthwhile contacting the Sadler owners association.
One point that has just occurred to me is that the Sadler 29 and 34 used closed cell foam in the hull lining and were regarded as unsinkable but I don't think the 32 did and if it did why did it not use it in the deck construction and if so why the soft spots.

 

[Stemar]

I'm not sure the heads behind a curtain arrangement is ideal for a liveaboard family.

 

[Poey50]

Having a Sadler 32 I'm obviously not going to hear anything said against its sailing ability. You can judge the size for itself. But I do agree with other comments about soft side decks. Although you have found that on the two you have looked at it is not a problem you should expect to find and not straightforward. If the seller was willing to get it fixed at their expense and then subject to a survey I might take it seriously but otherwise I'd walk away.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Having a Sadler 32 I'm obviously not going to hear anything said against its sailing ability. You can judge the size for itself. But I do agree with other comments about soft side decks. Although you have found that on the two you have looked at it is not a problem you should expect to find and not straightforward. If the seller was willing to get it fixed at their expense and then subject to a survey I might take it seriously but otherwise I'd walk away.

If the OP is OK with the work then it really won't be expensive to remedy, depending on how good he is a GRP work and repainting the decks with grey anti slip it shouldn't be a big issue but is certainly one to negotiate the price down significantly.

 

[eddystone]

I survived on mine for 8 weeks during lockdown but that was just me - I think S32 is too cramped for 2 people to live on especially in the Med as ventilation is limited. The saloon is quite spacious for the size but ends are cramped and I would want a separate heads compartment and cabin with a door to live on.
Admittedly not sailed a First 305 since 1986 but definitely prefer the Sadler to sail.
Why all the staining on the flow coat round the keel bolts in the bilges?

 

[eddystone]

The NHC rating for the 305 is almost identical to the Sadler 32 which has solid hull and sandwich decks BTW

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

The NHC rating for the 305 is almost identical to the Sadler 32 which has solid hull and sandwich decks BTW

I knew that I'd annoy people! NHC is famously, umm, variable. I've sailed both too, but had a 305 in Greece for ten years and know that it's very suitable. The OP should be able to find one within his budget.

 

[Hydrozoan]

The heads is behind the saloon door but I believe that. in addition, on 'de luxe' models the bi-fold doors to the forepeak also closed across the heads side of the heads / wet locker area - but I may be wrong on that. A point about the chainplate ‘cover sections’ on the deck, if you were to decide to proceed: make sure that the undercover sealant (I think the yard used a polysulfide sealant on ours) cures somewhat before screwing the cover sections right down so that too much sealant is not squeezed out on tightening fully.

 

[Johnny Rose]

The space / accomodation is not an issue. My lady is on the same page as me. We spent a lot of time in a caravan (we have a place in the mountains where we have a caravan ) and we are used to live in 8sqm.
We looked at a lot of boats. There is only one First 305 in these waters. I know that the LWL is bigger, and it sails well, I like the interior plan but headroom is low, and I am 6.1. No F32 around, and I do not know if it is within my budget. Speaking of budget we had in the final a Rasmus 35, which has great accommodation. But it had a 30 HP Volvo, and at it weights a lot. It would have been soo slow. Plus I want to go upwind, not motor.. The other option was a Moody S31 - very nice boat with a modern layout . Ex -charter boat. But it had water ingress from all the windows and anchor chain locker. Although it was on shore, it was full of water. Most of the (ply)wood needed replacement..Although it was good value for money, it was too much work. Keep in mind it is not something I can work on weekends...
But back to the Sadler. This has the bi-fold doors ( de luxe option , it seems ), so no curtains. It is the most ready to sail option within my budget. The decks are not mellow. I have been on boats with delamination on decks. It is not the case here. This one has a softer spot ( I attached a photo) on both sides. The guys that take care of the boat say that it has always been like this...I hoped it is true, and wanted to ask the other owners.
Apart from this everything is solid. It has bimini, sprayhood, covers, new windlass and most of the things covered.

 

[James_Calvert]

We have a Sadler 32, which we bought new in 1985.

I'm not quite clear what you mean by a soft spot. Is it that the deck flexes a bit there, maybe creaks? Or something rather worse like it deflects significantly when you step on it. You would want to investigate it if it's bad.

Curious that it is in the same spot both sides, almost as if it's a consequence of a construction detail. Nothing similar on our boat. One thought occurs, Sadler Yachts as a company went bust in the late 80s and were succeeded by Sadler International. The new firm offered a Sadler 32 version with teak deck cladding, is it possible that this one used to have this, which failed and was removed? I know nothing about how they actually fastened the teak down, but could it have compromised the proper deck underneath, in the same place on both sides?

Hopefully someone will know if I'm talking rubbish!

Glad to see you like it otherwise. We sailed in company for a couple of years with a First 32, which was definitely faster. However in our opinion it wasn't so nice down below, the table got in the way when it was up and the mast support was right in the middle of it.

 

[eddystone]

Well you learn something every day! Mine has a door between the saloon and the heads and a curtain to the foc’sle (think that’s what crusty old salts call it) - didn’t know about bifolding doors.
Don’t understand why 30hp engine on a Rasmus would be a problem - I have a Beta 30 hp in my S32 and it weighs slightly less than the the Volvo it replaced
Re. the 305 don’t get me wrong it’s a nice boat but it’s basically a big dinghy. If you plan to go upwind in any sort of lumpy sea, make sure your fillings are secure. The slamming is awesome.

 

[James_Calvert]

Further to my comments about the First 32 above...

The saloon benches were too narrow to sleep on as they were. You could remove the seat backs, exposing the lockers behind, then they were fine. The seat backs could then be slotted into the front of their berths, which made them into good cot-like sea berths, or else if you weren't on passage, you found another place to put them, not so convenient.

In short, not so straight forward to convert the saloon into a sleeping area at night time as we like to do on our Sadler 32. And we have a double berth option to port...

 

[eddystone]

Further to my comments about the First 32 above...

The saloon benches were too narrow to sleep on as they were. You could remove the seat backs, exposing the lockers behind, then they were fine. The seat backs could then be slotted into the front of their berths, which made them into good cot-like sea berths, or else if you weren't on passage, you found another place to put them, not so convenient.

In short, not so straight forward to convert the saloon into a sleeping area at night time as we like to do on our Sadler 32. And we have a double berth option to port...

I do agree that the saloon on the Sadler 32 is its best point but be aware that if you are taller than me (5’11ish) you won’t fit on the fore cabin berths.

 

[James_Calvert]

I do agree that the saloon on the Sadler 32 is its best point but be aware that if you are taller than me (5’11ish) you won’t fit on the fore cabin berths.

Oh and mind your head as you pass through the main bulkhead!

I have slept a couple of times in the fo'c's'l (not sure about the apostrophes here), I'm 6 foot and no problem. Maybe you have a larger chain locker?

Interestingly one time was on passage, and I had my head in the narrow end. Surprisingly comfortable, maybe because my head was higher than my feet, and very little disturbance from engine noise, cockpit chat etc.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I'm not trying to say that the First is the best boat in the world - it ain't close, but if it was slamming that badly then you found the wavelength that it doesn't like. All boats have that, but big dinghy it is not.

Headroom, I'm 6'3" and ducked a bit. Not sure about the saloon berths, they only got used as day beds for the kids.

Anyway, my initial message was really to say not to get hung up on the supposed classics - more modern ex-charter boats may also be good sailing boats, and are not only more suitable for the Med, but can often be found at good prices. They may be a bit battered, but I'd rather be doing those sorts of repairs than replacing cored decks.

 

[Hydrozoan]

... But back to the Sadler. This has the bi-fold doors ( de luxe option , it seems ) ...

I called it the ‘de luxe’ version, but I’m not sure that was the official designation - and I suspect that its ‘extras’ specification may have changed over time. I believe it also entailed (at one time, anyway) in addition to the bi-fold doors instead of the canvas one, a hatch over the saloon, as well that over the forepeak, and perhaps an electric water pump or some other such ‘domestic’ upgrade(s).

 

[Poey50]

The space / accomodation is not an issue. My lady is on the same page as me. We spent a lot of time in a caravan (we have a place in the mountains where we have a caravan ) and we are used to live in 8sqm.
We looked at a lot of boats. There is only one First 305 in these waters. I know that the LWL is bigger, and it sails well, I like the interior plan but headroom is low, and I am 6.1. No F32 around, and I do not know if it is within my budget. Speaking of budget we had in the final a Rasmus 35, which has great accommodation. But it had a 30 HP Volvo, and at it weights a lot. It would have been soo slow. Plus I want to go upwind, not motor.. The other option was a Moody S31 - very nice boat with a modern layout . Ex -charter boat. But it had water ingress from all the windows and anchor chain locker. Although it was on shore, it was full of water. Most of the (ply)wood needed replacement..Although it was good value for money, it was too much work. Keep in mind it is not something I can work on weekends...
But back to the Sadler. This has the bi-fold doors ( de luxe option , it seems ), so no curtains. It is the most ready to sail option within my budget. The decks are not mellow. I have been on boats with delamination on decks. It is not the case here. This one has a softer spot ( I attached a photo) on both sides. The guys that take care of the boat say that it has always been like this...I hoped it is true, and wanted to ask the other owners.
Apart from this everything is solid. It has bimini, sprayhood, covers, new windlass and most of the things covered.

I think you've already decided.