DoubleEnder
Well-known member
I’m going to be looking for a new to me sailing boat. For all the usual reasons the max length is 8metres.
Now it seems to me that it’s a long, long time since any mainstream boatbuilders offered anything as small as this. So, any production yacht that meets the size criterion is going to be really quite old. Late 90s maybe, more likely 1980s or older. I have no problem with this in principal but …… it seems to me that most 25- 26 footers of this age are kind of down on their luck with old sails, engines, upholstery, headlining, electrics, instruments. I understand why, and I think there are a few honourable exceptions but not many. I know that all this can be replaced, repaired etc, but that takes time effort and money and I don’t have a lot of any of those.
the boat will be used for limited cruising on the South Coast, maybe cross channel, all very tame. I’d like a little bit of comfort, reasonable berths for 2, a loo, a cooker. A table. I’m 5’10” so reasonable headroom say 5’6”.
So, I’m thinking what about a wooden boat? In contrast to old GRP yachts, it’s not unusual to find a wooden boat that has been rebuilt, restored, updated and is generally fresher than most MABs. Plenty that have had major restoration in the past 10 years with many of the items listed above having been replaced. For example there are a couple of Stellas on the market, well under £10k. I haven’t inspected them but you see my point? There was a gorgeous little Harrison Butler ( too small but lovely) that had been comprehensively reconstructed, again for very little money. Sold, unsurprisingly.
Am I missing a rich vein of 26 footers in good condition? Or am I just trying to justify a prejudice in favour of timber construction?
Now it seems to me that it’s a long, long time since any mainstream boatbuilders offered anything as small as this. So, any production yacht that meets the size criterion is going to be really quite old. Late 90s maybe, more likely 1980s or older. I have no problem with this in principal but …… it seems to me that most 25- 26 footers of this age are kind of down on their luck with old sails, engines, upholstery, headlining, electrics, instruments. I understand why, and I think there are a few honourable exceptions but not many. I know that all this can be replaced, repaired etc, but that takes time effort and money and I don’t have a lot of any of those.
the boat will be used for limited cruising on the South Coast, maybe cross channel, all very tame. I’d like a little bit of comfort, reasonable berths for 2, a loo, a cooker. A table. I’m 5’10” so reasonable headroom say 5’6”.
So, I’m thinking what about a wooden boat? In contrast to old GRP yachts, it’s not unusual to find a wooden boat that has been rebuilt, restored, updated and is generally fresher than most MABs. Plenty that have had major restoration in the past 10 years with many of the items listed above having been replaced. For example there are a couple of Stellas on the market, well under £10k. I haven’t inspected them but you see my point? There was a gorgeous little Harrison Butler ( too small but lovely) that had been comprehensively reconstructed, again for very little money. Sold, unsurprisingly.
Am I missing a rich vein of 26 footers in good condition? Or am I just trying to justify a prejudice in favour of timber construction?
