sailing yacht to floating motorhome?

[Birdseye]

Sorry, couldnt resist but age and creakiness means we are coming to the end of our sailing, and to fend off any daft ideas SWMBO might have about caravans etc, I am contemplating buying a small stink boat. But I know absolutely sod all about them so I need advice.

We are based at Cardiff and sail the Bristol Channel which has few marinas and rather more harbours drying either to soft mud or to hard sand - so I would like a boat that can dry out. Its not an area for outboards IMO ( been there ) - what is needed is a reliable diesel. 20kn max would be acceptable. Maybe 26ft or thereabouts with a couple of cabins , a toilet, heads, cooker fridge . No flybridge but an aft area that is a bit like a patio because in reality I suspect it wont go very far and will mostly be a floating caravan.

Budget? I would like to be below £50k because thats what my yacht is likely to fetch. Suggests something older. Pal has a 26ft or thereabouts Sealine from the 90s which looks like a possible.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Coming over to the dark side, H? It does sound like what you need is a boat specifically designed to take the ground which immediately disqualifies most planing boats. If you really want to stay upright on a drying mooring, you'll need a boat with a keel and possibly drying out legs fitted to stop the thing falling over.

The kind of boats that immediately come to mind are Aquastars

Aquastar 33 Used Boat for Sale 1992(SOLD) | TheYachtMarket

Channel Islands

1990 Channel Island 32 Power New and Used Boats for Sale -

Nelson

1984 Nelson 820 Power New and Used Boats for Sale - www.yachtworld.co.uk

 

[Birdseye]

With great reluctance I think I might be "coming over".

Wont boats with lifteable outdrive legs dry out - assuming legs to the side also?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Wont boats with lifteable outdrive legs dry out - assuming legs to the side also?

In theory yes but the hulls arent designed to take the ground regularly but yes you'd probably be OK

 

[stelican]

What about a Nimbus

 

[simonfraser]

With great reluctance I think I might be "coming over".

Wont boats with lifteable outdrive legs dry out - assuming legs to the side also?

if you leave the leg up you will get barnies on the lifting rods, these damage the seals on the cylinders ££££££

 

[Zing]

A catamaran would work well at not rolling over.

 

[Oscar24]

' buying a small stink boat.'
You might get more replies on a motorboat forum if you didn't resort to insulting the group your hoping to join in your very first paragraph.

'With great reluctance I think I might be "coming over".'
Your second post isnt exactly complimentary either?

 

[jrudge]

I was thinking the same - thank you for articulating it !

 

[Blue Sunray]

One of these? If you're not fit enough to sail a 'stink pot' is not going to be much good to you for very long

 

[BruceK]

You lot should be more welcoming. The man has finally seen the light and it's taken him a lifetime to do so. Just goes to show it's never too late.
I agree with Deleted User. Outdrive and or planing hull drying out is never ideal but possible with beaching legs. Just look to Guernsey for evidence of that. The downside is every word I've heard is that lying on mud plays hell on AF effectiveness and a few spotty growths on a sailing boat is acceptable but on a planing poat can completely ruin your day. So if you are Cardiff based have a look at one of their marinas / other side the locks. Not all berths are overly dear.

 

[Greg2]

' buying a small stink boat.'
You might get more replies on a motorboat forum if you didn't resort to insulting the group your hoping to join in your very first paragraph.

'With great reluctance I think I might be "coming over".'
Your second post isnt exactly complimentary either?

I take your point but FWIW I took it as light hearted humour/banter - hopefully that is the way it was intended.
.

 

[Ferris]

In our club there are a group of older Gents (&Ladies) who all retired their sailing boats, they all bought Seaward 23's and 25's. One of them is in his 90's.

 

[thejonesey]

What about buying another sailing boat with bigger cockpit, facilities, drying legs etc and then motoring. Seem to be very popular in the Solent and then you wouldn't need to come over to the 'dark side.' Are you prepared for the motorboat running costs?

 

[[178529]]

' buying a small stink boat.'
You might get more replies on a motorboat forum if you didn't resort to insulting the group your hoping to join in your very first paragraph.

'With great reluctance I think I might be "coming over".'
Your second post isnt exactly complimentary either?

I was thinking the same. It would be a bit like going onto a gay forum and announcing that you don't really like the idea but reluctantly accept that you might be that way inclined. Although you can't see yourself beinbg friends with any of them.

 

[Ferris]

Also Nimbus 310 Coupe, mostly single engines but some available with twin 125hp.

also Mitchell 31 mk3 but probably a bit slow.

 

[Seastoke]

I was thinking the same. It would be a bit like going onto a gay forum and announcing that you don't really like the idea but reluctantly accept that you might be that way inclined. Although you can't see yourself beinbg friends with any of them.

I thought sailing ws a g thing , ie hello sailor

 

[Hurricane]

I thought sailing ws a g thing , ie hello sailor

Did you mean a WAFI

 

[Seastoke]

Did you mean a WAFI

What is WAFI.

 

[Pinnacle]

What is WAFI.

Wind Assisted ******* Idiot