seawych vs leisure 17

[Guest]

I want to buy my first boat, initially for day trips pick-nicks and pottering, but hopefully in a few years time to try some short cruises, across the channel or even the Irish Sea. Having a young family, My budget is quite limited (£2500 max).....I don't think that I would do much trailor sailing, and the ability to dry out level, rather than performance has steered me towards two likely candidates. The leisure 17 and the Sadler Seawych 19.
Both designs seem popular with their owners, widely available, a strong class association, cheap and would I think make a good first boat. But are these boats the right type of choice? Does the 2 foot extra on the Seawych make a big difference. Are they both suitable for sailing single handed?..... Are there other, more suitable boats that I have overlooked?

 

[Avocet]

Don't know about the Seawych but I had a leisure 17 as a first boat and it was great. I think you'll struggle to do any distance with a couple of kids, though! it was only my wife and I at the time and we got under each others' feet plenty! Also, for longer passages, the leisure is very slow. In anything other than ideal conditions, you'll be lucky to make more than 4 knots over the ground.

 

[Guest]

Dave, Have very limited knowledge of 17 footers but please give the SKIPPER a very good looking over . It has a very veritable performance and is quite a stiff boat in a blow . The version i have sailed was not very suitable for off shore work as there was a large opening in the transom to let the tiller operate and a running sea could inject a lot of water into the bilge which was almost impossible tto empty . A good boat though
Ray