sigma 33

[youen]

What to look after when you buy a Sigma 33.What are there well known defects,are the bulkheads bonded to the hull or are they built in the same way as Beneteau.Are they prone to osmosis.This one is from 1990 what is the current price for a good example.Is there problems with the mast and the rigging on a 20years old boat even if she was lightly race.How are they if you compare with a Storm 33 .Do you think these old boats are much better built than new ones.I want to buy a boat between 33 and 36 my budget is under 110000 Pounds
Thanks

 

[sailorman]

you will get a fine boat for £110000 look wider than the Sigma

 

[ebbtide]

Shared a Sigma 33 for a while, both cruising and racing - where 'broach' entered our vocabulary!
No comparison with a Storm 33 if you can afford it.

 

[CodStewart]

Sailorman is right. For example, how about a ferrocement boat for 109,000 pounds?
I'll throw in the Porta-Bote.

 

[nct1]

Need a survey.

Some surveyors expect the SS rigging replaced every 10 years, check the 4 chain plates for all 6 mast stays. Interiors can have a hard life, check all doors close easily, steel fuel tank should have been replaced by now, if on the original engine get someone to check it out.

In these conditions, price is what the market will bear, there are some fantastic ones and some real beat up ones out there, if it is a good one, the owner will know it's worth.

If your budget is 110K something newer will need less maintenance initially, but Sigmas sail really well (read fast compared to similar sized boats), if you put up the correct sail for the conditions, broaching will not be a problem ( I have never broached).

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

The classic Sigma 33 issue is damage around the hull to deck joint following racing impact on the toe rail..... they can be repaired, but often leak afterwards...

Most 33's have been raced hard, and will show wear and tear because of this.

 

[Judders]

Check all the places you check on racing boats. And if the rigging is 20 years old, then make sure you get a deduction for that from the asking price.

That said, at £110k, there are a lot of options in this market.

Personally, I'd be thinking £50k on an old Oyster 39. £20k on a refit and davits and £3k on a Flying 15.

 

[kds]

A friend recently bought one for £17,000. You are paying way over the odds for an old boat which requires a good crew in heavy weather. It will not look after you - you have to sail it well. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
ken

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

Loadsa money.!!!!!
A really good Sigma33 will cost in the region of 20 to 25K.Had one for 12years so here is the list of potential problem areas.
The floor frames which can crack with grounding or even poor support during the winter.
The keel seal can be suspect.
Dishing at the deck mast step due to eccessive rig tension or rotting at the base of the internal mast post.
Detached rigging points at the internal bulkheads. There was a standard mod. to beef these up.
Leaking at the forehatch. The original plastic framed hatches were rubbish.

Otherwise a dammed fine boat for racing and cruising.

The Storm33 as others have said is a very different proposition about which I know nothing

 

[DRANNIE]

If I had a 110k I would be looking at the reflex 38 currently for sale with boatshed I think its ex Jaguar Logic a proven race boat, or maybe a new ex-factory Jeaneau 32i which you might get for that sort of money from a desperate dealer.

 

[Alfie168]

Could there possibly be a loose zero in the OP posters budget? First thing I'd do is get that fixed... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If you came up here to Lincolnshire I'm sure nice Mr Parker would do you a decent new boat for £110k. And with a liftee uppee keel thingy you can sail it up a damp rag into the bargain /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://www.parkeryachts.co.uk/

Tim

 

[Abestea]

For Sale! Bargain!! One Sigma 33!

<------------------------------viewed here!

Only 105K reduced from 110K!

Its hard racing life has made sure it is fine.
Original components fitted for Retro look.
Original Engine. Runs well with warm water displacement inside to ensure clean floor.

 

[BarryT]

Assuming your budget isn't £110k, then by all means consider a Sigma 33, I had several years of enjoying sailing one, and certainly not a stodgy cruiser but then you don't get the same level of space as on a Storm 33.

If you want to look for more information look through the association website

http://www.sigma33.com/English/default.htm

and for what to look out for

http://www.sigma33.com/english/documents/maintenance/hopkins.htm

 

[Quandary]

The response from Nct1 is a proper relevant response to your query which I as a Sigma owner, racing and cruising for 20 years, would support. David Thomas was a real yacht designer. A good 1990 boat can not be worth more than £32,000 and there are very few younger than that. There are 33s around that never had a full racing tune and were never stressed, the secret is not to buy one that has ever won anything. The results can be checked on the websites. There are very few modern boats to compete with the Sigma as handicap racing result show, though as one designs they are often sailed by very competitive sailors. If you budget is really £110k for a 33 footer this would buy what I sail now (a Finngulf 33) really high quality build and gear and about 15% faster than the Sigma, though like a lot of the dart shaped modern hulls with an aft cabin it expects to be reefed at about 18kts. rather than 20-22. Another quality performance cruiser available for this money nearly new is the Maxi 1050 but the Finngulf is faster and has better gear and build. X yachts are also worth a look if you keep away from their more extreme designs. (The 110 is always cheap is a beautiful shape to drool over, but always needs at least 8 crew) . The new replacement for the 334 is nice but too expensive. Dehler also made a quick boat about this size but I suspect it is not as durable as the Sigma has been.