Small (Cheap) Boat Capable of sailing from UK to Med (not via canals)

[jamiepyoung]

I've got an urge to buy a very cheap little boat (about £2,000 - 3000) and sail it from the UK to the Med single handed.

I want to go the long way round (via the Bay of Biscay) - what would you choose? Ideally something that wouldn't need too much work for that budget.

 

[VicS]

I've got an urge to buy a very cheap little boat (about £2,000 - 3000) and sail it from the UK to the Med single handed.

I want to go the long way round (via the Bay of Biscay) - what would you choose? Ideally something that wouldn't need too much work for that budget.

I knew someone who did that a few years ago in a 19ft Sea Wych. He returned the following year partly via the canals

 

[Sandyman]

Houza bout a Westerly Jouster 21ft for £1,600 ono berthed Gillingham Kent ?

 

[MonniotC]

Achilles 24, Anderson 22, Hurley 22 spring to mind.

 

[mikeinkwazi]

I've got an urge to buy a very cheap little boat (about £2,000 - 3000) and sail it from the UK to the Med single handed.

I want to go the long way round (via the Bay of Biscay) - what would you choose? Ideally something that wouldn't need too much work for that budget.

I did it in 1974 on a 26 footer. Averaged 30 miles per sea-day, so maybe go a tad bigger. Don't be in a hurry!

 

[oldharry]

Trident 24? Seaworthy, well proven, reasonably fast, very solid and several around within your budget. One attempted a Transat, and only failed when the SS gear collapsed and got caught in the stern gear doing irretrievable damage. Another is cruising somewhere in the Pacific, though it was shipped out to Aussie land. Well proven for shorter passages like crossing the western Channel. 5 good ones, ready to go, for sale here https://trident24.com/30-2/memberss-boats/, contact the Owners Association or see our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/trident24/requests/ where there are a couple more up for grabs.

 

[Tammany]

Hurley 22 bilge keel. You can cut costs as it can sit on drying moorings on the way round. External outboard which is easier to repair at stop off points. Old well respected name which means it's built like a tank.

 

[Tammany]

That is a very limited budget which kit out costs as well though.

 

[MOBY2]

+1 for the Trident as old Harry mentioned several about at the moment, very tough little boats, let us know how you get on, would like to do something like that myself but can't for a few years yet... Good luck

 

[Tammany]

I have the tridents younger bigger brother and can confirm the layup is very thick, almost an inch thick in places!!

 

[jamiepyoung]

We have a bigger boat which we live on, so hopefully can take some bit and pieces off this as required....

 

[DownWest]

We have a bigger boat which we live on, so hopefully can take some bit and pieces off this as required....

Begs the question.. Why not use the one you have? A slightly Shrimpy wish for minimal sailing? Your avator shows a boat around 35ft? Unless it has grown roots at it's mooring, it looks a far more comfortable vessel to go round the outside of Iberia with the possible safe haven problems. The price of a smaller yacht and the upgrading to make the voyage, would go a long way to improve your existing boat. Care to tell us more about the idea?
DW

 

[ShinyShoe]

That is a very limited budget which kit out costs as well though.

That was my immediate thought. But my kit out thoughts were a ton of electronics. Then I remembered they aren't actually essential. So assuming it comes with sails, outboard, anchor etc (i.e. can be sailed) what do you REALLY need:

- Charts
- Dinghy £150
- Sextant £75
- Hand bearing compass £50
- Steering Compass £30
- Single gas ring £30

VHF, GPS etc are all extras. I wouldn't be doing it without... but 70 years ago everyone did!

But hey - I also thought - Wayfarer as a boat suggestion :-D

 

[jamiepyoung]

That was my immediate thought. But my kit out thoughts were a ton of electronics. Then I remembered they aren't actually essential. So assuming it comes with sails, outboard, anchor etc (i.e. can be sailed) what do you REALLY need:

- Charts
- Dinghy £150
- Sextant £75
- Hand bearing compass £50
- Steering Compass £30
- Single gas ring £30

VHF, GPS etc are all extras. I wouldn't be doing it without... but 70 years ago everyone did!

But hey - I also thought - Wayfarer as a boat suggestion :-D

Already have must of the above. Have no idea how to use a sextant though.... Will an iPad with navionics on do instead?

 

[DownWest]

SS.
I would disagree about the sextant. Just get two GPSs. Astro is great for long distance if you can do it, but, unless they turn it off, GPS is far better for the average guy, in less than ideal conditions.

Your list is pretty minimal and most boats would have all of those bits. Looking at other threads... peeps seem more worried about getting fished out if things go pear shaped. PLBs, Iperbs and AIS to avoid the big guys.

I did a bit of stuff in the pre GPS/radio days. No expectation of rescue and it did not occure to us to ask. Just sort out any problem. Which is why I mentioned Shrimpy. Bloke fancies the idea and does it.

 

[DownWest]

Already have must of the above. Have no idea how to use a sextant though.... Will an iPad with navionics on do instead?

Are you pulling our collective legs..)

 

[Topcat47]

Don't discount the Halcyons. 27's have made substantial voyages and the 23's are very seaworthy. As long as you don't insist on standing headroom. If that's desirable, there's a 22' Galion thats really seaworthy and they're another relatively cheap boat.

You don't actually NEED a Sextant for this trip. You'll struggle to get a good one for £75.00 anyway and I think you're better buying a HH GPS as nav back-up.

I"m a great believer is GOOD passive arrays, the tri-lens is my recommendation, based on the QinetiQ reprort, although I have a Cyclops 1, it's a bit big for a 23'er.

iPads are NOT waterproof. I have a Toshiba toughbook and that's suffering from the salt environment, despite NEVER going on deck.

 

[dylanwinter]

That was my immediate thought. But my kit out thoughts were a ton of electronics. Then I remembered they aren't actually essential. So assuming it comes with sails, outboard, anchor etc (i.e. can be sailed) what do you REALLY need:

- Charts
- Dinghy £150
- Sextant £75
- Hand bearing compass £50
- Steering Compass £30
- Single gas ring £30

VHF, GPS etc are all extras. I wouldn't be doing it without... but 70 years ago everyone did!

But hey - I also thought - Wayfarer as a boat suggestion :-D

self steering is pretty essential

what is a sextant for nowdays?

who needs a steering compass?

who needs charts?

D

 

[ShinyShoe]

Will an iPad with navionics on do instead?

Dunno!
What happens if it breaks? What happens if your charger breaks? Or the battery you charge from. These might be details to resolve once you have the boat in your sights though!

I've never actually used one. I suspect using it WELL is tricky. I suspect getting a fix within a mile or two is not so hard but I may be wrong. Procedure is:

Look at horizon through the 'see through' fixed mirror.
Move the other mirror (on the movable arm to reflect the object of interest to line it up on the horizon.
Read the degrees scale. That number gets used in a table to tell you your position relative to the current position of the sun determined by date and time on the table.
Latitude I think needs two readings and a measured period of time...

Its on my to-do list of things to master. Its not on my essential kit list unless I cross an ocean! But I will have at least 4 GPSs one of which is powered by AA batteries, and two of which I can power from a diddy solar panel that can charge AA batteries and then charge the device. The fourth is off the 12V which can be charged from big Solar Panels, or Alternator, and can charge the other 3 as well. If all 4 fail then provided the satellites are still circulating I will have a PLB as well.

 

[Kelpie]

There's a decent looking Vega mentioned on another thread. Great boats, big enough to make living aboard a realistic prospect. I miss mine!