Small Yacht recommendations

Ref fin or bilge, both have advantages and disadvantages. I have owned both.
Fin keel tends to be a little faster and will head into the wind closer than bilge, but not so convenient if you have a lot of shalllow waters and certainly not if on a drying mooring.
Bilge keel won’t go quite as close to the wind and is usually slightly slower than it’s fin keel version. But if you want to go into shallower waters or are on a drying mooring then bilge is a better option.
You can of course fit beaching legs to a fin keeler, but they are a bit of a hassle.
The only way you will really find out what you want is to crew on as many different boats as you can and see which you like the best.
Me? I have just sold my faithfull old long keel Invicta 26 in favour of a bilge keel Sadler 25 as I want to visit some harbours which were never ideal for the Invicta.
 
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Praxinoscope said:
Another option is the Leisure 17, they’re maybe a bit long in the tooth but they were solidly built bilge keeler and a safe sail. Can be towed and often do come with a trailer. Our first ‘cruiser’ was a Leisure17 after bombing around in a Mirror dinghy.
Moored in Mudeford we often popped across to Cherbourg in it.
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Did that have the required headroom for a 6 footer sitting down, between the cockpit seat and underside of the boom?
 
Goody said:
Did that have the required headroom for a 6 footer sitting down, between the cockpit seat and underside of the boom?
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I’m 6 ‘ and never got hit by the boom when sitting in the cockpit of the L 17 but did when standing.
Have a look at the various images on the web, you can get an idea of the height of the boom.
 
The Anderson 22 would fit spec' requested, the boom is clear when seated and the bunks are all over 6' long too.

lift keel, stays upright on the mud mooring with the keel up and Bob Salmon had the keel up for much of his transatlantic trip - see the website in my signature below if of interest.
 
Goody said:
Thanks Coveman. Don't know much about lifting keels? Do they stay upright when the boat runs aground?
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The lifting keel on the Etap does not retract fully - the bulb does not retract inside the hull which can be overcome by using legs, but if you are on a drying mooring then you are better off with a bilge keeler. I don't have that problem as my mooring never dries out. Etaps are well made boats, unsinkable (which appealed to me!) and as they are foam filled, keep dry as they produce very little condensation.
 
The Anderson 22 is a boat that I have admired for a long time and the only reason I never owned one is that when I was in syndicate many moons ago I was out voted. I agree with seajet that on mud they will sit upright, but on a hard bottom they do heel over as the bulb is proud of the hull. That aside they are a great sail and nicely finished, if a little bit cramped, down below.
 
Go a foot longer and get a Leisure 23 or 23 SL.
The boom ends above the companion way so you can be standing in the cockpit and not be hit by it.
Very roomy as well.
 
Only just seen this thread but given the other one that says you have dodgy knees/mobility problems and given you are 6ft tall I am wondering why you specifically want a little boat.

If it is budget related (purchase or mooring) tell us the budget maybe we can suggest bigger boats in spec

If it is experience related (‘start small’) honestly bigger boats are easier to sail than little ones- everything is slower and they are more weatherly.
 
bitbaltic said:
Only just seen this thread but given the other one that says you have dodgy knees/mobility problems and given you are 6ft tall I am wondering why you specifically want a little boat.

If it is budget related (purchase or mooring) tell us the budget maybe we can suggest bigger boats in spec

If it is experience related (‘start small’) honestly bigger boats are easier to sail than little ones- everything is slower and they are more weatherly.
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It is budget related. I would just prefer a nice cockpit (Hurley 18 like), cabin is optional & prefer bilge keels. Something in between a day boat and a small yacht, if such a thing exists :)
 
I currently have a Jaguar 24. At some time in the past a previous owner raised the boom - presumably so that he could stand up in the cockpit and not get hit on the head. The gooseneck was un-popped and pop riveted higher up the mast, and about a foot was cut of the bottom of the main.

Now it's all back the way it's supposed to be, and the only remains are the extra holes in the mast, and the mains'l that permanently has about a quarter of a reef. I have wondered if we should raise the thing again: the main problem would be that the boom would be a bit high when putting the cover on, or tying in a proper reef.

She is a bit bigger than the boats you are thinking about, but I can't see any downsides: she handles very nicely and I can't imagine anyone having the slightest problem with her.
 
Goody said:
It is budget related. I would just prefer a nice cockpit (Hurley 18 like), cabin is optional & prefer bilge keels. Something in between a day boat and a small yacht, if such a thing exists :)
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I don’t think there is anything with bilge keels and no lid, but someone who remembers the free-for-all that was seventies boatbuilding will be along to correct me soon.

What is the budget? Not enquiring about your circumstances nobody will worry about that here. But i am concerned that you will end up with something that doesn’t really do what you want. You will get the full range of possibilities (or impossibilities) from posters here which is better than being disappointed (and lumbered with a boat too).
 
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