Snapdragon 26

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sgreenway

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Hi all,

I am looking at a couple of Snapdragon 26s with a mind to buy.

Can anyone help with advice as to what to look for in particular, before getting a surveyor involved?

They both have inboard petrol either 10 or 12hp. Both are also Bilge Keelers.

I am new to sailing, going on a competant crew course in November, with the aim of getting Day Sailer by March (ish). Cruising ground will mainly be East/North Kent. Once more experienced, then across to France/Belgium.

Seem to look OK from the pictures, but would welcome suggestions.

Steve
 
Drive for a bargain, make silly offers etc. Oh and expect to pay at least what you bought it for getting it sea-worthy.

The obivous things are to ask about the most expensive items, How old is the Engine, has it been serviced regularly, how old are the sails, if the standing rigging is more than 10 years old insurance could be an issue and this could cost almost 2k to replace.

Good luck

Mike
 
I think Mike's estimate for rigging is a bit over the top. I paid around £1k to re-rig Mirage 28 last year. Agree that costs for putting into commission are usually a lot more than you expected. I bought mine for £14k and spent £4k on it to bring it to the standard I was happy with. There are still things I would like to do.
 
Bought mine this year and am very pleased with her. Windows had to be resealed, they are 7 feet long with 4 separate pieces of perspex, it was a long fiddly job. If I have to do them again I am considering making them one piece. Most of the stopcocks were original and needed replacing. Original water tank was galvanised steel which had disintegrated, replaced with a plastic, long job. I bought her at 2/3 asking price. All rigging and sails 3years old. She needed a fair bit of TLC which I'm still doing whilst enjoying the sailing. Certainly no regrets. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I had one until 3 years ago, it was our first boat kept on the Thames at Westcliff.

Built like the proverbial. Had an insurance survey when it was 36 years old - all he wanted was the rigging U-bolts changed as they were original "just in case". They looked fine when we took them out. Never heard of one having osmosis or other problems.

Beside the general appearance the condition of the engine is the most important thing as the cost of a replacement is out of proportion to the overall value. Ours had an old petrol engine that worked for a couple of years (usually) then died and we put in a new Beta 10. Boat cost £7600 in 2000, new engine was £4000 all done and we sold two years later for £9300 in 2006. As Snappies are not great punching wind and tide under sail a decent motor to get you up the Thames or the Medway (particularly the Medway entrance) is as a must in my opinion.
 
Jissel's a 24 and I love her. Brick privy construction and similar performance close hauled, but can surprise off the wind. I was once goosewinged coming up the western Solent and it took a 40+ footer from Newton Creek to Egypt Poinrt to get past me. More important, she''l look after you in anything and forgive errors. If you bump a pontoon, make sure you check the ponroon for damage!

Rigging U-bolts certainly aren't a show-stopper, but are worth looking at once you've bought the beast. Go below and loosen the nuts of one u-bolt at a time. They'll lift up through the deck and you'll be able to see the bit that goes through the deck, which is the bit that may corrode.

My 24 had a copper rudder tube that corroded through and it wasn't hard to imagine a scenario where I would have lost the boat, so this is well worth a look. The repair is fairly straightforward, though you need to be out of the water to do it. I used a piece of old wind-surfer mast.

As MoodySabre says, you'll want a decent engine, 'cos you will be using it regularly. An inboard diesel would be better than petrol, but if these boats tick all the other boxes, that shouldn't put you off. OTOH, if the engine's knackered and the price is right, buy and put a diesel in (about 12hp would be OK, 15 better).
 
I agree that 12 or 15HP is better - 10 was OK but only just at times.

The cost may depend on whether the boat currently has diesel or petrol. With an existing petrol then the electrics have to be changed, the tank taken out, cleaned and modified (diesels have a feed back into the tank as well as a take off). We also ended up with a new exhaust, waterbox, propshaft and prop (modern engines turn the other way round it seems). So it all adds up. Engine about £3000 from memory, £600 to install (cash!) and £400 on the bits (I knew someone who did the tank for free). The advantage of the Beta was they provide plates that are adjustable to fit the existing engine beds. It was a bit taller than the old engine and I had to modify the step to give another 2" headroom. It was a joy /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
That one looks clean enough but that old Albin petrol engine will be the original (I had one). It was a punchy enough engine when it worked. At that price there is enough £room for a new engine. It also has an outboard bracket for alternative use.

Good hunting - there are usually a good number to look at.
 
Hi - My wife and I are new to boating and have just bought the Snapdragon 27 and we love it in the same way you loved your first car even though it broke down frequently... We made a stupid offer £2K less than asking and was suprised when the answer c ame back as yes, no negociation or anything! Everybody keeps comeing up to us and saying that they used to have one and how lovely it was. Went out for our first ever sail on the weekeld - very windy but still felt confident to put both sails up and felt completely safe and in control at all time dispight my lack of experience. Anyway - GO for it we love ours and dont care if she is a bit of a bus. They are safe, roomy fantastic family cruisers and I look forward to many years of good fun with her before heading to a hotship!
 
Just to add a bit of balance to the Snapdragon love in....

You say you are new to sailing, well for sure they are cheap, strong and roomy. However compared to most sailing boats they are very poor upwind and if sailing is important to you will probably grate after a while.

You might want to look at Centaurs and Pageants for better bilge keel performance or, even better, look at some secondhand Hunters.

I don't argue against all their good ponts - I just think that they are appalling to sail and if you sail something nice - you won't want to sail one again.
 
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