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tel1

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ive been sailing loads and ive allways been bought up around the sea, i even work on the sea too. im now looking to get my first boat and im really considering a snapdragon. my budget is £5000 but i think i mite have fount a bargin sd26 at £3750 it has a 9.9 outboard which is idle for me as i want more space. can anyone give me some info on a snapdragon 26 and what they should be selling for??


thanks
 
The 26 had an inboard engine and yours is priced to take this into account. There is another one with the same broker at £9000 with a new inboard fitted in 2004. I would say that is the top end valuation. For £5000 you could probably find something still with the original engine and ready to go. The redundant engine space isn't really of much use and they weren't really designed to take outboards. The price you are paying will reflect the most you are likely to get back on a boat of that age and in that condition when you come to sell it.

The 26 is laid out differently from other Snapdragons without a v berth in the fore cabin.

I wouldn't rush into anything. Go to http://www.boatshed.com and search using your price limit, you should find lots to look at
 
You'd need a beefy outboard to push a Snappy 26 against the wind and tide. I put a new Beta 10 in mine and at times wished I'd had a bit more oomph. Sold boat two and a half years ago for £9,300 with only 50 hours on the engine (which had cost £4000 to instal).

They are built like tanks - after 34 years a survey had us replace just the U-bolts on the rigging "just in case" because they were original - they were actually fine. I thought it was a good first boat for me (who had no previous sailing experience) and solid enough to reassure SWMBO.

There's lots about.
 
cheers for that, this one comes with a 9.9hp so should be ok for the boat. thanks for the advice
 
There's times when you need an engine to get back against the wind or tide. Sailing yachts with outboards on the transom tend to pitch the engine out of the water in a chop resulting in the prop and engine racing and loosing power.

Don't no what area you are in but if your in the SE there is quite a nice one for sale at my club. See here its a bit over your quoted price, but what I have seen of it, it is in very good condition. The owner is suffering with health problems and now realises he can't manage it on his own anymore. I was talking to him at the weekend and he hasn't yet advertised it anywhere else. He doesn't do computers and is reluctant to get a broker involved. I'm sure the price is negotiable. The For sale board went on the boat when it came out of the water in October. Its now back in on a swinging mooring on the Medway.
 
not that im defending the outboard but thats why you get a longer shaft

thanks for the comment
 
Even with a long shaft, it will still come out of the water - it is the distance from the centre of gravity to the end of the boat that does it. The price quoted seems pretty good by any standard, but it may reflect the condition / life expectancy of the outboard. You should factor imminent replacement in and allow for the fuel issue - you will quickly fill up the space where the inboard engine would be - with jerry cans! Don't under estimate this - my first boat was 18 foot with an 6 HP outboard - flat out at 5 knots ish - I would use a gallon to travel eight miles!
 
that is true, it is something to consider, but if i did fit a new engine, yes it would be costly but at least id have piece of mind that it isnt an old engine that could break down any moment.
 
Dont get a yacht with an outboard if you can possibly avoid it. Motoring into a head wind you will find that the prop will cavitate, even hunters with their inboard outboard arrangement. The longshaft outboards will not solve this problem. I know I ve had them.
 
[ QUOTE ]
the outboard but thats why you get a longer shaft


[/ QUOTE ] Trouble is you then end up with the exhaust outlet too deep with the result that back pressure can make them difficult to start and the performance suffers as well. Having said that I have replaced a standard shaft engine with a long shaft to overcome the prop thrashing air problem but I did raise the mounting a bit. Also as it is an engine designed as a sailing boat auxiliary it has an additional exhaust outlet above the position on the normal version of the same engine. Otherwise long shafts are for high transoms. Standard shaft length suits a transom 15" above the water, long shafts 20" and where they exist extra long 25"

I would not want an outboard on a boat like a Snappie. One thing you lose is the control under power that the prop wash over the rudder gives you and unless you fit it up with remote controls operating it will be a pain. Security is an issue as well.
 
[ QUOTE ]
......The 26 is laid out differently from other Snapdragons without a v berth in the fore cabin.
....

[/ QUOTE ]

You will find that the 23 has no Vee berth as well, the fwd compartment being WC / storage area.
But saying that there are some 26's with fwd cabin set-up despite some claims that there are none.
 
yeah i do intend on converting it to a double and makeing it more comfortable. again thanks for the advice
 
For £5000 you could probably pick yourself up a Snappie 24 or even a 747 with a v berth and an inboard engine already fitted - why not save yourself the time wasted? You've already said you want a sailing boat to spend the time sailing, why spend time using it as a joiners shop?
 
Just sold my D26 for £6750, bought it five years ago for £7K. She was well maintained, new sails etc I would have paid £2K more for her if I was looking for a snappy. They are great sea boats but you do need an inboard engine. The bilge keel does not beat well at all. I used to be of the opinion that a sailing boat should sail EVERYWHERE and that anyone who used an engine was unworthy of owning such a boat, now realise that this is TOTAL bo11ocks. Using the engine opens up so many opportunities to enjoy your time on the boat that you would be crazy not to consider it.

Many older boats are way over priced I spent at least 9.5K on maintenance in just over 5 years, I doubt that you would spend that amount on a newer boat.

Our D26 did not have a V berth, the info I have on D26’s does not show a V berth on the D26 models, contact snapdragon owners club for info. Makers plate should be in port side aft locker.
 
[ QUOTE ]
not that im defending the outboard but thats why you get a longer shaft

thanks for the comment

[/ QUOTE ]

Long shaft won't cure the problem. I had a W25 with a Johson 9.9 longshaft & that would come out of water when pitching in short steep seas. Overfalls, wind over tide, shallow water are all situations where a chop may occur & your prop may lift out. It did not happen often, but when it does, you will be wishing you had an inboard! It simply adds another layer of stress to what is already a slightly stressful situation as you will not have planned to be in those conditions originally and will be wanting to get out safely asap!
 
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