Some questions re yacht purchasing

[Bejasus]

I am looking into a leap into the venereated world of sailing and purchasing a vessel with this means of propulsion. I freely admit to knowing bugger all about sails at this point and am seeking some advice in this matter.

1. What would be considered a normal working life for a mainsail, Genoa & Spinnaker? I realise that there could be several issues involved in this.

2. Could the age of sails and perhaps condition of rigging be bargaining points?

Any advice would gratefully received.


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[boatmike]

Without meaning to be discouraging, if you know as much as you claim I would not venture in that direction until you have learned a little more. There are just too many mistakes to make! Why not join a yacht club, do some crewing, talk to people generally and get an idea of what type of sailing you want to do before buying? Most YCs will welcome you and you will find most people very helpful.

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[Bejasus]

I already know what type of sailing I want to do and what type of vessel I want to buy. SWMBO and I are also doing a Competent Crew course in October and I hope to have my Dayskipper by next spring. Hopefully I will be able to encourage SWMBO enough to do DS also.

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[Evadne]

1. Racing boys change these on an annual or bienniel basis, depending on the depth of their pockets. Us mortals make them last as long as possible, and it all depends on how long they've been left out in the sun, i.e. used. My main was new in 1986, and it's not worn out yet. The genny is a couple of years younger and is on its last legs. The No. 1 jib is of a similar vintage and is fine, partly because it is used less, partly because it is made from a heavier material, like the main. The spinnaker is pristine as it only comes out acouple of times a year, and as far as I can tell is teh one that came with the boat in 1963.

2. Definitely, your surveyor should get a chance to inspect the sails and comment on their state. Generally, when the sails get too old they get baggy (not easy to tell without sailing the boat). The stitching wears away, although this won't be apparent if they've been looked after. Then the cloth goes papery and seams will start to tear, at which point they should be binned.

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[boatmike]

Excellent. Thats a very good start. I still think you would benefit greatly from joining a yacht club though. As far as your original question is concerned it depends as you have already intimated on too many variables to give a concise answer but yes of course condition of sails and rigging, like everything else affects value..

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[jimi]

's Ok I've taken the geyser and his faithful spouse out sailing for a couple of hours so they're sorted!

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[boatmike]

You mean "contaminated" don't you? Poor bugger will be talking like Rab C Nesbit after a few hours with you lot!

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[Bejasus]

Haw, whit's tha matter wi' that. Ma faither wiz a Govanite. Born in a single end, a few streets awa fae Fairfields an worked as a welder in Cydeside yards a' his workin' days 'n that.

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[boatmike]

Then ye'l no be wantin avise frae an honest chap who's da caem frem Peebles wud ye?

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[Bejasus]

SWMBO says it's all your fault anyway. It was a nice wee sail but you could have provided some actual wind, however it was enough to set me on the path to destruction.
I actually wouldn't mind some more weather experience, hence the comp crew from the Clyde in October. 'Honest dear, we get some really nice Indian Summers on the West of scotland in October'. /forums/images/icons/wink.gif
Finding the time to get some crewing in is the problem, as I work overseas. I had to turn down 2 crewing opertunities this summer for trips to Holland due to having to be back in time to catch flights to work.

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[PIGLETSDREAM]

Took me 18months to finally take the plunge and buy a boat, it is a huge difference to crewing for someone else and having the responsibility for your own boat plus the actions that you take. Having done three trans-Atlantic deliveries in the early 80's plus many years on a freinds very large sailing boat, I did nothing untill the late 90's. We, the royal we, then crewed for as many people as possible, on as many different types of boats, racers, alcoholics, what safety briefing, ex regimental sergeant majors and evry now and then some normal people. It showed us how diverse the sport is and each and every one of us have a different opinion as to why they sail and what there priorities are. There will always be people that know something different and will have a differing point of view to yourself, just accept it into the melting pot of learnt knowledge and use it as and when you need to. How deep your pockets are will determine how your boat is rigged and equipped, whilst having baggy sails means that you don't go as fast as the next boat, you generally don't sink by having them. Draw up a priority list, thinking in terms of safety and comfort, cos you will want to enjoy yourself and being cold wet and hungry will soon rid you of sailing desires. Look at a minimum safety equipment list and then when you can afford it, look at the wish list. New sails may look nice, but crap rigging will kill you

<hr width=100% size=1>Must go, Matron is coming

 

[Bejasus]

Jings, ony further south an' ye'd be a reiver.

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[boatmike]

Absolutely not old chap. Born in Chelsea myself you see. Wouldn't know about such things... What?

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[boatmike]

Ahh. Work is the curse of the drinking classes don't you know old boy?

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[Beagle]

Perhaps crewing in Holland could be an option for you? Plenty of oportonuties.....

<hr width=100% size=1>Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get

 

[Bejasus]

Ok, before we get too embroiled in the aesthetics of sailing,a few small details.

1. Racing. While it may be fun for some, and I don't mind watching it on the telly, it holds no interest for me. Getting a bit on in years to take up racing sailboats now. Motorbikes and rally cars were enough.
2. Cruising is where our interest lies, and to be more specific, we are looking at motorsailers. I.e. Nauticat. with a view to leaving the UK and being livaboard for a few years, with future plans being probably to take up residence in the US as SWMBO is American. We have looked at a few Nauticats now, and both from the comfort point and the aesthetic view, we are pretty settled on what we want.

The problem I have now, is that for various reasons, SWMBO's son has just decided to move back in with us, and it's going to be perhaps 3 years before we can now do this. Therefore, I am looking at a stopgap with which I can gain some experience before making this move.
I am currently interested in a boat and asked the question about sails and rigging as I need to know where I would stand regarding the condition of these, prior to getting a survey and making an offer.
Mechanical problems I can hopefully solve without too much difficulty, as that is my background.


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[Ohdrat]

Re: October on the Clyde

Not a bad time to start.. you'll get some experience of not ideal conditions.. still lots of other boats around and if you get a chance to do some night sailing a good chance of phosphorescence.. like fireworks in the water..

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[Aeolus_IV]

Re Rigging. The previous owner should have documentary evidence of when this was last renewed. If not then expect your insurance company to request that it is replaced - this isn't very expensive, but depends on size of boat - however, this cost can be taken off the offer price. If you know how old the rigging is, then its a judgment call - again I've been told that the insurance companies may insist that rigging over 10 years old be replaced. Maybe a "pro-rata" deduction from the offer price would be appropiate.

As for sails - well - as long as they don't actually blow out when you use them then they'll get you about. Without experience sailing it'll be difficult for you "see" if the sail is tired unless it is obviously worn (ie stiching broken, material fraying etc). The first give away that a white sail is getting past it is the leech stretching and ultimately curving away from the set of the sail.

IMHO of course.
Regards, Jeff.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://users.swing.be/FDB/centurion/index2.html>Centurion 32 Web site</A>

 

[Bejasus]

Thanks Jeff, just the sort of advice I was looking for.

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[paulskent]

Did my Competent Crew from Largs in October about 12 years ago..

We ended up jumping ship in Arran after the most horific crossing and got the ferry back.

Unsuprisingly the instructor (who chose to ignore the forecast) was a chap called Hughie ??

PK.

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