Spoilt for choice?

[tokenjam]

Hi everyone,
I am new to sailing (although having spent 4 years at sea when younger) I would like to downsize property and buy a boat.
I am aware that this plan will fill most of you 'old salts' with horror (rent one, borrow one, steal one ) - I can hear you all shout.
But I'm commited to at least making a plan.
I have day skip, doing a night sail soon and would like to study more for at least coastal and maybe ....well ?????
I'm thinking 32-38 ft, up to 50k and like the look of Ben Oceanis 323. Also in the sights are Jennys and Bavs - only plastic for me I think
Does anyone have opinions or experience of this type of 'adventure'.
I enjoy difficult challenges, learning new skills and am not out to sail the atlantic
Any comments would be appreciated

 

[Tranona]

Welcome to the forum

Difficult to advise. You don't say what you want to do where you are going to sail and how many people you are.

£50 k will buy yoiu any of the boats you mention plus many other styles suitable for crusing such as older Westerlys Moodys etc. All of htese could be suitable for cruising. You need to find out more about what you like and don't like, read a lot - the mags are full of information and people write books and keep blogs about cruising.

Crew for others if you can take a flotilla holiday in the Med to get a go at a bigger boat and look at lots of boats for sale.

Enough to be getting on with!

 

[snowleopard]

One thing is certain when buying boats - you will not get it right first time. I would suggest something smaller and cheaper than you expect to end up with. After a couple of years experience you will know what works for you and what doesn't. If you choose carefully you should lose very little or even gain a bit on the deal.

 

[tokenjam]

Ah, good questions.
Just two of us and occasional friends (have to find some of course!)
I would think that we would start (and move to) D'mouth on short voyages around S'west and gradually expand our horizons.
I like the boats you mention but thought if we could get one at our budget, it might be an older one and therefore eat maintainance budgets.
Does 'handling' change much between boats; from a motobike perspective there is an enormous amount of bull s**t talks about 'handling in extremis' few people ever get near that, especially those who talk about it all the time.
It was the flotila hols that got me into this state in the first place.
I am sure that everything is a compromise (unless you've got 1/2 mill plus) but I figured wheel steering, main sheet close to cockpit but not between wheel and saloon entrance, sugar scoop transom, don't really know about colour yet
We'll go the to S'hmptn show and see some of the used stuff - might get a few filters going.
Thanks for your comments

 

[tokenjam]

One thing is certain when buying boats - you will not get it right first time. I would suggest something smaller and cheaper than you expect to end up with. After a couple of years experience you will know what works for you and what doesn't. If you choose carefully you should lose very little or even gain a bit on the deal.

I 'spose I should then be asking 'what NOT to buy'

 

[Tranona]

My personal recommendation would be a Bavaria 37 8-10 years old which would just fit in your budget as would a similar age 36. But I am biased because I have one!

However there are lots of others and for similar money you could get a Moody 346 or 336 if you fancied an older boat. Problem with older boats is variable condition and potentially higher maintenance costs.

You will hear a lot about older boats being better quality or more seaworthy but in my view modern boats perform well and you are unlikely ever to get anywhere near their limits - and they seem to hold together well.

Enjoy your hunting..

 

[sighmoon]

Does 'handling' change much between boats; from a motobike perspective there is an enormous amount of bull s**t talks about 'handling in extremis' few people ever get near that, especially those who talk about it all the time.

Yes, handling does change considerably between boats.

Some boats are quite happy sailing at 45 degrees, for example, and some will turn up into the wind suddenly if they lean over too much.

Some boats will turn on a sixpence, and do so as soon as you let go of the tiller. Others you can let go of the helm and make a brew and still be on course, but need a bit more space to turn round.

Boats with a long keel tend to do their own sweet thing in reverse; others let you steer.