Step-Up Yacht / Med Cruiser Suggestions (Affordable)

[ridgy]

There is a tidy 30ft Albin Ballad with lots of new bits for 10k on the Facebook group "Yachts and Yachty bits for sale"

 

[Sandy]

Thanks Sandy, I'll take that as a recommendation then!

I've owned one for the last five years and find her an easy boat to sail single handed. She is light and quick, some will say that is a disadvantage, she is 66% of the weight of the same size Sadler. I'm fitting a Hydrovane over the winter for longer trips.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Moody 33 mk2 from 1979 onwards - in my opinion slightly better than the mk1 as mentioned by capnsensible in post 7 - but I am biased!

 

[Minerva]

Rivals often come up at attractive prices:

Rival 34 Used Boat for Sale 1972

jings! A rival 34 (with the wooden toerail cap, not the black plastic one), a new engine, a new rig, diesel drip heater and a windvane for <£20k.

That looks a serious bargain!!

 

[mrming]

jings! A rival 34 (with the wooden toerail cap, not the black plastic one), a new engine, a new rig, diesel drip heater and a windvane for <£20k.

That looks a serious bargain!!

Agreed that looks like a very tidy boat.

 

[ashtead]

Have you considered a Victoria or a Barbican if looking for an older solid boat?

 

[Ningaloo]

. but yes, with costs rising exponentially per foot, mooring fees etc we'll limit ourselves to the 30+/- foot range.

Things change in the Med! I discovered that summer marina berths were impossible to find in the Balearics, even at £200/night. Consequently, I spent 90% of my 5 month summer cruise from Hamble to Sardina at anchor. I actually had lower boat costs with my 14m boat than my previous 11m boat.

I agree that your plans for your 9-12 month sabbatical are wildly optimistic. I bought my last boat to get to the Med, but it took four years to leave the Baltic as there was so much to explore. Covid cancelled my plans for Scotland and resulted in the new boat purchase. Last year I felt pressured by Schengen limits to get past Spain before my 90 days expired. I was previously based in West France and Porto, but if these areas are new to you, allow a season just for Atlantic France and Spain. Finally, even in the Med, most boat find a winter base and stop sailing for 4-5 months.

Good luck with your plans. I'm sure that whatever boat you choose you will have fun.

 

[Frogmogman]

Beneteau First 345?

1988 Beneteau First 345 Cruiser for sale - YachtWorld

Nice looking example here, with holding tank already fitted (important for parts of the, Med).

Occasion 1985 Beneteau First 345 - Morbihan ( 56 ) | Annonces du Bateau

 

[robmcg]

Halmatic 30
Nicholson 31
Nicholson 32

 

[westhinder]

jings! A rival 34 (with the wooden toerail cap, not the black plastic one), a new engine, a new rig, diesel drip heater and a windvane for <£20k.

That looks a serious bargain!!

Agreed, and having owned a Rival 34 I can thoroughly recommend them.
just a thought for the OP: your choice of cruising area is an important consideration. As has been mentioned North and South Europe can’t be squeezed into a 1 year sabbatical, and since you do mention it is a step up boat, not the definitive long term choice, choosing a boat for the Med would result in a different list of priorities than a boat for Norway/the Baltic. I would not choose any of the traditional British names for a year in the Med, they were never conceived for that. Having said that, of course it is not impossible, it has been done, but there are boats better suited for that. Horses for courses.

 

[st599]

I bought my last boat to get to the Med, but it took four years to leave the Baltic as there was so much to explore. Covid cancelled my plans for Scotland and resulted in the new boat purchase. Last year I felt pressured by Schengen limits to get past Spain before my 90 days expired. I was previously based in West France and Porto, but if these areas are new to you, allow a season just for Atlantic France and Spain. Finally, even in the Med, most boat find a winter base and stop sailing for 4-5 months.

Isn't the OP's problem potentially the same though, doing the Schengen Shuffle between Scandinavia and Spain is not easy. If a Brit, he'd need to pop back to the UK for 90 days in every 180 or look at long-stay visas.

 

[ashtead]

The OP might discover he has a long lost Irish parent or grandparent of course

 

[Kelpie]

The OP might discover he has a long lost Irish parent or grandparent of course

That could help in the long term but when I looked in to this for my son (I already have an Irish passport) the foreign births registration office was closed indefinitely due to the pandemic. Just reissuing my own passport took a full eight months!

 

[PeterWright]

While the Fulmar would meet youf needs, a Westerly Storm can be had for the sa e money, provide more comfortable accomodation (important for liveaboards) and gobble up the sea miles a bit quicker. From the same naval architect, Ed Dubois and either boat will look after you in any weather rather better than more modern boats designed principally for the Mediterranean charter market.

Peter.

 

[FirstinLastout]

Isn't the OP's problem potentially the same though, doing the Schengen Shuffle between Scandinavia and Spain is not easy. If a Brit, he'd need to pop back to the UK for 90 days in every 180 or look at long-stay visas.

No Schengen shuffling for me to worry about.

 

[FirstinLastout]

The OP might discover he has a long lost Irish parent or grandparent of course

Not long lost at all, I know exactly where they all are and not a million miles away from where I'll likely be planted.

 

[FirstinLastout]

Agreed that looks like a very tidy boat.

Certainly looks tasty alright, there are options out there alright.

 

[FirstinLastout]

Most of the advice already provided is sound and should be followed. Look for a boat that has had recent replacements of engine, sails and rigging.

I bought a Westerly Fulmar with a fin keel in Dec 2013 and have been bringing it back to an as new condition with some modern upgrades. Having done all the work myself, it has cost more than it cost buy, but I have a boat exactly as I want it and it is very nearly completed. In September it was the Westerly Owners Association boat at the Southampton Boat Show, if you missed the show then this short video will give you an idea of what a Fulmar is like.

Not all of the work I have done is necessary to sail a boat but this PowerPoint presentation will give you an idea. https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/3/3f/Concerto.pdf

The exact boat you choose is not critical, but if you are spending a lot of time on a boat then make sure it is comfortable to live on and be on - sailing and moored. Shallow flat stern sections can get wave slap. Light weight hulls with skinny keels will tend to sail around at anchor rather than just move gently. Having all chain anchor rode will also steady you at anchor.

As to your plans for sailing, they are too ambitious. Next year I am singlehanded heading up the East Coast and stopping when I get to Shetland before returning down the other side. For this I expect to take about 5 months or the main part of the sailing season. This is a major trip and can be broken down into a number of easy long day sails, but you still have to allow time to look at places you visit and sit out adverse weather as well. This video will give you an idea of what you can expect.

This was part of a singlehanded trip in which I had planned to take 8 to 9 days to sail from Chatham to the Isles of Scilly, but did it in 6 days with a day off enroute.

Best of luck finding the right boat for you.

Thanks for your detailed reply Concerto and well done on the restoration of your Fulmar, a great job.
Was there a particular reason why you went with the Fulmar, as there a specific attraction to that model?

I assume this is a pretty obvious question but I'm guessing that a IOR influenced / pinched stern or transom style craft is less than ideal for Med type cruising?
I'm thinking in regards to craft like the Sadler 32 or the aforementioned Rustler for stern-to mooring esp if there are self-steering, solar arch type obstacles fitted.

 

[westhinder]

Thanks for your detailed reply Concerto and well done on the restoration of your Fulmar, a great job.
Was there a particular reason why you went with the Fulmar, as there a specific attraction to that model?

I assume this is a pretty obvious question but I'm guessing that a IOR influenced / pinched stern or transom style craft is less than ideal for Med type cruising?
I'm thinking in regards to craft like the Sadler 32 or the aforementioned Rustler for stern-to mooring esp if there are self-steering, solar arch type obstacles fitted.

It’s not just the obvious spatial drawbacks of a narrow stern, these boats are far less manoeuvrable in reverse than more modern models. You have to learn what they will do going backwards and more importantly what they will not do and choose your berth accordingly, so you can make their habits/restrictions work in your favour. Mind you, you will become expert in making that choice in due course.
More modern hull and rudder types will steer much better in reverse

 

[Concerto]

Thanks for your detailed reply Concerto and well done on the restoration of your Fulmar, a great job.
Was there a particular reason why you went with the Fulmar, as there a specific attraction to that model?

I assume this is a pretty obvious question but I'm guessing that a IOR influenced / pinched stern or transom style craft is less than ideal for Med type cruising?
I'm thinking in regards to craft like the Sadler 32 or the aforementioned Rustler for stern-to mooring esp if there are self-steering, solar arch type obstacles fitted.

As I sail singlehanded, I wanted an easy to handle rig that was performance orientated. Having a large mainsail supported by mast and boom make it very controlable. Smaller headsail and spinnaker of a ¾ rig also makes sense. I was looking for a boat upto about 35ft and quite liked the rare Trapper 700 with centreplate, but it was masthead. Eventually someone mentioned the Fulmar and I thought bingo it meets all my requirements. They were raced, used by sailing schools and extensively cruised. Fulmars have a reputation of being an almost vice free boat to sail and many owners seem to keep them for years or decades. Being built by Westerly they were better than average build quality for the period. Then I had the problem of find the right Fulmar and that took about 4 months. All the work I have done to Concerto has been to get it right for my needs and I am almost there now after 8 years. This year I am planning to head up the East Coast and when I reach the Shetland Isles I will stop and have a look round before coming back down the otherside. Just got to complete fitting the new fridge unit, fit a pressurised hot and cold water system with a shower, plus a few other small bits like a new electric circuit breaker panel as I have run out of circuits.

Just as a comparison, you would find the Sadler 32 cramped compared to the Fulmar, so consider the Sadler 34. The Rival is quite narrow and again feels cramped compared to a Fulmar. Both are also a lot slower sailing wise.

I shall be keeping the Fulmar and it will be my last boat as I expect to be sailing for at least another 10 years, when I will be in my late 70's. You may enjoy the video of Concerto under spinnaker, which was the same day as my forum photo.