Still looking for the perfect boat

[david100952]

After some very much appreciated advice and guidance from the forum I bought what realistically amounts to my first boat. I settled on a Jaguar 22 with a lifting keel and bilge plates. This arangement works wonderfully with 5ft of cast iron keel to give good stability when its down and the bilge plates to sit on over winter or when I find the numerous sand bars in the Exe Estuary. Trouble is its painfully short of head room (pun intended - 4ft 9in) and ample room in the cockpit at the expense of cabin layou SO:
Where can I find a similar boat that offers all of the plusses above in a similar size and price with MORE ROOM. This would be my perfect boat

 

[PeteCooper]

Some versions of the Jaguar 22 had a lifting roof arrangement which I believe was similar to that found on some Broads yachts. Surely the perfect solution to your quandary?

 

[Lakesailor]

You'll always be looking for the perfect boat. No one boat can fulfil every need.
Some people get very close. My last boat sailed much better and more quickly than the previous one, but that one was a nicer place to be. Very comfortable cockpit.
I guess that's why some people ended up having boats built. Well they did in the wooden boat days I suppose. Bit more tricky these days.

 

[Alfie168]

Possibly a bit outside your price range as they are all still pretty new, is the Pippin 20 which must have the best combination of cockpit room/cabin room in any 20 footer. They sail well and they are very nicely made. They are built just down the road from me and I've looked over one or two, and I see them sailing at Rutland Water where there are four or five. Its a lift keel with a small wing/ballast on the bottom. Not quite sure how they would take to the mud

They are not sporty, but they do sail like a proper sailing boat should..unlike a McGregor 26 for example.

Even if its not the boat for you, its well worth aquainting yourself with as its a truly excellent design for a small family yacht...

www.pippin-yachts.com

There is also the Parker 21, which is more of a yachtsman's small yacht, but it has a lot less room than a Pippin, as does my Dehler 22 which is a great sail, but not large in either cockpit or cabin.

Tim

 

[liverpoold]

We have a 23ft Westerley Pageant with a bilge keel, it has good head room and cabin space (my DP lives aboard) and goes well to windward, very secure and stable in bad weather (been through Bardsey sound in a force 7). If you might be interested PM me as we are putting her up for sale soon, you are welcome to come up for a sale and stay on board if you like!
Selina

 

[Gunfleet]

1) What's a DP?
2) Are you really asking Lakey to stay on your 23ft boat with you? He's 72 and his hand shakes so much he had to give up photography and take up the b&b trade. If he spends a night aboard a 23ft boat with a 30 year old woman he will need to go to A&E.

 

[liverpoold]

DP is a dear partner (ie boyfriend) lol (laugh out loud). Only said it cause we have been to see boats miles away and its a good way to see wether wether you would like to own one to stay on it, nothing dodgy intended!

 

[oldsaltoz]

After more than 50 years of searching, building and modifying several boats of all sizes and types from 16 feet to 47 I have come to a conclusion.

The perfect boat is no more than a collection of compromises, it's a question of what compromises you select, meaning it can never be perfect.

Avagoodweekend.

 

[Lakesailor]

Hey. I don't do bad for 72

Cheeky twat. 56 goin-on 35. Never grew up. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[oldharry]

Agree with OldsaltOz - there's no such thing as a perfect boat: most (not all) 22 footers wont sail if they have standing headroom. So you decide - sailing performance or caraven comfort?

Bilge keel vs drop keel vs fin keel - many hours of debate in this one elsewhere on the forum. Most of it depends on the design and the way it is sailed. many like me swear by Bilge keels - others swear at them!

Rigs - spme will tell you gaffers only go backwards - others love them. A straight stem goes straight toi the bottom in a seaway - but funny how many havent sunk yet....

Then how many hulls? One hull for seakeeping and easy motion. 2 hulls for seakeeping and easy motion and shoal draft. 3 Hulls for seakeeping and easy motion..... its all here somewhere in the forum archives.


Like Oldsalt OZ says - every boat is a collection of compromises, and whats best for me certainly wouldnt have been best for a Fastnet competitor yesterday!

 

[Tamarisk1]

2nd the W. Pageant. Family used to own one in Ilfracombe, in fact I think it's still moored there. Bilge keels and a very good sea boat.

 

[Sans Bateau]

The perfect boat is the one you can nearly afford. When you do get into a position to buy it, you find its not quite right and the perfect boat is again just out of financial reach.

If you were to speak to him, even Mike Slade the owner of Leopard might just want something larger/faster!

 

[Dyflin]

I looked closely at the Jaguar 22 when we bought last year. Great looking little boat but knickers tight inside. Instead we ended up with a Leisure 23. Similar length, price range about the same or more if you have it and best of all, 5'9" headroom!

Lots of info at owners association website:
http://www.leisureowners.org.uk/site/contents/leisure23.shtml

 

[BrokerBen]

Take a look at a Hurley 24/70 or even a Hurley 22 bilge keeler. I took my Hurley 22 over the channel from Portsmouth to Cherbourg. Excellent boats!

 

[oldharry]

Hurley 22 is a classic example of the compromise. A really good sailing boat, will run circles round Pageants and Leisures, but accommodation no better than the Jag 22!

 

[Dyflin]

Not much of a compromise then is it? You're back to square one...