Switch from Power to Sail

[Sneds]

I have read a lot about sailing boat owners switching to power, usually as result of age creeping up on them, but what about the other way around?
SWMBO and me have a 36ft Flybridge motor boat and cruise at around 18-20 kts in the Bristol Channel
We fancy the switch to sail but are clueless

What boat would give us good sea keeping, be easy to sail, stay upright under sail, possibly take the ground due to the many drying harbours here abouts have good domestic accomodatiion ie electric loo and comfy beds, TV and stereo system, somewhere comfy to sit outside in the evening and also somewhere warm and comfy in the winter time

LoA 40ft max and budget c £70k

Basically a Sealine f36 that has a mast!

Any input very welcome

Forgot to say, must be easy to get on and off!

 

[Topcat47]

Book yourselves on a flotilla holiday, first. You really ought to have people with you who know a bit about it, so I'd not advise booking a whole boat to yourselves. An alternative would be a skippered charter. Not everyone feels comfortable about a boat that leans over. Go somewhere "nice". If you like it, go to a reputable sailing school and take lessons; this can also be done somewhere "nice". The Bristol Channel isn't somewhere I'd recommend to learn to sail as the tides can be fierce and most sailing yachts don't have the power to drive against the tide.

Go to SIBS and have a look round some sailing boats. Accommodation on 36'er will be less generous than your Sealine. I'm not suggesting you buy one right away, but you'll be able to see what's available, albeit new (you won't get a new 40'er for £70k anyway) and talk to companies offering sailing holidays where the weather's warm and predictable; always a good start.

If you like it, come and join the forces of good.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

...stay upright under sail...

Only a catamaran has any chance of this. Or only sail downwind.

 

[Tranona]

Agree, only a catamaran will meet all those requirements and you won't get a modern one with all the features you want for anywhere near that budget.

If you go monohull then modern boats tend to sail at lower angles of heel than older boats, but almost none of the size that will give you the features you want will dry out.

Suggest you look at something like a Jeanneau 40 DS. There is one for sale in Poole within your price range.

 

[philld]

I'd recommend gaining some experience first. The previous owner of my yacht got rid of it after six months, and went back to a power boat as his wife couldn't adjust to it.

I think you are looking for a catamaran, or a bilge keeler if you want to dry out. However, I think you will be disappointed with what you can get for your budget. Also you have to remember that you don't have an engine running most of the time to charge your batteries so things like electric heads are probably not a good idea.

 

[Seajet]

I'm not so sure you need a catamaran, as they come with their own problems like handling in tight spaces - yes there are some large cats at my club but I wouldn't fancy handling the single ( vectoring ) engine ones in a marina, or being caught out in a real blow - cats may not heel much but they can have a nasty pitching motion.

I'm wondering if a motor sailer - preferably biased towards sail - might be suitable, maybe an Evasion or Southerly - the latter have lift keels and can take the ground, also steerable from below which may be more familiar.

I do agree with others though, get some experience before buying anything - by charter and by going to sailing clubs ( Cardiff Bay SC sound friendly according to chums ) - and chatting - you don't need to be a member - you're almost certain to get invites to go along on various boats which will be a huge benefit before deciding what to buy.

 

[[70521]]

Ask to go out sailing with lots of friends on different types and sizes of boats. If you find one that stays upright please let my wife know.

 

[photodog]

Sailing is different from motorboating.

If you want to recreate a motor boating experience, but with sails... your probably going to be disappointed as it will do neither well....

My advice would be to do as others have suggested... go out and try sailing with as many others as possible, do some training to learn to sail, and then do some chartering.

If you can embrace the sailing experience, then you will be ready to do it properly, (and 70k Buys a LOT of yacht nowadays ..) and get the most pride and pleasure from it.

We did that, came from a Sealine s34 (and previously a Fairline 36 sedan), via a lot of chartering, and some training, into our current Bavaria which we have now had for 13 seasons.

The first thing we did was have my wife go out on a weekends sailing/experience/charter with a mixed group without me... and she loved it. I had the advantage of having sailed dinghies since I was 10....

Doing some dingy sailing would also be a good idea... a big part of the pleasure of sailing... is the sailing. If you can sail well, then that provides enormous returns... its immensely satisfying to get you and your boat and your crew from one place to another entirely using your senses and nature.

 

[sarabande]

Have a look at Fisher yachts

https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/category/type/Fisher

Masses of room on deck, in wheel house, and down below; take the ground with optional bilge keels or legs. All the mod cons you can cram in. And pretty, to boot.

 

[johnalison]

You could try a Legend. They look as if they were designed for people used to motorboats.

 

[Sneds]

Some interesting and helpful advice, thanks

Reckon on the charter, sun sail type holiday first to see how we get on

Perhaps should have done this in my twenties rather than my fifties!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

... Reckon on the charter, sun sail type holiday first to see how we get on ...

We did several Sunsail charters, flotillas etc before buying our yacht last year. There's no comparison between flotilla or bareboat summer sailing in Croatia / Antigua / Majorca / Costa Blanca, and aground in Chichester / riding the Solent chop / running the Needles gauntlet, corkscrewing across Poole Bay / Lyme Bay / shivering and drowned on the River Fal on a very windy afternoon. (or so my lovely wife tells me).

Even though I love sailing, I love my wife more, so we're looking at going the other way, sail to power.

Chartering itself is a good idea, so my advice would be, charter where you intend to sail. Not somewhere very different...!

 

[philld]

You could try a Legend. They look as if they were designed for people used to motorboats.

Used to own a legend 306, light displacement, quite tippy.