The best family coastal cruiser

[Laurie]

I can't see how the answer can be anything other than Leisure 23 (bilge keel & preferably SL) or Hirondelle. What else offers that kind of accommodation, at that size, and can take the ground according to the OP's wishes?

jaguar 25 twin keeler or 25 lift keel. Depending on layout very roomy and sail well. The 27 was only available as a twin or fin.......... Mirage 26 or 28 twin keel, Mirage 2700 and derivatives.......Jeanneau Fantasia twin or lift keel..........just ideas.....

Of course we moving away from trailerable........

 

[Lucky Duck]

jaguar 25 twin keeler or 25 lift keel. Depending on layout very roomy and sail well. The 27 was only available as a twin or fin.......... Mirage 26 or 28 twin keel, Mirage 2700 and derivatives.......Jeanneau Fantasia twin or lift keel..........just ideas.....

Of course we moving away from trailerable........

And the £4k budget perhaps?

 

[Laurie]

And the £4k budget perhaps?

You are right of course
Jaguar 25s can be found for close to that figure though...................

 

[Laurie]

You are right of course
Jaguar 25s can be found for close to that figure though...................

-one currently on ApolloDuck for under £4K.............

 

[stu9000]

I can't see how the answer can be anything other than Leisure 23 (bilge keel & preferably SL) or Hirondelle. What else offers that kind of accommodation, at that size, and can take the ground according to the OP's wishes?

My Dad had a Hirondelle at Plymouth. He is very generous and this one I really got to know. Nice to have seperatwe heads compartment. Good cockpit. Bit tight to move about in but that's a fact of life in any boat this size. Good in light winds but didn't slip through a chop particularly well as she was so light. Again, a fact of life with this size. I never really loved the sailing characteristics though. Didn't tip right or point well. Perhaps I'm being too harsh as we had many many great trips on her and she had space and could take the ground. But she isn't on my short list.

I am looking at boats that are less trailable though as I'm going to get a half tide mooring. Ideally I would like to be able to trail her to her new home, or perhaps to another coast for a season, or to pull her out end of season. I'm looking at cheap 4 by 4s now to see if its practical. Either way, I'm convinced by the advice here that weekend trailing Ia likely to be stressful and time consuming.

I'll have to have a look at the j25 .
Cheers

 

[Big-Bang1]

Hunter Delta 25?? Lifting keel, good performance, not huge below but big enough. Not strictly a trailer sailor but it could be.

I'll just pop my tin hat on and hide behind the sofa.......... Macgregor 26 C

 

[JumbleDuck]

You are right of course
Jaguar 25s can be found for close to that figure though...................

Why are they so cheap? There's one in my local marina, asking price £4.5k, and it looks quite smart and solid.

 

[FullCircle]

Suprised CliveG ahs not popped up and said Evolution25. But he tried trailering for a year, then got a mooring.
Out of the budget, but so much better than a Jaguar, Delta or Dehler 25 lift keel.

 

[richardsn9]

I happily cruised the East Coast with two adults and three children in a Sonata. There is a lift keel version, or the twin keeled Duette which shared the same hull. With some searching they can be found for around £4K. They are good sea boats and some versions have a pilot berth so that you can sleep five. The cockpit is largish for the size of boat. Although quite race orientated, they convert well for cruising, and there are lots of them around?

 

[Laurie]

Hunter Delta 25?? Lifting keel, good performance, not huge below but big enough. Not strictly a trailer sailor but it could be.

I'll just pop my tin hat on and hide behind the sofa.......... Macgregor 26 C

As well you might!! Deltas are cracking boats though

 

[Laurie]

Why are they so cheap? There's one in my local marina, asking price £4.5k, and it looks quite smart and solid.

Possibly because they built loads of them...at one time CYB/Birch were so productive they exported some back I believe. As one of the first builders to construct boats modularly (?), there is a lot of prejudice, (ie cheap rubbish) which is why some makes hold values better.....or at least part of the answer.
The 25, dependant on layout has better room than the 27 (it is a later design), and was available later with two rig configurations. Twin, fin and ballasted swing keel......
At least one twin keel completed AZAB........

I saw an absolute beauty, a real credit to the owners in an Essex marina last w/e......through the rain.....

 

[stu9000]

Ive just been looking at the J25. Really interesting.
What does it cost to sort out items like sails, rigging or engine?
I can sort out wood or GRP myself but Id have to spend £ to sort out these items.

 

[Laurie]

Ive just been looking at the J25. Really interesting.
What does it cost to sort out items like sails, rigging or engine?
I can sort out wood or GRP myself but Id have to spend £ to sort out these items.

Engine...inboard or outboard.....
Loads of people will have as many ideas, but depending on roller reefing or not...
standing rigging about £600 to replace not inc roller reefing system
main and genoa new... about £1500 depending on spec?

I have free (to collect) 2nd hand canvas from a Feeling 286....could be recut?

 

[stu9000]

Ah the Bills the Bills!

 

[Laurie]

Ah the Bills the Bills!

Found several more J25s around 5k online...............?

 

[stu9000]

Found several more J25s around 5k online...............?

Yep, I've been trawling too. Budget is really 4 k plus mooring/club fees. I'm going to try and get on board a few boats and see where I am with it.

 

[igytomas]

Don't overlook a triple-keel Achilles 24 - good, fast sea boat, limited headroom below but 6'6" quarterberths and a decently large forecabin. Not expensive to buy or own.

Was recently impressed by a Galion 22 - not sure if available as a bilge keel - roomier than the Achilles and another fine sea boat.

Galion 22 is pretty roomy and sails well too, 4 berths with head room 5.7'. Definitely not available as a bilge-keel but draft is only 99cm. I think it is one of those small cruisers not considered often but very much sea worthy family one.

Lovley one is also Corribee 21 which comes if I correctly remember in 2 underwater versions (bilge-keel, fin-kee), 2 two types of rigging: sloop and jung and number of versions beginning from clinker via Mark1 - 4 and Coromandel. My friend from GYC has it and he is so happy with it. He sails her single-handed and also with his wife and two children.