Hurley 18: feels like a yacht rather than a dinghy with its long deep keel and heavy displacement (for its length). I owned a Europa and a Hurley 18, I felt more secure in the Hurley when the seas got up.
The smaller the boat, the greater the fun...Its just sooo true..My first boat was 40 ft of designer wet rot (knackered Fife), my last boat was wizzy 28 fin and skeg with good sails, but, my junkrig Corribee, oh dear...
I miss mine too /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Did everything I asked of it and then some, taught loads of landlubbers the basics of sailing in it, and was vice free and well nailed together in spite of Newbridges variable reputation and knackered old molds.. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
In spite of kind of hankering after a Co32 or Sadler 34, the next boat is gonna realistically be a Shrimper 19--and there ain't a lot of price difference between some of those until you factor in bloody moorings and visitors 'charges' /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Of the dozen or so under 20 footers I have owned over the past 30 years, for good safe sailing qualities, accommodation, everything, I rate both my Sunstar 18s. This one was so good, I bought another! I also loved my junkie Corribee, but she was over 20'.
If you want a boat that is modern, good value and great to sail, get a micro cup boat. We had a Gem Micro 18. Accomadation for two adults and a child in resonable comfort.
The Swift 18 is basiclly a posh Micro Cup boat and tend to change hands at £1 - 2K more
I was scrolling down to see if anyone mentions the Prelude. I have sailed the dropkeel version and think they are great,Fast and Seaworthy for their size. A friend of mine sailed his twinkeel version from South Wales to Ireland and back on a summer cruise,