Thinking of changing my boat - advice needed

[Goody]

Hi all

I've had a Hunter Europa for a couple of years. It's a nice boat to sail but I'd like something a bit bigger, something around 20 -24 feet in length, a daysailer, meaning preferably one with no plumbing (head, sink or for that matter a cooker). I'm only ever planning to day sail with the wife or friends. Something easy to sail, nothing complicated, preferably with a high or short boom, nice size cockpit, traveller at either end of the cockpit (not in the middle) budget is around £5k - 10k.

Any advice or thoughts would be welcome
Thanks

 

[PeterV]

I also had a Hunter 19, lovely to sail and I’ve always wanted a boat that’s enjoyable to sail since. Having a lot of your criteria I bought a Hunter Duette. It sails beautifully, is easy to handle and you can easily make a cup of tea while underway! The outboard is in a well which makes it very easy to use but it does have a head. The Sonata is a bit faster, can be more basic and has the outboard on the transom.

 

[Concerto]

something around 20 -24 feet in length, a daysailer, meaning preferably one with no plumbing (head, sink or for that matter a cooker). I'm only ever planning to day sail with the wife or friends.

Any advice or thoughts would be welcome

If you intend to sail with friends, even just day sail, I would recommend having a loo, sink and simple cooker. It will increase your enjoyment of the day, especially if you have a lady onboard. The old bucket and chuckit era is thankfully long gone, so look for a boat that meets your other requirements, I bet if your wife saw a Centaur or similar, which you can afford on your budget, the day sailer idea would be forgotten.

 

[PeteCooper]

I would suggest an Achilles 24 - just like a scaled up Europa, cramped accommodation, might have the things you don't want, but easy to remove, or handy when you change your mind about needing them

 

[jaminb]

Drascombe Longboat

 

[john_morris_uk]

Your wish list might be describing our daughters Pandora 700. Except she’s now got a loo fitted and there’s a spirit stove and a pull out sink so you can make a cup of tea or some soup etc. It sails beautifully. What’s not to like?

 

[fredrussell]

I’m a fan of Corribees, bit cramped below perhaps but lovely lines and a great reputation.

That said, the general advice given on ‘which boat?’ threads is to not get too hung up on one boat type or other but to see what’s available locally and in good nick and take it from there.

 

[johnalison]

A friend has just acquired a Hurley 22. It's a nice boat that he is using for day-sails mostly, and I'm looking forward to having a sail on her.

 

[Tranona]

Once you get above 20' the choice of day sailors with basic cuddy shrinks rapidly because the demand was never there for builders to exploit. Accommodation below became important so you really have to look at small cruisers, albeit some with more sporty performance than others.

 

[Wansworth]

Hawk 20

 

[Goody]

Drascombe Longboat

Thanks, but don't really want 3 sails to deal with.

 

[Goody]

Your wish list might be describing our daughters Pandora 700. Except she’s now got a loo fitted and there’s a spirit stove and a pull out sink so you can make a cup of tea or some soup etc. It sails beautifully. What’s not to like?

I guess over a period of time, it's the maintenance of the loo, the stove and the sink. I have no diy skills

 

[Neeves]

J24

 

[Tranona]

I guess over a period of time, it's the maintenance of the loo, the stove and the sink. I have no diy skills

They really don't need much if in good condition - and you can always take them out if you don't use them.

 

[Goody]

A friend has just acquired a Hurley 22. It's a nice boat that he is using for day-sails mostly, and I'm looking forward to having a sail on her.

Thanks, but I believe that the Hurley 22 has the plumbing things that I don't want.

 

[Minerva]

If you intend to sail with friends, even just day sail, I would recommend having a loo, sink and simple cooker. It will increase your enjoyment of the day, especially if you have a lady onboard. The old bucket and chuckit era is thankfully long gone, so look for a boat that meets your other requirements, I bet if your wife saw a Centaur or similar, which you can afford on your budget, the day sailer idea would be forgotten.

I came here to write pretty much this, but Concerto beat me to it!

After having a boat with a hand bailer as a “piddle pot” for years - once we got a boat with a proper toilet you can have privacy in, frankly there’s no going back.

Also, my wife now enjoys sailing so we go sailing far more now that when I had my Folkboat with “bucket an chuck-it” that she refused to step foot on.

 

[Goody]

Hawk 20

Yes I am considering one of those, finding one in decent condition below £10k is the challenge.

 

[Wansworth]

My family six in total would managea dayafloat in a15footer back in the1950s,picnic,thermos although I don’t recall toilet problems ? Under sail and oraron theThames

 

[Minerva]

I guess over a period of time, it's the maintenance of the loo, the stove and the sink. I have no diy skills

a loo doesn’t really need any maintenance tbh - a new joker valve every season or two and that’s about it really. Think we replaced the whole pump workings on our jobbyjabsco once in around 10 years.

To be blunt, if you have no DIY skills, owning a boat is probably not for you - there is always something needing attention.

Perhaps join a sailing club where you can borrow club boats? Or go on a Med charter each year?

 

[magicol]

The Hunter range, for example the Horizon 23, may be a bit bigger than you were looking at but I too would suggest you look at them. If you are day sailing with anyone even slightly less enthusiastic than you, a toilet will make so much difference to their enjoyment. I know!
They have a good size cockpit, shelter from a comfortable sprayhood and if you want to reduce the 'work' when sailing, they have self tacking jibs which help. They also sail well.