UK circum capable <27ft yacht?

[Refueler]

That is a righteous little boat, it would do the trip, and much more. Substantially quicker and nicer to sail than my pet hate up there.

The Centaur was of it’s time. Not everything that merely served it’s purpose in years gone by is still worth it today. A bit like claiming a Vauxhall Viva is a fine classic car.

mmmm you do realise that the Konsort was based on extending the Centaur hull ?? The Westerlys of that era all had a common link ...

 

[Chiara’s slave]

mmmm you do realise that the Konsort was based on extending the Centaur hull ?? The Westerlys of that era all had a common link ...

Longer, wider, more ballast, bigger rig with different proportions. Sure, it's just the same.

 

[MisterBaxter]

mmmm you do realise that the Konsort was based on extending the Centaur hull ?? The Westerlys of that era all had a common link ...

I think the Konsort was based on making the Centaur better in every way, and it succeeded in that aim...

 

[Stemar]

When Madame decided that she couldn't manage in the Snapdragon any more, a Konsort Duo was right at the top of my wish list.

 

[dansaskip]

Just a thought on the debate on the merits of a bilge keeler versus fin or long keel and the ability to dry out. Just to qualify my thoughts, I have never owned a bilge keeler but have sailed with friends who have and have dried out with them.
Anyway I would have thought that the problem with drying out is that it restricts you in the time that you can leave an anchorage (you have to be afloat of course) and that time might not be the best time to depart on a passage. The tide might be against you, which a thing as sailors I am sure we always try to avoid. I have even experienced a similar thing with harbours or river entrances which are restricted by the rise of tide when you may enter or leave. I would rather to be free to depart on passage when the tidal flow suits the passage, whatever time of day or night that might be. Interested to hear others thoughts on this.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Just a thought on the debate on the merits of a bilge keeler versus fin or long keel and the ability to dry out. Just to qualify my thoughts, I have never owned a bilge keeler but have sailed with friends who have and have dried out with them.
Anyway I would have thought that the problem with drying out is that it restricts you in the time that you can leave an anchorage (you have to be afloat of course) and that time might not be the best time to depart on a passage. The tide might be against you, which a thing as sailors I am sure we always try to avoid. I have even experienced a similar thing with harbours or river entrances which are restricted by the rise of tide when you may enter or leave. I would rather to be free to depart on passage when the tidal flow suits the passage, whatever time of day or night that might be. Interested to hear others thoughts on this.

I didn’t spell it out like that, but my discouraging post about drying was based pretty much on that. And unforeseen weather changes.

 

[MisterBaxter]

Just a thought on the debate on the merits of a bilge keeler versus fin or long keel and the ability to dry out. Just to qualify my thoughts, I have never owned a bilge keeler but have sailed with friends who have and have dried out with them.
Anyway I would have thought that the problem with drying out is that it restricts you in the time that you can leave an anchorage (you have to be afloat of course) and that time might not be the best time to depart on a passage. The tide might be against you, which a thing as sailors I am sure we always try to avoid. I have even experienced a similar thing with harbours or river entrances which are restricted by the rise of tide when you may enter or leave. I would rather to be free to depart on passage when the tidal flow suits the passage, whatever time of day or night that might be. Interested to hear others thoughts on this.

Yes, that's true. But it's great if you want to take a break for a day or two, get a really good sleep and enjoy a beautiful quiet spot.
And there are areas of the UK (eg Wales) where deep water harbours are few and far between.

 

[Stemar]

Just a thought on the debate on the merits of a bilge keeler versus fin or long keel and the ability to dry out. Just to qualify my thoughts, I have never owned a bilge keeler but have sailed with friends who have and have dried out with them.
Anyway I would have thought that the problem with drying out is that it restricts you in the time that you can leave an anchorage (you have to be afloat of course) and that time might not be the best time to depart on a passage. The tide might be against you, which a thing as sailors I am sure we always try to avoid. I have even experienced a similar thing with harbours or river entrances which are restricted by the rise of tide when you may enter or leave. I would rather to be free to depart on passage when the tidal flow suits the passage, whatever time of day or night that might be. Interested to hear others thoughts on this.

I've no argument with any of that. If I choose a drying anchorage or other place with restricted arrival and departure times - harbours with a sill, bars, or whatever, I'm going to factor all that into my calculations and only use it if the timing works out. My belief in the advantages of boats that can take the ground is based on the fact that they can use anywhere an equivalent fin can go, but have additional options available to them when there's an advantage to doing so.

Yes, an unforeseen weather change may mean you're stuck in a suboptimal situation, but short term forecasts are pretty good these days. The timing may be out by a few hours, but what's going to happen is usually pretty accurate, so you know if a real nasty is going to happen, even if you're not quite sure when, and that's a good time for me to swallow my tightwad principles and head for a marina with a restaurant and a bar.

 

[Seegull]

I'm with the others, almost any boat could do the trip. When the great Tilman was asked how to join an expedition he replied: "Strap your boots on and go"

I hope the OP gets what he wants and sails off but, as a general observation, these threads often descend into a playground melee where the instigator walks off and keeps his head down. The usual barmpots then start sounding off about boats they are not fond of, maybe in order to validate some internal fetish, who knows?

Anyway, In a short time Seagull has asked a series of questions about buying power boats, steel boats, obscure Continental brands, racing yachts and motor sailors. Nowt wrong with that but good advice might be to get something the family can enjoy, test it and himself over a couple of seasons and, if going around the UK stills seems and attractive proposition, go for it.

Just for the look of the thing, for my pick, a Westerly Konsort would do the trick:

Westerly Konsort archive data - Yachtsnet Ltd. online UK yacht brokers - yacht brokerage and boat sales


.

I'm glad it's not just my wife paying attention to my various ideas!!
Plans change, sadly, due to various reasons.
An initial idea was a motorsailor but good ones seem few and far between - much like smaller cruising yachts they are getting quite old now and the big manufacturers don't make them. Must have been great in the 80's and 90's!
As advised they apparently don't sail well.
Motorboat, due to fuel costs it would have to be a simple displacement one. But with no backup power option...that is out. Twin screw means high maintenance costs.
Trying to keep the wife involved is not easy...and as much as I love boating I prefer to do that with a sail when possible.
So that leaves a robust, small to medium size sailing boat with a decent engine that can be managed at sea and in marinas single handed.

But I wouldn't say no to a nice motorsailor that sails reasonably with bow thruster, tabanacle, enough room for the family, and capable of coastal & inland cruising....if one comes up!!

Also note. In my question I didn't say I planned to do the trip this year. I was after suggestions for a yacht that I could do it with "one day".

Thanks for all the great comments!

 

[Egret]

Crossed with the OP message above but to summarise - probably Bilge Keeler if you are taking time and want to see all the little inlets, or maybe Fin or multihull to get around more quickly if content to just go to deep water harbours - but comfort maybe is an element on such a long expedition, particularly if with wife and family so perhaps something that takes the seas comfortably where you can simply tie the tiller and it sails itself and not needing 3 heavy people on the windward rail. Maybe the Konsort or similar does all of this and is available with either bilge or fin keels. (Edit - or the Contessa 32.) - Our current race bred boat doesn't sail itself or cut through short seas as well as our previous Van de Stadt. Needs something that sails itself easily and comfortably with its Autohelm- wouldn't want to have to plan to motor that far. I like Doug 748's comment - get something the family can enjoy,

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Crossed with the OP message above but to summarise - probably Bilge Keeler if you are taking time and want to see all the little inlets, or maybe Fin or multihull to get around more quickly if content to just go to deep water harbours - but comfort maybe is an element on such a long expedition, particularly if with wife and family so perhaps something that takes the seas comfortably where you can simply tie the tiller and it sails itself almost and not needing 3 heavy people on the windward rail. Current race bred boat doesn't sail itself or cut through short seas like the older Van de Stadt. Wouldn't want to have to plan to motor that far.

Though, as a dyed in the wool multi sailor, it grieves me to say, with a 30k budget, he won’t get a fast, seaworthy multi that enables him to stay married. A DF800 would fly round, but it’s compact, bucket and chuckit, little weather protection, therefore fails the married lady test. An older crankier boat would just cost more to fit out for it, a newer cat like a Sagitta is out of budget, sadly. A good performing mono is the way forward, bilge or fin according to what’s available as much as any other consideration.

 

[steveeasy]

well I’d look for something that is as ocean going as possible. Will point in to the wind and not too much sail. Some people sit arround for favourable winds but the reality is your have the wind against you half the time and the seas won’t be flat.
No one’s been brave enough to suggest a (here it comes for a chuckle) contessa 32, but would be good. You might get away with something light 90% of the time but that 10% of the time in what can be very challenging waters I’d like something heavy but not slow.
Steveeasy

 

[Tranona]

Also note. In my question I didn't say I planned to do the trip this year. I was after suggestions for a yacht that I could do it with "one day".

Then choose a boat you can live with now. As many have said just about any cruising sailing boat of that size will be capable of circumnavigating the UK. For most it really is just a series of day sails with a couple of potentially longer open waters passages. Very few people (if you read the numerous accounts of such projects) buy a boat specifically for a trip against the clock as you suggested earlier. Most go with their existing boat often after a few years of building up experience and developing the boat so that it is well prepared.

Equally very few people keep their first boat for long - many start relatively small but, particularly if the family are involved move up in size for the extra capability and comfort. The 9-11m range is probably the sweet spot and if you really do want to do extensive cruising then there are plenty of good boats in that size available within your budget.

 

[Refueler]

Longer, wider, more ballast, bigger rig with different proportions. Sure, it's just the same.

Of course as its a scalable design ...

What they did was take the concept and stretch to create a volumous hull ... from a proven design.

Do you think that Primrose ... Van de Stadt ... and other designers create ranges of boats - each one uniquely designed ?

 

[Refueler]

Just a thought on the debate on the merits of a bilge keeler versus fin or long keel and the ability to dry out. Just to qualify my thoughts, I have never owned a bilge keeler but have sailed with friends who have and have dried out with them.
Anyway I would have thought that the problem with drying out is that it restricts you in the time that you can leave an anchorage (you have to be afloat of course) and that time might not be the best time to depart on a passage. The tide might be against you, which a thing as sailors I am sure we always try to avoid. I have even experienced a similar thing with harbours or river entrances which are restricted by the rise of tide when you may enter or leave. I would rather to be free to depart on passage when the tidal flow suits the passage, whatever time of day or night that might be. Interested to hear others thoughts on this.

You are mixing planning with ability to dry out.
In the scenarios you describe - what does it matter if boat is fin / long / bilge / lifting ... the prudent skipper will decide what to do - stay afloat or dry out to suit ...

Sorry but the argument is a non starter.

 

[Hurley Iris]

A Hurley 22. Sam Sails on You Tube did it.
Build like a tank, cheap to run and very forgiving.

 

[Seegull]

then there are plenty of good boats in that size available within your budget.

good to hear! that is all I was asking.

 

[Refueler]

good to hear! that is all I was asking.

I have always said that boat buying often comes down to one thing :

You step on board ... you look around deck .. you step into cabin and your GUT says ................ YES.

I'm a great believer that if you start to ask yourself if you can live with xx .. then its best say no. That xx will niggle and haunt all the time you have the boat.

Last year - looking for a larger boat .. myself and couple of pals who sail with me ... we hopped Ferry to Sweden a number of times to go view boats ... we would board and look at each other .. could see that iffy xx factor in the expressions. Walked away ... then we stepped on board the Conqubin 38 ... within just a few minutes all 3 of us looked at each other - it was YES.
OK - wiring is a mess ... but all works except wind direction ... couple of sails messed with, owner trying to modify ... other sails are old but good condition .... self tacker was missing its lines .. but engine was a rebuilt 2GM in pristine condition .. generally the boat gave a feeling of confidence ....

Have I fixed the issues .. some but not all ... she's brought us through storm weather ... with very little effort and trimming - she overtook a Sponsored Race Boat ..... she's a flyer and I am very happy with her.

It was the same YES gut feeling when I bought my previous boats ...

 

[ylop]

Also note. In my question I didn't say I planned to do the trip this year. I was after suggestions for a yacht that I could do it with "one day".

If you buy the wrong boat for your sailing before that you will never gain confidence needed for such a trip, or avoid using it because it’s not comfortable etc. and so never set off. Would buying a boat that gave many weekends of pleasure but you decided was not the ideal boat for sailing round Britain be a disaster? Would buying a boat that had enough comfort and modern design that your wife enjoyed it be a disaster - even if that meant you would prefer crew on a round Britain trip in the future?

 

[Stemar]

I'm glad it's not just my wife paying attention to my various ideas!!
Plans change, sadly, due to various reasons.
An initial idea was a motorsailor but good ones seem few and far between - much like smaller cruising yachts they are getting quite old now and the big manufacturers don't make them. Must have been great in the 80's and 90's!
As advised they apparently don't sail well.
Motorboat, due to fuel costs it would have to be a simple displacement one. But with no backup power option...that is out. Twin screw means high maintenance costs.
Trying to keep the wife involved is not easy...and as much as I love boating I prefer to do that with a sail when possible.
So that leaves a robust, small to medium size sailing boat with a decent engine that can be managed at sea and in marinas single handed.

But I wouldn't say no to a nice motorsailor that sails reasonably with bow thruster, tabanacle, enough room for the family, and capable of coastal & inland cruising....if one comes up!!

Also note. In my question I didn't say I planned to do the trip this year. I was after suggestions for a yacht that I could do it with "one day".

Thanks for all the great comments!

I think you've described the Konsort Duo. Here's one