UK s/h boats - need some learnin'

[grumpy_o_g]

If you want to stay below 14K you'll have a huge range of boats, many of which are good boats - so good the builder unfortunately had to stop making them 'cause they were to expensive - many even went bust. If you restrict your search to a couple of models you'll not only be missing out on what could be the perfect boat but you may well end up paying for a compromise you don't need to make. Why not base your search on budget and then narrow down to ones you like - then post on here with a list of them asking people's opinions. As you're no doubt aware boats at that price are bought almost entirely on condition. Two things to watch for in the UK; firstly some asking prices are very optimistic and secondly some brokers don't do very good postings - things like pictures of a different boat or one that were taken sometime ago are fairly common as are descriptions that are wrong (even things like draft and length). The good brokers can be outstanding though - some of them post here but always declare an interest if appropriate.

 

[Nicholas123]

I'm contemplating coming from Australia to the UK to buy a boat and start my cruising sabbatical from there.

But I'm completely clueless about what boats are what in the UK second-hand market.

While I like the Centaur and they seem to be plentiful and cheap, they're a little small, what are some of the other options?

My upper-limit price is 14k (pounds) and i hope to cruise single-handed about the UK, EU canals and the Med for as long as i can afford. I'm 6'1' and if i can stand up straight in the cabin that'd be a bonus.

I love bilge keels though they're not essential. I like the Nicholson 32, though most of them are out of my price range and are a little too deep for some of the canals, i gather.

Might just have to settle on a Centaur - i do like them. I like things simple and am happy with the minimum of gadgets and mod-cons, without going too ascetic.

Also, i get bewildered by the array of websites in the UK with boats for sale. Can i have some recommendations for a couple that i can stick to?
Some of them seem to demand i register to see the details of boats, and I'm reluctant to become website database fodder for all eternity just because I'm interested in a boat.

Thanks,
Matt

P.S. some of you might recall my ruminations on a thread about centaurs, about starting my sabbatical from the UK. Well the plan is looking increasingly doable, just have a few more ducks to get in a row...

I would buy a Macwester 27 series two.Better boat altogether for the money.

 

[aquaplane]

I like the look of the Fantasia, they did a lift keel for the canal requirement.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Converning the canal bit, I think that air and water draught will limit you far more than beam. I have a draught of 1.5 metres, and I gather I would be marginal on major waterways like the Great Ouse in East Anglia, with no chance on canals and smaller rivers. Inland waterways also have low bridges in many places; you certainly won't get through with a mast up , and if you've got a pilot-house or even an arch for antennae, you might not get through.

Unfortunately I have found it incredibly difficult to get information about draught limits on the UK inland waterways! The canals were designed for purpose built vessels, so you would expect them to have a maximum draught of a metre or so. Of course, rivers are usually deeper/wider, but no-one seems to be interested in the draft as long as a narrow-boat can float on it.

Rivers, of course, vary widely in their depth according to rainfall and runoff.

A secondary point concerning draught is that even if the waterway is deep enough in the middle, is it deep enough for you to moor at the edges?

 

[Tranona]

Not sure why all this stuff about UK canals came from. The OP is quite clear that it is European canals (on his way to the Med) he is considering. There are therefore no issues of draft or beam with the sort of boats he is looking at.

 

[WestWittering]

14k should just about get you a Westerly Griffon. Same boat, but the replacement model with a 'better' located galley but the rudder is on the back (don't know the technical term) rather than underneath (don't know the technical term for that either. I know I like my rudder where it is (underneath). Better a well-maintained & updated slightly older Centaur than a cheap Griffon that needs work.

The Westerly Owners website sometimes has some great deals on there. My Centaur is an absolute smasher and was at the lower end of the price range. Beautifully maintained, her own wiki, all equipment worked & in great order, regularly updated. Twenty-five years old and looks ten at the most.

Get the one with the two square windows at the front - very pretty

Di

 

[dylanwinter]

Get the one with the two square windows at the front - very pretty

Di

arf arf

...workmanlike.... robust... tough

yup.. all of those

pretty......hmmm

 

[jwilson]

Don't knock Ferro cement. If you get one that was properly built it will be maintenance free and indestructible.

A good ferro boat is a very good boat indeed, but despite this they can be very slow to sell. Too many people don't trust ferro, thinking the hulls will crack like paving slabs (they don't). The OP wants a boat for maybe a year that he can presumably sell on again when his sabbatical finishes.

 

[Normanby]

Good advice, thanks.
I like the Macwester 27, thanks for the tip.
What do we think of the Colvic 27-28 bilge keelers?

Centaurs definitely appear the way to go, just don't feel right focusing on one type, at least during the search.

(Hi Woodlouse; i am aware that i've probably written off ferro unfairly, but i don't care, i'm not buying one. Can we drop it please?)

 

[dylanwinter]

Good advice, thanks.
I like the Macwester 27, thanks for the tip.
What do we think of the Colvic 27-28 bilge keelers?

Centaurs definitely appear the way to go, just don't feel right focusing on one type, at least during the search.

(Hi Woodlouse; i am aware that i've probably written off ferro unfairly, but i don't care, i'm not buying one. Can we drop it please?)

once you have chosen to buy a Centaur then you are the bottom of the decision pyramid

so many to choose from

it will be a lot easier to sell at the end

D

 

[WestWittering]

Are you going to buy your boat from Australia or are you going to come over & view? What kind of timescale are you thinking of? I would be happy to do some looking for you as there are quite a few in the Chichester area..

Di

 

[obmij]

I looked at Hunter 23's Hunter 26's, Sadler 25's, Sadler 26's, a Sadler 29 a Cobra 750, Sabre 27 and several Centaurs before finally purchasing a Centaur.

I would have happily bought any one of the others, should one have come on the market in decent nick, at a price I was willing to pay.

Due to the large number of Centaurs on the market - it's easy enough to find a decent one at a reasonable price. The others..there may only be one or two for sale in any given region, and I wasn't prepared to travel all over the country looking at fairly low value boats.

The others..

Hunter 23 - Smart little pocket cruiser with excellent accomodation for size, but you can get more for the money and they feel a little light for what you are planning to do. Very rare to find with inboard engine. Self tacking jib for easy single handing.

Hunter 26/272 etc - Bigger sister of 23. Roomy, open plan layout a very pleasant place to be. 27/272 is apparently a stiffer boat. You can get a good, relatively new one for £14k and imho this would be the easiest to sell on at the end of your trip.

Sadler 25 - very compact layout, no standing headroom but by all accounts seaworthy. There are a couple of fully refurbed and quite excellent fin keelers for around 10k. Bilge keelers, if they are in good condition and well priced tend to sell quickly.

Sadler 26 - still quite compact but standing headroom. Quite expensive compared to others you may or may not get one for £14k

Sadler 29 - fantastic boat, perfect for your trip if you are lucky enough to find a decent one for £14k

Cobra 750 - solid little 25 footer with much more usable room than Sadler 25. Prices range from less than £5k to £12k. I would have bought one had there been any decent ones in my area.

Sabre 27 - Chunky cruiser around £10k. Not many around.

Cheers etc

 

[Stemar]

If you like the Centaur but would like a bit more space, you might find a Westerly Berwick or Pentand to your taste. Most will be advertised above your budget, but you never know.

 

[TQA]

I looked at Hunter 23's Hunter 26's, Sadler 25's, Sadler 26's, a Sadler 29 a Cobra 750, Sabre 27 and several Centaurs before finally purchasing a Centaur.

Cheers etc

Enjoy your sailing.

They are tough little boats, I have seen a couple in the Caribbean that have made it across.

 

[Iain C]

Get a Sabre. Much prettier IMHO, and also very safe and seaworthy, with a teeny bit more sparkle than a Centaur (I'm led to believe...). Both bilge and fin available.

I've just checked the dictionary...

Sabre-sharp, stiff, beautiful curves, forged by craftsmen and in the right hands a formidable weapon.
Centaur-ancient thing bodged together from various spare parts with many wobbly legs that looks like a horse's arse from many angles.

(runs for cover...)

 

[Lakesailor]

Not sure why all this stuff about UK canals came from. The OP is quite clear that it is European canals (on his way to the Med) he is considering. There are therefore no issues of draft or beam with the sort of boats he is looking at.

I think it grew from the suggestion made by Dylan. The OP does mention EU canals. However, we are still in the EU.

 

[obmij]

TQA - cheers mate!
Iain - To55er!

Back to the OP

If I was in the position of our Aussie pal, I would scrap his original idea, buy a boat in the Med then sail it back to Blighty for his cruise, then sell.

Neilsons were selling Moody 31's for less than 14000 euros last year, in fact I think there may be a couple left. Cheapest 31 in uk right now is asking £27k..

Plenty of choice down there.

 

[Normanby]

TQA - cheers mate!
Iain - To55er!

Back to the OP

If I was in the position of our Aussie pal, I would scrap his original idea, buy a boat in the Med then sail it back to Blighty for his cruise, then sell.

Neilsons were selling Moody 31's for less than 14000 euros last year, in fact I think there may be a couple left. Cheapest 31 in uk right now is asking £27k..

Plenty of choice down there.

Intriguing, got a brokerage website I can trawl?
I wouldn't know where to start looking...

 

[Tranona]

Greece is a good place to buy old (often ex charter) yachts. The Moodys mentioned, however have spent all their life being used as starter boats for learner sailors. They are a risky buy - cheap because demand for such boats is low and they are not worth taking back to UK where the price might be a bit higher. Most of the boats on offer are, however larger and more expensive than your budget. The charter companies usually sell the boats themselves and most of them have a section on their website with boats for sail Try Sailing Holidays, Neilson, Sunsail, Moorings, Sail Ionian, Cosmos, Kiriacoulis or brokers such as Gregs Yachts, Pinnacle Yacht Sales.