UK s/h boats - need some learnin'

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Normanby

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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...
 
look no further than a centaur

at your budget you could get a cracker

loads of space below for the length

and sail better than you think

if you want to enjoy this country, explore up the rivers and enjoy wonderful achnorages then bilge keels are essential

and every Centaur owner will be your firend - there are few ports and rivers without one

 
Centaurs certainly do have headroom, at 6ft 3ins I realise that I will have difficulty finding full standing headroom in many boats but I am able to get around my Centaur OK. You will certainly get one for under your budget but don't get a cheap one! Find one that has been re-engined and looked after and you should be OK but try not to pay the asking price! Have you looked on the Westerly Owners Association? Lots of info and some boats for sale. The sites mentioned above are good although you have to register on boat shed they don't seem to bother you too much so don't let that put you off. Good luck!
 
A Westerly Centaur would be a good choice. Built like a brick "proverbial". I have been registered with Boatshed for some years now and I can't remember receiving any unsolicited communication from them.
Happy searching.

j
 
Normanby said:
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...
Click to expand...

You can get a decent sized/pedigree ferro cement boat in Oz/NZ for £14k, why come to the UK & get a manky one?
 
jwilson said:
It's our website, and a Centaur with a barely used and still shiny Yanmar 3YM20 diesel will be online within about 24 hours.
Click to expand...


Excellent site! It's a great resourc, I have used it many times over the years. thanks!
 
I think that the OP should base his search on his budget.... Versus just concentrate on a Centaur.... ( nice boat though it is...).

At that price there are a enormous number of very good 27-30 foot yachts available... And many which IMHO would be better sailers than the Centaur...

I think he would be better off buying the best boat available for the money... Versus the best Centaur....
 
Thanks Alant, but there are two reasons why i won't be buying a cheap ferro boat in NZ/Oz; one, i don't wanna consume my cruising time just getting to the cruising ground, from Oz to EU (yes yes i know, Oz has some magnificent cruising grounds, but i've sailed most of them and i don't need to again, besides, i hate the heat), and two, FERRO? Are you serious, really!?

I DO like Centaurs, but i'm hoping to hear makes and models of other boats i should check out on the interwebs too.
 
Look at what's available for your budget on the south coast (where most of them are) & treat each on its merits, ask here about the sailing qualities of particular boats, use Yachtsnet archive. Look for boats on Yachtworld & Apollo Duck - virtually all brokers inc. Boatshed advertise on Yachtworld & most private sellers will have an ad on Apollo Duck, so with those two sites you're looking at most of what's for sale. Also worth checking what's on ebay, preloved & Gumtree. Good luck...:)
 
Suggest you use www.yachtworld.com advanced search. This is the main brokers site. Put in your parameters and it will give you a huge number of boats to consider. It does not give all the boats on the market because many in the type/price range you are looking at will be sold privately and advertised in other media such as Apollo Duck, but at least you will get an idea of the range of boats available.

Having said that a Centaur is a good choice as there are usually at least 40 on the market at any one time and it is quite possible to get one with a newish engine well within your budget. The other advantage is that they are relatively easy to sell when you have finished your project.

As I suggested on your other thread, you may need to reduce your ambition if you only have a year, particularly if you want to sell the boat at the end. Such boats are virtually unsaleable in Europe so you will need to end up back in UK to sell the boat. Much more sensible, if you can, to consider a 2 summer project, first summer down to the Med, lay up for the winter and return the second summer. If only one season then you will be limited to UK and the northern coast of Europe - still plenty to see, but less good from the variety and sunshine point of view.
 
V1701 said:
Look at what's available for your budget on the south coast (where most of them are) & treat each on its merits, ask here about the sailing qualities of particular boats, use Yachtsnet archive. Look for boats on Yachtworld & Apollo Duck - virtually all brokers inc. Boatshed advertise on Yachtworld & most private sellers will have an ad on Apollo Duck, so with those two sites you're looking at most of what's for sale. Also worth checking what's on ebay, preloved & Gumtree. Good luck...:)
Click to expand...
Good advice, will do.
On that topic, what do we think of these?:
http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/boats/h87812/h87812.htm
 
Normanby said:
...., besides, i hate the heat),....
Click to expand...
Ah. Coming to the right place then, judging from our last few summers.

Incidentally. I don't have a lot to do with canals, but as I understand it: Your average sailing boat is utterly unsuited to most English canals, which are narrow, shallow and with lots of low bridges. Canal boats are called narrow boats for a reason, and a Centuar won't fit. Some canals are a bit more generous, as are some rivers, but you will still need to get the mast down easily.
 
Normanby said:
Good advice, will do.
On that topic, what do we think of these?:
http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/boats/h87812/h87812.htm
Click to expand...

Not a success when new - only 20 built. The market was very crowded in those days and it was probably too expensive compared with rivals. Biggest negative now would be that old Volvo and saildrive. Parts are getting very difficult to find and expensive.

You will find condition of the 30+ year old boats you are looking at will vary enormously, partly because many were not made particularly well when new and with the low value tend to be neglected or "bodged". They often only come on the market because they need more money spending on them than the owners can justify. Not all are like that, but you have to see them to make your own mind up.
 
Lots of canals are suitable for boats with up to 12' 6" beam. (draft and airdraft are another matter)

This map shows them.

widebeam_map.png
 
Lakesailor said:
Lots of canals are suitable for boats with up to 12' 6" beam. (draft and airdraft are another matter)

This map shows them.

widebeam_map.png
Click to expand...

good innit

yup

loads of places you can go inland with a centaur

why look at any other boat

purpose designed for what you want

and as the man says

easy to flog at the end

as for flexi-keels

well known problem, easily solved and most of the ones you look at will have been fixed

D
 
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