Unsinkable boats..

[sam_uk]

Hi All I am researching my first 'big' boat.

I plan to go through the French canal system and across to Turkey over a four month journey.

I have about £20k to spend. I would like a boat with positive buoyancy.

I am aware of;

Macgregor 26 - LOL - not offshore!

Etap 26/28 - look good but would prefer a bilge keel

Sadler 29 - looks perfect

Is there any other boats with positive buoyancy which I should consider?

 

[Tranona]

No. Which gives you a good sign that it is not something people value!. Just about 100% of yachts do not have positive bouyancy but there is not an epidemic of sinking boats!

Downsides are loss of volume and possible failure of the sandwich for little real benefit. Sadler 29 is an excellent boat in its own right and provided there is no delamination, particularly in the forward panels is a good choice. But so is a Westerly Konsort or various Moody models of similar size and price.

 

[Searush]

You'll do well to get a Sadler 29 for £20k - unless it has serious delamination or other problems.

 

[Tranona]

There was one recently on here (about 3 months ago) with owner desparate to sell at that price having bought a new boat. But you are right, normally asking nearer 25k in good order.

 

[Noddy]

Ought to mention multihulls.

No lead = no sink

P

 

[Searush]

[ QUOTE ]
Ought to mention multihulls.
No lead = no sink
P

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah, It ain't necessarily so.

GRP is denser than water, so multihulls don't always stay afloat. AND they can't right themselves when flipped - a not uncommon scenario.

 

[photodog]

Were has this myth about multi hulls not sinking come from???

IIRC ScillyPete's cat sank quite well thank you.

 

[Tranona]

Ignoring the unsinkable bit, you might wish to reconsider the practicalities of your project. Through the canals and all the way to Turkey in one season is very ambitious and you won't get to see much on the way. Also a budget of £20k for a suitable boat, equipped properly for the trip is on the light side. You will be limited in size and age (smallish, old boat) and will need to be handy to keep it all together. Engine is all important and given that a new engine for this size boat is £5k+ buying a boat with a recent engine would be a high priority and limiting what is available.

Good luck with your search.

 

[sam_uk]

OK thanks for the replies, looks like it's going to be a Sadler 29 then..

"you might wish to reconsider the practicalities of your project."

No thanks! if I do that I will end up sitting behind a desk for the next 5 years.

"go small, go now" http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f74/go-small-go-now-607.html

 

[Topcat47]

Cobra 950 bilge keeler? There's one in my club has done the canals twice. It's not unsinkable but you ought to be able to find one for £20k.

 

[Tranona]

Just for interest, why is unsinkability so important to you? It excludes you from literally hundreds of suitable boats.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

[ QUOTE ]
Were has this myth about multi hulls not sinking come from???

[/ QUOTE ]

Tis not a myth, tis fact - but only for some - those that are made from foam cored laminate.

Sea here...

Unsinkable

Yer average old multi with solid laminate like a Heavenly Twins would end up on the bottom if both hulls were holed.

 

[sam_uk]

"Why is unsinkability so important to you?"

It is mainly because I don't want my boat to sink! I also like the sound and heat insulating properties.

 

[craigbalsillie]

thanks for the link to the go small go now article..

very uplifting..

good luck with your endeavour..

Craig.

 

[Tranona]

Neither do thousands of other people who own and use boats that do not have positive bouyancy. As far as I know there are no examples of "unsinkable" yachts staying afloat after being holed - only after deliberate flooding for demonstration purposes.

There is a big difference between what you might think will happen and what actually happens. Yachts do not sink in any significant numbers and no manufacturers have ever been able to persuade people in any numbers that "unsinkability" is a valuable feature. Classic example of a solution looking for a problem to solve.

I suppose the point that I am making is that for your project there are many other features that have higher priorities and limiting yourself to maybe only two models of boat is very restrictive.

 

[sam_uk]

[ QUOTE ]

I suppose the point that I am making is that for your project there are many other features that have higher priorities and limiting yourself to maybe only two models of boat is very restrictive.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is a fair point, could you outline what you think are the main failings of the Sadler 29 compared to other similar boats?

 

[Sans Bateau]

[ QUOTE ]
As far as I know there are no examples of "unsinkable" yachts staying afloat after being holed - only after deliberate flooding for demonstration purposes.


[/ QUOTE ]

There was a case of a Sadler 34, sailing school boat, that hit a (merchant ship?) in the channel that was found still floating after evacuation. Part of an article in YM several years ago featured an Etap 38i that had lost its rudder and saildrive leg on a reef in the Red sea, that was towed to safety fully floating, with crew aboard. I am sure there are others.

You are right in what you say though, the OP should not limit his choice to unsnkable boats for his project, especially given his restricted budget.

 

[Tranona]

Remember the Sadler 34 now - should not have forgotten because think it was a Poole based boat.

 

[Tranona]

Not a question of "failings". The main criticism of the 29 is shortage of space compared with, say, a Konsort. This is not just due to the double skin but it is a "short" 29 footer. There have been problems with delamination of the flat bow panels, but this is fixable. There are currently 17 listed on Yachtworld, mostly asking mid 20's, although two below 20. One described as tired and the other interestingly built for the Med and single skinned!

Having owned a boat in the Med for 9 years, and currently preparing it for the trip back through the canals, I have discovered a list of desirable features very different from an English Channel boat - and "unsinkability" does not appear even on the end of a long list. Strong reliable engine, good maneouverability, particularly astern, good light airs sailing performance, spacious cockpit, lots of lounging space, walk through transom, bimini, storage space, big battery capacity, fridge, H&C running water would all be near the top of my list.

Of course not everybody has the same priorities and the trip can be made in a simple way, but look at a typical 20-30 year old UK boat of the size and price we are talking about and you will see big gaps and getting a reasonably equipped boat for under £20k is a challenge!. An alternative is to look at buying a boat in the Med if the objective is fun in the sun. You can get a well equipped ex charter 30 footer for well under £20k. Means missing out on the canal bit, but a boat that does both parts of the trip well is a compromise anyway.

Hope this helps