Upgrading a 26 - 30 foot "Classic Plastic" for extended crusiing - The Essentials.

She31,

I presume you have or have had your namesake ? Could do a lot worse as a sailors' boat, but won't win over many SWMBO's used to 'Boat Show Boats' with about 3 double aft cabins for that length, and some tend to skip over the practicalities of sailing or operating those modern wonders in any significant weather !

Size isn't the answer to survival, nb the book 'Once Is Enough' - Tzu Hang was a bombproof 46' double ender with a remarkably strong crew of 3, but she got pitchpoled & rolled in 2 incidents; I do believe there's a huge amount to be said for a light, strong boat and keeping active steering, this is how things like Whitbread 60's survive the Southern Ocean.

Snag is, this requires a strong crew or the worlds' best autopilot...

Must say djbreeze sounds spot on, and did well for those prices.
 
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Albin Vega £11,000

Sailed for two years with no real expenditure except:

New rigging: £600

Then in preparation for an Atlantic circuit:

Re-engined etc: £4,000
New sails: £1,400
Navik windvane: £ 500
Stormboards: £ 100
Series Drogue £ 200
Instruments: £ 200

And of course lots more that I can't think of now . . .

Boats like Fairwinds are much cheaper nowadays. As a rule of thumb I would say if you buy a 26-30 footer now and want to make it lovely and bombproof expect to spend the same again.

- W
 
No no no, we've had Webcraft, DJBreeze and that bloke orbiting America, loadsa Corribees circumnavigating the Uk, recent mention of that Shane Acton fellow doing a circumnavigation on a box of Tetleys and a bit of spare washing line...
This is bad for business for new boats.

Btw just to add , I have in the past been known to remove, engines, toilets, sinks, bulkheads, doors, electric pumps, electronics, gadgets, custom awnings and covers, blown air heaters...it's amazing how KISS ) keep it simple) really does work- but as we get older or more married are we still hardcore enough to cruise on a micro budget?
 
The rich spend money to save time, the poor spend time to save money (Michael Ignatieff).

That's an interesting saying that I've never heard before,the question is what do the rich save time to do that is more interesting & satisfying to do than doing up old boats & mucking about in them?

For my money the main thing is to buy one that is "in commission" then you can do it up at your leisure.
Salty John seemed to have it about right.Can't wait to get my hands on my next 'project'.:)
 
I bought an Albin Vega last summer and will not be spending any money until we have had a good sail,basic stuff like engine and rigging ;sails etc in good condition.I know I will have to invest in a 2nd anchour and some new mooring warps but to sailabout the coast no more is needed the fitting out of a boat is a very subjective activity The guy who recently sailed around America in a Vga didnt have a spray hood or storm boards over what many would consider a week point.......its part of the fun, making lists and buying stuff but its not essential.
 
10k spent so far, almost done.
Mine is in the same size/age as the ones specified.
But, it's been on the driveway 14 months, working most evenings/weekends.

Howard
 
Good thread,I`m in the same position with an unclassic plastic Hurley 24/70 from 1974. Luckily I found one that`s been re-engined and re-rigged. I reckon some of the prices quoted above are a bit OTT,I will get her properly offshore capable for a grand,is the plan... my labour, not yard at £40+ per hour of course. There`s definitely a big jump in costs between say 24` and a (gorgeous) She31. Good luck Jerry.
 
I am in the last throes of refitting a Sabre 27, dirt cheap at £2500, a real basket case, it took 3 years work to bring her back. Now im a boatbuilder by trade so did all the work myself.
Apart from major expediture like engine, stern gear, rigging, upholstery, windows etc, you then have all the little bits and they add up. At one point last year i was such a regular customer in Dauntless chandlery that i might have well just given Barry my bank account details & got him to empty it every month.
Though i have all the bills in a folder i have no idea what its really cost, perhaps one day i will tot it all up but id best be sitting down when i do so.
If you want a good Classic find one thats already been done!
 
I am in the last throes of refitting a Sabre 27, dirt cheap at £2500, a real basket case, it took 3 years work to bring her back. Now im a boatbuilder by trade so did all the work myself.
Apart from major expediture like engine, stern gear, rigging, upholstery, windows etc, you then have all the little bits and they add up. At one point last year i was such a regular customer in Dauntless chandlery that i might have well just given Barry my bank account details & got him to empty it every month.
Though i have all the bills in a folder i have no idea what its really cost, perhaps one day i will tot it all up but id best be sitting down when i do so.
If you want a good Classic find one thats already been done!

I have to confess that, once I've made certain that the newly purchased thingy fits/works/etc, I then throw away the reciept every time! And my boat wasn't even a basketcase to begin with! :eek:
 
I have a 1977 Samphire 26.

When I was looking to buy three years ago, I decided to look at boats in good, sailable condition rather than 'projects'.

That meant something with the basic, non-cosmetic but critical items in generally good/recent condition - engine, sails, rigging, hull - and which had been recently sailed rather than left to go mouldy.

I'd say nine times out of ten it's worth spending a bit more on the initial outlay, as, between two similar yachts, the costs to get a worse boat into the same condition as the better boat will often be far more than the difference in price.

I'd definitely do the same again; even on a reasonably 'sorted' boat there are loads of little and not-so-little improvements and modifications you'll want to make.

Oh, and ignore anyone who says 'I wouldn't go to sea without [insert expensive item that wasn't even available until 10/15 years ago]' or breezily refers to their latest boatshow purchase as 'essential' - it usually isn't!

I'd recommend 'Simpson on Secondhand Boats' and Don Casey's 'Inspecting the Aging Sailboat' (included in his 'Sailboat Maintenance Manual') for good information.

There are loads of great boats from the 70s/80s, so good luck!
 
I have to confess that, once I've made certain that the newly purchased thingy fits/works/etc, I then throw away the reciept every time!

Same - I invested in a shreder just so SWMBO cannot add them all up. Mind you she does say that having a mistress would be less time consuming and cheaper.

1961 wooden, £2.75K to buy, I spent £6K last year, £8K this year and budgeting £4K next year (rig + other bits) and £6K engine 2013/4. Sailable every year but getting better all the time. One bonus is i know every inch of her and how almost everything 9except the engine) works.
 
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Lets look at a few boats like Halcyon 26, Contessa 26, Pioneer 9, etc.

Say you purchase one for around 5K-7K - so at that price she is sailable but a "bit rough".

Halcyon 26? or do you mean 27 :)

The problem is what needs altering before you start. Our Halcyon 27 has been heavely modified and done the Atlantic circuit by the previous owners, and a number of big mods were done in the States after crossing the pond.

If you are looking at a Halcyon27, let me know, you can see what mods you need, could try twisting my arm, and buy a modified one. :)

Brian
 
Halcyon 26? or do you mean 27 :)

The problem is what needs altering before you start. Our Halcyon 27 has been heavely modified and done the Atlantic circuit by the previous owners, and a number of big mods were done in the States after crossing the pond.

If you are looking at a Halcyon27, let me know, you can see what mods you need, could try twisting my arm, and buy a modified one. :)

Brian

Halcyon, your boat isn't 'Kyon' by any chance?

There's a lovely photo in one of my books ('The Sailing Cruiser' by WM Nixon) titled 'John and Helen Anderson's Kyon seen in the Galapagos during a round the world cruise which they successfully completed in September 1976'.

There's also a PBO article from a few years back about the modifications they made.

In any case, Halcyons seem amazingly well travelled!
 
A small boat is far safer than a large one however food water and equipent need space and sail power to move

There was a Dane that sailed a 6 meter around the world reported in Crusing world,Vertues Folkboats contessas(26 Canadian build) All circumnavigated

You need a well found boat for example a Folkboat the Landrover (60s) of the sea,an EPRN digi vhf safety gear gallons of brandy(for the cooker)paper sea maps a working SSB with winlink or airmail to plot your possition chart plotter GPS perhaps a liferaft(you must learn how to use them)

And off cash today youll need at least £400 pm of the trip time at sea counts as saving £500 might be better

NEVER dream then you will buy a deepfreez air con oil lamps but no oil and forget the barrel of good French wine
 
Speaking from personal experience of a similar sized/aged boat I would go for the more expensive better kept one every time. I've spent WAY more on my boat than she cost me initially and to make her immaculate I could probably spend the same again! You live and learn.
 
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