Went to see a boat

fisherman

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 Dec 2005
Messages
19,675
Location
Far S. Cornwall
Visit site
https://www.gumtree.com/p/boats-kay...taur-26ft-bilge-keel-sailing-boat./1343660597

It looks basically sound, without seeing underneath, or starting the engine, I didn't look too far because it's not for me, I don't need the work, but a couple of weeks would get it going. The windows have been replaced with ply and stupid little portholes, the interior seems OK, moulded GRP galley area, not too much flaky ply, headlining needs attention, just finishes really. Wonder why it hasn't gone (as does the vendor).
 
I would want to see the mast up, the state of the rigging and the condition of the sails.

New rigging and new sails would cost more than the boat.
Volvo MD2B ! If is actually running well may be worthwhile as spare / replacement but along with cost of sails and rigging you could throw a lot of money at this very easily
The reality is that hulls outlive the components and is going to be a greater problem as time goes on
 
Not selling simply because nobody wants a boat that needs work nowadays. Not because people are lazy, but because the market is oversaturated with fixer-uppers. For the same money or less than the final cost of a fixer upper you can get a good one and go sailing, without the work and hassle. Fixer uppers need fixing up by their owners then sold at usually less than market because of the botches of a disinterested owner trying to recoup at least some of his money and effort.

The boat OP viewed is not selling for the reasons he didn't buy it!
 
By the time you spend the money and effort to get it seaworthy and reasonably comfortable, you can buy one that has been done up; there are so so many boats around to pick and choose. Also, 26 ft boats are not very popular nowadays, they appear to be an "odd" size for today's taste. People rather go for 28ft upwards or stick to 20ft.
 
If he raised the mast and could demonstrate the engine starting and running fine, and tidied and cleaned the inside, he could prob shift it in the 3-4k mark.

People looking for them know that centaurs hold a relative value, and £900 just makes it sound like a wreck. not a bargain. There is such a thing as too low a price for many folk, they are just naturally suspicous of it.
 
unless you are local to Plymouth this isn't going to attract much interest - it looks like too many trips to and fro to get it to an operational state (to move it, lorry excepted) and at the wrong time of the year
 
He has lost any appetite he may have had to improve its presentation. He said he bought it to live aboard while he did up the boat he lives in, alongside. It is obstructing the crane berth of the yard, which he also works in. I can see that everything will need overhaul and checking through from top to tail. However, I could see that a two week blitz, carefully planned, would achieve a lot.
Some idea of possible values here:
https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/category/type/Westerly/Centaur
 
Sadly that looks like a “someone please take this off my hands” far too many old boats of that size around now with not enough buyers. Don't forget than one is on a drying mooring and may well have the wobbly keel problem too.
The worrying thing is as time goes on there will be a lot more but that category will be moving into the 30-32 ft region. I’ve just sold my boat but it’s a worrying time wondering what to buy now and how sellable it will be in say 10 years time.
 
He has lost any appetite he may have had to improve its presentation. He said he bought it to live aboard while he did up the boat he lives in, alongside. It is obstructing the crane berth of the yard, which he also works in. I can see that everything will need overhaul and checking through from top to tail. However, I could see that a two week blitz, carefully planned, would achieve a lot.
Some idea of possible values here:
https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/category/type/Westerly/Centaur
If you go for it, I have some new genuine gasket sets and other useful new MD2 B parts, nice and cheap. Ad in the For Sale forum.
 
I don't know what price one of these boats in good nick would fetch. It is quite possible as fisherman suggests that it is basically sound and it only needs elbow grease and some tidying up to make it decent and useable. Could be ok for someone with a limited budget and practical skills.?
 
I don't know the yacht in question nor the location but here:

We have a considerable number of yachts on swing moorings in the 18'-25' range and I'd guess in the 1970s-80s vintage. They are considered mooring minders, in fact I know one called 'Minder'. Moorings in desirable places are in short supply. Most of these yachts don't move and in addition to being minders are floating reefs with 15/30mm of marine growth on the hull. Recently in a bit of a breeze the mast of one fell down, forestay failed. They also used to break free and end up on a beach but it is now demanded that along with renewing your mooring (pay money) you need to show the mooring is being serviced annually, more money.

We have one on the next mooring to us - the owner, wife and 2 kids were last on it 10 years, or so, ago - we have not seen them since.

But they cost - you need to pay NSW Govm for the lease of the mooring space. You need to pay for a boat registration licence. You need to pay for the mooring to be serviced, annually. If you want to go into a marina (fuel/AF anything) - really you need 3rd party insurance - but no-one asks. There are virtually no facilities, round Sydney (nor I believe Queensland) to dry out and do you own antifouling - which means paying to go into a slipway/travel hoist.

Its a lot of money - that gets you no-where for a yacht that is valued at Stg1 (and as mentioned, frequently, will cost a lot of money to return to a sailaway condition (and importantly - will appeal to a wife (or girl friend).

Having said all that - where does a kid start who has an ambition to sail. Small yachts, like the J24 of 25 years ago, have disappeared and starter yachts, at boat shows (that will eventually filter down) now seem to be 30'-35'.

If you are the owner of a minder, and eventually buy the bigger yacht for which you have been minding the space or accept you are of sufficient seniority that you are never again going to sail your pride and joy - what do you do with the 50 year old floating reef?

Its all an increasing problem.

The answer is - you need to keep her in a sailaway condition in the first place - but that does not happen.

Jonathan
 
I don't know the yacht in question nor the location but here:

We have a considerable number of yachts on swing moorings in the 18'-25' range and I'd guess in the 1970s-80s vintage. They are considered mooring minders, in fact I know one called 'Minder'. Moorings in desirable places are in short supply. Most of these yachts don't move and in addition to being minders are floating reefs with 15/30mm of marine growth on the hull. Recently in a bit of a breeze the mast of one fell down, forestay failed. They also used to break free and end up on a beach but it is now demanded that along with renewing your mooring (pay money) you need to show the mooring is being serviced annually, more money.

We have one on the next mooring to us - the owner, wife and 2 kids were last on it 10 years, or so, ago - we have not seen them since.

But they cost - you need to pay NSW Govm for the lease of the mooring space. You need to pay for a boat registration licence. You need to pay for the mooring to be serviced, annually. If you want to go into a marina (fuel/AF anything) - really you need 3rd party insurance - but no-one asks. There are virtually no facilities, round Sydney (nor I believe Queensland) to dry out and do you own antifouling - which means paying to go into a slipway/travel hoist.

Its a lot of money - that gets you no-where for a yacht that is valued at Stg1 (and as mentioned, frequently, will cost a lot of money to return to a sailaway condition (and importantly - will appeal to a wife (or girl friend).

Having said all that - where does a kid start who has an ambition to sail. Small yachts, like the J24 of 25 years ago, have disappeared and starter yachts, at boat shows (that will eventually filter down) now seem to be 30'-35'.

If you are the owner of a minder, and eventually buy the bigger yacht for which you have been minding the space or accept you are of sufficient seniority that you are never again going to sail your pride and joy - what do you do with the 50 year old floating reef?

Its all an increasing problem.

The answer is - you need to keep her in a sailaway condition in the first place - but that does not happen.

Jonathan

Interesting as I can think of numerous places where you could dry out in the northern end of Moreton Bay and The Pumice Chanel up to Caulundra QLD but whether its allowed I guess is another matter.Pictures my daughter just sent of the area just on the NSW/Queensland Border also seems to have plenty of drying out spots.Here in Scotland there is no problem and I guess in northern Queensland its the same.
I am guessing in eastern Oz its the same as it is in the UK where on the south coast marinas and moorings cost a fortune and space is at a premium wheras up here there are no problems.
 
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