What 8 metre boat is for me?

[Refueler]

Length is not always a good indicator of cruising abilty in terms of accom space ...

A typical Moody 30 - 33 ... Westerly 33 etc would have more 'family' space than my 38ft Cruiser racer ... Yes I can sleep 6 comfortably ... but being 11.4m long and 3.0m wide ... means she is narrow in beam ... luckily designer has made good use of underdeck side areas to compensate.

Russian Wife celebrating our new boat ...

OP as I understand it is looking for a reasonable budget boat with enough space inside to not have problem with 'other half' .... to be able to go a few places a bit further than just a day sail around the harbour.
That to me pretty well sums up what I had to sort some years ago when I lived / married in UK. The Alacrity 19 was great for Pal and I for weekend jaunt in Solent ... then I got the Snapdragon 23 ... 3 of us had a week exploring Solent ... then wife agreed that she would give it a go and I looked for a Colvic 26 or Centaur ...
Guy advertised the Sunrider 25 as a Colvic style boat and we checked her out ... 5 mins later price agreed. That was about 25yrs ago .. she is still with me but out here now. She just had her stbd bilge keel repaired after hitting submerged rock ...
That boat has provided great times with 2 - 3 - 4 people on board .... and she will always be with me ....

Repaired and home :

OK .. to labour a point about Deck Stepped mast vs Keel Stepped .... my 25ft boat has a heavy mast ... I'm sure its a cut down from a bigger boat .. but anyway with the A-Frame its a doddle ....

My frame is overkill ... I could do it with lighter poles - but these were a freebie ....
I usually leave all attached and get under the three bridges to the harbour from my home mooring you see ... then raise mast ... tighten stays ... A-frame dismantles and lays on side decks till needed later ... mainsheets provide the control transferred to forward ... spinnaker halyard to the frame.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

OP wants a boat for two people.

 

[chris-s]

When we were changing boats two years ago moving up from a 23’ bilge keeler, we were convinced we wanted something like a late eighties fulmar or similar sized Moody. After viewing a few and then looking at a random ‘88 Beneteau OC 320, it felt so much nicer than the old seventies era boats. Yes, it may not have the same quality woodwork or extra heavy layup and contrary to popular belief the keel has shown no signs of falling off even after two Atlantic circuits (not by us).
So, don’t discount more modern design boats until you have viewed a few.
Good luck!

 

[Stemar]

OP wants a boat for two people.

In that case, I'd be looking for a comfortable V berth for when attached to the ground and a safe, easy to get in and out berth for nights on passage. Extra space is nice, but a boat that shoehorns more cabins in at the expense of lebensraum, like many boats designed for charter work, isn't the one.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

My parents had a Vega when I was a teenager, my memories were of a very sturdy, safe feeling boat, particularly remember being in the cockpit on a night sail from Tobermory to Arinagour on Coll ... no GPS, no radar, no AIS, no autopilot, just a compass, a tiller and a night lit by the moon. Wind was fresh, waves were occasionally coming over the decks and a bit of spray was hitting the spray hood and cockpit. I was watching the night sky for shooting stars, it was amazing, the water was totally black, but there was almost no light pollution so the night sky was filled with stars. Must have been early teens at the time, it felt magical.

Boat was a complete pain in the arse to manoeuvre under power, but under sail she was steady and predictable - felt safe but not so safe that it didn't feel like an adventure. Don't get the same feeling on my current boat, it's very nice and does what it says on the tin, but the raw adventure of small yachts before the advent of GPS is long gone.

 

[Refueler]

Pal and I sailed my 38 to Roja .... small port on west side Riga bay .....
Next day after arrival ... I was pottering about cockpit doing those little jobs while pal was fishing ...

He came back to boat with a Man and his wife ... chatting away ...

Guy had mentioned that he knew our boat - having travelled over top Sweden to look as it was for sale. He was honest in front of his Wife and said he'd wanted it - but Wife wanted more the floating 'caravan'..... so they didn't buy.
What he did buy was a later Beneteau which ticked all the Wifes boxes .... nice boat ... I actually prefer Jeaneau but that's me ... It was moored deeper in the port and I had noticed it earlier.

Guy was plain about it .. he wished he'd bought the boat I was on ... with its full transom protecting the cockpit ... as his Bene as he said corkscrewed and was a wet cockpit with its more open transom ... cabins of course excellent - but was a more fairweather boat than my older.
And his Wife agreed !!

But I am sure as I said to them ... the cabin design and setup with their boat is definitely far better than mine ... its a far better 'cruiser' than my boat designed for speed ...

I didn't have the heart to tell then I bought for about half the price they were asked for it 3 months before I bought.

So as I said before - length of boat is not always a good measure for cruising ability of accoms.

 

[johnalison]

Pal and I sailed my 38 to Roja .... small port on west side Riga bay .....
Next day after arrival ... I was pottering about cockpit doing those little jobs while pal was fishing ...

He came back to boat with a Man and his wife ... chatting away ...

Guy had mentioned that he knew our boat - having travelled over top Sweden to look as it was for sale. He was honest in front of his Wife and said he'd wanted it - but Wife wanted more the floating 'caravan'..... so they didn't buy.
What he did buy was a later Beneteau which ticked all the Wifes boxes .... nice boat ... I actually prefer Jeaneau but that's me ... It was moored deeper in the port and I had noticed it earlier.

Guy was plain about it .. he wished he'd bought the boat I was on ... with its full transom protecting the cockpit ... as his Bene as he said corkscrewed and was a wet cockpit with its more open transom ... cabins of course excellent - but was a more fairweather boat than my older.
And his Wife agreed !!

But I am sure as I said to them ... the cabin design and setup with their boat is definitely far better than mine ... its a far better 'cruiser' than my boat designed for speed ...

I didn't have the heart to tell then I bought for about half the price they were asked for it 3 months before I bought.

So as I said before - length of boat is not always a good measure for cruising ability of accoms.

But waterline length is a good indication of the sort of speed you will be doing when cruising, including sailing and motoring. Other factors will come into play when beating to windward or sailing in light airs, but generally boats of the same length will cruise, not race, at the same speed.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Hello fellow YBW’s!

Myself and my wife are looking at taking on a project boat, aiming at around 27 / 28 foot mark. We are looking to invest some time and cash into a boat this side of summer 25, an to do some significant miles aboard, before children appear on the scene. My own background is as a commercial sailor, and I’ve done a few ocean crossings, but thats all involved bigger, very often far bigger, boats.

My reflex is to go fin keel and keel stepped mast, but of course when you get sporty and slender in 28 feet you suddenly run out of places to sleep! The Albin Vega seems to be almost the 'default' small boat for proper passagemaking, but does feel really quite small for a wife who doesn’t quite live and breathe a week at sea at a time!

What does everyone make of the Vega, and what alternatives are there out there? We aren’t afraid to invest the money in the right boat, but we are also keen to keep LOA down; if I want a big LOA I can go to work! That said, we’ve got a ‘never say never’ approach to things like the ARC, so we can be any shorter than 27 feet, either!

We’d be delighted to hear your thoughts!

Andy

The ARC should not figure in your boat buying decision as it is irrelevant. Most Albin Vegas I see today are in such a poor state of repair that I wonder what happened to this make, as they appeared to be such good boats. I agree with others who talk about 30’ boats, so much more boat and for good money.

These guys are sailing round the world in a yacht that is low cost, incredibly seaworthy, and great fun. A few are for sail at very good rates if you search about.

Be aware that project boats will probably cost a lot more in money and time than you expect.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE3Daw16kCYS3drFNb_F1g

 

[Davy_S]

Most Albin Vegas I see today are in such a poor state of repair that I wonder what happened to this make, as they appeared to be such good boats.

As a past owner of a Vega, they were a very good safe boat, we thought that there was plenty of room for two, of course the handling in reverse was not the best but it was a small price to pay, the yacht was very good under sail, the problem was the usual engine was an MD6a and
used the combi drive prop, this meant the prop was turning all the time, you simply moved the lever to increase pitch or to reverse, plus you could feather to prop when sailing to reduce drag, when it worked is was good, some Vegas fitted a gearbox and a new propshaft when the combi drive started to go wrong, or they had to let the moths out of the wallet and fit a new engine, a beta was the favorite choice, obviously anyone buying a Vega now would look for one with a beta fitted, the simple fact is the Vegas are nearly 50 years old now and things have moved on, i was very lucky when i sold mine as i made a profit.

 

[Refueler]

But waterline length is a good indication of the sort of speed you will be doing when cruising, including sailing and motoring. Other factors will come into play when beating to windward or sailing in light airs, but generally boats of the same length will cruise, not race, at the same speed.

Its not the speed - its the motion of the boat in a seaway .... I'd rather be in my Conq38 .... than that guys Bene (think it was a 35) ... when you have awkward following sea ... which is exactly what his Wife and he said. The wide arse transom is fine most of the time ... but can lead to some uncomfortable moments is such seas.

There is another matter .............

I can sit 6 people around my cockpit with elbow room, 7 if not so fat ! ... because I have a Tiller I can pivot up out of the way.

Boat next to mine in cradle - similar size but of later wide arse ... won't mention brand to save upsetting people - owner and his wife reckoned 4 people ok .. 5 a pinch ... why ? Wheel steering.
Even my 25ft'r can sit 5 - 6 better !! Again pivoting tiller.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We can easily have 6 in the Dragonfly cockpit for the same reason. Wheel steering in it’s place of course, but a 30ft cruiser, not always the right thing.

 

[dunedin]

My parents had a Vega when I was a teenager, ………particularly remember being in the cockpit on a night sail from Tobermory to Arinagour on Coll ... …….

Wow, I know that 27 footers were a bit slower than modern / bigger boats, but a “night sail” from Tobermory to Coll. That’s a short hop in time for lunch generally

 

[Wansworth]

As a past owner of a Vega, they were a very good safe boat, we thought that there was plenty of room for two, of course the handling in reverse was not the best but it was a small price to pay, the yacht was very good under sail, the problem was the usual engine was an MD6a and
used the combi drive prop, this meant the prop was turning all the time, you simply moved the lever to increase pitch or to reverse, plus you could feather to prop when sailing to reduce drag, when it worked is was good, some Vegas fitted a gearbox and a new propshaft when the combi drive started to go wrong, or they had to let the moths out of the wallet and fit a new engine, a beta was the favorite choice, obviously anyone buying a Vega now would look for one with a beta fitted, the simple fact is the Vegas are nearly 50 years old now and things have moved on, i was very lucky when i sold mine as i made a profit.

A friend of mine Dennis Gorman sailed across the Atlantic and back and did several jester trips in his Vega.He set a furling jib /genoa and main and didn’t have any special light weather sails or storm sails.Probably after all these years a Vega may need deepish attention but it’s proper sailing boat with pedigree

 

[Davy_S]

The Vega held the fastest atlantic crossing record for under 30ft for quite a while, reaching 13.5 knots under spinnaker.

 

[Refueler]

The Vega held the fastest atlantic crossing record for under 30ft for quite a while, reaching 13.5 knots under spinnaker.

Talking speed ? My Conq 38 with just self tacker jib has hit 9kts and held it .... in fact putting the full genoa on is only needed when you really want to 'fly' !!

 

[Stemar]

The ARC should not figure in your boat buying decision as it is irrelevant. Most Albin Vegas I see today are in such a poor state of repair that I wonder what happened to this make, as they appeared to be such good boats. I agree with others who talk about 30’ boats, so much more boat and for good money.

These guys are sailing round the world in a yacht that is low cost, incredibly seaworthy, and great fun. A few are for sail at very good rates if you search about.

Be aware that project boats will probably cost a lot more in money and time than you expect.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE3Daw16kCYS3drFNb_F1g

Absolutely. My calculation is to add up everything you think you're going to need, then double the cost. Add up all the jobs and the time they'll take, and triple it. Now add a third to both, as a contingency. If I come in somewhere close to that total, I reckon I've done well. Will I have spent less money than if I'd bought a ready to go boat*? Probably not much, and I'm a year (several years?) late.

Having said that, there are advantages. You get to spread the cost out and, when you're done, you'll understand the innards of your boat far better than the ready to go job.

*I'm not sure that there is such a thing as a ready to go boat. Even a new one will need setting up to your needs, and a good shake-down cruise, and anything second hand will need some fettling.

 

[Refueler]

"*I'm not sure that there is such a thing as a ready to go boat. Even a new one will need setting up to your needs, and a good shake-down cruise, and anything second hand will need some fettling.

Steve"

Pal of mine wanted to get another boat ... I sent him to look at a very nice Jeanneau 36 fully kitted out .. 2nd hand but recent model in 100A1 condition ... radar ... you name it .. just under 80K . Still had its original J crockery as a Special Edition ...
He liked it and seller agreed about 75K .... very good deal ...
Pal's wife ummed and arr'd but was Ok with it ..

Few weeks later I haven't heard as I expected to help him sail it to Solent ... so I called him ....

I didn't buy in the end ... I signed contract for a new Hunter Legend 36 ... at about 110K ...

My next question was ... what about all the extra gear .. at this I heard a quiet muffled 15 - 20K addition ....

2 years later he couldn't sell it ... he hated it !! Locker tops warped .... leaks .... failed systems .... took 5yrs to get rid of it.

 

[johnalison]

Its not the speed - its the motion of the boat in a seaway .... I'd rather be in my Conq38 .... than that guys Bene (think it was a 35) ... when you have awkward following sea ... which is exactly what his Wife and he said. The wide arse transom is fine most of the time ... but can lead to some uncomfortable moments is such seas.

There is another matter .............

I can sit 6 people around my cockpit with elbow room, 7 if not so fat ! ... because I have a Tiller I can pivot up out of the way.

Boat next to mine in cradle - similar size but of later wide arse ... won't mention brand to save upsetting people - owner and his wife reckoned 4 people ok .. 5 a pinch ... why ? Wheel steering.
Even my 25ft'r can sit 5 - 6 better !! Again pivoting tiller.

Comfort and speed are all parts of the equation, as is dryness. This doesn’t always follow size. On one occasion we sailed in company with a centre-cockpit Moody in our Mystere with a freeboard measured in inches. We sailed downwind in the aftermath of a gale in big seas off Ostend, and it was the other boat that got several dumps of water into the cockpit while we stayed bone dry. A large cockpit can be great for socialising. Our HR34 when we bought it had a longer cockpit than any other HR up to the 46.

 

[Wansworth]

Comfort and speed are all parts of the equation, as is dryness. This doesn’t always follow size. On one occasion we sailed in company with a centre-cockpit Moody in our Mystere with a freeboard measured in inches. We sailed downwind in the aftermath of a gale in big seas off Ostend, and it was the other boat that got several dumps of water into the cockpit while we stayed bone dry. A large cockpit can be great for socialising. Our HR34 when we bought it had a longer cockpit than any other HR up to the 46.

On a video of a delivery of a 75 foot super sailing yacht the crew on watch got thougherly dowsed going to windward

 

[ridgy]

I always think 28 feet is the worse size, big enough to incur all the costs of a larger boat but without the utility.

A boat that size is pretty much full just with weekend cruising stuff never mind extended trips to sunny shores. Where are the stand up paddle boards going?

So many good boats around 32' well within budget. Just buy this and get going, recent engine and sails plus electronics autopilot and a wind vane. Copius storage in the aft cabin. A proper little ship.

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