What boat advice?

[dirkdiggler]

This is my first post on this site so please bear with me! Can someone please give me some advice (Based on experience) as to what liveaboard I should be looking at for a family of 5 (2 adults, 10 year old, 3 and 2)I have a budget of £30k and plan to take 3 years out sailing the Med etc. No serious bluewater intended, this may change????
Also can anyone recommend any good family sailing sites/advice etc.

Andy

 

[Sea Devil]

I would look at something like a - Catalac - they were well made - provide lots of room(s) and are around your budget. With their big cockpits and open space they are good boats for the sunshine areas of the Med. I an not certain a monohull in the same price range would get you enough accommodation. Mary Lack used to deliver them cross Biscay to the med regularly and although not the prettiest boat in the world they are possibly under- rated.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi and welcome to the forum. It's hard to give advice about the type of boat without some knowledge of your sailing experience and whether you prefer motor or sail. If you have time to fill in details about yourself under 'home' then you will generally find you get more help from others in the forum.

When you say that your budget is £30k, do you mean a total investment of £30k to setting sail for the Med, or do you mean £30k purchase price plus £????? available to get the boat ready?

David

 

[Talbot]

Whats your location?

Older 9m Catalac could be bought and leave some cash for additions/fitting out. Great family boat, but not wonderful to windward. If interested and in Portsmouth area, you are welcome to come have a look at mine.

 

[snowleopard]

a heavenly twins could do the job. shipswoofy has one, ask him.

 

[dirkdiggler]

Thanks for taking the time out to reply to my post. I have read your threads with interest as well as enjoying you web site. How well do the catalac hold it's value, as I notice some are quite old yet still command a lot of money.
Thanks
Andy

 

[dirkdiggler]

I have since filled in some more details of myself as suggested. I have only been sailing for 6 months or so but am hooked. I plan to take coastal skipper course soon etc.
Cutting a long story short, I will be taking a 3 year break with the family on a budget total budget of £30k. This includes purchase of boat and any additions that will be required. I have a seperate budget for the cost of living etc. Obviously I do not want a boat that will depreciate too much as it will more than likely be sold upon my return.
Many thanks for everyones advice.

Andy

 

[Sea Devil]

I am no expert in cats - talbot and others are - I am going to get one but for personal reasons... I think olderboats hold their value well - There will always be a market for Catalacs - and if you research the market carefully you should be fine - They are what they are but unless you damage it badly I suspect you will more or less get your money back when you sell - less inflation of course! the cat experts will help I suspect.

 

[dirkdiggler]

Talbot

Thanks for your advice! I may take you up on your offer ????

 

[Anonymous]

Andy,[ QUOTE ]
I will be taking a 3 year break with the family on a budget total budget of £30k. This includes purchase of boat and any additions that will be required. I have a seperate budget for the cost of living etc.

[/ QUOTE ]If the £30k is on the water, ready to go, then you need to subtract costs such as survey, antifoul, launch, sail checking/repairs, essential maintenance items (engine filters, seacocks, batteries, etc.), annual insurance, mooring for first few weeks/months before you leave, etc. If you are going to the Med you will need a tender and decent anchor/chain as well. As a percentage of the budget this will start to make inroads so my suggestion to you is that you try to find another cruising family who have finished their time and with all the essentials in place - albeit not new - but at least serviceable. Then take a view on the overall offer and condition maybe, just maybe, without survey unless your insurer will insist on this in any case. This forum is an excellent place to start asking around - the other suggestion is the Cruising Association; there are always people starting out and finishing. You will save a lot of money compared with trying to buy a typical UK cruising boat that isn't equipped for liveaboard and whose owner probably plans to take much of the kit to his next yacht.

To put it another way - maybe it is more important for you to find the right vendor rather than the ideal yacht.

 

[dolphin]

i have a steel boat on dry in turkey for painting - regular maintenance

if you are interesting, please advise as i am looking for other boat

the boat is very roomy and seakind

regards

 

[Formercruiser]

Cruising boats can be bought very cheaply in the south of Spain and - on the whole - should be suited to Med sailing! Flights out are cheap but getting hold of parts and labour can be tricky so it could be chancy if you are not too sure of what you are doing. Some brokers are good and others are crooks so be careful who you deal with! Cruisers in the area will be able to advise.

Please remember it can be very expensive to set up aboat for cruising. I bought my first cruising boat for about £23k and spent almost the same again on gear! Although the boat was basically sound she needed sails, the engine died and had to be replaced, new tanks (water and diesel) etc, etc.

And please always keep enough money in the bank to get you home and restatrted if it goes wrong - there is nothing sadder than a cruiser who has run out of money.

 

[FrankB]

Hi Andy,
I look forward to hearing how things progress for you. I'm in a similar position (3rd child due April), although at the very early stages. Love the idea of a liveaboard for a few years! Any information you feel might be useful, please let me know.
Best wishes,

 

[mike_bryon]

We live aboard and cruise on our boat with four young children. Suitable accommodation was our first priority. I suggest that you views lots of mainstream production boats within or a bit above your price range to see for yourself what might be suitable. Looks, age and sailing or sea keeping pedigree might need to come second but do know the limits of your boat when planning passages and routes.

Accommodation that divides into three compartments might best suit as then children and adults each have a space of their own. Consider investing in a cockpit tent and folding cockpit table. This will create a safe play area during the day and a space for you and your wife to eat and chill when the children are asleep. Converting the saloon table into a double bunk creates comfortable extra berths that are also a safe place for the children to play when at sea.

Get down to the warmer parts as soon as possible then you can spend lots of the day on deck or in the cockpit so long as you have created suitable shade.

Consider French boats around 35 feet, examples from the late 70s or tired ex-charter examples may suit your budget. Try to get hold of a previous survey before you commission one yourself.

On your cruise the majority of families that you meet will be doing it on a similar budget and on similar boats. Your plans are entirely realistic and promise to be a fantastic adventure for the whole family.

Best wishes.