What boat for £10k

[finestgreen]

I've been following the Centaur thread with interest, as someone in a similar corner of the market (except geographically I'm looking in the solent).

So... what boat would you buy right now with a budget of around £10k, that would get you sailing this year without a lot of immediate work, that would accomodate a family of 4 for holidays of comparable luxury to camping in a tent, and would (perhaps with modest further prep) be safe to go up and down and across the Channel?

 

[Tranona]

I've been following the Centaur thread with interest, as someone in a similar corner of the market (except geographically I'm looking in the solent).

So... what boat would you buy right now with a budget of around £10k, that would get you sailing this year without a lot of immediate work, that would accomodate a family of 4 for holidays of comparable luxury to camping in a tent, and would (perhaps with modest further prep) be safe to go up and down and across the Channel?

Absolutely impossible to answer for you, You will get probably ywice as many suggestions as the individuals that make tthem - more as some will provide a list. There are so many possibilities in theory and not difficult for you to draw up a short list of the potentials that are available within your budget, bearing in mind that proximity to you is important at this level to avoid costs of moving around to view and moving the boat.

Good luck.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

It’s a nice problem to have, at the moment. So many potential fun boats. But only getting up close and personal can tell you if a boat is ready to go with minimal work and expenditure for family sailing.

 

[paris]

I am bias but my Westerly Merlin ticks all my boxes and would do yours as well, they sail well and are brisk for a 28ft cruiser. I know of a good one for 12kish

 

[PeterV]

Westerly Merlin, Westerly Griffin or for a really cheap bargain that will outsail most other for the budget, a Westerly GK29 (I’m biased).

 

[ducked]

I am bias but my Westerly Merlin ticks all my boxes and would do yours as well, they sail well and are brisk for a 28ft cruiser. I know of a good one for 12kish

Budget creep already?

 

[Sailing steve]

Any £10k boat that's already had a small fortune spent on improving and maintaining it will do.

So you don't have too...

 

[Biggles Wader]

You could get a lot of boat that needs a bit of work for that money or a modest boat that has all the bells and whistles already done! Loads of choice out there.

 

[14K478]

This is surely the answer:

Kim Holman Sterling Sloop | Classic Cruising Yacht For Sale

Good builder, good designer, good inventory, well looked after by a good yard, ready to go afloat for the season.

The Sterling is the cruising man’s Twister. Sleeps 4.

 

[finestgreen]

This is surely the answer:

Kim Holman Sterling Sloop | Classic Cruising Yacht For Sale

Good builder, good designer, good inventory, well looked after by a good yard, ready to go afloat for the season.

The Sterling is the cruising man’s Twister. Sleeps 4.

That is beautiful!

 

[14K478]

That is beautiful!

Yes. I will “declare an interest” - I know and like the broker, Richard Gregson, having dealt with him before; I had a sudden urge of wanting to downsize and called Richard and this was his top recommendation. I know Alan Staley and have kept a boat with him and had him work on her and I know the sailmaker - Cindy Parker of Wilkinson Sails.

I was all set to say “snap” when the Red Monster plucked at my heart strings and I couldn’t sell her.

My definite advice is “go for it”.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

As a trad wooden boat owner myself, logic screams ‘Nooooo!’ Whilst other non logical parts of the brain say different.

 

[dunedin]

This is surely the answer:

Kim Holman Sterling Sloop | Classic Cruising Yacht For Sale

Good builder, good designer, good inventory, well looked after by a good yard, ready to go afloat for the season.

The Sterling is the cruising man’s Twister. Sleeps 4.

Perfect ..........

..... for those who prefer spending their time ashore doing maintenance rather than sailing.

 

[Kwik Decision]

In the best traditions of the forum I'll recommend this, as we had one for 9 yes. It will do everything the OP wants, and given they're asking £10k should go for a little less.
https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/sadler-29-for-sale/802720

 

[Chiara’s slave]

In the best traditions of the forum I'll recommend this, as we had one for 9 yes. It will do everything the OP wants, and given they're asking £10k should go for a little less.
https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/sadler-29-for-sale/802720

That’s a sensible suggestion.

 

[14K478]

Perfect ..........

..... for those who prefer spending their time ashore doing maintenance rather than sailing.

For quite a number of years I laid up this next to a GRP Cornish Pilot Cutter, a gaff rigged boat of the same size, and we compared the time spent on maintainance ( we both had the same, quite high, standards):
Antifouling: same
Engine: same
Spars: same
Electrics and navigation stuff: same
Decks: same
Brightwork (ok, not all GRP boats have as much as his boat did): same
Topsides: He polished his every year, I painted mine (Epifanes one pot) every other year. He spent a little more time than I did.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

This is surely the answer:

Kim Holman Sterling Sloop | Classic Cruising Yacht For Sale

Good builder, good designer, good inventory, well looked after by a good yard, ready to go afloat for the season.

The Sterling is the cruising man’s Twister. Sleeps 4.

He must have sold that boat 3 or 4 times since Ive been visiting his site! He does like a Sterling.

But.... He also has a racing mans twister up :

If I didn't already have a plastic one, and my sanity, I would be all over it!