What boat for £10k

[sigma38dave]

Read what the OP wants and then tell us why you think that boat is remotely suitable

Er, the OP’s wish list…

1) it’s on budget
2) it’s local to him so no delivery expenses
3) sleeps 4 in more comfort than a tent
4) easily capable of coastal and channel hopping without adding loads of kit

Yes it’s not perfect and possibly not to your taste. If the keel isn’t hanging off it I’d say worth a visit.

 

[14K478]

As a wooden boat owner and maybe semi pro fixer upper, I am in the baggy a nd hackett corner. Its a whole heap of occasionally lovely grief. I 100% love my XOD but it horrifies and terrifies me at the same time. A wood boat in top order, Ok. A 40+ yr old wooden boat could be facing a huge list of unknown and unseen horrors. Serious gluttons for punishment apply within. Others, run screaming for the hills

I believe that is what you pay a surveyor for?

And you do that with any forty year old boat, of any material.

The boat I pointed out comes with a very well documented history; I would be rather confident that she has fewer problems than most if not all of the grp boats that have been recommended on this thread.

 

[finestgreen]

The one thing that he hasn't mentioned is can he afford the berthing costs for any boat in the Solent unless of course he has access to a "cheap" swinging mooring as even a 29 foot in a marina will consume the purchase price in 2 years.

Yeah, mooring shouldn't be a problem. I'd be more wary about the extra maintenance costs of something that big though

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I believe that is what you pay a surveyor for?

And you do that with any forty year old boat, of any material.

The boat I pointed out comes with a very well documented history; I would be rather confident that she has fewer problems than most if not all of the grp boats that have been recommended on this thread.

I owned a SCOD for a short time and I am a competent woodworker but the ongoing maintenance was a chore that I could do without and whilst the boat you advocate maybe sound it will require looking after far more than a GRP boat. I understand the maintenance and general care of wooden boats can be part of the attraction and pleasure of those that own them and a well cared for one is a pleasure for all to see but one that is barely maintained and done on a shoestring with bodged repairs of filler and worse quickly makes a wooden boat a nightmare. Which is why I would not recommend one to a new to sailing buyer unless he has the skills and more importantly desire to maintain it.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Yeah, mooring shouldn't be a problem. I'd be more wary about the extra maintenance costs of something that big though

Yes everything is more expensive as the yacht gets larger. The initial thing assuming the yacht ( Sigma) is sound will be antifouling and haul out cost, then it's in to the usual replacement items sails and running rigging etc but they can be budgeted for and plan,ed a couple of years in advance.
The attraction of a larger yacht means that you won't get the itch to go bigger within the first few years of ownership and when you do decide on those cruises to the Channel Islands and France you will arrive earlier simply because the boat is faster, very important when you have a couple of youngsters saying how much longer dad.

 

[Mark-1]

The boat I pointed out comes with a very well documented history; I would be rather confident that she has fewer problems than most if not all of the grp boats that have been recommended on this thread.

Assuming that's true it wouldn't be long before the problems come thick and fast.

A few years ago a guy was telling me how his wooden boat gave him no more trouble than a GRP boat "As long as he kept on top of it.".

2 seasons later he was having it re-decked.

I'd also suggest that you can't simply handwave "keeping on top of it" away.

 

[Tranona]

No you tell me why it won't

It will accommodate a family of 4 comfortably, it's within his budget, It will with the caveat I gave and assuming the advertisement is representative it will certainly be capable of sailing in the Solent this year and going further in years to come.
The one thing that he hasn't mentioned is can he afford the berthing costs for any boat in the Solent unless of course he has access to a "cheap" swinging mooring as even a 29 foot in a marina will consume the purchase price in 2 years.

What a load of waffle. Thee boat is a performance cruiser primarily bought for full crew racing. Of course it has space for 4 people and is capable of sailing around the Solent. The OP says SPEIFICALLY he is looking at boats like the Centaur

 

[Tranona]

Er, the OP’s wish list…

1) it’s on budget
2) it’s local to him so no delivery expenses
3) sleeps 4 in more comfort than a tent
4) easily capable of coastal and channel hopping without adding loads of kit

Yes it’s not perfect and possibly not to your taste. If the keel isn’t hanging off it I’d say worth a visit.

Nothing to do with my taste. He says he is looking at boats like the Centaur so you offer a knackered 36' cruiser racer just because it has 4 berths and is available at £1 below his top budget!

That says more about your taste than understanding what the real requirement is.

 

[Mark-1]

No you tell me why it won't

Yup. The OP says this:

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?

The Sigma 362 does all of that in spades. I've sailed two. A couple or a family would have no problems at all sailing one.

TBH, I suspect there's an unwritten requirement that the boat must take to the ground and be cheap to run and berth, but the OP didn't say that.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

What a load of waffle. Thee boat is a performance cruiser primarily bought for full crew racing. Of course it has space for 4 people and is capable of sailing around the Solent. The OP says SPEIFICALLY he is looking at boats like the Centaur

No you need to improve your reading and comprehension skills, he says he has been following the Centaur thread with interest and he's in the £10K sector of the market.