What boat for £10k

[Gixer]

As an owner of a Hunter Horizon 27 I think it fits the OP's requirements rather well. But then I would say that.
My gripe with the 27 is that there is nowhere comfortable for two adults to sleep together. The aft cabin is too small to be really comfortable TBH. Other than that the galley, heads, are awesome for the size.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Well if you know about yachting history and you no doubt do knows that Giles drew some great small seaworthy small boats.

Yes he did but times have changed and the designs of today suit todays purposes better and are no less seaworthy.

 

[finestgreen]

You can interpret as you wish. But nowhere does he say he wants a knackered old 36' cruiser racer which only comes up because a Sigma owner thinks it is a good buy.

That is the problem with these threads. The responses come in 2 forms. First those that make sensible suggestions either in general terms or specific boats. Those that suggest the boat they own or lust after and then spend ages waffling on trying to justify their suggestions even though they are almost always totally unsuitable.

For what it's worth, I deliberately left the constraints loose. I would never have looked for either the Sigma or the Holman, they are probably not what I'm looking for, but it's a useful exercise in checking whether I'm putting the right bounds on my thinking - especially when people "waffle on" about why they'd pick it.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

You can interpret as you wish. But nowhere does he say he wants a knackered old 36' cruiser racer which only comes up because a Sigma owner thinks it is a good buy.

That is the problem with these threads. The responses come in 2 forms. First those that make sensible suggestions either in general terms or specific boats. Those that suggest the boat they own or lust after and then spend ages waffling on trying to justify their suggestions even though they are almost always totally unsuitable.

And nowhere doers he say he wants a Centaur what he wants is essentially a seaworthy yacht for £10K you can imagine what you like including that something is knackered which it may be but it is worth a look preferably with someone experienced if the OP isn't. The best option of what has been given is imo the Sadler 29. I would take the ability to take 4 comfortably as being the major influence and something starting at 26 foot should be the starting place to look.

 

[Mark-1]

Laurent Giles knew a good deal about naval architecture ,they are not bad boats.They had moved on from just two flat plates bolted on the bottom and they had been properly designed I believe in a test tank at Southampton.

Yeah, don't get me wrong they are bloody superb. There's a reason that 50 years after they made them they are still predominant up every creek in the Solent.

 

[potentillaCO32]

I am a member of a sailing association on the east coast. In the 3 years 3 members with wooden boats have sadly passed away. Two are rotting in the yard and can't be given away. One, which has a long local history has been adopted by the other members and is back on the water. Pretty much worthless and a near full time winter job to keep fettled.

 

[Wansworth]

Yes he did but times have changed and the designs of today suit todays purposes better and are no less seaworthy.

Well I bought Dufour 24,cutting edge French cruiser of it time so I can appreciate modern design ……but I have to say I prefer designs from the re war and up to the1960s as a college professor commented about build keepers why design a boat for the sea to sit on the mud.He was an old school Scotsman.9

 

[Mark-1]

Yes he did but times have changed and the designs of today suit todays purposes better and are no less seaworthy.

Are there? I not sure what the equivalent of a Centaur would be that I could buy today. People don't seem to buy brand new boats and keep them on a drying swinging mooring any more.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Are there? I not sure what the equivalent of a Centaur would be that I could buy today. People don't seem to buy brand new boats and keep them on a drying swinging mooring any more.

I would say a drying mooring is not what today's aspiring yacht owners want and a swinging mooring only just more preferable. You have to compare the cost of a new Centaur with average wage at the time with what's available new today and there isn't much in the mass produced market at 26 foot.

 

[Mark-1]

I would say a drying mooring is not what today's aspiring yacht owners want and a swinging mooring only just more preferable. You have to compare the cost of a new Centaur with average wage at the time with what's available new today and there isn't much in the mass produced market at 26 foot.

Yep, so there isn't a modern equivalent of a Centaur.

 

[potentillaCO32]

I would say a drying mooring is not what today's aspiring yacht owners want and a swinging mooring only just more preferable. You have to compare the cost of a new Centaur with average wage at the time with what's available new today and there isn't much in the mass produced market at 26 foot.

Because the UK is such a backwater the latest yacht innovations pass it by. The most exciting market segment in france, spain and germany are the 7 - 8 m dayboat class boats. Ok for a weekend but really designed for good family sailing, cruising or even racing. Probably the modern day equivelant as can be bought for the price of a good car.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Yep, so there isn't a modern equivalent of a Centaur.

Some might say thankfully There is a reason the Centaur was considered a large family boat when it was launched today it's at the bottom end of the market for those wanting to start sailing on a tight and restricted budget.

 

[finestgreen]

I would say a drying mooring is not what today's aspiring yacht owners want and a swinging mooring only just more preferable. You have to compare the cost of a new Centaur with average wage at the time with what's available new today and there isn't much in the mass produced market at 26 foot.

I sometimes wonder how much of this is driven by the longevity of boats. If there wasn't a ready supply of small old boats, maybe there'd be more of a market for small new boats.

 

[Flynnbarr]

There is a Westerly Centaur with a new Volvo diesel for sale on eBay for £4750.

 

[potentillaCO32]

I sometimes wonder how much of this is driven by the longevity of boats. If there wasn't a ready supply of small old boats, maybe there'd be more of a market for small new boats.

No. It is because sailing has declined in the uk hugely. Go to france and see a whole range of exciting new boats in the water. Spi west in la trinité had about 300 boats competing in it last week.
Pop into the dusseldorf and la rochelle boat shows and be shocked. But brits generally won't

 

[Wansworth]

Unless your a tweekerand a fiddler a Westerly 26 with reasonable sails will take an owner on a pleasurable weekend cruise with tea making capability.Beableto sit on the hardto scrub off or go for a pint

 

[sigma38dave]

….only comes up because a Sigma owner thinks it is a good buy.

I would have recommended an X Yacht but sadly there’s a shortage of availability in budget.

I also didn’t say it was a good buy, it was just another option after I quote spent ‘5 mins on the internet’ (while eating a Spanish omelette) this morning.

I’m not particularly attached to Sigmas as a brand either, I’d rather have a tired performance boat than a 4KSB plodder myself but appreciate others don’t and best of luck to them.

 

[14K478]

I am a member of a sailing association on the east coast. In the 3 years 3 members with wooden boats have sadly passed away. Two are rotting in the yard and can't be given away. One, which has a long local history has been adopted by the other members and is back on the water. Pretty much worthless and a near full time winter job to keep fettled.

And if the three deceased members had owned GRP boats, what would be different? All three boats would be in the yard, turning slime green, with no sign of interest in any of them.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I sometimes wonder how much of this is driven by the longevity of boats. If there wasn't a ready supply of small old boats, maybe there'd be more of a market for small new boats.

Would there? It's already been pointed out that there are plenty of 7 to 8M boats available for the price of a good car but they are day sailors and the accommodation and facilities in them tend to make Centaurs and the like look positively luxurious. They look to me to be dedicated to the serious inshore race sailor rather than a cruising family.

The Best Specialist Yachts 2026: Impressive daysailers and sportsboats

 

[Fr J Hackett]

And if the three deceased members had owned GRP boats, what would be different? All three boats would be in the yard, turning slime green, with no sign of interest in any of them.

But probably not rotten or rotting as the fresh rainwater seeps into their opening joints.