What boat would you buy to circumnavigate the UK and beyond, with only £5k?

[Tranona]

And a very suitable boat to do what the OP says he wishes to do.

As are many, many others. This focus on sailing round UK implies that something "special" is needed when in reality it is little different from a series of day sails from port to port for most single or shorthanders. Success derives from the skipper and crew, their preparation beforehand and decisions taken on the way.

The OP has indicated elsewhere that he intend going further afield as well. Almost certainly he will review his choice of boat after his first adventure.

 

[srm]

The OP could, for example, do a lot worse than buy my Twister, which is basically sound but "needs tidying" as they say in the motor trade, for not a huge amount more than his £5k budget and circumnavigate the UK (or the world) in her.

She is in France but by the time he had sailed her back to the UK, he would surely be proficient enough to carry out his planned cruise.

It would be my choice, or something very similar like my old Trintella 29. In fact the Trintella would probably have enough headroom in the main cabin to suit the OP.
These boats may lack the internal volume and be a bit slower than more modern boats but they have load carrying ability for extended passages without loss of performance. Not a problem if the intention is day sailing but I prefer to store the boat for the passage so as to be flexible regarding stops and just buy fresh if and when the opportunity arises. That way I can find a sheltered anchorage and wait for a day or three until conditions are suitable to continue.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

As are many, many others. This focus on sailing round UK implies that something "special" is needed when in reality it is little different from a series of day sails from port to port for most single or shorthanders. Success derives from the skipper and crew, their preparation beforehand and decisions taken on the way.

The OP has indicated elsewhere that he intend going further afield as well. Almost certainly he will review his choice of boat after his first adventure.

As I said earlier it's straight forward until you decide to go around the top especially if you go to some of the more remote areas I accept that the Faroe Isles are not included but the passage to the Shetlands can be entertaining.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I see, thanks.

Instead of trying to get a one-size-fits-all boat for unrealistic money, I should start with a slightly bigger budget if I can (£10k) and focus on coastal sailing locally, leading to maybe my first channel crossing eventually.

I have sailing clothing and a life jacket.

Now I need to research suitable £10k boats, go and visit as many as I can., with a focus on best condition boat rather than pedigree, and get over the fear of light displacement and spade rudders.

Seriously think about Poignards Twister, it's in France but you can do a lot of day sailing there and get to within a day sail of the UK for your first channel crossing.

 

[Wansworth]

Why make it easy….get an old lifeboat conversation with gaffrig and a Stuart Turner…..a wealth of memories

 

[capnsensible]

So being a Yachtmaster instructor you would recommend an inexperienced person with no boat experience to purchase a sub £5K yacht and set sail around the UK presumably taking in some very interesting if not challenging Northern waters. Hmmm.

So buy an unknown boat in France then.

 

[srm]

Why make it easy….get an old lifeboat conversation with gaffrig and a Stuart Turner…..a wealth of memories

The first boat I regularly sailed belonged to a friend, it was a 30ft gaff ketch with a Stuart non-Turner. I only saw that engine run once, at the beginning of the season from yard to mooring, but day sailed it single handed most weekends for a summer.

 

[srm]

So buy an unknown boat in France then.

Every cruising boat I have bought, and charter yacht I have been paid to skipper, has been "unknown" until I took it over and checked it out. Start at the bow and methodically work aft. I would spend three or four weeks plus checking and working on the boats I bought before heading out to sea.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

So buy an unknown boat in France then.

Given that the boat is in commission and I would trust Poignard not to lie about it's condition and he would no doubt spend a day or more handing over, yes I would trust that boat and owner over recommendations to buy some ancient Centaur with no provenance on Apollo Duck.

 

[capnsensible]

Every cruising boat I have bought, and charter yacht I have been paid to skipper, has been "unknown" until I took it over and checked it out. Start at the bow and methodically work aft. I would spend three or four weeks plus checking and working on the boats I bought before heading out to sea.

I'm lucky. I've d9pone all that for a living so it doesn't take me long. However, between sailing jobs, it did take me a week or so to prep the boat we lived aboard to sail from the UK to Gib.

My point? Some people need longer than others to achieve the aim. It's fab that we are all different. But at the end, it's just not as difficult as most seem to want it to be.....

 

[capnsensible]

So being a Yachtmaster instructor you would recommend an inexperienced person with no boat experience to purchase a sub £5K yacht and set sail around the UK presumably taking in some very interesting if not challenging Northern waters. Hmmm.

Mmm. So you would recommend, despite having posted that, the op buys some old boat in France. Good one.

 

[srm]

I'm lucky. I've d9pone all that for a living so it doesn't take me long. However, between sailing jobs, it did take me a week or so to prep the boat we lived aboard to sail from the UK to Gib.

The prep for my last boat took a month in Plymouth and included:
Sanding of hull after soda blasting then apply three coats of epoxy and Coppercoat.
Replace all standing rigging (mast up) including 2 new roller reefing gears on larger diameter forestays - double spreader cutter rig.
Transfer radar and wind turbine from previous boat plus run new wiring.
Thorough inspection of all wiring, seacocks and plumbing.
I had some assistance at deck level for the mast work, much of the rest was solo.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Mmm. So you would recommend, despite having posted that, the op buys some old boat in France. Good one.

Yep as I said it's a boat in commission sailed and maintained by an experienced sailor and in an area where it can be safely day sailed from marina to marina or anchorage in none to challenging waters. By the time he got to the Raz and C du F he would have sufficient experience to negotiate them. He could even take Poignards berth and enjoy France for his first season of sailing. A far better prospect than some manky Westerly.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

The prep for my last boat took a month in Plymouth and included:
Sanding of hull after soda blasting then apply three coats of epoxy and Coppercoat.
Replace all standing rigging (mast up) including 2 new roller reefing gears on larger diameter forestays - double spreader cutter rig.
Transfer radar and wind turbine from previous boat plus run new wiring.
Thorough inspection of all wiring, seacocks and plumbing.
I had some assistance at deck level for the mast work, much of the rest was solo.

If the OP had to do any of that then he would need to quadruple his budget

 

[capnsensible]

Yep as I said it's a boat in commission sailed and maintained by an experienced sailor and in an area where it can be safely day sailed from marina to marina or anchorage in none to challenging waters. By the time he got to the Raz and C du F he would have sufficient experience to negotiate them. He could even take Poignards berth and enjoy France for his first season of sailing. A far better prospect than some manky Westerly.

The guy wants to sail around the UK......did you miss that bit?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

The guy wants to sail around the UK......did you miss that bit?

No and he could after sailing the French coast and getting some sun and experience on his back before heading for the delights of rainy UK. Stop digging.

 

[capnsensible]

The prep for my last boat took a month in Plymouth and included:
Sanding of hull after soda blasting then apply three coats of epoxy and Coppercoat.
Replace all standing rigging (mast up) including 2 new roller reefing gears on larger diameter forestays - double spreader cutter rig.
Transfer radar and wind turbine from previous boat plus run new wiring.
Thorough inspection of all wiring, seacocks and plumbing.
I had some assistance at deck level for the mast work, much of the rest was solo.

Apologies, I got no idea where you are going with this. I feel its far removed from what the op wants.

 

[capnsensible]

If the OP had to do any of that then he would need to quadruple his budget

On that, I agree. Buy cheapo boat and that's the blast. Keep It Simple Stupid as they say.

 

[capnsensible]

No and he could after sailing the French coast and getting some sun and experience on his back before heading for the delights of rainy UK. Stop digging.

You have contradicted yourself. You own the shovel.....

 

[B27]

As are many, many others. This focus on sailing round UK implies that something "special" is needed when in reality it is little different from a series of day sails from port to port for most single or shorthanders. Success derives from the skipper and crew, their preparation beforehand and decisions taken on the way.

The OP has indicated elsewhere that he intend going further afield as well. Almost certainly he will review his choice of boat after his first adventure.

It is very different from a typical series of day sails, because there's usually pressure to make progress and end up back at the start in a limited time.
Nobody from the South Coast really wants to have their boat stuck in Hartlepool or similar when the weather runs out in September.
I'm sure sailors based elsewhere would wince at racking up Solent bills over the Winter?
There isn't always a convenient stopping place to suit the wind and tide available each day.
Most people end up using more diesel than it would take to drive to all the ports they visit.

Personally, having sailed most of the course at assorted times, I can see no great merit in the 'bucket list' trip around over one summer, but if you're going to do it at low risk of failure and disappointment, you need a decent, well sorted fairly fast boat with a good engine and plenty of credit cards. It's also much easier with a crew.