What small 17' sail boat to buy!

Thanks for the further suggestions folks and Jem the Bay Cruiser 20 looks a great boat. I have just called them - very helpful, and sounds perfect but they are 15-17K :eek: which is too much to justify on such a small open boat. I gave up on the RIB idea by the way....it would be so boring, I can't give up sailing!!

I'll keep looking......thanks for the offers of boats so far for sale but 16' really is too small 17' would be minimum, a hefty 20' classic style boat would be ideal.

Perhaps a search on fishing boats might bring something up with a sail ;)
 
...and he did say without a cabin.

Those suggesting keel boats maybe haven't tried launching and recovering in different locations with a road vehicle. It can be quite tricky. Even bilge keelers aren't super.

Of course a really good sailing boat with motoring ability and trailable for around £10k secondhand is the Hawk 20.
 
I also suggested boats with cabins, but he made it clear he has decided to do without one.
I'm pretty ambivalent about them, but then, I am a fair-weather sailor.
 
Lakesailor said:
I had a hank-on jib which just overlapped the mast and was easy to tack. Rather sorry I sold it really.

Slippy_2crop.jpg
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Thanks i have marked the genoa with what i think is the right size, the other problem i get is the big genoa fouls on the spreaders when close hauled. I am not sure if someone has added a extra set of lowers and moved the spreaders forward. Even through i will loose some sail area i think it is a better option, and at least i will get a sail that sets properly i like the picture.
 
I would have preferred to set the sail higher on the forestay than this, but as you found the leech would interfere with the spreaders if it was 6" higher so I didn't use a short strop at the tack. Other than that is was a fine sail if a little worn.

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prv said:
Could suit the OP very well, but he did say price was an issue. Shrimpers are remarkably expensive.

Pete
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Try the Cape Cutter 19 like mine. A similar boat to a Shrimper, but for less money - and with more flexible sail area and more accommodation. Some knocking around for £12k.
 
I would like to introduce the Swale Pilot Gaff Cutter 16' 6" 19' 6" with bow sprit, which is removable when you are on a mooring to keep overall length down. It can have completly open boat or 3/4 decked.
I reckon the open boat with engine and trailer could be around £13000.00 brand new.
The outboard is set up inboard which makes it easy to use . Steel centre plate the windward performance .See attached photos and telepone number to have a chat.
Im John the builder of JEP Marine based near Canterbury Kent 01227710102
 
Bradwell 18

How about a Bradwell 18.
I kmow they are getting a bit old now but I have one and it is perfect for us to trail around and has a good sized cabin, something I would not go without. It is also very stable due to the heavy keel.
There is a lot of info on the Bradwell 18 website and there are two on e-bay at the moment, one has a single bid of £395 at the moment although it should go for more in my opinion
 
Oh thanks for the last suggestions, I was heading back to a Drascombe but would like to try something different AND apologies but a cabin or cuddy maybe a good idea after all but no problem if it hasn't got one.

I have been looking at a Drascombe Cruiser but it's not the most beautiful thing on the water :o

Right Bradwell 18
Memory
& Swale Pilot to look up - many thanks for those pointers.

EDIT - The MEMORY is gorgeous and a decent length, big money new 27K+...sniff! So going to be pricey second hand...It's perfect though, just what I'm looking for....

You can see why Drascombe Cruisers/Coasters have such a strong following - a 22' character boat for 4-8k second hand must make it attractive to many for the price alone compared to others with "character"!
 
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cabin

I did notice that and thats why I said it has a cabin....

It's just a handy place to store things and keep them dry. And for making a cup of tea when it rains!
He may not want one but they are handy.
We use ours as a cruiser so it sleeps four and dog. We could sleep one on the floor but wife will not go on board
 
Not needing a cabin is mainly because I will only use the boat as a day sailor so I like to have more sitting space for family and friends and it's also easier for access to the front of the boat when single handed but that's not really an issue, I just have no desire to cram/restrict 4-6 people at the back of the boat whilst the front is not necessary!

I've owned a Drascombe Longboat 22' with no cabin which was perfect for my needs, takes 8 people and I ought to buy another but just fancy something different. They look good also which is a must, looks are very important to me, I don't want a run of the mill small white ordinary boat with a cabin - open boats solve the problem unless they have a cabin of the older more attractive classic style.

Seajet has hit the nail on the head with the Memory 19 - what a beautiful boat - especially with the cabin!!! :) They are just twice the price of a Drascombe :(

DROOL!!!

memoryscan.jpg
 
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I have had a few small cruisers with cabins, but as daysailors.
The essential aspect is the cockpit size. My last boat was the Seahawk 17 which has a cabin, but is also blessed with a very roomy cockpit.
I was on it yesterday helping the new owner fit a new topping lift and he was saying how roomy it was.
Because of the coachroof design I always begrudged the canopy the companionway had. I would have preferred a sliding hatch as the raised coachroof obscured forward vision. It's these little things that annoy after a while, but you don't notice when viewing the boat.
I still like the cabin concept as it does provide a bit of shelter in the cockpit.
 
Zagato said:
Seajet has hit the nail on the head with the Memory 19 - what a beautiful boat - especially with the cabin!!! :) They are just twice the price of a Drascombe :(

DROOL!!!
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My brief was when I was looking for my current boat was like the OP's, an open boat that maximised dayboat space. I looked into several similar boats before I bought my Coastal Whammel, including the Memory 19. Of the most important check boxes, was ease of towing, launch and retreive, as well as quick rigging, since I intended to launch each time, and keep the boat at home.

I had a chat over the phone with the guy at Salterns and he pointed out that the Memory 19 wasn't really suitable for towing and rigging each time - good to tow away for a two week holiday, but that was about it.

However with the whammel, I can arrive at the slip and be ready to put it in the water in 25 mins, single handedly.

It's not a perfect boat - which one is?, but it is built like a tank and solid as rock and I have to say that hardly a launch goes by without someone coming up to me to say that I have a beautiful boat.
 
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