What would folks recommend?

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andy12

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About to take the plunge and buy myself a cruiser - want something that I can weekend and extend cruise on. Gotta sleep 4, need a double and a separate heads. Looking at something like a kingfisher 30 or sabre 27. Got a budget of around 8k. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Andy
 
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+1 for the Westerly Centaur , Andy.
They are sort of like the Ford Escort of the sea.
Lots to choose from from around your budget.
There are 3 layouts , A , B and C , variations are with respect to table and dinette arrangements and number of berths etc.
Check out the Westerly Owners Association.

I don't have one now but used to have a share of one.

Vice free and good seaboats.

Anything you buy for £8k will be old now so buy with care.
 
There is a huge choice of boats in that size and price range. Big challenge is finding one in good usable condition. Do not get hung up with looking at specific designs. Look at as many boats as you can to get a feel of what might suit you.
 
Lots of choice out there, at £8k you should find a good one. I sold my Vega for less than that, with new engine and sails. Great first boat, by the way, and far more plentiful than even the Centaur.

Edit- separate heads, no not really, didn't spot that requirement.
 
Thanks for replies so far folks - keep em coming. My only real problem is that I live in the midlands so don't want to keep shooting down to the coast to only be disappointed - I want to have a list of possibles and head off boat buying :). Andy
 
My parent's first yacht was a Kingfisher 30 they bought new in 1965. Personally I feel you could find a better yacht than that as by modern standards it is very cramped and slow.

The suggestion of a Centaur is a good one. Not a fast sailing boat, but very dependable in all weathers and have a very loyal following. There are plenty of them for sale on the Westerly Owners site http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/classifieds.php.

Your main consideration is condition. There are plenty of old yachts that have been poorly maintained or might need massive expensive repairs/updates like engine, sails, head linings, upholstry, rigging, ropework, etc. Usually it would be wise to look for a yacht from someone retiring from sailing as it will probably come with lots of extras like crockery, cutlery, inflateable and outboard, even some safety equipment. Everything costs lots to provide, so the more you can get with the yacht purchase will save you a fortune.
 
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Here is a Dufour 2800:

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Sloops-for-sale/dufour-2800/72967#BuYzpILg8tDLReLE.97

There is a review in the May issue of YM.


If you prefer the sailing style of an earlier type:

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Sloops-for-sale/kings-cruiser29-29/63801#Vg2WYlbWxWiuV911.97

A pedigree sailing boat that will not take matters out of your own hands in poor weather.


Perhaps a more buoyant style of sailing, maybe more suited to shorter offshore trips:

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Sloops-for-sale/jeanneau-fantasia-27/72591#skWXDXTiUKEGFK5D.97

A bit over your limit but you never know.


As concerto has said, keep your head screwed on. There are some great buys nowadays but as many dogs.
 
Concerto said:
My parent's first yacht was a Kingfisher 30 they bought new in 1965. Personally I feel you could find a better yacht than that as by modern standards it is very cramped and slow.

The suggestion of a Centaur is a good one. Not a fast sailing boat, but very dependable in all weathers and have a very loyal following. There are plenty of them for sale on the Westerly Owners site http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/classifieds.php.

Your main consideration is condition. There are plenty of old yachts that have been poorly maintained or might need massive expensive repairs/updates like engine, sails, head linings, upholstry, rigging, ropework, etc. Usually it would be wise to look for a yacht from someone retiring from sailing as it will probably come with lots of extras like crockery, cutlery, inflateable and outboard, even some safety equipment. Everything costs lots to provide, so the more you can get with the yacht purchase will save you a fortune.
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I wrote a long reply before the Internet went down and I lost it! Fortunately this reply says what I wanted to! Especially take notice of the bit about the engine!
 
When I was looking for pretty much the same as you the Achilles 9mtr was suggested. I now sail one and would say it is certainly worth a look. Solid build, sails well and no problem offshore if its record is anything to go by. Nice looking as well. Obviously I am biased.
 
fin, bilge or lifting? Keel choice affects mooring costs quite often as lifting/bilge keelers can use shallow/semi tidal moorings and you can reduce your mooring costs to a relative pittance.

there are loads and loads of fin keel boats around - more than bilge keel or lift keel.

Names that spring to mind (both fin and bilge are) Jaguar 25/27, Leisure 27 plus the centaur, Cobra 850/750 Mirage 28. Sadler 25/26 - you might get a westerly griffon but on the other hand you might be stretching it and end up with a bit of a dog . We had a Jaguar 27 - double in forcabin, a single/double in the saloon, and a cozy quarterberth.

IMHO decide what keel you want which will narrow down the numbers somewhat. If you aren't hung up over performance, then we quite like bilge keels. Then have a think about the interior. The downside to our old Jag 27 was the dinette arrangement we we didn't like in a small boat as it feels cramped and lounging room is much reduced. We now have more of standard (is it old fashioned) layout of centre table and two long saloon bunks/berths which we are really happy with - after a three course dinner, and wine, having a stretch out seems like a good idea.

check out how tall you are and what berths you will use for sleeping - to me this is important. we discarded many boats because we couldn't comfortably use the fore-cabin for sleeping.

Once you have sorted your keels out and have some idea about layout then i'd suggest getting details of as many as you can and narrowing it down to the best kept boats with the newest engines, sails and inventory to stop your post purchase costs spiralling - rather than paying too much attention to the make/marque initially
 
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I agree with your comments about bilge keels which don't slow you down much and widen your possibilities for mooring. I too am not a fan of dinette arrangements.
niccapotamus said:
fin, bilge or lifting? Keel choice affects mooring costs quite often as lifting/bilge keelers can use shallow/semi tidal moorings and you can reduce your mooring costs to a relative pittance.

there are loads and loads of fin keel boats around - more than bilge keel or lift keel.

Names that spring to mind (both fin and bilge are) Jaguar 25/27, Leisure 27 plus the centaur, Cobra 850/750 Mirage 28. Sadler 25/26 - you might get a westerly griffon but on the other hand you might be stretching it and end up with a bit of a dog . We had a leisure 27 - double in forcabin, a single/double in the saloon, and a cozy quarterberth.

IMHO decide what keel you want which will narrow down the numbers somewhat. If you aren't hung up over performance, then we quite like bilge keels. Then have a think about the interior. The downside to our old Jag 27 was the dinette arrangement we we didn't like in a small boat as it feels cramped and lounging room is much reduced. We now have more of standard (is it old fashioned) layout of centre table and two long saloon bunks/berths which we are really happy with - after a three course dinner, and wine, having a stretch out seems like a good idea.

check out how tall you are and what berths you will use for sleeping - to me this is important. we discarded many boats because we couldn't comfortably use the fore-cabin for sleeping.

Once you have sorted your keels out and have some idea about layout then i'd suggest getting details of as many as you can and narrowing it down to the best kept boats with the newest engines, sails and inventory to stop your post purchase costs spiralling - rather than paying too much attention to the make/marque initially
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andy12 said:
Thanks for replies so far folks - keep em coming. My only real problem is that I live in the midlands so don't want to keep shooting down to the coast to only be disappointed - I want to have a list of possibles and head off boat buying :). Andy
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Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there aren't any shortcuts: if you want to buy a good boat, you've just got to go look at plenty of boats until you find the one that's got your name on it.

I'd vote for the Sabre in Falmouth.
 
Wandered past this the other day and thought she looked rather tidy for the price which is about the OP's budget. Quite a diferent sort of boat from the majority suggested- but unlike a lot of the 70s boats you will not have to convert the saloon to get the double berth the OP wants, and the sailing performance would be pretty sharp. http://wales.boatshed.com/mg_spring_25-boat-175114.html

Cheers
 
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