Where to find a Fixer-Upper Sailing Vessel

Like buying many things it's down to budget but maybe joining say an owners club such as Westerly or Moody will open up connections with older owners who might welcome a younger sailor with time to maintain and a share in such a boat might be a way to learn more without such a large financial commitment for a few years? I don't know how such fora put keen new cash poor potential owners in touch with retiring owners but if you can be seen as a good home for a craft the retiring sailor might be more flexible on price on basis vessel will be going to a good home. Take time to walk around a few clubs though in areas near coast where you might have connections and get to quiz a few grey beards in the bar. As I'm sure you know there are many out there willing to share wisdom but you might want to identify a few models to target researches to particular associations as a starter. Do off course go and talk to a few brokers in your target market and attend some second hand boat shows to kick a few tyres . Draw up a list of what you want thoigh after researches . I'm sure you will find once requirements are on paper the actual choices in budget might be limited.
 
Lightwave395 said:
There's a Facebook group you should join entitled "Sitting there rotting in a boatyard". All sorts of freebies, someone please take it aways and various abandoned boats come up on there
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Having aspired to this very FB group made me laugh.

So many people want a cheap or free boat of about 40 - 50'' in reasonable condition, for liveaboard, teaching disadvantaged children sailing and also need a cheap or free mooring on the south coast of the UK.

Failing that the genuine giveaways really are awaiting bonfire night or have been stripped of everything valuable and are 22' GRP carcasses awaiting someone else's money.

Please don't expect anything that good. Mind you, if you want a fixer upper that has a little potential, you could try contacting Boatbreakers in Portsmouth. They sometimes have boats that can be saved using free labour rather than money, but remember that Portsmouth harbour moorings can be a little pricey.

Boatbreakers also have a few videos on YouTube if you're interested.
 
SpicyShrimp said:
Hello, sailors!

First off, sorry if this is the wrong place.

Now on to the interesting bit. I am really keen to get cruising and having my own adventures, so naturally, I am looking for a vessel! My budget is (embarrassingly) small, but I have a lot of time and am prepared to put in the work on a boat that needs some TLC. My issue being I don't know where to look for such a project. Boats online all tend to be in pretty good knick in the size range I'm looking for (~30ft), and thus well out of my budget, and living inland means getting to a marina and looking about isn't as easy as I'd like. I'd love to give an old boat a new lease of life, and at the same time, learn. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for all help! :)
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I think the main issue with doing up boats of the size and value you are looking at is that you are very unlikely to end up with a boat worth what you spend which is either something you accept in order to get what you want or makes buying a going concern far more cost effective. The big costs are often ones where you have little control, engine, mast, sails, upholstery etc however if you are able to deal with these or they are in good condition you may find a suitable project. As an example of a boat that can be a great joy to sail and own there are at least 2 Pioneer 9s that I know of in the Plymouth area that need doing up but I suspect both need new engines, sails and interiors as well as a significant amount of cosmetic work. I expect both would be sold for very little just to get them moved on. As a word of warning old 30ft boats have a lot less room than modern boats but you have probably worked that out.....

Yoda
 
SpicyShrimp said:
Hello, sailors!

First off, sorry if this is the wrong place.

Now on to the interesting bit. I am really keen to get cruising and having my own adventures, so naturally, I am looking for a vessel! My budget is (embarrassingly) small, but I have a lot of time and am prepared to put in the work on a boat that needs some TLC. My issue being I don't know where to look for such a project. Boats online all tend to be in pretty good knick in the size range I'm looking for (~30ft), and thus well out of my budget, and living inland means getting to a marina and looking about isn't as easy as I'd like. I'd love to give an old boat a new lease of life, and at the same time, learn. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for all help! :)
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Try this for size:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/167...if_id=1574631148340112&notif_t=group_activity

May be just what you want.

Yoda
 
You can find fixer-uppers on eBay, boat shed and apollo duck. Look for boats being advertised as "in excellent condition and ready to go" ... you'll find all manner of rotten stuff ;)
 
Blimey ! The Achilles 24 is a very good boat, and that's the triple keel version so will go on drying moorings.

NB Don't ever think half tide moorings are inferior as they're usually cheaper - I've had a half tide mooring for 41 years and love it - it's closer inshore so quicker to row to and a lot more sheltered.

I had a deep water fin keeler as well for 4 years and the moorings absolutely ruined the experience - a long way out requiring a big tender or sometimes having to rely on the moorings providers' workboat.

The Achilles 24 sails very well, - I couldn't see any details but hopefully this one has the outboard well, which is by far the best option for this size boat.

Cons; the tiny bilge keels don't give much resistance in soft mud, one at my club usually dried out well heeled over but quite safe.

The accomodation is TINY for 24' but she's a great rewarding boat to sail, can't argue at that price.

I see the bottom has been scraped clean so watch in case osmosis has been discovered - but that is not the big problem people used to think.

The trailer may be more hindrance than help, looking at the wheels - but that might be anti-theft, worth checking this one.
 
It had an inboard, but looks like removed. The internals look like its pretty much stripped, but some carboard templates and some sheets of plywood and you could rebuild it in a few weeks, a boat interior in a small boat is not a massive amount of work, if starting with a clean sheet.

But for £200 ... the trailer is worth more than that!
 
rszemeti said:
It had an inboard, but looks like removed. The internals look like its pretty much stripped, but some carboard templates and some sheets of plywood and you could rebuild it in a few weeks, a boat interior in a small boat is not a massive amount of work, if starting with a clean sheet.

But for £200 ... the trailer is worth more than that!
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Trailer not included. That means only someone with their own trailer and some means of lifting the boat can buy it without having to hire in expensive help. Thus the item is essentially worthless.
 
I was going to say offer to offer to drive it away from the field on the trailer it's on but the wheels on that trailer don't look to be viable either...
 
I'm sure the boat could be recovered on a flat bed job like the AA use, it's a matter of how much work the OP wants to put in - I think there was mention of good sails but that depends on ones' definition of good.

The ex-inboard means more work to fit the well which was very simple on these boats, - you don't get a seagoing yot for free, in this case a bit of elbow grease but not that much in boat terms.

Now where's the mast, to have a look along the main luff track; smooth beds are fine, kinks are a show stopper.
 
But of course there is another point that you are all ignoring---
The OP wants a boat of 30 feet long-- not 24 feet
You may not have noticed but there is quite a difference in size.
He wants to go to "Scandinavia/the Med kinda thing". Not round the bay.
One might accept that this may be ambitious, but cross Channel etc are easily dooable after a year's practice & it would be pointless wasting time on a small boat to find it just limited his sailing.
One can actually buy 30 ft boats that need little work for low value. A friend of mine sold a Seamaster 925, ready to go, for £4,500 last year & he had cruised it across channel that year. So they are out there.
 
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It depends on his budget. Dylan winter found a serviceable Centaur with persistence and covering the miles round many boatyards.
I was given my first boat by a complete stranger, spent £1k on outboard, electrics and electronics and had several years of fun before selling at a profit.
Doer uppers can be money pits though so don't let it run away with you.
 
Daydream believer said:
But of course there is another point that you are all ignoring---
The OP wants a boat of 30 feet long-- not 24 feet
You may not have noticed but there is quite a difference in size.
He wants to go to "Scandinavia/the Med kinda thing". Not round the bay.
One might accept that this may be ambitious, but cross Channel etc are easily dooable after a year's practice & it would be pointless wasting time on a small boat to find it just limited his sailing.
One can actually buy 30 ft boats that need little work for low value. A friend of mine sold a Seamaster 925, ready to go, for £4,500 last year & he had cruised it across channel that year. So they are out there.
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I think you'll find he said less than 30'

Seeing as my 22' has somehow managed 24 Channel crossings so far and there are examples in Southern Spain, Cyprus, loads in Ireland, a couple in Norway, one in Ukraine and another in Vietnam I'd suggest it's the owner which is the main limiting factor !:)
 
ghostlymoron said:
He didn't. He said ~30' not <30'.
In any case, a pre 80s 30 footer is a different kettle of fish from a later boat in terms of internal volume. My liveaboard aboard pal has a 29' which is less roomy than my Leisure 20'.[/QUOTEI ]

Sorry I must have misunderstood - thanks for the info, I've only been sailing since the early 70's - by the way how does your chums' boats' sailing performance compare - maybe worth thinking about a swap ? :)
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