Where to find the right boat?

[Lynda]

Hi

I'm crossing over from the mobo forum in search of some help and advice.

I'm up-grading boat this year and intend to livaboard for the summer, trouble is I just don't know what boat to go for, so any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated.

Budget - about £25k, deisel, up to about 30ft, would like to consider sail, but have very limited sailing experience and would be single handed.

Thanks in anticipation!

Lynda

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[Talbot]

If you are buying primarily as a liveaboard, then space is important. For one person (or even 2?) what you would accept over a weekend, is not what you want after the first month. This includes living space, headroom, ventilation, galley and toilet facilities. With our weather, the ability to sit in the saloon and have reasonable ventilation without getting wet, and also be able to see out, is an important factor.

Do you have enough sailing experience to know that you would be happy to have a sailing boat? The lack of experience could be made up by some practical courses funded by the reduced cost of a raggie. There is also nothing to stop you keeping your own boat in the marina and acting as crew on other boats until you were happy to take the plunge yourself.

If you are still interested in a sailing boat, the you could do a lot worse than look at 8 - 9m cats. Elderly Prout 31, Catalac 8 or 9 m, or Twins would meet your requirements at the costs that you have stated. The main drawback of the older Cat designs is a lack of windward performance, and the fact that the big mariners charge extra for multihulls. However, you will get a LOT more space for your money, and living conditions that would be suitable for long term living. I have a 9m Catalac which I sail frequently single handed.

- If you want more, send me a pm.

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[wishbone]

It depends on your intentions, living in a marina enviornment uk, sailing long distance ie: Med and livaboard. you may wish to pay attention to sailing ability and offshore use before deciding on a boat, or you could go for a motor sailor. A light displacement high volumn boat could limit offshore sailing. You could look at the States you can get a lot of boat for your money even after paying vat and import tax dues including delivery charge could be a better option than a european boat.
look at http://yachtworld.com as I am planning on bringing one back in May.

Good Hunting

Wishbone
Rolling, rolling, rolling keep them doggies moving!
Where’s me chuck wagon gone?


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[robind]

Hi Lynda
Speaking as an ex raggie and now power boater I would invest in an economic (are there any) sound, beamy, 32 foot plus, motor sailor. regrettably they are neither a sail boat or a motor cruiser and fall somewhere in between (a "matronly" sail boat and a "kindly aunt" type of powerboat) comfort, economy and fair speed under power. Should you decide to Own one you would very easily learn to sail it (sailing is no more than you wish to make of it, and much less than you are capable of ) whilst enjoying the comfort and accomodation of a motor cruiser.

Motor sailing it you remain almost upright (or as upright as an boat) and can negotiate those little creeks under power(draft allowing), with ease. For distance cruising you set sail and travel countless distances by wind power only. the downside is that such vessels are few and far between, can be expensive to moor, and for canal cruising to the med, obviously need the mast stepped and unstepped to negotiiate bridges. The upside is that you can travel great distances economically, live comfortable on them and dependant upon hull maintain them easily.
For me the plodding motor sailer every time, the best of both worlds (or worst if you are a purist ). Check out "c c scotts" posts) he has been cruising some time on a motor sailor, in the med of course!.
happy new year
Regards
Rob

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rejuvanu.com>RejuVanu</A>

 

[scarlett]

My suggestion would be to go to the area where you want to be based. Then get one off someone who is giving up. There are many 'fire sales' where people have to sell in a hurry and you'll get a good boat ready fitted for the area. Keep about five grand back for contingencies because even if you have a survey you will still need to spend some money getting things sorted if you buy a 30 footer for £20k.

Look at at least 10 boats before making up your mind. It is a buyers market. If you want to be Med based, the best bargains are in the Spring.

Best of luck

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[sea_hobbit]

If you're tempted by the space on catamarans as a liveaboard - great. However, do remember the mooring fees (often extortionate for multihulls)
Good luck

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<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.subart.net>http://www.subart.net</A>
International Submarine Art Gallery

 

[Talbot]

Depends which multihull - some places I have been charged double, sometimes one and half, and sometimes no increase. Swanky mariners try to take you for a ride, nice places to stay tend to be more economic. I dont particularly like using marinas anyway.

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[Abigail]

Hi Lynda,

there are three key questions really, none of which are as important as your actual experience at this moment - how much money are you prepared to spend, what kind of sailing do you want to do, and what kind of lifestyle is in the plan? Of course, there is not necessarily one answer at a time - especially if you would not be moving aboard immediately after you bought the boat.

If you were thinking of long term long distance cruising, for instance, your wishes are not those of enjoying the channel with some trips to France/Holland etc.

We also think that people often overstate what is needed on a boat. THere's two of us, with two cats. We have 40' which is tons of space - two people and their dog live on 30' in the next berth but one. We run two businesses from the boat so have things like laptops and printers - and one of us is a massive bookaholic and though the habit is being addressed, we are still working out to best stow about 300 volumes!

We were talking about this earlier today, and thinking the way to go might be a good kindly sea boat with quite a bit of space in the 28-32 foot range - a Hurley, Rival or Twister say - all of which will look after you as you learn and be more than ample for very extended stays on board. After two or three years/seasons you could decide if you wanted to trade up (or down - you might hate it of course. People do I understand but I've only ever met two and they both lived on house boats on canals!)


And for the experience - a good (tidal) sea school, crewing opportunies all really good and important, but there is absolutely nothing like taking your own boat to sea! As you know from mobo days. (We're a bit full of it today as Roaring Girl finally left the dock after 6 months of work to make her fully watertight and seaworthy!)

Enjoy whatever you do, including the boat hunting




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[Lynda]

Thanks all for the great advice and hints. I quite like the idea of a motor sailor, have seen one on the net, but have to say I really didn't like the look of it!! Not that asthetics are everything (it doesn't have be pretty to be good) but as with people, if you're going to live with them, there has to some attraction!

After taking in all the sound advice I've been given, my plan is changing slightly, I'm thinking: sell my current boat, buy a sail boat, do as much crewing on other boats as possible, sign up with a sailing school (tidal as S&P advised), not give up my home this year, but spend as much time as possible on board, then next season with all that experience under my belt, make an informed decision on what boat, where to berth etc.

In the mean time "anyone need a crew member"?

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[ccscott49]

you have sense, this scenario is probablythe best, dont giveup shorelifeuntil you are surelivaboard is right foryou. Motorsailers in themeddy areideal, as the winds are so fickle, you will findyou do a lot of motoring.

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