Yet Another What Boat

[yachtorion]

It's a year or two away but I'm finding myself thinking about the "next" boat.

I'd be looking for something perhaps in the 30' range at between £20000 - £35000 but obviously the lower the better.

My ideal boat would be a comfortable cruiser capable of crossing the North Sea happily and fairly rapidly with a crew, but also happy single handed around the coast.

It should have decent and private accommodation for two couples, and be good for one person to live aboard for a couple of months.

I'd like something simple to maintain, and robust.

I really like the balanced way my Hurley 22 sails and the feeling of safety it provides in a choppy sea.


A well performing bilge keeler might be an option to maximise the available harbours. But I quite like the robustness and maintenance simplicity of encapsulated ballast.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what kind of boat I should be looking towards please?

 

[banger]

Good report on an early Dufour 35 in Sailing Today, in your range and bullet proof.

 

[ghostlymoron]

moody 31 should be within your price range and has forward and aft cabins for privacy when two couples on board. Also available as bilge keeler and sail pretty well. I've not got one so no axe to grind but a friend has.

 

[Tranona]

You seem to know what you want. If you ask here long enough you will get a list of at least 20 or 30 boats all with recommendations. You can only buy one so find out what is available in your price and size range, look at what they offer, refine your criteria, draw up a short list and then buy a boat you like. BTW encapsulated ballast will severely limit your options and in a bilge keel boat has significant potential disadvantages if the boat regularly dries out.

 

[Pleiades]

Barbican 30 is a great sea boat if you fancy a longkeeler. Formerly the Halmatic 30.
Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[Rivers & creeks]

The bit about two couples will cause problems if you mean two separate cabins and two heads. This was a big issue for us, we discounted ones where you had to walk through a cockpit or had one shared heads so it was either wheelhouse or walk through from the saloon. That caused massive budget issues! Almost every aft cabin and twin heads boat before 1990 does not have a walkthrough in your budget. A 1990's mid 30 foot Ben/Jen/Bav will be in the right config and will do all you've asked but the budget is marginal. In the eternal compromise of sailing boats we dropped close windward and light wind performance for the wheelhouse/twin heads/saloon plus 3 cabin layout we needed but just over the top end of your budget. The search was fun though, good luck.

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

you're talking encapsulated keels so older boats. You get a lot for that. If you eased off the encapsulated keel you could almost get a westerly storm for that money

Not sure you'll get two cabins, and encapsulated keel, within 30' without it being a Seadog!

are you thinking the second couple sleeps in singles or on the convertible lounge table? A bit more re accommodation priorities vs sailings wants would help.

Note I've resisted the "my boat is best bit". I don't have a storm but was impressed when I sailed on one.

 

[tokoloshe]

A Beneteau First 285?..sleeping accommodation fore and aft and separate head.

Guide price mid £20k's.

 

[yachtorion]

you're talking encapsulated keels so older boats. You get a lot for that. If you eased off the encapsulated keel you could almost get a westerly storm for that money

Not sure you'll get two cabins, and encapsulated keel, within 30' without it being a Seadog!

are you thinking the second couple sleeps in singles or on the convertible lounge table? A bit more re accommodation priorities vs sailings wants would help.

Note I've resisted the "my boat is best bit". I don't have a storm but was impressed when I sailed on one.

I'm happy to compromise on an aft cabin and count a convertible saloon berth if it gets better sailing performance. Especially if there is a heads compartment between the saloon and forecabin that is closed of from both.

Happy to compromise on encapsulated ballast if I get a better accommodation or perhaps a bilge keel - if that's possible without losing too much sailing performance.

My Hurley will often sail fine without a hand on the tiller... and doesn't seem to care about a swell. I love watching her do it.

I've very naive when it comes to bigger boats so I'm really after as many ideas as possible - thanks to everyone for the advice and ideas so far.

Once there is a list of types to study I'll follow Tranona's advice and look at the good and bad from each to try and work out what I want, and work out which end of that budget range I'm looking at etc... as I said I'm a year or two away - so in the meantime I'll be making good use of the Hurley while I plan and plot for the future.

I do want to enjoy sailing the boat and to feel safe in her.... above and beyond anything else.

I'll throw two I have been considering into the mix to try and show my thinking so far:

Contessa 32 - beautiful boat - could go anywhere. Easily in budget. Could be overkill for my needs in cruising terms, and possibly a little below ideal in accommodation terms given I want to be able to get two couples on board and am hoping to spend a couple of months a year on her myself.

Sadler 32 - Looks great. Should be happy doing more challenging sailing than I am yet. Accommodation great for when it's just me but perhaps less so when more people on board.

Was happy to see mention of the Moody 31 - I sailed on a Moody 28 a few years ago and loved it, but because it was on the Caledonian Canal I never really got a flavour for how well she would sail at sea. Indeed a choppier day on loch ness seemed to stop her dead under power (my mutinous crew wouldn't let me put the sails up without jackstays). So my question is how well do these boats sail?

 

[Laurie]

Not sure it'll tick all your boxes, but I've just finished idling away on Google looking at the Nonsuch 30.........there's a lot to like!

 

[ghostlymoron]

I'm happy to compromise on an aft cabin and count a convertible saloon berth if it gets better sailing performance. Especially if there is a heads compartment between the saloon and forecabin that is closed of from both.

Happy to compromise on encapsulated ballast if I get a better accommodation or perhaps a bilge keel - if that's possible without losing too much sailing performance.

My Hurley will often sail fine without a hand on the tiller... and doesn't seem to care about a swell. I love watching her do it.

I've very naive when it comes to bigger boats so I'm really after as many ideas as possible - thanks to everyone for the advice and ideas so far.

Once there is a list of types to study I'll follow Tranona's advice and look at the good and bad from each to try and work out what I want, and work out which end of that budget range I'm looking at etc... as I said I'm a year or two away - so in the meantime I'll be making good use of the Hurley while I plan and plot for the future.

I do want to enjoy sailing the boat and to feel safe in her.... above and beyond anything else.

I'll throw two I have been considering into the mix to try and show my thinking so far:

Contessa 32 - beautiful boat - could go anywhere. Easily in budget. Could be overkill for my needs in cruising terms, and possibly a little below ideal in accommodation terms given I want to be able to get two couples on board and am hoping to spend a couple of months a year on her myself.

Sadler 32 - Looks great. Should be happy doing more challenging sailing than I am yet. Accommodation great for when it's just me but perhaps less so when more people on board.

Was happy to see mention of the Moody 31 - I sailed on a Moody 28 a few years ago and loved it, but because it was on the Caledonian Canal I never really got a flavour for how well she would sail at sea. Indeed a choppier day on loch ness seemed to stop her dead under power (my mutinous crew wouldn't let me put the sails up without jackstays). So my question is how well do these boats sail?

I've been on a Moody 31 in light and strong (>F7) and it seemed comfortable in both.

 

[Rossynant]

I'm happy to compromise on an aft cabin and count a convertible saloon berth if it gets better sailing performance. Especially if there is a heads compartment between the saloon and forecabin that is closed of from both.
Happy to compromise on encapsulated ballast if I get a better accommodation or perhaps a bilge keel - if that's possible without losing too much sailing performance.
My Hurley will often sail fine without a hand on the tiller... and doesn't seem to care about a swell. I love watching her do it.

Guess no one yet recommended Contest 29 - balanced steady boat, very well made, small draft long keel, sleek and quite fast, was considered racer/cruiser. Quality woods inside.
As for hand off tiller: there were two versions of keel, first was too much cut on deadwood and rudder inclined, not so good steering downwind - they changed it later (the latter and better IMHO has tiller coming from cockpit floor in the middle, easy to spot). Boat is simple in construction, no problems with maintenance on her other than quite a lot of woodwork on deck. No drooping hedlinings Great value for money. Or bigger, like Contest 33 - sails and keeps as Contessa 32, more room. http://www.martin-faerber.de/plaene.htm
(Contests from '73 onward also nice buys, but resin was changed to inferior, look for osmosis) http://www.theyachtmarket.com/boats_for_sale/598059/

Seadog was mentioned earlier - strong and stand up to anything boat, quality of build great; but not simple at all to keep, and under-canvassed. For sail performance would need 10-15 sqm sail more. Possible to give her more, but makes it even more complicated. Deep version sails, bilge keel is more motor-sailer, both will go over 3-4 B.
Edit - but I'm the last to say against as this will suit your original requirements, and "obviously the lower the better" part also - there are 3 IIRC, for 15 k or about. http://www.sailingtoday.co.uk/seadog/seadog-30

PS. for boats to keep longer - best are those not so popular
May add Nicholson 32, great for sea going, but not for comfort and practicality, and mostly overpriced.
For "how boat sails at heavy weather": until 8 B modern beamy finkeelers are all right (and up to F5-6 they sail better than traditional longkeel); over - difference shows...

 

[Laurie]

Not sure it'll tick all your boxes, but I've just finished idling away on Google looking at the Nonsuch 30.........there's a lot to like!

or.....Westerly Tempest...two aft cabins,,TK option.....or and rarer, the Feeling 286 charter version.....
Bigger.....Westerly 33/Discus, various keel keel/rig/cabin layout options.....

 

[BAtoo]

You wont go far wrong with one of these:-

http://www.eyb-boats.com/en/ads/sailing-boats/beneteau/first-325/_R_853_584644_.htm

Separate aft cabins; single heads, will sail better than most; will sail well in worse weather than most will want to be out in.

Forget the long keel/twin keel nonsense get a fin keel and sail properly & you wont loose out on many places to visit.

I haven't got one, a friend has, but I do have a slightly younger First.

 

[Norfolknick]

I'm happy to compromise on an aft cabin and count a convertible saloon berth if it gets better sailing performance. Especially if there is a heads compartment between the saloon and forecabin that is closed of from both.

Happy to compromise on encapsulated ballast if I get a better accommodation or perhaps a bilge keel - if that's possible without losing too much sailing performance.

My Hurley will often sail fine without a hand on the tiller... and doesn't seem to care about a swell. I love watching her do it.

I've very naive when it comes to bigger boats so I'm really after as many ideas as possible - thanks to everyone for the advice and ideas so far.

Once there is a list of types to study I'll follow Tranona's advice and look at the good and bad from each to try and work out what I want, and work out which end of that budget range I'm looking at etc... as I said I'm a year or two away - so in the meantime I'll be making good use of the Hurley while I plan and plot for the future.

I do want to enjoy sailing the boat and to feel safe in her.... above and beyond anything else.

I'll throw two I have been considering into the mix to try and show my thinking so far:

Contessa 32 - beautiful boat - could go anywhere. Easily in budget. Could be overkill for my needs in cruising terms, and possibly a little below ideal in accommodation terms given I want to be able to get two couples on board and am hoping to spend a couple of months a year on her myself.

Sadler 32 - Looks great. Should be happy doing more challenging sailing than I am yet. Accommodation great for when it's just me but perhaps less so when more people on board.

Was happy to see mention of the Moody 31 - I sailed on a Moody 28 a few years ago and loved it, but because it was on the Caledonian Canal I never really got a flavour for how well she would sail at sea. Indeed a choppier day on loch ness seemed to stop her dead under power (my mutinous crew wouldn't let me put the sails up without jackstays). So my question is how well do these boats sail?

I have a Sadler 32 and have had 4 onboard (1 couple and 2 singlies of each sex) with comfort. Previous boat was a Shipman 28 - definitely not a goer for your needs. Moody 31 would be very good, particularly a Mk2 or an S31 if you can get one in budget.