Starting out. Suggestions please!

[seapup]

Always the crew member - never the owner, but that is all about to change.

I now have the opportunity to own my own yacht and and to start off in a small-ish way.

I suspect much of my sailing will be single-handed - indeed I have been warned as such by the wife - so want something manageable and forgiving.

Am thinking of an Elizabethan 23 (I particularly like the look of them) or a Hurley 22 or a Corribee. I also like the look of the Jaguar 21. It has to be bilge or lifting keel as will be sailing out of Christchurch.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[Silkie]

You'll not go far wrong with the Hurley in my admittedly outrageously biased opinion.

I know nothing of the others beyond their reputations but the Jaguar seems the odd one out on your short-list being more modern, beamier and perhaps slightly flightier than the others. The Corribee's excellent reputation is not hindered by being Ellen's choice for her Round Britain trip. The Elizabethan is much heavier and very pretty as you say. The Hurley is slightly heavier still and slightly prettier too IMO. There were also more of them built which should make finding a good one easier.

If you've googled for info you'll probably have come across the Hurley Owners Association and the Yahoo group already. Silkie is a long fin keel but I'm happy to try to answer any questions you may have.

Dave

[Nick]

I'm with Dave - the Hurley would be my choice. However, performance is compromised more than a little in a smaller bilge keeled boat. If you must dry out then:

a) Is it soft mud? You may well take the ground with no problem if this is the case. Friends kept a fin keeled Albin Vega on a drying mooring in the Forth for a couple of years with no problems.

b) Or you could consider a pair of yacht legs - relatively inexpensive, stowage is the only potential problem but they won't take up much space.

Just a thought . . .

[Dave]

http://www.ybw.com/ym/secondhand_a-z.html

Try the above link to get a copy of the test report by PBO and YM before you buy
Elizabethan 23 is also a seaworthy boat INHO

[DjArgyleFan]

I'm just in the process of moving up to my second boat and can recomend without any hesitation my old boat. It's a Macwester Rowan Crown, 24 ft and a joy to sail. Mine's a long keel but I know that many were bilge keel. It's been a really stable & forgiving boat and I shall miss her so much. She's not actually for sale as the owner of the 30ft I'm buying wanted to downsize so he's taking it in part ex. I've seen a few for sale over the past year priced at around 5 to 6K. I'm still sailing mine until the end of sept, you'd be most welcome for a sail before then if a trip to Plymouth is not too far out of the way for you.

Martin.

[DjArgyleFan]

just seen the date of your original post so you may be sorted by now, hope all went well & happy sailing!!

[mdwcmw]

Hi,

Also hope you have found the right boat- the Hurley is certainly a good choice. Had one of them in the past when I was just learning - had some great times!

I've noticed a new site advertising on Google recently (http://www.sailinginfo4all.co.uk) - they do mention the Hurley and also the Corribee but don't give any more details.

Also found the Corribee owners site (http://www.corribee.org.uk) which is a bit basic but has some interesting stuff on it.

Happy Sailing - and take the wife sometimes !!!

M