Hypothetical Advice - New, to me, Boat

[Sandgrounder]

Hi,

A scarce few of you may know that I hope to return to Scottish waters, within the next 18 months, after a gap of 25 years or so. Probably The Clyde but maybe further North on the West Coast. I no longer have, since my late 20's, any ambitions in relation to racing, either off-shore or round the cans - too much unhappiness at results achieved.

I would hope to have about £20,000 for a boat to be used for maybe 2 weeks and 4- 6 weekends per-annum. My sailing will be either; - -
- Single-handed (the norm);
- occasional visits from the "Admiral" who is a nervous sailor but enjoys the "nav";
- equally occasional visits from mates - up to three men.

The choices seem to me to be: -
- W Fulmar: relatively expensive but reasonably lively bout. On the margins of my budget;
- Sadler 32: Lively boat slightly more affordable than above but probably at the margins; Don't really want one because my dad had one if that makes sense.
- Westerley 31 varieties: Sailed a Berwick Ketch for a week in, perhaps 1980 from Loch carron; seemed like a reasonably sound boat but unexciting in a re-assuring way. Centre cockpit seems comforting for the less experienced
- Seadog 30: never sailed one but observed a few over a couple of years, at Solva in Pembrokeshire: seem solid but unexceptional.

Does anyone have anything to add in the way of descriptions and advice beyond "buy an HR" because that isn't going to happen?

All germaine advice gratefully received given the crew group and the proposed cruising grounds

[wully]

Something like a First 32?

Pre 86 they were well built and are good sea boats.. I wouldn't touch a modern one mind.

[mm5aho]

Rival 32?

[Sandgrounder]

Rival 32?

Mmmmm hadn't thought of one of those. Chartered one from Ardvasser (?) in the mid 80's but can remember little about it beyond having a less than watertight forehatch.

What sort of prices do they fetch now?

[Storyline]

The Rival might not have sparkling performance in light airs but will certainly give your nervous other half a solid sea worthy feel and will look the part on the west coast. A very pretty boat imo.

Sailed one of the W31 variants (Pentland) for many years and agree with your comment about the secure feeling in the central cockpit. They are also nice and slim with a low freeboard but do suffer from the ugly duckling syndrome - could never say we would look at ours with pride alongside say, a Rival. When we first sailed in Scotland the vast majority of boats were pretty but this is changing a bit now with the arrival of many modern plastic fantastics. The Pentland was also not sparkling performer in light airs but sailed much better than she looked. Absolutely loved it with the wind just before the beam.

There is also the Contessa 32, easy and safe to sail single handed with great performance in all winds but cramped and a bit wet in a blow.

A good tip - whatever you do, do not get a boat with a vertical stem as these are a nightmare on moorings (visitors or your own).

[aquaplane]

I'm not really into the 30'+ range but have been looking at 30'- boats. If looking at the Westerly 31s I think there may be more room in a Konsort 29, a bit newer and beamier if I'm not mistaken, and £20K ish.

The Westerly 33 is a bit bigger but more pricey.

[Sandgrounder]

Thanks for that Bob; it sort of confirms my thoughts. My only fear with a Konsort, which I have sailed for a week maybe 25 years ago, is that acquisition will swallow the budget and leave little or nothing for the inevitably ancient engine and wiring etc.
The Konsort, from Rhu, performed very well if not quite up with a Fulmar but more than well enough for my tastes. However when, maybe 10 years previously, I sailed a bilge keeled Berwick ketch I was not disappointed. Probably much like a Centaur - sail at 45 Degrees plus from the wind and it is fine; try pinching any closer and you're going to have a hard slow time.

Regards

Simon

[aquaplane]

There is a Berwick (or it may be a Longbow, fin keel, aft cockpit sloop) for charter on the Clyde if you want to try one out.

We looked at a Konsort @ Largs on the boat show weekend and it looked OK for £20,000, especially if they took £15,000. The headlining was droopy and the varnishing could do with work but we liked the room compared to a Centaur. It looked like it could be sailed as is and tarted up in a rolling programe of improvement.

[SteveN]

There's a nice looking Rival 32 and also an interesting Eliminator 32 ketch (just overhauled including brand new Beta engine) on the FBC website:
http://forbesboatcare.co.uk/boats-for-sale

Both at Barcaldine.

[Nick]

There is a Berwick (or it may be a Longbow, fin keel, aft cockpit sloop) for charter on the Clyde if you want to try one out.

It's a Longbow.

I did the website.

http://www.yachtcharterclyde.co.uk/

[Sandgrounder]

I sailed a ketch rigged Berwick from Loch Carron in about 1981, when there was still a charter company at North Strome so sailing another would probably do little to elucidate. I need to try, in quick succession: - a Renown; a Konsort; a Halmatic 30; and perhaps one of these - http://www.western-horizon.co.uk/archiv ... boat_id=13 - they're a little, maybe 50%, over budget but look like pure class to my eye. I feel another 20 yrs of nothing but baked beans coming on again!

[Sandgrounder]

Can anyone tell me, how does the Renown/ Pentland/ Berwick/ Longbow range compare with the Moody 33? Another boat where you appear to get a lot for your money/ I was moored immediately ahead of one in Tarbert, Loch Fyne, for two days in 1990 but we never discussed it's merits or otherwise.

[Nick]

.
Is that the Moody 33S aft cockpit?

I've sailed one a fair bit, including crewing from Ramsgate to the Canaries.

Very robust, massive accommodation for a boat of that size and age with the ability to close off the double quarterberth behind the chart table to make a master cabin.

ON the other hand, if it is the better known Moody 33 centre cockpit then I know nothing . . .