Starting Sailing

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Oliver Hardy

Original Poster:

2,625 posts

75 months

Monday 22nd April
quotequote all
I have been for years thinking of buying a sailing boat, nothing glamourous 23 to 27 foot, I have these fantasies of visiting some of the Scottish Islands and maybe going to Spain or Portugal one day.

I am in the process of booking lessons.

But what should I be looking for in a boat?

Oliver Hardy

Original Poster:

2,625 posts

75 months

Monday 22nd April
quotequote all
It is just me, cramped, worked as a truck driver living in the back of a truck, and loaded trucks in gals, driving sleet, never torn up £50 notes though!

Is a small boat really that expensive to own?

I am going on a course first but want a boat, even if I sell it 12 months later.

Oliver Hardy

Original Poster:

2,625 posts

75 months

Tuesday 23rd April
quotequote all

tendown said:
Where do you live & where are you thinking of keeping it?

23-27 ft sounds about the right size

Beyond that look what's available where you want to sail within your budget and talk to some sellers about costs and boat capabilities
Cheshire at the moment.


Decky_Q said:
How much do you know about sailing now?

Joining a sailing club would be a good move, they usually have plenty of experienced sailors, and sailing dinghies that you can take out and really feel what the wind is doing to the boat. Capsize that half a dozen times over this summer, and you'll have a fair idea how sail something bigger. In a club members will have bigger boats too and want crew to sail with them, volunteer for that and you'll see what is essential and what isn't onboard on a passage.

Sub 30' there are bargains to be had but check the ropes, lines, pulley blocks and everything as re-rigging is expensive.

I got pretty ripped off on my first boat as I hadn't been on many, so didnt really know what to look for. I hadda make a start somewhere and I learned how everything works in fine detail by repairing it.
I have watched plenty of Youtube videos, that is what i know about sailing.

I started off with a budget of about £20,000 but looking around I think probably half that. There are some incredibly nice (to look at) cheap boats around. When I was in Wales a few months ago got the opportunity to kick the keel of a 1980 Jaguar 25ft boar as the owner was on board £8,000 he wanted for it, looked really nice, still for sale last time I looked about two weeks ago. Did you know Jaguars have little Yamaha engines, was hoping for a V6!