First sailing boat.

[SimonV8ster]

I'm in search of my first sailing boat.

I'm not too keen on the idea of having a boat here in Blighty so want one abroad as I intend to have an extended holiday on it next year (some weeks) hopefully around the Greek islands.

I don't want to buy a small boat and then have to upgrade a year later to something bigger so wondered what the best size would be as a compromise as a first boat.

I'm very interested in a catamaran thinking about the outside space and that I would just be bobbing around the islands ar5eing around enjoying myself outside.

Any recommendation on boat models/size ? Budget is up to 15K.

- should have added i'm relatively new to sailing having experienced some taster days and just back from a weeks course in Gib where I did my I.C.C.

Edited by SimonV8ster on Tuesday 20th September 13:20

[Fittster]

Why do you want to own rather than charter? If the idea is to use it a few weeks each year in the Med I would have thought the economics would strongly favour chartering.

If you have an ICC you shouldn't have to many problems with chartering.

[Riff Raff]

Fittster said:

Why do you want to own rather than charter? If the idea is to use it a few weeks each year in the Med I would have thought the economics would strongly favour chartering.

If you have an ICC you shouldn't have to many problems with chartering.

^^This. I can't see the point in buying to sail a couple of weeks or 4 a year. You will have to pay to berth it somewhere, and you'll have to pay someone to look after it too.

In addition to that, I think it's not a good plan to buy a boat when you haven't done much sailing. You are almost bound to buy something that you wouldn't have bought had you known what you wanted in the first place! (If you can get past my Rumsfeld moment).

Like Fittster said, get some miles under your belt in different charter boats then decide what you want.

As far as catamarans are concerned, I've no idea what they are like in the Med, but over here they cost much more to berth. And in lots of marinas they are a pain in the arse to get parked (both in terms of where you can put them, and in terms of getting them into spaces).

[SimonV8ster]

Paddy - thanks for reconsidering your poo-poo.

Yes, thinking about a long term break maybe 2-3 months to explore the Greek Islands. Chartering a boat would cost a few grand (5-6K ? at 7-800 per week) and nothing at the end of it.

Have seen some boats like -



http://www.ibagreece.com/files/316.pdf

Which would seem to make more sense to purchase, keep to next summer for another holiday and then sell.

Would be on it myself with various people visiting throughout (2 at a time) so wouldn't need a big boat.

Edited by SimonV8ster on Wednesday 21st September 19:41

[Fittster]

Still not seeing it personally.

Not only have you got the purchasing and running and costs to consider, buying an selling have associated costs.

If you are buying a yacht for 15k+ I assume you'll be wanting a survey.

In 3 months time when you come to sell you'll be paying the brokers fees.

Your budget of 15k is soon going to be eaten up with survey fees, mooring costs (where are you planning to keep it over the winter?), insurance, maintenance.

Edited by Fittster on Thursday 22 September 10:17

[Minemapper]

Dad owned a 30' Elizabethan for 10 yrs or so, when I was growing up. However, we lived in a place where there was a large cruising area readily available, and were close enough to the boat that weekends away were very feasible. Once we moved back to the UK, and it all got a bit more difficult, he sold it.

For 20yrs after that, we would charter for a couple of weeks a year, for about the same as it cost us to keep the boat fed, watered and docked. Got to sail brand new boats, all over the world, in some amazing places (British Columbia, Virgin Islands, Med, West coast of Scotland, etc, etc).

For a long term prospect, I know where my money's going (as soon as I can convince my wife to step back on a boat again).

For what you're considering, I would probably look at buying something small and cheap for a season, and then selling it on. Owning from afar is a nightmare.

[AlexiusG55]

Riff Raff said:

As far as catamarans are concerned, I've no idea what they are like in the Med, but over here they cost much more to berth. And in lots of marinas they are a pain in the arse to get parked (both in terms of where you can put them, and in terms of getting them into spaces).

Worse in the Med- everyone moors stern to! I've never sailed one, but given the amount of trouble we've had parking a monohull in some of the towns you'd be pretty much restricted to anchorages.