Reasons not to buy a cheap (and crappy?) yacht on Windermere

[SpeckledJim]

Anyone know any?

Thinking something like this Westerly Griffon:

https://uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/1982-westerly-g...


Or this Jeanneau?

https://uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/1985-jeanneau-f...



How much per year do you Salty Sea Dogs reckon, maintained on a 'what it needs, not what you want it to need' basis, without trying to make it 'better' sort of basis?

[w1bbles]

It depends what you want to use it for really. How far offshore might you go (and therefore have better safety and other gear)? How handy are you with fixing stuff and servicing engines? What condition are the sails in? How often will you use it (and therefore want to kit it out with stuff to make life on board nicer)? Will you anchor a lot and therefore need decent ground tackle?

There’s too much variability in an old boat to come up with a rule of thumb.

Ask me how I know...

[w1bbles]

Sorry - just re-read your post. If keeping it in Windermere then ignore most of what I’ve written and go for it. Risk parameters have just shrunk!

[OldFiver]

I rented a Jeanneau 31 or something a few days to give a pal a sailing taster (we’ve since gone on to do many Med adventures offshore)

I’d imagine I’d be bored within a weekend on Windermere - after a few hours it was touch and go !!

I’m not sure you’d want anything more than a trailer sailor or day boat.

Big difference too in the OPEX and CAPEX

[Hard-Drive]

Personally, I'd say having a yacht on Windermere is a waste of time too. I'd agree with the posts above, you're just going to get bored. It amazes me and depresses me when I look at some of the stuff people have up there that is just wasted! If people have the skills to be able to handle/moor/sail a yacht in often fickle or unpredictable winds on a lake, it's not really much of a step up to be able to do it on the sea where you have waaaay more scope for going further afield. I'd go for a dinghy, a day sailor or at the very biggest a smaller lift keel trailer sailer with an outboard, where you can self launch and recover, and put the mast up yourself without the need of a crane, and tow it with a big 4x4, but having a proper yacht on a small pond where you are reliant on craneage/storage/antifoul seems like madness to me.

[SpeckledJim]

Thanks for the responses.

I'm thinking this might be a sensible gentle first step for a few years of learning, before maybe either moving it, or buying another, on the N.Wales coast.

It's got to be cheap.

And we'd only be able to use it for 2-3 days at a time so not being able to go far is ok by me at this stage.

(and it could well also be used as a 'static caravan' type base for just being in the Lakes, as much as its used as an actual sailing machine.)

[OldFiver]

SpeckledJim said:

(and it could well also be used as a 'static caravan' type base for just being in the Lakes, as much as its used as an actual sailing machine.)

Worst of both worlds IMHO

[Searider]

SpeckledJim said:

Thanks for the responses.

I'm thinking this might be a sensible gentle first step for a few years of learning, before maybe either moving it, or buying another, on the N.Wales coast.

It's got to be cheap.

And we'd only be able to use it for 2-3 days at a time so not being able to go far is ok by me at this stage.

(and it could well also be used as a 'static caravan' type base for just being in the Lakes, as much as its used as an actual sailing machine.)

Sounds great - and realistic.
Perfect waterside weekend retreat - many buy a yacht with the "adventure" of sailing round the world in mind. Due to time pressures of work most never achieve the aim.
My office overlooks the river Hamble where there are 3000 boats within 2 miles. very little traffic most of the time.
Sounds like you're realistic on how you will use it.

Biggest cost will be mooring - somewhere where you can walk on to the boat / marina.
Rigging to be changed every 10 years or so. £1500
Engine service once a year - do yourself for the cost of oil.
Antifouling the hull every year or two. Lift will be £500. materials £200.

All the rest will be "Improvements"..

Go for it.

[SpeckledJim]

Searider said:

SpeckledJim said:

Thanks for the responses.

I'm thinking this might be a sensible gentle first step for a few years of learning, before maybe either moving it, or buying another, on the N.Wales coast.

It's got to be cheap.

And we'd only be able to use it for 2-3 days at a time so not being able to go far is ok by me at this stage.

(and it could well also be used as a 'static caravan' type base for just being in the Lakes, as much as its used as an actual sailing machine.)

Sounds great - and realistic.
Perfect waterside weekend retreat - many buy a yacht with the "adventure" of sailing round the world in mind. Due to time pressures of work most never achieve the aim.
My office overlooks the river Hamble where there are 3000 boats within 2 miles. very little traffic most of the time.
Sounds like you're realistic on how you will use it.

Biggest cost will be mooring - somewhere where you can walk on to the boat / marina.
Rigging to be changed every 10 years or so. £1500
Engine service once a year - do yourself for the cost of oil.
Antifouling the hull every year or two. Lift will be £500. materials £200.

All the rest will be "Improvements"..

Go for it.

Thank you.

Any thoughts on this (or similar) please?

https://uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/1982-westerly-g...

[NickCQ]

SpeckledJim said:

Thank you.

Any thoughts on this (or similar) please?

https://uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/1982-westerly-g...

Looks like a sensible place to start, has seen some love in recent years.
Heating is a nice touch
New batteries and canvas is a plus
Old autohelm electronics are soundly put together
Sails are probably shagged and in general it will not be exhilarating to sail
Survey to check the engine and hull and you are away

The other good thing about boats is you can usually knock off 10%+ versus the asking price.

[Simpo Two]

Searider said:

Engine service once a year - do yourself for the cost of oil.
Antifouling the hull every year or two. Lift will be £500. materials £200.

Boat engines have very little use or revs compared to a car; I'm sure you can get away with servicing every two years. But you'll need to consider 'winterising'.

As for antifoul, I'm told there's a hardcoat antifoul which will last 4+ years. Or you could get a quote for Coppercoat.

[J3JCV]

I think the Griffon is a good boat. If it has always been a lake boat it wont have dried out much in mud - that can cause the keels to splay, so the foundations need strengthening.
Otherwise they sail well for the type of vessel.

[JeremyH5]

J3JCV said:

I think the Griffon is a good boat. If it has always been a lake boat it wont have dried out much in mud - that can cause the keels to splay, so the foundations need strengthening.
Otherwise they sail well for the type of vessel.

Good point, worth a check; in the description it says it came to the lake from the sea so has equipment not necessary for lake.

[soxboy]

What's the annual mooring cost at Windermere? Given that you are looking at £5-6k annual service charge for a caravan/ lodge on one of the lakeside sites it might make man-maths sense as a weekend bolthole.

[SpeckledJim]

soxboy said:

What's the annual mooring cost at Windermere? Given that you are looking at £5-6k annual service charge for a caravan/ lodge on one of the lakeside sites it might make man-maths sense as a weekend bolthole.

For a 26' boat like the Griffon, on a serviced mooring, it appears to be £3,250 +vat.

And I'm hoping the boat at 30 years old would, give or take, hold its value, whereas a caravan will always be plummeting in value.

And I don't want a static. No romance.