Please talk me out of buying this racing boat

[NickCQ]

I like the look of this Corby 29 at £35k
https://apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=437615

Could be fun for a few summers of low-key IRC round-the-cans racing, plus the possibility to do round-the-island, JOG offshore and so on. Weekend day sails if weather permits and some longer trips if you can handle the somewhat spartan interior.

I need you to convince me it is a terrible idea as I can't shake the possibility from my mind. My family have owned boats before, so I know a little second-hand about the hassle, expense and so on. I've done quite a lot of racing but mostly on different stuff (40.7s and IRC 40-45s, some Quarter Ton). But I live in London and work far too many hours to get down to the coast that much. Hmmmm.

[NickCQ]

IforB said:

Why spank £35k on it?

If you want a decent racer or cruiser, you can get decent boats for a fraction of that.

If it's the first boat you've owned, then I'd suggest something fairly bomb-proof. Why not something like a Sonata? Cheap as chilps, a great class to race in, forgiving if difficult to setup just right, just about enough room for the odd night away and virtually indestructible.

You'd get the best one on the planet for less than £10k.

Oh and that Corby has a GM10 in it. Reliable as mud, but dear god do you know when it's running!

This is all helpful, thanks.

[NickCQ]

kurt535 said:

- agreed on syndicating ownership with one other person? works well with aircraft.

I've seen this go wrong more times than go right - it's not something I'd consider as I wouldn't want to lose friends / sailing partners over financial matters.

I'm wondering whether something like a J/80 could be a good stepping stone before trading up in a few years if all goes well. It's easy to talk about budgeting for £5-10k p.a. running costs, but a different thing to experience it first hand.

[NickCQ]

lee_fr200 said:

I've got a 17ft fletcher arrowstreak with 140hp 3 litre inboard that goes like stink

Why spend 35k come buy ours for 5k I'm selling it to buy a new supercharged seadoo jet ski

We've had tons of fun with it even on the rivers ignoring the speed limit at 40kts

I prefer wind power myself - and have a lot more respect for water speed limits than land speed limits.

(Edited to increase politeness)

Edited by NickCQ on Wednesday 1st March 20:14

[NickCQ]

IforB said:

As for budgeting £10k a year for it, then that is a painful sum unless you have that as easily disposable cash. I run a 5.5m RIB, an RS400 and our MG Spring 25 for significantly less than that a year. If you are on the south coast, then your mooring fees alone may dwarf my annual budget, but that is the joy if being in the wilds of North Essex!

It's a big number, to be sure. But my plan was this - for the first year at least I'd keep it in a convenient marina (nearest to me are Chichester or Hamble ... ouch). That has two benefits - (i) initial maintenance backlog is probably easier to deal with, especially as I learn the boat; and (ii) if I don't get enough use out of it in a convenient marina slip, I'm never going to use it if it's a long dinghy ride away, so I should face facts and sell up.

So you have £3-4k of marina costs before you've even started, then add insurance, maintenance, lift outs, a new kite for when you screw up, etc etc

IforB said:

Of course, you might be as rich as 98% of PH thinks it is and therefore as a powerfully built company director, running costs for any yacht is just a mere bagatelle to be ignored!

Haha, I wish.
What was it that JPMorgan said? If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it.

[NickCQ]

Huntsman said:

NickCQ said:

So you have £3-4k of marina costs before you've even started, then add insurance, maintenance, lift outs, a new kite for when you screw up

I think you'd struggle to put a 29ft boat in a marina on the Hamble for £3-4k, more like £6 with MDL.

You are right - those numbers come from putting 8m / 26' through for a J80 but it would step up accordingly. The 'small boat' rates at Haslar are OK, but I know the on-shore area there pretty well and it's not great, plus the drive down the West side of Portsmouth harbour is annoying.

Without wishing to sound like a PH director cliche, the strongest constraint at the moment is time and hassle rather than cost, so I don't mind paying up a bit.

Edited by NickCQ on Thursday 2nd March 13:12

[NickCQ]

Cheburator mk2 said:

I race two handed out of Haslar. Yes, Gosport is not that great, and the drive from the M27 takes the shine off a good journey out of SE London. However - we have the best chandlery on the South Coast on our door step - You Boat - as well as Endeavour Quay and Gosport Boat Yard for serious work. Kemp look after my sails and are very quick with their turnaround. Having Sea Lift 2 in the marina is great too - I can always get a clean bottom before a race (Oerrr!) for not a lot. Portsmouth and the delightful Old Town are a £2 ferry ride away.

Gee, I sound like I am on the payroll at Dean & Reddyhoff... (I am not!)

Btw, it just popped into my mailbox, apparently they have taken over Deacon's - so now we get the benefits of free visitor nights on the Hamble too...

Someone described Gosport to me as '50% polyester, 50% Gore-Tex', which is cruel but accurate.
That's interesting re. Deacon's, that would be a nice addition to the package.

[NickCQ]

OK. Thanks for advice all. If anyone is interested, I ended up buying a J/70 - will update PH as the season progresses.
The factors that swayed my decision were a lively one-design scene, moderate capital cost, cheapish sails and low maintenance costs / hassle, easy self-launch dry-sailing from Hamble Point and the right boat turning up at the right time at the right price.

Now just need to think of a name (this one is unimaginatively called #263)...

[NickCQ]

ecsrobin said:

NickCQ said:

OK. Thanks for advice all. If anyone is interested, I ended up buying a J/70 - will update PH as the season progresses.
The factors that swayed my decision were a lively one-design scene, moderate capital cost, cheapish sails and low maintenance costs / hassle, easy self-launch dry-sailing from Hamble Point and the right boat turning up at the right time at the right price.

Now just need to think of a name (this one is unimaginatively called #263)...

Where will you install the wine rack on a J/70?

Nice and low, on the centreline opposite the outboard to keep a 50:50 Port / Starboard weight distribution - means I should carry about 15kg on board at all times for optimal performance!

[NickCQ]

rossb said:

NickCQ said:

OK. Thanks for advice all. If anyone is interested, I ended up buying a J/70 - will update PH as the season progresses.
The factors that swayed my decision were a lively one-design scene, moderate capital cost, cheapish sails and low maintenance costs / hassle, easy self-launch dry-sailing from Hamble Point and the right boat turning up at the right time at the right price.

Now just need to think of a name (this one is unimaginatively called #263)...

How are you getting on? I am likely to pull the pin on a j/80 subject to survey next week - for more or less the reasons you mention above - although i will dry sail from hayling. Is the J meeting your thrill expectations to sail? Am doing a test sail on weekend - can't wait!

I'm loving it. Time constraints are as expected, but it's a fun boat to sail whether racing or just going out for a day sail with friends / family. Seems to combine the best bits of a dinghy (very responsive to helm and trimming) and a yacht (not too wet, stable and won't capsize). Don't know whether this goes for the J/80 as well but the spinnaker is also manageable with only 2 or 3.

[NickCQ]

rossb said:

NickCQ said:

I'm loving it. Time constraints are as expected, but it's a fun boat to sail whether racing or just going out for a day sail with friends / family. Seems to combine the best bits of a dinghy (very responsive to helm and trimming) and a yacht (not too wet, stable and won't capsize). Don't know whether this goes for the J/80 as well but the spinnaker is also manageable with only 2 or 3.

Great - just what i want to hear - looking forward to weekend - thanks for response

Hope it goes well! The best advice I received on the whole process is that the market for boats is a always buyer's market, especially as the season drags on - so push for the best deal you can.