First boat suggestions
Discussion
I've mentioned before in a couple of other threads my desire to get a boat or van and disappear off and do some exploring. I've had a rough year or so combined with some mental health issues and think I need a bit of time to get myself together.
I have done a bit of sailing before, but not enough to single crew yet so am looking at joining a local sailing club and working my way through some of the RYA courses, competent crew, day skipper etc over the next 12-18 months as well as hopefully going out with other boat owners.
In relation to boats, I'm hoping to buy a boat and live on-board for a while at a local marina and maybe take it out with new found friends from a sailing club. I know very much that boats can be debilitatingly expensive in terms of maintenance etc, so I'm doing as much research as possible before I even go and look at any. My budget will not be huge, maybe £7-10k. I've been thinking that a Contessa 26 (would love a 32) would fall into that bracket, and whilst not a large boat, it's one with a proven history that's capable of being sailed single handed by a competent sailor. There seem to be a few on the market at any one time, and subject to a survey I think one would tick all the boxes.
However....reading a few online pieces and a few books (reading Joshua Slocum's book at the moment) is in no way as helpful as real world advice. Does anyone here have views on the Contessa 26 and/or can they suggest other alternatives for a first sailboat that one could live on? I should mention I'm very much decluttering my life so the relative lack of space on a 26ft boat shouldn't be an issue.
Thanks in advance, and if you have any anecdotes about your first boats and sailing experiences I'd love to hear them.
I have done a bit of sailing before, but not enough to single crew yet so am looking at joining a local sailing club and working my way through some of the RYA courses, competent crew, day skipper etc over the next 12-18 months as well as hopefully going out with other boat owners.
In relation to boats, I'm hoping to buy a boat and live on-board for a while at a local marina and maybe take it out with new found friends from a sailing club. I know very much that boats can be debilitatingly expensive in terms of maintenance etc, so I'm doing as much research as possible before I even go and look at any. My budget will not be huge, maybe £7-10k. I've been thinking that a Contessa 26 (would love a 32) would fall into that bracket, and whilst not a large boat, it's one with a proven history that's capable of being sailed single handed by a competent sailor. There seem to be a few on the market at any one time, and subject to a survey I think one would tick all the boxes.
However....reading a few online pieces and a few books (reading Joshua Slocum's book at the moment) is in no way as helpful as real world advice. Does anyone here have views on the Contessa 26 and/or can they suggest other alternatives for a first sailboat that one could live on? I should mention I'm very much decluttering my life so the relative lack of space on a 26ft boat shouldn't be an issue.
Thanks in advance, and if you have any anecdotes about your first boats and sailing experiences I'd love to hear them.
Apologies, I thought I had posted a thank you to all those who replied and posted advice, obviously I didn't, so thank you.
I've been to look at a few boats now, and have found two that I like the layout of and am happy with the condition and specs of. A Westerly GK29 and a Macwester 28. The GK29 is probably the better of the two and this is reflected in the price, but I actually prefer the feel and layout of the Macwester. It's also a good few thousand cheaper as they don't seem too popular with some in the sailing community, 'like sailing a slug through treacle' was one review. However, they do seem to be regarded well for being pretty solid and seaworthy which is more important to me than speed as I don't intend on racing.
Fortunately the money I'm waiting for won't come through for a good few weeks so it avoids the old impulse purchase which I'm so often guilty of, and gives me a chance to look around a bit more, and to carry on reading reviews etc.
I've been to look at a few boats now, and have found two that I like the layout of and am happy with the condition and specs of. A Westerly GK29 and a Macwester 28. The GK29 is probably the better of the two and this is reflected in the price, but I actually prefer the feel and layout of the Macwester. It's also a good few thousand cheaper as they don't seem too popular with some in the sailing community, 'like sailing a slug through treacle' was one review. However, they do seem to be regarded well for being pretty solid and seaworthy which is more important to me than speed as I don't intend on racing.
Fortunately the money I'm waiting for won't come through for a good few weeks so it avoids the old impulse purchase which I'm so often guilty of, and gives me a chance to look around a bit more, and to carry on reading reviews etc.
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