How old should I go......

MunichDave · #1 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009

This is a question that I dread to ask but if anyone is willing to have a go I would be much obliged.

I am looking in the next 9 months or so to buy my first live aboard with my wife and 13 year old, but my question is how old should I buy, if the boat was a charter boat how old a boat can I buy before I am looking at some major refit cost?

If the boat is a weekender type then ........

I want a boat that doesnt cost an arm and a leg when purchased.....

Sorry for this but I am sat in my armchair reading the mags and these guys are liveaboard in 80s boats.

I guess what I am trying to ask to what year should I start looking for my 37 -45 footer that doesnt need anything major for a few years....

Thanks

Now hiding in a corner, ready for the flame thowers.

Thanks

Dave

JomsViking · #2 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009

Dave,
A charter boat will always require some refitting. An older boat may, or may not, have been maintained well and upgraded at regular intervals.
Not a clear answer, but I think the best answer is "it depends" and you should go looking for yourself, even on oldish boats. E.g. a HR "Rasmus" 35 could be a great liveaboard for three, depending on your requirements (it does not sail too well imho, but still decently).

MunichDave · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009

JV thanks

Trouble is I live a long way from the sea, I am planning on buying in Greece, Turkey or Croatia so I am sifting the boats on Internet sites before I go to look and trying to group together to keep the costs down in travelling.

Dave

JomsViking · #4 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009

Yes, I should have realized that with Munich (München) in your screen name - not to observant of me. Take a trip North, I'd be glad to help you looking at boats in Nordrhein Westphalen or Denmark. Just bring some good beer

SailingDog has started a boat inspection trip tips thread here, you should read that.

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/boat-r...trip-tips.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by MunichDave

JV thanks

Trouble is I live a long way from the sea, I am planning on buying in Greece, Turkey or Croatia so I am sifting the boats on Internet sites before I go to look and trying to group together to keep the costs down in travelling.

Dave

nk235 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009

In my opinion, if you are not looking for something very specific, once you get into boats more than 10 years old, it doesn't matter how old the boat is and what year range you should look in but more so how the boat was kept and what condition it is in. For instance when I bought my boat, I had to look through about 200 boats but the one I bought was maintained to bristol condition and had all major projects and upgrades done and was still being sold at an average to low cost because the owner had bought a new boat and needed to sell this one relatively fast. It is a 1983 and is in ten times better condition than many of the early 90's era boats I looked at. I am sure there are plenty of 1970's era boats out there as well that have been maintained the same way. So I guess my point is, unless you are looking for something very specific in boat design that requires a certain time period, age isn't as important as upkeep.

JomsViking · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009

Dave, have a look at this Dehler 39. Nice: www.BoatNet.de - Dehler Yachtbau - Dehler 39

MunichDave · #7 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009

JV thanks

Looks very nice but I need to look at something up to 100k.

I have been googling today and I was looking for someone North Germany who would be willing to do a Coastal Skipper and Crew course combined for me and the wife in the north but I am really struggling to find this in English.
Any Ideas ?

As I mentioned before at the moment I am on the larger side so looking for a boat where you dont have to climb over each other to go to the toilet.

Dont need two shower rooms but one I can get in.

As an example I am not keen on the Smaller Bavarias where you need to squeeze past in the Saloon where the Gangway seats are, The idea where you have a center fold down table and clear Gangway makes sense to me.

But the new Bavaria 39 looks a good layout.

Dave

JomsViking · #8 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009

Dave,
Have a look here Sea Schools & Sailing Schools Worldwide.
Here in DK we mainly teach in our own tongue, so you're probably out of luck there. But taking a trip to UK and sailing there would be nice too?

xort · #9 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009

The older the boat, the more likely you are going to see HUGE variations on condition. I bought an 80's vintage boat. Saw some you could not pay me to take. Others were in excellent condition and the price reflected it.

sailingdog · #10 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009

I'd point out that you really should reserve about 20% of your actual budget for outfitting, refitting, upgrading and repairing any boat you do buy... and that I'd also recommend you read the Boat Inspection Trip Tips thread I started, as it will help you determine whether any boats you look at are even worth going forward on.