[HUGHM]

I don't know myself but I'm hoping that someone can tell me. I'm looking for a yacht I can single hand if necessary, cruise with my wife comfortably, and go round the cans with a few friends. As I would like to cruise the west of Ireland, Scotland, perhpas Norway (just a bit ambitious) it must be well founded and weatherly. The other draw back is that my funds are on the limited side (if I had money this would be easy).

I have identified two possible yachts, the Shipman 28 and a Hustler 30.

Any thoughts?

 

[TSOJOURNER]

Whats small, fast, weatherly and cheap?

Sounds like my sister-in-law ... maybe more weathered than weatherly but the rest sure fits...

 

[bobmcgov]

Sounds like my sister-in-law ... maybe more weathered than weatherly but the rest sure fits...

SM wins the internetz! That's funny.

ETA: should prolly take a stab at the OP's question. Albins are mentioned below and lots of them in your area. Contessas also; the 32 is certainly well-found and often raced in your region.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

i do not know how many of these made it over to UK, but Pearson Tritons seem to fit the bill; with a cutaway forefoot they are not going to be the absolute highest pointing boat, but not too shabby.

 

[chall03]

If you haven't yet I would recommend you get your hands on a book titled "Ocean cruising a small budget" by Anne Hammick.

She looks at in detail the kind of boats your after, and it is a british book. In it she recommends the following:

Nicholson 32
Contessa 32
Rival 32
Rustler 31
Pioneer 10
Halmatic 30

She also recommends, and I also with some firsthand knowledge concur that if you are on a real shoestring budget but want a capable small vessel you can't go past a contessa 26.

Best of luck with the search.

 

[johnshasteen]

More solidly built, easy to afford, small boats, but not so fast around the bouys:
Bristol 24 and 26
Bayfield 25
Eastward Ho 24
Columbia 26

 

[HUGHM]

Sounds like my sister-in-law ... maybe more weathered than weatherly but the rest sure fits...

Hi Sailormann, I think I may have met your sister in-law, has she been to Ireland recently?

 

[HUGHM]

i do not know how many of these made it over to UK, but Pearson Tritons seem to fit the bill; with a cutaway forefoot they are not going to be the absolute highest pointing boat, but not too shabby.

Thanks for that. I have not come across any Pearsons in Ireland, I'm probably better sticking to a known design in these waters.

 

[HUGHM]

If you haven't yet I would recommend you get your hands on a book titled "Ocean cruising a small budget" by Anne Hammick.

She looks at in detail the kind of boats your after, and it is a british book. In it she recommends the following:

Nicholson 32
Contessa 32
Rival 32
Rustler 31
Pioneer 10
Halmatic 30

She also recommends, and I also with some firsthand knowledge concur that if you are on a real shoestring budget but want a capable small vessel you can't go past a contessa 26.

Best of luck with the search.

Thanks for this. I have looked at these boats, the Contessa is a boat in demand and is too expensive for me, though I am tempted with a Sadler 32 which is from the same designer with a little more volume. Other than the Pioneer (with which I am not very familiar) the others I think would not qualify under the criteria of fast. The Contessa 26 is a cracker but I was looking for something with more volume.

I have just ordered "Ocean cruising a small budget" from Amazon, thanks for the tip.

 

[HUGHM]

More solidly built, easy to afford, small boats, but not so fast around the bouys:
Bristol 24 and 26
Bayfield 25
Eastward Ho 24
Columbia 26

I will keep an eye out, not many on this side of the pond.

 

[svHyLyte]

IF I were in your area I'd be taking a close look at the C&N Yachts. See Nicholson 33 For Sale - GBP 18,500 - Nr. Plymouth, UK - Boatshop24.co.uk

Good Luck!

 

[bobmcgov]

Here's an Albin Ballad in your region, 16k GBP.

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1973/Albin-Ballad-Sailing-Yacht-1999570/Channel-Islands/United-Kingdom

Another:
https://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/photoGallery.jsp?slim=quick&currency=USD&units=Feet&seo=0&checked_boats=1979990&boat_id=1979990&back=/core/boats/1973/Albin-Ballad-1979990/West-Coast,-Scotland/United-Kingdom&boat_id=1979990

Same speed as the Contessa 32. Wouldn't call it "high volume" -- but then old, faster, seaworthy boats in the "cheap" price range tend to be tight below. *shrug* The Nicholson is a good recommendation.

 

[RXBOT]

Fast is not cheap

I think you should look for a local boat that suits the local area and is suitably priced. Where you live there may not be such a thing as cheap. Bilge keel perhaps so she can be kept anywhere as you probably wouldn't want to pay for dockage.

 

[L124C]

Another good book is "Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere" by John Vigor. He goes into detail about the Pros and cons, safety, cost and performance of each boat. Many of the boats in it have already been mentioned here. Some that have not are:
Bristol 27, Bristol Channel Cutter28, Allied Seawind32, Dana 24, Falmouth Cutter 22 and many more.

 

[Jim H]

Most of the boats listed so far are more seaworthy than fast. Your original post about "going around the cans" suggests a lighter boat, yet sturdy.

The opinion in the US is that mass produced boats aren't suitable to the rougher conditions around the UK, but a lot of owners beg to differ and sail their boats in all sorts of conditions. Talk to owners and see what you think.

One boat not listed but worth a look is a Vega 27. Good review in a recent UK Yachting Monthly magazine, and it's a heavier boat for its size than a mass produced 30 footer but it has been know for decent speed for a 27 footer. Not a "round the cans" boat, but...

They show up in the UK for 8-10k, some in very good condition.

Rival 32s would be quite a bit more, unless in rough shape.

 

[bobmcgov]

One boat not listed but worth a look is a Vega 27. Good review in a recent UK Yachting Monthly magazine, and it's a heavier boat for its size than a mass produced 30 footer but it has been know for decent speed for a 27 footer. Not a "round the cans" boat, but...

Falls under the heading of 'Albins,' I believe. But yes, it's the sort of rugged-but-lively boat the OP may be looking for. Same Folkboat lineage, but less cherished in Britain than its Contessa cousins & thus much cheaper. Albin Vega is fast downwind but kind of a pig to weather. VERY small cabin. EXTREMELY small cabin. Many have engine & prop issues. HughM should definitely give it a look, tho -- best bluewater value going.

More modern -- and therefore more roomy & expensive -- but still sailed all over Biscay, the Med & the Atlantic: a Beneteau First. People may sneer at them as French MacGregors, but they do offer quicker performance and more amenities than salty old vessels.

 

[Jim H]

Falls under the heading of 'Albins,' I believe.

Okay, okay, so I missed your links to the Albin Ballads...

Here's a Vega 27 with an asking price of 10k (new beta engine in 2006):

Albin Boats for sale UK, Albin Used boat sales, Albin Sailing Yachts For Sale Albin Vega - Apollo Duck

We almost bought one in Olympia, WA, but it was too tight for a couple with kids. For just a couple, though, it's be hard to find a less expensive boat with more sea miles. I'd opt for it over a Contessa 26.

 

[sailingdog]

Generally, you can get two of three qualities in a boat... fast, weatherly or cheap.... if you want fast and weatherly, it usually costs some money. The way I see it, the size of the boat is just a multiplier.

 

[blt2ski]

I am recalling Halberg Rassey buiding some smaller 28-32' boats a number of yrs back. Jeanneau Arcadia or Atalia models from the 80s may also work. Beneateau have some older models as mentioned, like the First 28, 30 etc that will also do what you want too.

I've notice for better or worst, Europeans do things with boats that us NAmericans would consider dangerous or the wrong style boat etc.

My additions to your list of potential boats.

Marty