Just sat on my Contessa 26 (because I can't stand up obvs) that I got for £3.5k. Hoping to get out of the marina by April and see just how far a small boat can go!
That's awesome! Best way in our opinion, just go for it and learn as you go. Sure you've got some big adventures ahead of you, we'll subscribe and follow along! 😁
There's no mention of a Flicka 20. Ok it is classified as a blue water but still trailerable. And although slower than most people would like it does handle rough seas remarkably well. I'm moving up in size strictly for a live aboard. Which is why I am watching your video. But they are out there and some are at a very reasonable price. Thank you for the research and honest reviews. And you're absolutely right, go small but go! Once you know what type of sailing suites you best you're going to know what boat will also fit your needs.
Folkboats and similar; Folkdancer, Contessa 26, Halcyon 27, Folksong. Hurley 22 and 24/70. Macwester 23 and 28. There are a lot of Snapdragons in the UK too, although I don't know much about them. All sorts of boats successfully cruise though.
Ha the snapdragon is what I was hoping to learn more about. I’ve been a partner on a 19’ Snap Dragon 600 for a couple of seasons now. Definitely not what I’d call a Blue Water Boat. So I am curious how did it make its way to the San Francisco Bay?
I solo cruised a Yankee Dolphin 24 with a Navik self steering vane, from Mission Bay CA to the Caribbean Via the Panama Canal. Sailed it on a run in heavy weather of 55 kts wind and 20-25 ft breaking waves. 12 hours under just a storm jib. Wasn't a good time but it handled it. It was a great boat and capable of circumnavigating the world.
Hey guys. Really well thought out video. So good to see the Albin Vega on your list and so much detail. Great to see you again. This list is definitely worth keeping for future reference.
Nice research there. Kinda like the centaur. Perfect for beginner and coastal cruising. Must admit sam Holmes have crossed oceans in one of these sized boats. So has wind hippy . But for under £10k, it's ideal.
An awful lot of valuable info. Thank you for putting it all together. Many will find this very very useful. One mega important issue for the budget sailor who is not in a financial position to sail off into the sunset that you have not specifically addressed is mooring costs for fin keel boats. Here in the UK marinas are generally very expensive. There are many real bargains to be found on the second market for older fin keel boat, but the annual mooring fee in a marina is sometimes close to 60% of the actual value of the boat. When one looks at affordable moorings in the 500 to 1000 pounds annual cost range, many are tidal with ability to take the ground essential, preferably with a fairly shallow draft . I was actually fortunate to sail the Eastern Med as a live aboard on a Jeanneau 35 (ex charter boat) while still youngish. For nearly7 years we cruised the Aegean and Ionian and have some incredible memories. We mainly anchored in the summer and usually got some very good winter marina deals. Our only income was eeking out our savings and the rental income from an inherited property However, when we had to return, the cost of keeping the Jeanneau in the UK was outside our budget so we sold in Greece and bought a 27ft lifting keel (Parker) on our return. We sail this regularly, it's a real thoroughbred, and have lived aboard without issue for up to 3 weeks on annual cruises to France/Belgium and Holland. Though, a few extra Jerries of water in the locker and 24 bottles of drinking water under the berths is pretty essential. Especially if you mainly cook on board.
My 1974 Swanson 30 cost myself and mate $32K (Aud) which considering the boat’s considerable ocean racing inc 6 S2Hs and ocean and coastal cruising history, let alone that its two previous owners had spent the combined sum of approx $30K in upgrading it was kind of a bargain. And yes sure it doesn’t have a shower, hot water, water maker, fridge or even an oven, it did come with a near new volvo penta 30 hp motor, new folding prop, new harken 40 primary winches, new B&G wind instrument, new furler, new sails, sheets, and quite a lot of refurbishment both on deck and down below. Yes there is work to be done, some more upgrades to be done to it but we are happy and race it every week. So yes a small boat has its advantages for sure.
I had a twin keel Centaur and i would sail in small craft warnings out of Hillsboro inlet. The gulf stream had huge waves and was a blast and very exciting day sail. I sailed almost daily single handed and would drag a fishing line. Large waves mean large fish. I had the 25 hp md2b Volvo with ketch rig and roller main, jenny. Highly recommended. My friend had a 32' sloop and my boat could mach his speed
Interesting. Very much agree with the Vega 27. I'm not familiar with most of the others, but you make a good case for their merits. I sailed a tidy alternative to the Centaur - a Westerly Tiger. It's a foot shorter, but has almost identical accommodation and a fin keel, making it a better upwind performer. One other boat I'd add. Still a bit on the pricey side - the Vancouver 27. Only room for a couple, but a proper blue water vessel.
I see you used a short snippet of the HH273 that I once owned taken from one of the videos on a channel that unfortunately I have lost access to having been hacked shortly after visiting the Canaries. I don’t mind it’s fine I would add that when the weather starts to get a bit heavy the Hunter Horizon definitely became a handful so I wouldn’t like to venture out across oceans on one which is why I sold it
Hey that's so cool you used to own that one. And yes we really liked this clip than you for understanding. We do agree with your comments, it can be taken on some adventures but you wouldn't want to be getting caught out on this boat to much. Thank you for your comment 😊
I have just bought a mint Hurley 22r for £1500 with a brand new Yanmar diesel!.. These little boats are well worth a look too.. They are bomb proof and I would trust one in any Atlantic storm..
I too have one, the bilge keel version, weighs nearly as much as these 26-28' boats. Won't go further than the Isle of Wight without new rigging and a life raft (these boats have zero natural buoyancy)
Interesting list of boats, we have managed to acquire a 28ft colvic sea rover for £2500 which has been converted to a cutter rig, needs a bit of work but nothing that isn't consumable replacement/ maintenance and we know it has made several trips from the Irish sea to Iceland and back. We're looking forward to getting her back in the water next year after a winter refit. We've just been binge watching your channel for the last couple of weeks and thanks for all the helpful info. :)
Hey that's an absolute bargain! Good luck with the refit we hope it goes smoothly. Glad the videos have helped somewhat, hope you have fun with your future adventures!
Had my S29 for a couple of yeras now and am very happy, although you won't get even a tatty one for under 10k. The Sadler 26 can be purchased around that price. Really admire you two for getting out there and doing what you dreamed of instead of just talking about maybe next year.
Really great video! I got a much better overview and liked how you explained all these numbers and ratios. Care to make a video like this for around 30 footers? Tipp: When talking about a name or brand write it somewhere in the screen, so it’s clear even for newbies what they need to google next :)
Hartley Queenslander 35ft in length 11 ft beam. 11ton displacement, Shower, hot water, electric winch. everything that is needed for blue water sailing. Under £10,000
Well done, young man! Making sense of sailboat specifications is crucial to buying a sailboat that checks all your boxes. A sailboat with a racing pedigree will necessarily compromise on creature comforts. A boat that has very comfortable living space, will necessarily compromise sailing performance. Our sailboat, a 2003 Catalina C350, was the perfect balance for what we were looking for.
I was very keen on the Sadler 29 but they’re more £18-22k for a good one. I found a bad one for £12k but it would have cost a lot to refurbish. I ended up with an Etap 28i, which is most like the Hunter 27 in this set, a great small yacht.
Ahh yes they seem to have gone up a touch. I did find one or two under 10k when I was looking but would need some work doing. Etap is another awesome boat!
I’m pretty sure the Centaur in your video is my new boat! It’s amazing how much space it has compared to my Trapper 28, despite being 2ft shorter. Just getting used to sailing her now, finding hard going after being spoilt by the Trapper!
No way, that's awesome, haha. And yes, they had a wizard created the space when engineering that boat, lol, but yet unfortunately not the most sporty. Thanks for commenting 😁
Great video, lots of other good options so worth doing your homework. On things like displacement to length or sail area to displacement. As there are compairing single (length) or squared (area) to cubic (displacement) they get a little screwed up on small boats. Good for comparrison of boats the same size but not worth being concerned about the boat falling in x catagorisation as these are really based on larger boats.
Father designed the Contessa 26 and 32 before redesigning the larger Contessa as the Sadler 32. The David Sadler’s son ddesigned the Sadler 26 and 29 plus maybe others and ran the company for many years.
I had a Vega, great boat but too small. The heads... Left a lot to desire. Also steerage in reverse... Oh dear. I lived on it for a year before getting a Dufour 35 1978. Great live aboard, just a great sailor. But more money. Hunter is a great option though. Oh would like a sadler too, usually expensive but the interior liner is great. My Dufour had a GRP liner and it was great to stop condensation. The ENEMY for living aboard.
These all have capsise screening numbers over 2 except the sadler 29, the flooded boat you showed was a 34, a 29 flooded should still be sailable. Very slowly.
@@markthomasson5077 most Centaurs have had the keel stubs strengthened by now. It’s rare to find one that hasn’t had the work done and keels falling off is very rare. I had one for 8 years and loved it. My much bigger boat has less storage space!
Love the content, subscribed. But, does anyone have knowledge of a vanlife to small sailboat life 24ft to 30ft, the dana 24 looks nice but price. I'm thinking of wise purchases that are dual purpose.
A 1978 Endeavor 32 recently sold for US $7,000 in Milwaukee with a running engine. Having voyaged on a Glander Cay 23, I am no longer a fan of anything under 30 ft., no matter how seaworthy.
Not sure if that's 6 total or 6 people plus 2 kids, but minimum we personally consider for that many is 45ft. But really depends on lots of factors like minimum levels of comfort! Some do it on tiny boats, we met a family of 5 living full time on a 26ft boat - was tight though!
You realy should put the names in writing. as someone who doesnt know any of those boats i was complete lost .. since you also dont have the cleanest english :D (not meant to be rude just not easy to understand "non" english words, just like u did with the contessa
Spending hours and hours and hours and hours producing content for you to watch for free on UA-cam. 'Please make the effort' 😂 Also FYI sailboats is not incorrect, it is simply Americanised.
I appreciate it knowlate and opinion Please listen to your own video Your constant speaking tone and downward inflections ,made for me , This video unwatchable . Work on that !
Just sat on my Contessa 26 (because I can't stand up obvs) that I got for £3.5k. Hoping to get out of the marina by April and see just how far a small boat can go!
That's awesome! Best way in our opinion, just go for it and learn as you go. Sure you've got some big adventures ahead of you, we'll subscribe and follow along! 😁
@@ChasingCurrents thank you! Appreciate it!
I believe it can go around the world, if you wish and have the expertise to do so
Yeah I was wondering why the C26 wasn’t on the list. Proven world traveler and plentiful.
There's no mention of a Flicka 20.
Ok it is classified as a blue water but still trailerable. And although slower than most people would like it does handle rough seas remarkably well. I'm moving up in size strictly for a live aboard. Which is why I am watching your video. But they are out there and some are at a very reasonable price. Thank you for the research and honest reviews. And you're absolutely right, go small but go! Once you know what type of sailing suites you best you're going to know what boat will also fit your needs.
Folkboats and similar; Folkdancer, Contessa 26, Halcyon 27, Folksong. Hurley 22 and 24/70. Macwester 23 and 28. There are a lot of Snapdragons in the UK too, although I don't know much about them.
All sorts of boats successfully cruise though.
Ha the snapdragon is what I was hoping to learn more about. I’ve been a partner on a 19’ Snap Dragon 600 for a couple of seasons now. Definitely not what I’d call a Blue Water Boat. So I am curious how did it make its way to the San Francisco Bay?
I'll throw my hat in the ring for Nor' Sea 27... wonderful boat
I solo cruised a Yankee Dolphin 24 with a Navik self steering vane, from Mission Bay CA to the Caribbean Via the Panama Canal. Sailed it on a run in heavy weather of 55 kts wind and 20-25 ft breaking waves. 12 hours under just a storm jib. Wasn't a good time but it handled it. It was a great boat and capable of circumnavigating the world.
Hey guys. Really well thought out video. So good to see the Albin Vega on your list and so much detail. Great to see you again. This list is definitely worth keeping for future reference.
Hey, thanks! Glad you liked it
Nice research there. Kinda like the centaur. Perfect for beginner and coastal cruising. Must admit sam Holmes have crossed oceans in one of these sized boats. So has wind hippy . But for under £10k, it's ideal.
We agree!
An awful lot of valuable info. Thank you for putting it all together. Many will find this very very useful. One mega important issue for the budget sailor who is not in a financial position to sail off into the sunset that you have not specifically addressed is mooring costs for fin keel boats. Here in the UK marinas are generally very expensive. There are many real bargains to be found on the second market for older fin keel boat, but the annual mooring fee in a marina is sometimes close to 60% of the actual value of the boat. When one looks at affordable moorings in the 500 to 1000 pounds annual cost range, many are tidal with ability to take the ground essential, preferably with a fairly shallow draft .
I was actually fortunate to sail the Eastern Med as a live aboard on a Jeanneau 35 (ex charter boat) while still youngish. For nearly7 years we cruised the Aegean and Ionian and have some incredible memories. We mainly anchored in the summer and usually got some very good winter marina deals. Our only income was eeking out our savings and the rental income from an inherited property However, when we had to return, the cost of keeping the Jeanneau in the UK was outside our budget so we sold in Greece and bought a 27ft lifting keel (Parker) on our return. We sail this regularly, it's a real thoroughbred, and have lived aboard without issue for up to 3 weeks on annual cruises to France/Belgium and Holland. Though, a few extra Jerries of water in the locker and 24 bottles of drinking water under the berths is pretty essential. Especially if you mainly cook on board.
My 1974 Swanson 30 cost myself and mate $32K (Aud) which considering the boat’s considerable ocean racing inc 6 S2Hs and ocean and coastal cruising history, let alone that its two previous owners had spent the combined sum of approx $30K in upgrading it was kind of a bargain. And yes sure it doesn’t have a shower, hot water, water maker, fridge or even an oven, it did come with a near new volvo penta 30 hp motor, new folding prop, new harken 40 primary winches, new B&G wind instrument, new furler, new sails, sheets, and quite a lot of refurbishment both on deck and down below. Yes there is work to be done, some more upgrades to be done to it but we are happy and race it every week. So yes a small boat has its advantages for sure.
I had a twin keel Centaur and i would sail in small craft warnings out of Hillsboro inlet. The gulf stream had huge waves and was a blast and very exciting day sail.
I sailed almost daily single handed and would drag a fishing line. Large waves mean large fish. I had the 25 hp md2b Volvo with ketch rig and roller main, jenny. Highly recommended. My friend had a 32' sloop and my boat could mach his speed
Thats incredible! Definitely goes to show how good these boats can be
Interesting. Very much agree with the Vega 27. I'm not familiar with most of the others, but you make a good case for their merits. I sailed a tidy alternative to the Centaur - a Westerly Tiger. It's a foot shorter, but has almost identical accommodation and a fin keel, making it a better upwind performer. One other boat I'd add. Still a bit on the pricey side - the Vancouver 27. Only room for a couple, but a proper blue water vessel.
I see you used a short snippet of the HH273 that I once owned taken from one of the videos on a channel that unfortunately I have lost access to having been hacked shortly after visiting the Canaries. I don’t mind it’s fine I would add that when the weather starts to get a bit heavy the Hunter Horizon definitely became a handful so I wouldn’t like to venture out across oceans on one which is why I sold it
Hey that's so cool you used to own that one. And yes we really liked this clip than you for understanding. We do agree with your comments, it can be taken on some adventures but you wouldn't want to be getting caught out on this boat to much. Thank you for your comment 😊
Holy moly this vid is STACKED with amazing information. Thanks for making this! New sub here and looking forward to more from you!
Awesome, thank you!
I have just bought a mint Hurley 22r for £1500 with a brand new Yanmar diesel!..
These little boats are well worth a look too.. They are bomb proof and I would trust one in any Atlantic storm..
I too have one, the bilge keel version, weighs nearly as much as these 26-28' boats. Won't go further than the Isle of Wight without new rigging and a life raft (these boats have zero natural buoyancy)
Interesting list of boats, we have managed to acquire a 28ft colvic sea rover for £2500 which has been converted to a cutter rig, needs a bit of work but nothing that isn't consumable replacement/ maintenance and we know it has made several trips from the Irish sea to Iceland and back. We're looking forward to getting her back in the water next year after a winter refit. We've just been binge watching your channel for the last couple of weeks and thanks for all the helpful info. :)
Hey that's an absolute bargain! Good luck with the refit we hope it goes smoothly. Glad the videos have helped somewhat, hope you have fun with your future adventures!
The moment you mentioned Albin Vega I knew it's going to be a good list.
Haha thank you 😁
So did I
Yup, I agree . . . we owned an Albin Ballad for years and I crewed on Vegas many times. An easy sailor for sure.
Had my S29 for a couple of yeras now and am very happy, although you won't get even a tatty one for under 10k. The Sadler 26 can be purchased around that price. Really admire you two for getting out there and doing what you dreamed of instead of just talking about maybe next year.
My wife says we should do it "never" Few couples are in tune with this ambition. 😒
Really great video! I got a much better overview and liked how you explained all these numbers and ratios. Care to make a video like this for around 30 footers? Tipp: When talking about a name or brand write it somewhere in the screen, so it’s clear even for newbies what they need to google next :)
Yep had to do just that for all of the boats mentioned
great advice and a useful formular to apply when looking at other boats to compare back to your list. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Had the fin keel version of the Centaur, the Pembroke. Great boat, comfortable, safe and much faster than people realised.
I have heard about this also! People overlook these old boats 😀
Hartley Queenslander 35ft in length 11 ft beam. 11ton displacement, Shower, hot water, electric winch. everything that is needed for blue water sailing. Under £10,000
Well done, young man! Making sense of sailboat specifications is crucial to buying a sailboat that checks all your boxes.
A sailboat with a racing pedigree will necessarily compromise on creature comforts. A boat that has very comfortable living space, will necessarily compromise sailing performance.
Our sailboat, a 2003 Catalina C350, was the perfect balance for what we were looking for.
Was nice having something to compare my Dockrell 27 to.. great list my boat fits right into it.
very good (and well explained!) advices for some smaller vessels - THANK YOU !!!
Glad it was helpful!
We just bought a Gilardoni Caipirinha... can't wait for the summer to come! :)
I was very keen on the Sadler 29 but they’re more £18-22k for a good one. I found a bad one for £12k but it would have cost a lot to refurbish. I ended up with an Etap 28i, which is most like the Hunter 27 in this set, a great small yacht.
Maybe you meant the Sadler 26 as they are less than £10k and great boats
Ahh yes they seem to have gone up a touch. I did find one or two under 10k when I was looking but would need some work doing. Etap is another awesome boat!
@@davidalexander-watts6630. Do you like the wrap 28i?
Good information, Cantessa 32 and Albin Vega 27 superb sailboats ⛵️ I recommend
Where I live (Pacific NW), we have similar large tidal swings and having a bilge keel boat makes sense. Great video!
Hey, thanks for the nice comment 😁
Great video guys, I do love the British hunters but I got a bargain on a Yankee Hunter 33.5 so just couldn't resist :)
Nice one! Thank you 😁
I’m pretty sure the Centaur in your video is my new boat! It’s amazing how much space it has compared to my Trapper 28, despite being 2ft shorter. Just getting used to sailing her now, finding hard going after being spoilt by the Trapper!
No way, that's awesome, haha. And yes, they had a wizard created the space when engineering that boat, lol, but yet unfortunately not the most sporty.
Thanks for commenting 😁
Nice review there, a good selection of good solid cruisers. Glad,to see you are keeping the videos coming. Andy UK
More to come! Thank you 😊
This video report was exacvtely what I need now. Many thanks to 🙏
Great video, lots of other good options so worth doing your homework.
On things like displacement to length or sail area to displacement. As there are compairing single (length) or squared (area) to cubic (displacement) they get a little screwed up on small boats. Good for comparrison of boats the same size but not worth being concerned about the boat falling in x catagorisation as these are really based on larger boats.
Hey thank you for watching and commenting, you make a very good point and something we might bring up if we do a similar video again 😀.
Thank you
Father designed the Contessa 26 and 32 before redesigning the larger Contessa as the Sadler 32.
The David Sadler’s son ddesigned the Sadler 26 and 29 plus maybe others and ran the company for many years.
Great video and info. Will be watching many times. Thnx for this 🍻
Awesome, thank you!
I had a Vega, great boat but too small. The heads... Left a lot to desire. Also steerage in reverse... Oh dear. I lived on it for a year before getting a Dufour 35 1978. Great live aboard, just a great sailor. But more money.
Hunter is a great option though.
Oh would like a sadler too, usually expensive but the interior liner is great. My Dufour had a GRP liner and it was great to stop condensation. The ENEMY for living aboard.
Thanks for sharing! Some very good nuggets of experience there 👌 😁
There are plenty if project boats out there. Lets face it all boats are a project. I have a Van de Stadt Pioneer 9 for sale under £1000
Great video but please Could put a list the names sailboats.
I'd never heard of the Stag, looks like a great boat.
We hadn't either until we found this one.
These all have capsise screening numbers over 2 except the sadler 29, the flooded boat you showed was a 34, a 29 flooded should still be sailable. Very slowly.
How about the Hurley 30/90, Contessa and Vancouver?
Love the first episode. Keep going
Westerly Centaur. 26 foot bilge keel. 6 foot headroom and an astonishing amount of space. Very sea kindly and safe.
…and they sail remarkably well…..but the keels have a habit of falling off. Do your research if considering
@@markthomasson5077 most Centaurs have had the keel stubs strengthened by now. It’s rare to find one that hasn’t had the work done and keels falling off is very rare. I had one for 8 years and loved it. My much bigger boat has less storage space!
Well done! Thank you for the education! You are a good man 👍
Thank you for watching and glad you found it helpful 😊
I thought the Vega was solid fiberglass with no balsa core anywhere, which might be a qualifier for deck stepped mast issues.
If you think size matters- look into the story of Serge Testa and his boat Acrohc.
Very seaworthy... And very small!
Comfort is subjectively assessed!
What do you think of a gibsea 80 plus fit 3k including a Trailer Witz everything in Good condition besonders the Main Sail.
The two best boats under 20k are:
- Twister 28
- Contessa 26
By a country mile.
Blue water cruising single-handed@@homie3461
I was considering the verl 27 do you have any experience with such a boat . I want to sail it from. Nederland to greece
albin ballad ,great fast mini cruiser.
Great video amigo
Thank you 😁
I've an affordable Ruffian 23 but would like a Hunter.
Would Talisman be able to navigate the Canal du Midi in France? Or only the lifting keel version?
Yes talisman would be able to. We have talked about doing this maybe next year but we always struggle to make our minds up haha. Thanks for watching
Interesting and well done
Thank you! Cheers!
I would not include a boat with a spade rudder or transom rudder in a list of boats to cruise offshore.
Love the content, subscribed. But, does anyone have knowledge of a vanlife to small sailboat life 24ft to 30ft, the dana 24 looks nice but price. I'm thinking of wise purchases that are dual purpose.
I want to add the islander 28
😂 NOTE THERE IS ONLY ONE AMERICA A CONTINENT NAMED IN HONOR OF AMERICO VESPUNCE, AMERIGO VESPUCCI ❤❤ SALUDOS
Good list, but missed a recipe from Ms Grey. Algos get hungry too.....
Yes !!!!!😊
trapper 501 fin and bilge
A 1978 Endeavor 32 recently sold for US $7,000 in Milwaukee with a running engine. Having voyaged on a Glander Cay 23, I am no longer a fan of anything under 30 ft., no matter how seaworthy.
What length boat would you consider minimum for 6 with 2 kids ?
Not sure if that's 6 total or 6 people plus 2 kids, but minimum we personally consider for that many is 45ft. But really depends on lots of factors like minimum levels of comfort! Some do it on tiny boats, we met a family of 5 living full time on a 26ft boat - was tight though!
And the best two boats on this list are 😆?
You realy should put the names in writing. as someone who doesnt know any of those boats i was complete lost .. since you also dont have the cleanest english :D (not meant to be rude just not easy to understand "non" english words, just like u did with the contessa
Captions ON
sadled 29 is over £20 000.. so it doesn't has a place on this list
They are not sail boats, they are boats for sailing in and as a result they are sailing boats. English for under fives. Please make the effort!
Spending hours and hours and hours and hours producing content for you to watch for free on UA-cam. 'Please make the effort' 😂 Also FYI sailboats is not incorrect, it is simply Americanised.
Well, excuse me!
@@ChasingCurrents Is just wrong. Btw what do you think of a Sadler 25?
I appreciate it knowlate and opinion
Please listen to your own video
Your constant speaking tone and downward inflections ,made for me ,
This video unwatchable .
Work on that !
Do you expect him to change his accent and voice just for you? Do you expect him to be someone he isn't? You really need to be a better human!
What? "Work on that"? He has a good speaking voice. What kind of condescending BS is that?
Thanks Bryn ! .. Really informative ...I'm starting to save my 10k already !!!
You got this! Thank you for watching 😁