Hi guys I'm looking for a boat but not a project, mainly cruising and not racing. I've had a look a a few boats but an S&S 34 or a Brolga 33 might be my style, not many Brolgas on the market at the moment, a Swanson 32 looks OK.

Took a trip to Tin Can Bay the other day to look at a Columbia 34, it's a live aboard fairly roomy but not as much storage
in boat that size, but still I liked her, she has a very new engine which was good, a furling main which I'm not too sure about and a spade rudder?

Checked out the Columbia on the net, typical net chatter, I've had one "hated it" to I've had one and "loved it"

I like the boat.

I won't mind having to do some work and I'm sure there will plenty on any used boat I have a fairly good woodworking setup at home and was a sparky in a former life.

I live in Maleny but would be looking at a mooring on the sunshine coast when the time comes.
Any comments welcome.

Been retired for years had a boat in the past, done a little sailing and want to do more.

I need a boat to get me away hanging out washing and doing dishes!

Thanks Bill

In my opinion for a pensioner a Swanson 32 is about the largest you may want to consider. Not just the cost initially but maintenance and fees etc. Once you get above 30 feet the weight alone of the gear is enough to encourage people to stay put on their moorings! Pick up a spinnaker pole on a 30 footer and compare that to one off a 34 footer or a sail bag with a No1 in it and see if you can man handle it. Check with the local authorities for the size categories for mooring fees. In NSW as a pensioner I only pay 50% and for a 30 footer works out at about $160 a year. The costs jump quite a bit for the next size category. Hull takes 4 litres of antifoul.

Stick with the quality boats, SS30[Defiance], Currawong 30, Petersen 30, Pion, Carter 30, and the Swanson 32.

In the big boat category, SS34, UFO 34, Duncanson 34, Carter 33.

For a pensioner I would recommend sticking to a production Australian fibreglass yacht with a conventional mast head rig. The market is awash with cheap quality boats, just avoid that one off!
Locally there are owners who have two yachts, they have updated and found they can not sell the first one. Take your time.

Thanks for the sound advice, I had a long talk with Morningbird on the 24th and settled a few things, eg. I'll restrict my search to around 32ft
and the Swansons companionway may be a bit difficult to get in and out of not having a sliding cover, also Australian made and registered.
I like the look of the Cavalier 32, I'll take my time looking but I don't want the search to drag on for ever.

Thanks Bill.

Have a look at the number of s&s34's that have been used for around the world records. They are one of the best yachts ever built. Not my sort of thing but truly great boats. Definitely worth a look

Bill, the Northshore 27 will be too light for your offshore plans. The 33 might also be a little bit on the light side but great boats so worth a look
As we talked about last week, the offshore requirement will drive your decision requiring compromises on the other stuff.
Nobody wants to be in a blow 200nm out in a cocktail boat. It is better to be a bit cramped on the mooring with friends than rolling 60deg cutting away a broken mast in 35+ kts.

Thanks again to everyone for help and advice, to Kemosabe , Morningbird and Seabird for the offer of a sail on his 32 footer.
I have made enquirers on this boat, http://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/cavalier-975/142863 and it is still on the market.

I will arrange an inspection for sometime after the 18th Jan. and drive/fly to Sydney, Looking at the pics the agent forwarded to me it appears a few important items are missing eg. steering compass and auto pilot and a couple of self tailing winches would be nice, alone these things are not a problem but altogether could amount to a few $s.

Cheers

Bill

Hi Propwalk,
It has been interesting reading the above comments. I am not sure what your budget is, but the reason most of these boats are cheap is they are old school boats and ageing, but in their hay day they were very good boats as was the EH Holden was a good car but more modern cars drive a lot better. The same goes for boats. Bruce Farr, Jim Young and a few others came on the seen and proved light displacement boats were just as safe, better to sail ( especially down wind) and faster. I have sailed on or against most of the boats mentioned including a fair amount of ocean sailing on my fathers Cav 32. The boats of this era tend to have a short water Line and are prone to hobbyhorseing and very hard work down wind. I remember sailing the Cav from the Wide Bay Bar to Brisbane in a large following sea, surfing down waves and not knowing which way the boat was going to broach at the bottom of each wave. This will probably scare the hell out of you and all others on board.
You should take up Seabirds offer of going for a sail on the Robertson 950 and then go for a sail on a Cav 32. (In 15 to 20kn and a bit of a sea) You will find it to be chalk and cheese and I think you will find you will start to look for that bit of extra money. The Robertson is now a few years old and Robo did not build that many, so they could be a bit had to come by, but they are a very good example of a more modern design. If I had to pick boats in the low 30 foot range I would have a good look at: Farr 1020, Northshore 33, Catalina 32 or 34 and of course the Robertson 950.
Yes these boats will be a little more expressive but you will enjoy you sailing experience a lot more. If you shop round you will find some good buys, don't be scared to make a low offer, you never know.
PS. I sail most Wednesdays and Saturdays afternoons at Redcliffe on my catalina 445 which is also for sale but I think a lot more than you are looking for, but you are welcome to come along for the experience so let me know if you would like to join us.
Regards
John