If you planned to sail around Sydney Harbour, Pittwater and short coastal trips what boat would you buy? And why?
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..
Top Hat, for a new'y you can't go wrong!
NSW is right good low cost entry boat with lower marina fees and lower cost all round
B= bring
O= on
A= another
T= Thousand 
As Cisco would say
So why are you wanting to go thirds in a 33 foot boat. Your offer to me of paying 20k for that seems a bit rich mate.
Thanks for your thoughts Newsailor. I looked at a compass 29 last week. I guess the extra four feet is appealing. My understanding that due to the design, they only do 41/2 to 5 knots. $20000 x 3 shares equals a better boat than $20000 x 2. Sorry if there was any confusion?
If your considering a long keeler like a Compass 29 or Top Hat why not buy the Rolls Royce of Long keelers!http://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/rival-32/147601
4 and a half to 5 knots is not bad going. Hence the tag "4 knot **** box" or lead mine. If you need more speed then your going to have to buy something longer, square root of the waterline in feet multiplied by 1.3.
Ok the Rival does have a cutaway skeg so not a full keel. If your set on a Compass 28 or 29 [same boat with 2" added to the topsides]http://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/compass-28/146501
Has an 8hp Yanmar so probably the horizontal single!
Or I can do you an immaculate Northerner 28 for $18,000. Had a $13,000 refit to hull and interior. Same as Compass 28.
Bundeenaboy,
Why go in shares? With todays prices I hate to say that you can pick up an excellent Top Hat for something over 10K.
There are cheaper ones around, even in Sydney!
Then you will own it yourself. The maintenance cost etc will be about the same if you had half shares in a larger yacht!
As to speed, well I have done a trip to the Whitsundays and Back [from the Camden Haven River nsw] and my average was ... 4.6 knots!
Mind you even larger yachts only claimed 5 knots average, so not much difference.
[PS That's Ok then Sectorsteve]
Yeah I don't see the point going shares. For the 20k per person you speak of y can get a pretty good boat and own it yourself. I bought my boat in November and have spent s much time on it since. If I were shares w someone this wouldn't have been possible. I own a boAt so I can get away from people. Damned if I wanna adhere to someone's rules etc when sailing. If I wanted that I'd work on a boat.
I would definitely not own a share in a boat again. $20,000 spent then you will still need to check with other people if you can use it on a particular weekend, public holiday. Then factor in bad weather and other personal commitments, you might find you hardly get to use it.
I suspect these share arrangements work ok if the joint owners are personal friends and the boat is big enough for two couples etc. Then they probably take it out together on long weekends.
Owning a Strata unit is bad enough.
I have a 10 metre boat up for sale in Sydney right now - open to all reasonable offers.http://www.nickjaffe.com.au/svharmony/
I've only ever been aboard a Top Hat, they're small like a Contessa 26, a boat which I've crossed Atlantic and Pacific oceans in - 10metres is a nice size, and the above sale is highly regretful... 28ft+ is ideal for one to two people, inshore, coastal and offshore IMHO.
Looks like a lovely boat for blue water cruising but I am not sure about moving all that weight around for a day sail. I often see 6.5 knots on my little Top Hat and Averaged 5.6 knots on a trip up to Lake Macquarie last year. They are sea kindly, solid, roomy for 25' boat and cheap as chips. For a first boat you want something simple, safe, forgiving and easy to sail. If you want to spend a bit more a Compass 28/29 or Clansman will give you more room, or for more money again get something like a Cavalier 28/32( or a dozen of other similar yachts).
Yes you are right Lazzarae, I also get 6 knots under sail &/or motor, but I have even done 11 knots [beat that!], but my AVERAGE is only 4.6 knots!
Hi Mike of StormPetrel, I hope to have the refit done by the end of April, its looking good.
A Clansman. Nice straight "un IOR" lines, great upwind and downwind performance, ideal for shorthanded, wonderful sea boats and can be purchased relatively cheaply. If you wanted something that could surf downwind I'd consider a well set up Adams 10 cruising version
So many knots being boasted about here so in the interest of accuracy could we please state if these boat speeds are through the water or over the ground.
Select to expand quoteKemoSabe said..
So many knots being boasted about here so in the interest of accuracy could we please state if these boat speeds are through the water or over the ground.
Currawong 30, twin spreader mast, good racing sails. 5 Hobarts, best was a second under previous owner. Upwind about 4.5 over the ground in average breezes, reaching average probably 5.5. Have done 13 knots crossing the local bar! Lead mines are not meant to plane!
Have a mate with a Cavalier 32. He reckons when his speed drops to 6 knots he starts the motor. When we have been out sailing together he never gets near me!
Compass 28/29 has a LWL of 22 feet.
square root of 22 is 4.69. Multiplied by 1.3 gives a max speed of 6 knots. Upwind in a breeze they don't go very well at all.
I would recommend sticking to one of the popular 1/2 tonners. Fin keels, more interior space and will be more seaworthy and will go upwind in a breeze.
KemoSabe,
Through the water of course, has to be, but today most of us quote from a GPS, so it's speed over ground.
Ramona, the Currawong is another Baker built boat, just like my Top Hat, great boats great builder!
Ok a bit bigger but Phantom 32's are a lovely roomy boat and perform pretty well- 7 -8 kts on a reach ( or 10+ if you are game to push them downwind). We had 2 over a period of years ..Not too deep a draft . If you can get a MK2 probably a little better as wider stern but we loved ours..sailed Lake Macquarie, pittwater , Pt Stephens , down to Eden and back..
Nice traditional layout with galley to port then dinette ( dropdown) head and V berth.
Starboard is nav table then pilot berth ..Good use of space and head room if you aren't too tall - we are 5'6" and plenty for us. Actually more in the head and V berth than out current Northshore 38 
as the Phantoms have a longer cabin.
Good market to buy . Some cheap boats around.
Top Hat has a water line length of 21 feet and that is why they can keep company with a compass 28/29 as the compass has a similar water line length. I agree that Joubert designed, Baker built Currawongs, Brolgas and Magpies are very nice old boats.
Hi there,
Ive noticed people mention a clansman 30, well guess what. I have one for sale. Lucky you. It's on gumtree and seabreeze but here is the blurb just for you:
The well known Central Coast, Aus, built by Bruce Fairlie Clansman called 'Albatross' Hull No 101 of 108 built in 1981. Reluctantly for sale as moving interstate. Proven full keel offshore cruiser, no osmosis, been FNQ to Syd twice, currently moored at the Spit, Sydney and owned since 2009. Undergone thorough refurbishment over last five years. Reconditioned Bukh 10hp in 2008, serviced late 2013, low hours (unknown). 2 new 110 ah batteries, 20 w solar panel, VHF, remote control stereo, 1000W inverter, TV/DVD, 12v 45lt fridge (optional), 6 indoor/outdoor speakers, LED internal & nav lights, freshwater pump with 3 outlets, 50lt bladder, internal repaint, updated wiring, metho stove, all offshore safety equip, EPIRB, harness & jacklines, brand new main, refurbished genoa on roller furler, spinnaker, pole and other sails, 3 anchors, manual head, 80lt fuel, v. economical, bimini, dodger, lee cloths, tiller pilot, Gps (opt), tools (opt), spares. Antifoul due now. Dinghy & outboard
Hope to here from you
By the way Bundeenaboy, are you just a keelkicker or a serious buyer????????????
Select to expand quoteBillyboy026 said..
Hi there,
Ive noticed people mention a clansman 30, well guess what. I have one for sale. Lucky you. It's on gumtree and seabreeze but here is the blurb just for you:
The well known Central Coast, Aus, built by Bruce Fairlie Clansman called 'Albatross' Hull No 101 of 108 built in 1981. Reluctantly for sale as moving interstate. Proven full keel offshore cruiser, no osmosis, been FNQ to Syd twice, currently moored at the Spit, Sydney and owned since 2009. Undergone thorough refurbishment over last five years. Reconditioned Bukh 10hp in 2008, serviced late 2013, low hours (unknown). 2 new 110 ah batteries, 20 w solar panel, VHF, remote control stereo, 1000W inverter, TV/DVD, 12v 45lt fridge (optional), 6 indoor/outdoor speakers, LED internal & nav lights, freshwater pump with 3 outlets, 50lt bladder, internal repaint, updated wiring, metho stove, all offshore safety equip, EPIRB, harness & jacklines, brand new main, refurbished genoa on roller furler, spinnaker, pole and other sails, 3 anchors, manual head, 80lt fuel, v. economical, bimini, dodger, lee cloths, tiller pilot, Gps (opt), tools (opt), spares. Antifoul due now. Dinghy & outboard
Hope to here from you
By the way Bundeenaboy, are you just a keelkicker or a serious buyer????????????
Bottom line Bundeenaboy is high mid twenties to low high twenties. Thanks sboardcrazy, shes no mooring minder. BB, buyer or kicker????
The Clansmen are a great yacht and it is hard to go wrong with one of them.
I think they are very much undervalued in today's market.
Don't cave in to a ridiculous offer Billyboy. The right buyer will come along.
PS:- It could have been me.
