Briefly. 63 , Semi retired and seperated. Planning on live aboard before heading to tasmania to stay. Plenty of offshore exp in fishing boats and some sailing experience across bass straight. Probably solo most of the time. The one yacht that stays on top of my list is 28/29 compass. Affordable and bomb proof. And manageable. Cavaliers hold some interest too. I rhink i prefer a full keel though. Any opinions and thoughts please.
Do a "search" for Compass - plenty of opinions!!
I'm biased because I used to own one but I think they are a great boat & very affordable at the moment.
Select to expand quoteappleman123 said..
Briefly. 63 , Semi retired and seperated. Planning on live aboard before heading to tasmania to stay. Plenty of offshore exp in fishing boats and some sailing experience across bass straight. Probably solo most of the time. The one yacht that stays on top of my list is 28/29 compass. Affordable and bomb proof. And manageable. Cavaliers hold some interest too. I rhink i prefer a full keel though. Any opinions and thoughts please.
I do know where there's a immaculate one that's for sale but doesn't get advertised a lot . He would lower the price to see it go to a non fender kicker.
Select to expand quoteLazzz said..
Do a "search" for Compass - plenty of opinions!!
I'm biased because I used to own one but I think they are a great boat & very affordable at the moment.
So. I am thinking right? A cav32 would be nice (extra space) but harder to manage solo, higher maint costs, higher marina fees
Etc etc. Safe sea yacht with ability to get to port davey in tas is what i need. 30-49k budget. Thks lazzz
Select to expand quotesouthace said..appleman123 said..
Briefly. 63 , Semi retired and seperated. Planning on live aboard before heading to tasmania to stay. Plenty of offshore exp in fishing boats and some sailing experience across bass straight. Probably solo most of the time. The one yacht that stays on top of my list is 28/29 compass. Affordable and bomb proof. And manageable. Cavaliers hold some interest too. I rhink i prefer a full keel though. Any opinions and thoughts please.
I do know where there's a immaculate one that's for sale but doesn't get advertised a lot . He would lower the price to see it go to a non fender kicker.
What state please?
Select to expand quoteappleman123 said..southace said..appleman123 said..
Briefly. 63 , Semi retired and seperated. Planning on live aboard before heading to tasmania to stay. Plenty of offshore exp in fishing boats and some sailing experience across bass straight. Probably solo most of the time. The one yacht that stays on top of my list is 28/29 compass. Affordable and bomb proof. And manageable. Cavaliers hold some interest too. I rhink i prefer a full keel though. Any opinions and thoughts please.
I do know where there's a immaculate one that's for sale but doesn't get advertised a lot . He would lower the price to see it go to a non fender kicker.
What state please?
South oz
Select to expand quoteappleman123 said..southace said..appleman123 said..
Briefly. 63 , Semi retired and seperated. Planning on live aboard before heading to tasmania to stay. Plenty of offshore exp in fishing boats and some sailing experience across bass straight. Probably solo most of the time. The one yacht that stays on top of my list is 28/29 compass. Affordable and bomb proof. And manageable. Cavaliers hold some interest too. I rhink i prefer a full keel though. Any opinions and thoughts please.
I do know where there's a immaculate one that's for sale but doesn't get advertised a lot . He would lower the price to see it go to a non fender kicker.
What state please?
www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/compass-29-new-model/224108
How about this one has helm and tiller steer!
Select to expand quoteappleman123 said..Lazzz said..
Do a "search" for Compass - plenty of opinions!!
I'm biased because I used to own one but I think they are a great boat & very affordable at the moment.
So. I am thinking right? A cav32 would be nice (extra space) but harder to manage solo, higher maint costs, higher marina fees
Etc etc. Safe sea yacht with ability to get to port davey in tas is what i need. 30-49k budget. Thks lazzz
The Compass 29 may not be any easier to handle than a Cav 32. While the Cav is bigger it also sails much faster and balances better. The Compass 29 I know has heavy weather helm putting a significant load on a pilot or on the helmsman, and they are slow.
My sister had a Compass 29, lovely little boat but they don't sail well. I crewed on a Cav32 around the cans in Sydney, it sailed very well and was very roomy for a 32.
You might also consider slightly bigger including the S&S34, Duncanson 34/35. They are sailed solo and have more room than the Compass.
The bigger boat will cost more but, if you do most of the maintenance yourself, not too much.
Where are you located? I need an excuse to take my boat for a sail in Sydney if you want to experience something in the range you are considering.
Select to expand quoteMorningBird said..appleman123 said..Lazzz said..
Do a "search" for Compass - plenty of opinions!!
I'm biased because I used to own one but I think they are a great boat & very affordable at the moment.
So. I am thinking right? A cav32 would be nice (extra space) but harder to manage solo, higher maint costs, higher marina fees
Etc etc. Safe sea yacht with ability to get to port davey in tas is what i need. 30-49k budget. Thks lazzz
The Compass 29 may not be any easier to handle than a Cav 32. While the Cav is bigger it also sails much faster and balances better. The Compass 29 I know has heavy weather helm putting a significant load on a pilot or on the helmsman, and they are slow.
My sister had a Compass 29, lovely little boat but they don't sail well. I crewed on a Cav32 around the cans in Sydney, it sailed very well and was very roomy for a 32.
You might also consider slightly bigger including the S&S34, Duncanson 34/35. They are sailed solo and have more room than the Compass.
The bigger boat will cost more but, if you do most of the maintenance yourself, not too much.
Where are you located? I need an excuse to take my boat for a sail in Sydney if you want to experience something in the range you are considering.
Thanks for your kind offer. I am on the sunshine coast. My dilema is that i need a live aboard with 'legs' preferably. The cav32 is pretty damn good. But i worry as a solo that i will manage ok. For longer passages yes i will get help. But day to day, in and out marinas, the only person i can rely on is me. Unless i find a mermaid!
Hello Appleman,
sounds like you have a whole lot of adventure ahead of you, that's great, enjoy it!
I solo my 37 most of the time, in my opinion it is how the boat is set up, rather than just the size. If the sail controls are back to the cockpit and the headsail winches are within helm position reach, your good to go. Around the moorings and wharves a little forward planning goes a long way. In my experience a short keel boat is more fun to sail, quicker response, turns in confined spaces well and importantly goes astern under motor with great control. Yes it will need more attention at the helm under sail, but you will naturally have a pilot anyway. The pilot is something to look at when purchasing, a good sturdy set up, is preferable over a marginal one, especially I imagine crossing Bass Strait.
as always buy what you can afford with some left over for unforeseen "boat" expenses.
cheers and good luck.
Richard
My old mate is 80 and sails a RORC 39 single handed, and does it well. Set up has more bearing on handling than size on the 30 - 40 ft range. Oh yeh bigger boats are much easier to get about on too 
If your budget is intact after the divorce, you should be able to get a good boat around the 30ft size. Take your time to look at what is in the market. The advertised price and the actual final selling price are often vastly different. Eg- Compass 29s sold for $30k not so long ago, but lots are actually selling for around $16 to $18k lately, and you see them advertised for $20 to $25k.
If you are game, you might even meet up with a nice lady who already has a boat.
Select to expand quoteappleman123 said..
Briefly. 63 , Semi retired and seperated. Planning on live aboard before heading to tasmania to stay. Plenty of offshore exp in fishing boats and some sailing experience across bass straight. Probably solo most of the time. The one yacht that stays on top of my list is 28/29 compass. Affordable and bomb proof. And manageable. Cavaliers hold some interest too. I rhink i prefer a full keel though. Any opinions and thoughts please.
I guess it will depend what you like. I ended up buying one a few weeks ago after seeing some 15+ yachts up to the length of 34 ft.
Some boats were a bit beamier, but regarding space, not much less on the compass. But NONE offered the headspace I was looking for, except the compass. I am 6'3" and I can stand without bending my head.
They are easy to sail, so much so, that because of the shortness of the traveller (about 80 cm I recon), you can just leave it in the middle all the time, for cruising purposes, it won't make much difference.
Same with the headsail, furl it out and off you go.
The toilet will be direct discharge, so you would have to either put in a holding tank or convert it to a portable one.
I think they are great little boats worth a consideration.
Regarding the pointing and weather helm issues of Compasses, my C28 was transformed by a rig tune and new foresail. It points much higher and the weather helm is now minimal. It will never be a greyhound, but few older long-keelers are. So if you are assessing one (or any yacht for that matter), be aware of the state of these things, as many of the old cheap boats will have rigs and sails way past their optimum.
The all-round durability and lack of keel issues of these old solid glass boats is another thing to consider if you are going to explore remote places. Pointing ability would be nice too, but if you are a live aboard not in a hurry, you will probably end up happily waiting out the weather and avoiding upwind bashing, especially in Bass Strait and around Tassie. And despite the horror stories about reversing, consider how often you will actually be entering/leaving marinas.
Having said all that, your stated budget is several times what a good Compass will sell for, so despite my sentimental attachment to them, you might be better off looking at boats in the mid-30 foot range. You will need the extra space if you are to live aboard. Just make sure you are in the right part of the refit cycle!
Looking forward to hearing of your (hopefully happy) experiences
Cheers, Graeme
Select to expand quotewongaga said..
Regarding the pointing and weather helm issues of Compasses, my C28 was transformed by a rig tune and new foresail. It points much higher and the weather helm is now minimal. It will never be a greyhound, but few older long-keelers are. So if you are assessing one (or any yacht for that matter), be aware of the state of these things, as many of the old cheap boats will have rigs and sails way past their optimum.
The all-round durability and lack of keel issues of these old solid glass boats is another thing to consider if you are going to explore remote places. Pointing ability would be nice too, but if you are a live aboard not in a hurry, you will probably end up happily waiting out the weather and avoiding upwind bashing, especially in Bass Strait and around Tassie. And despite the horror stories about reversing, consider how often you will actually be entering/leaving marinas.
Having said all that, your stated budget is several times what a good Compass will sell for, so despite my sentimental attachment to them, you might be better off looking at boats in the mid-30 foot range. You will need the extra space if you are to live aboard. Just make sure you are in the right part of the refit cycle!
Looking forward to hearing of your (hopefully happy) experiences
Cheers, Graeme
A good shape compass will still cost $22-25K, anything below that expect to spend another $10K afterwards (probably seacocks, toilets, fittings, you may also have some engine issues to sort, windows & seals, hatches and so on). I certainly would not spend all of the money on the boat, because there is always something to spend on afterwards. I would say, if your budget is $40K spend no more than $30K on a boat.
some of these SV may "seem" cheap , but remember , there is no such thing as a free lunch !!!
Select to expand quoteSandS said..
some of these SV may "seem" cheap , but remember , there is no such thing as a free lunch !!!
and that is why you should only pay 2/3 of your full budget. There is always an elephant hidden in a closet! at least that is my rule. Expect the unexpected
You should always buy boats with your heart. Sort out any problems later. Life is too short!
Select to expand quotetheselkie said..Ramona said..
If I was younger, say 63 or so I would be jumping at this.
Sold
Thank god for that! I was starting to look at time tables!
Oh dear Ramona...don't put those tide tables away just yet! It was marked sold when I searched Gumtree earlier on. Now it's back on ??
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I had a look at the Vagabond 31 with the electric engine today. Beautiful, pretty as a picture...like a big Folkie with a canoe stern. Thinking seriously about it... for the right price, though
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Select to expand quotetwodogs1969 said..
Did you buy it
Nah Scott, too much for me to handle 
and Mrs. Ramona. (I'll bring my own popcorn) 
