Hey Guys, Still searching options for getting back on the water. Would value anyones opinion on the following two yachts:
Pacific 27 $18500 (Vic) - on www.boatpoint.com.au
description
Great entry level wheel steering cruiser with plenty of headroom, ideal for a couple wanting to get away on the weekends.
Current owner has updated all the electrics including instruments, wiring, stereo and VHF, however the boat does need new rigging to fitted at a cost of around $1000.
Inspection by appointment only at Sandringham.
Walker Custom 35 (Tas) - on www.boatpoint.com.au
description
Nov 2011 Price Reduction, Make an Offer, very keen Vendor
Classic, seakindly steel cruising yacht with simple, functional layout and finish.
Ideal cruiser with accommodation for four.
I realise both are vastly different in size and maintenance costs. The Walker is the first steel yacht I have considered. The Pacific has good electronics for the price of the boat. Would need to install a head and would go with a jib furler. Engine also seems in fair condition.
Any thoughts muchly appreciated... 
The Walker is in the Hobart area, I could take a peep at it for you.
A good steel boat can be great, a bad one is only scrap metal.
I think that looking at the photos of the two yachts the Pacific has been very well looked after.
Where do you intend to sail? Offshore or locally inshore?
Are you planning to get away for holidays longer than 3 or 4 days?
The Pacific is a tad small, we used to own a Compass 29 and that is very cramped for the extended holiday.
Dusty
That's a lot of money for a pacific 27, especially with an old horizontal single Yanmar. Wheel steering would be a nightmare in that sized cockpit. I want the address of the rigger that can replace the rigging for a $1000.
The steel boat I would not like to comment on.
Take your time and seek out advice. Both of those boats would be hard to sell on. Couple of days ago there was a Whiting 39 on eBay that sold for $29,000. I considered buying it 18 months ago when it was reduced to $50,000 and it was a steal at that. Its a real buyers market out there and for $18,000 some stunning boats are actually selling.
Try and stick to the popular production models though.
Peter,
Add a few more details in your Bio and people will have a better chance of offering good advice.
Thanks for some great feedback.
Sailing area: Week end sailing Tamar River. Short cruises along east coast of Tassie. Extended holiday cruising to Furneaux Group/East coast of Tassie.
Accomodation: Minimum 4 berths. Have 6 and 12 year old. Minimum 27ft.
Budget: $20k or under ideal. Up to $25k could cope with. $25k-$30k would have to beg the missus. We are slowly renovating our house and obviously the less money I spend at purchase the more we would have for the house. I realise that some yachts which are in the $18k-$20k price range would need a few thousand to get them up to scratch initially in any case.
That sounded like a top deal with the Whiting 39 at $29k. I am on the north end of Tassie on the Tamar river. I search boatpoint and yachthub regularly and know of most in the above price in the VIC/TAS area.
If you see anything that fits the above mould, give as a hoy. This is an awesome forum and I have seen many of you give some fantastic advice.
Grew up on a yacht for 10 years until my parents settled down in my teens. (On a cement variety... a whole other debate but lets just say that cement is great for driveways, moorings etc). Knocked around on a corsair for the rest of my teen years. Have been off the water for 10 years now and have devloped what started as a minor itch to insatiable scratching!
Ultimately would love to sell up here and buy a yacht on the west coast of US (on my earlier posts) and spend a few years sailing back through the pacific islands to give my kids the experience that comes with self-sufficiency, new cultures, respect for the
environment, yourself and others that comes along with it. However that requires a giant leap of faith from not just myself but the other half.
So the revised plan is to get back on the water in any case and rub some salt into her, and see what happens later..
Redwitch,
There is a Carter 33 for sale on Boatpoint for $25,000 that's got to be a bargain.
That's a lot of boat for $25,000 and it is capable of sailing Bass Strait and Flinders easily.
Dusty
Thanks Dusty - sent off an enquiry about the Carter 33 regarding what type of engine and condition..
Redwitch,
I admit to being bias, I own a Carter 33 Passage.
The one in the advert is from Greece and is older than ours, which was built in Sydney.
If it is in the condition of the photos it is a very good buy.
If not quite up to the photos I would offer them $20,000, the thing is to look for the potential of the boat.
We have sailed Bass Strait, Flinders, King Island and Victoria extensively, and you need a "bullet proof" yacht.
If you want to get the family interested, don't scare them to death in a small yacht, in Bass Strait.
May I suggest for your first "offshore" adventure, go from Low Head to Devonport.
Leaving the Tamar, make sure you DON'T get wind against tide though.
Dusty
PS. If you are down Hobart way, give us a call and we can take you for a spin.
I didnt receive a reply from the vendor reqarding the questions on the Carter33, however it has been removed from boatpoint for sale. Please keep your eyes and ears open for me.
It is still listed on yachthub.com/
Give the broker a ring.
The fact that it is floating makes that a bargain, no matter what condition it is in.
The Greek ones have a different deck and cabin. Much more friendly for cruising.
The Australian cruising one was the centre cockpit version, called the Carter 33 Passage.
See my Avatar.
Dusty
On the "yachthub" site there is a very nice Manitou 32 Ketch, described as the "best one we have ever seen" for $29,500 which probably means that an offer of $25k would get it.
They are a very capable little yacht.
Dusty
Thanks Dusty. Emailed another enquiry regarding the carter regarding engine details. If it is available I will chasing this one seriously. I like the look on the outside of the manatous, however I think the main cabin would be cramped being forward of the centre line and being double ended would lose beam aft. The space where you would want the main cabin to be is in the maximum beam area, which would be in the cockpit on the manatou. Nevertheless, they would look nice with all sails up on the water.
The swanson 36 looks perfect for the retiree ready to potter on a new project and not looking to go sailing anytime soon. Only two pictures but doesnt lend itself towards the disaster of a ferro boat some guy on here bought from Ebay not long ago. Were they too scared to show a pic of the insides? ;)
thanks for the replys.How would it go to sail, was mentioned in travels that need a crew to sail it, as this era boats were hard work to put the sails up etc? What is the deal with timber glassed boats maintenance wise? How much for respray or could you do it yourself? Would like to cruise arond Australia....
Hi, i went and had alook at this boat, so if anyone wanted any info or photos, i could help out. I was told it was triple planked diagonal timber, not sure what sort, being glassed over the top. Nice boat however alot of work to be done. Would be a good project, but not sure if it is cruising arond the world.
I dont think that it is a Swanson 36. I looks like it is a little too short. If Ben Lexen was the builder it could well be one of his designs or maybe a modified swanson 32 design but it seems too short to be a swanson 32.
How damaged/tired was the boat Sezza? Was the motor seized and how rotten were the decks. Did the hull appear sound or did it look like rot was present. Some of these old cold moulded boats were built tough but materials back then were not what they are today and a delaminating rotten timber/glass boat is a huge amount of work.
I am after a cheap project boat ultimately suitable for short east coast trips but I suspect this boat may require just too much effort.
Hi, apparently the engine is running , he has resprayed it, new engine mounts, starter motor but has to be put back in. The boat is kind of cool however their is work to be done.I think if you could do the work yourself and put in the effort it would be fun to cruise around in. There is a bit of Timber rot on the deck and at the back of boat on Hull. The rest seems sound but i am no expert. He has put the interior back in, there is toilet. im pretty sure it is a swanson 34,just over 10 m long.Needs to be antifouled painted, cut rot repaint decks.Mast is good, furler is stuck at the top, apparently works but cable has been broken.An outboard can be put on to move it around at the back of boat. Rigging seems in reasonable nick. All ropes need to be replaced. Think one sail ok another has big tear i was told.In short can be done, but everything needs to be done. Like Nav gear needs to go back in or replaced, Probaly wiring needs to be done, just very niggly.Could be done.But what $$ do you want to put into project for what outcome.Interior is not so bad. Post photos later have to go out now.
