Hi folks,

It appears the stars have aligned in that a mooring at the Redcliffe Jetty is available, and I've just sold my rental property. This means my Corsair 16 is out, and a keel boat is in. My budget is around $12,500, possibly more for a standout. I really need a yacht with a furling headsail as I'm a single man with two sons who are 6 and 10 ie I'm going to be sailing single handed quite often and want relatively stress free sailing so as to not put them off sailing.

I've had a fairly thorough look at the small keel yacht market in Australia and can't seem to go past the Spacesailer 24 as it ticks all my boxes, including the aesthetics and amenity boxes.

Based on my observations, the used keel boat market is awash with boats that seem to sit around for extended periods of time unless they are priced well. Unfortunately for me, I live in Brisbane which is a much smaller market than Sydney. If I lived in Sydney I could grab one of a few really nice Spacesailers for circa $12-13k, while in Brisbane they seem to ask a fair bit more, but that doesn't mean they sell for more.

Here is a local example: www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/private/used/SSE-AD-3970508/1984-SPACESAILER-24

Here is a Sydney example: http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/private/used/SSE-AD-4041846/1979-SPACESAILER-24

Any suggestions as to market values for these boats?

Any suggestions on sailing small yachts from Sydney to Brisbane? I'm assuming road freight would be around $4000 which would defeat the purpose.

Ash

If you are stuck on a Space Sailer 24, so be it.

There are cheaper if not better alternatives around.

The Quest 8 have a good reputation and I would say be a bit roomier than Spacey 24.

http://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/quest-8/187056

www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-for-sale/private/used/SSE-AD-4039372/1985-Top-Hat-Yachts-Top-Hat-25-MKIIi?

www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-for-sale/private/used/SSE-AD-3351600/1974-PETER-COLE-CONTESSA-25?

www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-for-sale/private/used/SSE-AD-3907496/1988-ROB-LEGG-RL-24?

www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-for-sale/private/used/SSE-AD-3943100/1978-SEARLE-26?

www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-for-sale/private/used/SSE-AD-2972492/1986-Swarbrick-Swarbrick-S80?

With your budget, if the yacht is a long distance away and you would get it transported, I suggest you pay well under $10,000 to buy the boat. Relocating boats usually costs more than what you think whether by road or sea.

That Quest 8 looks like great buying and there are plenty of Top Hats around at the right price and they are a bullet proof yacht. Whatever you buy usually it is better to buy a yacht with an inboard diesel.

Best of luck with your search.

If you are looking at getting a yacht transported by road it is worth giving this guy a ring. Terry Burns 0417 752 384.

Hey thanks Cisco.

I actually just phoned the broker who sold this Spacesailer 24 in Lake Macquarie: http://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/spacesailer-24-now-sold-by-our-lmyc-office/185336

It sold for $10,000, and it had a diesel inboard.

There is a nice looking Quest 8 in Brisbane at present, but for $18k I think they are dreaming given the examples you linked to: yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/quest-8-cruiser-ready-to-sail-away/182852

Part of me really wants to buy a boat in Sydney and just sail it home, but getting 2-3 weeks off work is next to impossible at present, plus I have children so aren't allowed to die or risk death on the high seas until they are 18 or so.

The Space Sailer 24 is a great little Swarbrick design boat. They will handle the north end of Moreton bay far better than a trailer sailer. The diesel is a better option as it will motor better in a chop. They are one of the few small yachts that have good head.Room. My father had one for several years and sailed it out of Scarborough doing all the races out of MBBC. I personally would have a Space Sailer before the Quest as they are actually a delight to sail and very stable and roomy for a 24 footer. You could sail one up from Sydney if you were carefull and have plenty of time, but I would truck it.

There's still footage around of a spacesailer 24 that capsized off Cape Moreton years ago. The encouraging things to come out of the event were that she did self-right and all on board (including a very young child stowed down below) survived to tell the tale.

That was not a Space Sailer. No sure of the design but it was at least 32 feet and he was on the North West banks with no motor.

I think this is the link to the news clip. It's about 15 seconds into the clip.

May not have been a 24, perhaps a 27, but I think you will find that it was indeed a Spacesailer

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theselkie said..
May not have been a 24, perhaps a 27, but I think you will find that it was indeed a Spacesailer

Could be a 27 as it has similar Windows.

There's a good space sailer on gumtree.. I had a look before I bought my new boat recently.. It looked in decent condition and could be a good buy..

Www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1103581093

Awesome footage. I go with space 27 by the looks.

$2,500 for an 8 metre yacht in recent use apparently with all you need deserves an enquiry at least.

From memory, the Spacesailer 24 would have the biggest interior of all the boats listed by a long way. The Quest 8 is actually an extended Bluey Williams 23 so it's not very big for its LOA. The Contessa is a lovely boat (we've had two in the family) but it's tiny down below.

The yacht in the vid was a Spacesailer 27 - I have an article about the incident somewhere in the bookshelves.

I had a Spacesailor 24 for a few years it was a great boat. Although 24ft she had seating for 4 at the dinner table, a proper enclosed head, and decent smallish galley.

We raced it and had her sideways many times and hit various submerged objects and she stayed in one piece. The standard Genoa was a bit small and I made up a bigger one which gave it 1/2 kt more in light weather.

We won various championships too, including line honours over similar boats including Endeavours and Sonatas. Ay one stage we were the fastest boat in our class.

In WA theres a Spacesailor website. members.optusnet.com.au/spacesailer24/ See Tuffie II.

I would recommend them, but with outboard not diesel so you can take it off the stern and put below when you want to go somewhere fast!

Thanks for your replies gents. I had an unplanned tour of a Quest 8 this week and found the interior room to be lees than that of the Spacesailer, so I bought myself a Spacesailer 24. I got a reasonable price and an affordable pile mooring at Redcliffe, so I'm pretty exited. Sometimes you just see something that feels right, and out comes the wallet.

Congratulations

From what I have heard i don't think you can go wrong with any of the Spacesailer range

I had a 20 a few years ago and it was a great little boat

If it was a 24 I probably would still have it

Regards Don

Congratulations plus 1

I think they are awesome and having a planned ahead decent mooring is very smart planning.

Wish you smooth sailing

Congrats Ashley. Having a mooring at the top end of Moreton Bay is a plus with more open water than south of the river.

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ChopesBro said...
Congratulations plus 1

I think they are awesome and having a planned ahead decent mooring is very smart planning.

Wish you smooth sailing

Thanks 'bro. For me, having a mooring on the Peninsula was essential. Apart from the 10 or so pile moorings at the Redcliffe Jetty, the only other options here are the three marinas which charge around $5500/annum, which is way out of my price range. My pile mooring is about $1400/year, which will keep my boat keeping fees to within $50/week including rego' and insurance.

If anyone is interested, there is another mooring available.

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AshleyM said..

ChopesBro said...
Congratulations plus 1

I think they are awesome and having a planned ahead decent mooring is very smart planning.

Wish you smooth sailing

Thanks 'bro. For me, having a mooring on the Peninsula was essential. Apart from the 10 or so pile moorings at the Redcliffe Jetty, the only other options here are the three marinas which charge around $5500/annum, which is way out of my price range. My pile mooring is about $1400/year, which will keep my boat keeping fees to within $50/week including rego' and insurance.

If anyone is interested, there is another mooring available.

Ashley
congrats on the purchase. I had enquired on the jetty moorings over the years and there was always a waiting list a MILE long....even when I have pointed out vacant moorings to the Council. I gave up, did a letter-box drop at Newport Waterways canals and now rent a pontoon from a lovely gentleman.

Good luck with the Spacesailer and see you off Redcliffe sometime.

Regards
Tracey

When will you have it up at Redcliffe?

I'll have it on my mooring on the 18th of June. At present I'm rigging up my mooring system and waiting for my Manson Supreme anchor to arrive. I haven't even got the boat home and I'm already bleeding money, but hey.

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AshleyM said..
I'll have it on my mooring on the 18th of June. At present I'm rigging up my mooring system and waiting for my Manson Supreme anchor to arrive. I haven't even got the boat home and I'm already bleeding money, but hey.

That's great. I have a bit of a soft spot for the Space Sailer 24 for a couple of reasons so hope we can catch up one day. May be we should look at another Seabreeze weekend for September / October when it is starting to warm up. Last time we went to Morton island and copped a bit of a hammering by the weather. May be we look at Horse Shoe Bay, at least there if the weather is not suited to Horse Shoe you can always duck over to Deanbilla Bay or ever Canaipa if it gets real nasty. Food for thought any way.

I'd be interested in a catch-up Jode, or a meetup in my case.