Hi, I'm looking for something about 30 foot that I can take out sailing on the Swan and to Rottnest and points a little North and South or that. I'm happy to maintain a boat but not to repair...

This one caught my eye and is is well in my $40k "probably convince my wife it'll be worth it for the amount of joy I'll derive from sailing it" budget.
The yacht market out west is something of a desert...

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/herreshoff-30-walker-fibreglass-ketch/305702

Would appreciate some feedback from the brains trust.

Cheers,
Red

These boats are a small 30 footer. Sail OK for a semi long keeler. Ketch rig might get tiresome. Little expensive too. I have seen UFO 34's sell for less in WA. The market is certainly quiet in WA at the moment. The employment must have been settled. There are a lot of Viking 30's there. This one is nice but expensive too. yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/viking-30-now-reduced/302074

I would just sit it out and wait for something to come your way.

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RubikRedDog said..
Hi, I'm looking for something about 30 foot that I can take out sailing on the Swan and to Rottnest and points a little North and South or that. I'm happy to maintain a boat but not to repair...

This one caught my eye and is is well in my $40k "probably convince my wife it'll be worth it for the amount of joy I'll derive from sailing it" budget.
The yacht market out west is something of a desert...

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/herreshoff-30-walker-fibreglass-ketch/305702

Would appreciate some feedback from the brains trust.

Cheers,
Red

Buddy,

Have a good look at this S&S 36 for 25k (you can make it sexy for an extra 15k). This is a boat my friend.. www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/sparkman-stephens-36-bargain/300403

One issue with sailing the west coast is the prevailing SW. So unlrss you have a lot of time, if you want to go north or south of Fremantle you neec a yacht that has excelent windward performance in open ocean conditions. I would also avoid a long keel or a ketch rig. An S&S 34, UFO 34 r simething similar would be what I would be looking for.

Ilenart

Lots of S&S34s in Perth.

The Walker H28 are great solid boats. Sell for $15 to $25k on the East Coast. No mention of age of rigging so probably needs new standing rigging which can cost maybe $7k. Can be sailed without the mizzen, and good sea boat comfort. Not a fast boat, but traditional. Swan River needs lowering mast?

Would appreciate some feedback from the brains trust.

Here ya go. There will be a few "but" along the way.
1. It is available now, so ask for a good look over, Walk away and then ask for a test sail a week or two later.
Don't be too keen.

2.HERRESHOFF 30 WALKER FIBREGLASS KETCH= classic H28 design. It can't be 30 foot and 28 foot.
Either way comes with a good reputation assolid as a rock, with no underlying construction flaws.
Of course it could have bounced of a rock or two in its long life.
Not fast or large inside.

3, 3YM 30 Yanmar of unknown age or hours. However it looks pretty new.
Good solid engine, but age of heat exchange (corrosion) and quality of maintenance is very important.
That said it is a largish engine for that boat and if healthy would really chug along.
124 amp alternator as standard is a plus.

4, Fuel 90 liters. Water 70 liters. Seems a little short on water but that can be rectified easily with plastic tanks on deck for a cruise.
Question is , What are the tanks made of? What are their condition?
Stainless or quality plastic less than 10 years old, good.
Gal 30 years old, bad.

5. Berths 4 , with two of them being the drop down table, Means two berths in reality.

6 Galley consisting of stove and ice box. Stove is gas with a grill by the look of it and NO REFRIGERATOR. No cold beer?

7. Ground tackle sound good, but needs to be checked, Especially windlass for operation and corrosion.
Aluminum windlasses corrode around the mounts and electrical connections.

8, Electronics. Pretty standard and reliable stuff, but nothing fancy.

9, Sails, All you need to get going , but the condition of the main and furling headsail are critical for getting the best performance from an old conservative design.

10, Berth at Hillaries comes with the boat.
This is one headache out of the way,but what does that cost and how secure (contractwise) is it?

No bimini. No solar panels. No mention of type , age of batteries.
And for wifie, NO shower.

Hope this helps a little.


gary

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Serb1980 said..


Buddy,

Have a good look at this S&S 36 for 25k (you can make it sexy for an extra 15k). This is a boat my friend.. www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/sparkman-stephens-36-bargain/300403

It's steel and it's in Tasmania!

Thanks for all the comments -
It seems that
1. Patience
2. Healthy Skepticism and lots of questions
3. Luck
4. Survey
Are the take home messages.

Hey OP - I'm on the journey too.

Have you made your list of "must haves" yet? I started one, then started looking at boats reviewing them against criteria then changing criteria as I learned things and considered them.

Seems to me the most important thing is knowing what you must have - then when you see a boat, if it ticks all the boxes it doesn't matter if it's the first or the tenth one you look at.

Do you know whether you want hanked-on sails or a furler? Enclosed toilet? Are you happy if it maxes out at 6 or 7 knots? Auto-pilot? Are you happy to change the rigging or do you need the rigging to be <10 years old? Are you happy to get a cheaper/smaller boat then trade up in 5 years, or do you want to get it right first time?

For me it's always been sailing performance first that doesn't need 20k spending to go racing. I thought I wanted enclosed head and cooking etc, but actually I'd rather have a light quick boat that I can sail fast shorthanded - which has put a line through all the half-tonners and, anything made of timber because I never ever ever want to have a boat that won't go pending serious woodwork.

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JonE said..
- which has put a line through all the half-tonners and, anything made of timber because I never ever ever want to have a boat that won't go pending serious woodwork.

I think timber boats are great, went out of my way to buy one, something like the below Sayer would seem to tick a lot of your boxes, except for its timber

yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/sayer-40/302036

I would have far more confidence in a 30yo hull that is strip planked timber over a similarly aged foam core sandwich hull.

Cam you raise an important issue - Size!. Personally I've decided to stick to 32 foot max because the sail area increases with about 1/2 the square of the length so at 40 foot vs 30 the sheet loads are much higher, lots more canvas to move around the boat, sheets are more expensive, re-rigging lots more expensive etc etc. Having chartered 30 footers I know I can sail that size on my own.

Really, I didn't mean to raise the issue of size, I was trying to point out not to rule out timber as a good construction material.

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JonE said..
Cam you raise an important issue - Size!. Personally I've decided to stick to 32 foot max because the sail area increases with about 1/2 the square of the length so at 40 foot vs 30 the sheet loads are much higher, lots more canvas to move around the boat, sheets are more expensive, re-rigging lots more expensive etc etc. Having chartered 30 footers I know I can sail that size on my own.

It's all about the primary winch size. A good modern two speed self tailer is fine for a 75 year old solo on a 34 footer!

As for must haves - be flexible. Like many things in life you may be wrong.

For about 5 years I was dead set on designing and building a trimaran. I have a nice design thsat took me years in my cupboard. There was no telling me that a cat would be better. For years everyone told me I was an idiot for going for another tri, but I told them all the reasons why tris were wonderful. Then my best friend, who had a tri, and who I built a tri for, said a cat would be better. So I quickly sketched one up and worked out we could have triple the room in the same LOA. Changed my mind and have never regretted it. When I built the boat I was adamant we would not have the evils of roller furling. The sailmaker said I was a prime candidate because I had a staysail. Heavens no I replied. Once we left cruising it took me about 5 days to change my mind.

In my boat's life it has had three motor setups, three cabin/cockpit dodgers/ two cockpit arrangements, three steering systems and more. And for each one I was sure I got it right. I am sure now, but there are few who have modified a single boat as much as me to get it right.

So be flexible. Your prime requirements may be erroneous and based on misconceptions, especially if you haven't owned a similar boat before, you are probably dead wrong about a few of your criteria. So get out and sail on similar boats to the ones you want. Then you make judgments based on real experience.

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garymalmgren said..
Would appreciate some feedback from the brains trust.

Here ya go. There will be a few "but" along the way.
1. It is available now, so ask for a good look over, Walk away and then ask for a test sail a week or two later.
Don't be too keen.

2.HERRESHOFF 30 WALKER FIBREGLASS KETCH= classic H28 design. It can't be 30 foot and 28 foot.
Either way comes with a good reputation assolid as a rock, with no underlying construction flaws.
Of course it could have bounced of a rock or two in its long life.
Not fast or large inside.

3, 3YM 30 Yanmar of unknown age or hours. However it looks pretty new.
Good solid engine, but age of heat exchange (corrosion) and quality of maintenance is very important.
That said it is a largish engine for that boat and if healthy would really chug along.
124 amp alternator as standard is a plus.

4, Fuel 90 liters. Water 70 liters. Seems a little short on water but that can be rectified easily with plastic tanks on deck for a cruise.
Question is , What are the tanks made of? What are their condition?
Stainless or quality plastic less than 10 years old, good.
Gal 30 years old, bad.

5. Berths 4 , with two of them being the drop down table, Means two berths in reality.

6 Galley consisting of stove and ice box. Stove is gas with a grill by the look of it and NO REFRIGERATOR. No cold beer?

7. Ground tackle sound good, but needs to be checked, Especially windlass for operation and corrosion.
Aluminum windlasses corrode around the mounts and electrical connections.

8, Electronics. Pretty standard and reliable stuff, but nothing fancy.

9, Sails, All you need to get going , but the condition of the main and furling headsail are critical for getting the best performance from an old conservative design.

10, Berth at Hillaries comes with the boat.
This is one headache out of the way,but what does that cost and how secure (contractwise) is it?

No bimini. No solar panels. No mention of type , age of batteries.
And for wifie, NO shower.

Hope this helps a little.


gary

They were built in Geelong, so probably was sailed out to WA.
2. Builder Walker increased freeboard and length from the original wood H28 design. Usually have a bowsprit.
5. Settee berths are quite long. Table folds out for seating on both sides. There are two quarter berths.
6 . L Heresshoff was a man of simple tastes and he advocated the bucket head. So no refrigerator but big icebox.
7. Windlass is great addition. This is a 5 tonne boat.
Bimini is easy to add. Hard spray hood dodger is great for cool weather, hot in summer.
Built super solid, and internal ballast so no keel worries.

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Kankama said..
As for must haves - be flexible. Like many things in life you may be wrong.

For about 5 years I was dead set on designing and building a trimaran. I have a nice design thsat took me years in my cupboard. There was no telling me that a cat would be better. For years everyone told me I was an idiot for going for another tri, but I told them all the reasons why tris were wonderful. Then my best friend, who had a tri, and who I built a tri for, said a cat would be better. So I quickly sketched one up and worked out we could have triple the room in the same LOA. Changed my mind and have never regretted it. When I built the boat I was adamant we would not have the evils of roller furling. The sailmaker said I was a prime candidate because I had a staysail. Heavens no I replied. Once we left cruising it took me about 5 days to change my mind.

In my boat's life it has had three motor setups, three cabin/cockpit dodgers/ two cockpit arrangements, three steering systems and more. And for each one I was sure I got it right. I am sure now, but there are few who have modified a single boat as much as me to get it right.

So be flexible. Your prime requirements may be erroneous and based on misconceptions, especially if you haven't owned a similar boat before, you are probably dead wrong about a few of your criteria. So get out and sail on similar boats to the ones you want. Then you make judgments based on real experience.

Phil this has got to be a strong candidate for reply of the year and we are only 1/2 a month in. regards Rob

Select to expand quote

JonE said..
Hey OP - I'm on the journey too.

Have you made your list of "must haves" yet? I started one, then started looking at boats reviewing them against criteria then changing criteria as I learned things and considered them.

Seems to me the most important thing is knowing what you must have - then when you see a boat, if it ticks all the boxes it doesn't matter if it's the first or the tenth one you look at.

Do you know whether you want hanked-on sails or a furler? Enclosed toilet? Are you happy if it maxes out at 6 or 7 knots? Auto-pilot? Are you happy to change the rigging or do you need the rigging to be

Great advice (amongst lots of other great advice).
It's important to write down what you really...really want. Everything else you need to treat as optional as there are lots of different boat types and sizes. This approach will help keep your head and your heart aligned and make for a much happier outcome.

And don't be surprised if it takes time. I took two years to go from initial looking into buying and I'm so glad I did, it's just better all round in helping you pick the right boat.

Select to expand quote

JonE said..

For me it's always been sailing performance ....... I thought I wanted enclosed head and cooking etc, but actually I'd rather have a light quick boat that I can sail fast shorthanded - which has put a line through all the half-tonners and, anything made of timber because I never ever ever want to have a boat that won't go pending serious woodwork.

Yeah, me too. I confess to performance and short handedness as being rather high up my list in my must-haves :)

Personally I'd be looking at this very seriously;

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/farr-9-2-high-quality-lift-keel-version-not-a-pivot-keel/304540