THE BEST...
Duncan Kent chooses the best and most suitable sail and motor boats under 40ft for those buying a yacht for the first time
Before starting the search for your dream boat, think carefully about the type of sailing you want to do. This will make the process of selecting and buying much easier. While singlehanded ocean crossing might be the ultimate fantasy for some, many will simply want to enjoy fine weather cruising along the coast with their family on board. The right boat is key to ensuring everyone stays happy.
Trying to learn the basics of sailing in a big, heavy displacement, ocean-going yacht will actually make the process much harder, and more expensive. So it’s probably better to gain that initial experience in a smaller, cheaper boat that can take the odd ding without worry and not cost a small fortune to run, moor and maintain.
Trailer boating
Trailer boating can be a comparatively inexpensive way to gain experience at minimum cost. Often the biggest expense for boat owners is the mooring charges, so if you can simply hitch the boat up to your car and take it home with you you’ll have more money left to spend on vital equipment and maintenance.
Inshore and coastal cruising
Those who opt to sail during daylight hours and berth in a marina in the evening to use the shoreside facilities won’t need a sophisticated galley or a large heads with shower, just comfortable berths.
Others looking to coastal cruise further afield might prefer to look for a more substantial boat that can handle a wider variety of weather and sea conditions, and enable them to anchor ‘off grid’ in comfort. Just be careful not to over-specify your requirements. Some prospective boat owners mistakenly feel they need an ocean-going yacht just to cope with the occasional spot of stormy weather, but with careful planning you’re unlikely to get caught out in really bad conditions when coastal cruising, particularly if you’ve planned plenty of ‘fall-back’ refuges.
Offshore and ocean sailing
For one reason or another, some folk suddenly decide, out of the blue, to embark on a life-changing expedition and go straight out to buy a bluewater cruising yacht before they really know what they need, or even want.
It might be tempting but it’s usually better to get used to sailing in a smaller coastal boat first, as it’ll give you a better idea about what boat and equipment you’ll really need for long-term cruising.
20-25ft LOA
The Red Fox is a lightweight trailer-sailer that’s great fun to sail. Originally composite, it later changed to
