Considering for multi-year cruising: 2001 One-off 47ft w/teak deck. Need advice!!

[Raubaton]

Hello,

Long time lurker, first time poster here.

For the longest time I have been looking for a capable water sailing">blue water sailing boat with a ceiling height of 6’7/200cm or more. The reason being of course that I am a tall guy, and when I head out on my grand multiyear sailing adventure I would like to do so in a boat that I can stand up straight in.

Just the other day I found this:

https://www.boat24.com/en/segelbatar...detail/486342/

Lo and behold, a boat of about the right size, with the right headroom and a price that falls within my budget. But she’s a one-off, and has a teak deck, and front and foremost I’ve never bought a true blue water cruiser before.

If I was buying a boat to go sailing around in the Baltic sea I would feel quite confident in evaluating the boat myself, but as this is intended to be a liveaboard, long voyage, open ocean cruiser I would very much like to humbly ask for your advice.

Is there anything in the information and pictures available that ought to make me cross this boat from my list?

What are your thoughts on having the halyards up on deck rather than brought down to the cockpit?

Any and all input is most appreciated!

[Sandy Frank]

I am in the same height issue and it has always been a key factor in choosing a boat.

I run away from teak decks though.

2001 Amateur construction sailboat with central cockpit.

Keep running.

[fourlyons]

If that is an amateur built boat, from the pictures it appears to be very well done. Not necessarily a reason in and of itself to pass on the boat, just depends on how well it's built and how well it's priced. An amateur built boat does sell for less, but if you can buy it for less it may not matter.

As for the teak decks, I would not be so concerned if the fiberglass decks underneath are solid and not cored. Given that the ad says the teak decks are thick, I suspect they're screwed down rather than glued down. So the concern is water migrating down the screws into the core in the deck, if there is a core. If the deck is solid glass then you may end up with leaks below decks. But they will be slow leaks and probably not that difficult to repair. One other note is that although teak decks are the best non-skid surface out there, as far as I'm concerned, they do get hot under a tropical sun.

All the winches on the house top near the mast is a awkward. You could bring the lines and winches back to the cockpit, but that is a bit of work. But for the price it might be worth it.

[psk125]

There are many questions to ask about this boat, besides looking at the pretty pictures. The pictures make the boat look clean and neat. Was the builder meticulous and skilled? Are the hull and deck well built? You cannot tell from the pictures. One coat of paint can hide a thousand faults. Two coats, perhaps 10,000. Who designed the boat? What plan? How closely were the plans followed? How well does it sail? There seem to be no handholds anywhere down below. Was it ever taken out sailing? If it was, the sails are 20 years old and will likely need replacing. Sails for a boat this size are not cheap. Fourlyons has brought up the potential issues with the teak decks. The answers to all these questions, and others about the engines, systems, electronics and equipment are likely why the price is so 'reasonable'. They may show why this boat may not be the bargain that it at first seems to be. The best thing to do might be to start with a phone call to the broker to get more answers than can be provided from these pictures. It could also be that the boat was built by a master craftsman who spared no expense and worked tirelessly to make everything perfect. It would be good to find out more.

[Emoyeni]

I see all those winches by the mast. Is this what you want? I much prefer lines being led to the cockpit for safety.

[Raubaton]

Thank you all for your input and wisdom! You have helped me arrive at the decison that there too many uncertainties with this boat.

Based on the information you have given me I been able to find a Skysail 39 (obscure Swedish boath, only five built) that ticks pretty much every box.



https://sailinghronn.wordpress.com/about/

[Jim Cate]

That is a nice looking boat... hope she works out for you!

Jim