Need help. What to look for when buying a small yacht

[Lukellin]

Hi am am new to this forum and am looking at buying a small yacht for casual sailing and hopefully weekends away. Am currently looking at something an endeavour 26 or 24 or Cole 26 but not sure what to look for when inspecting a boat. Any tips are much appreciated as going to view some boats in the coming weeks.

[JPA Cate]

Here's some reading and pics for you, courtesy CF's member, <boatpoker>: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...1-a-78671.html

Ann

[Lukellin]

Thanks heaps

[HankOnthewater]

I have sailed all 3 boats mentioned, many races, or a delivery and the cole 26 wins on every front: space, sailing, fun, quality, hmmmm and price as well. But for price one can't beat an endeavour 24, you can buy one from $3k upwards, when I last looked, that is in Oz.

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by Lukellin

Hi am am new to this forum and am looking at buying a small yacht for casual sailing and hopefully weekends away. Am currently looking at something an endeavour 26 or 24 or Cole 26 but not sure what to look for when inspecting a boat. Any tips are much appreciated as going to view some boats in the coming weeks.

Where are you and how good are you? This will make a big difference in the answers you get.

[Stu Jackson]

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/th...p-tips.102541/

[Greatest Lakes]

General stuff.
Make sure through hull fittings work.
Walk everywhere, feel for soft spots. Nothing should fell flexible or spongey.
Look along the hull, if it has been on stands wrong, there can be malformations in the hull.
Water damage and rot. Push on bulkheads and wood components, look for discoloration. Again. Nothing should feel soft.
On the rigging there should be no signs of kinks or bent parts.
Make sure pumps, switches, and lights work.
If hatches can be opened, try them.
If you can inspect the sails, they should feel stiff, hard even depending on the material, all the stitches should be good.
Lines and halyards, make sure they are not too old.
If it has a head, cycle it. Make sure it works.
Check the VHF radio.
Age of the batteries and their installation.
If the boat has tanks and water pressure, try that out too.
Check the engine.
If inboard, look at the fuel filters and raw water strainer, and operation.
If outboard, check fuel lines and operation.

Beyond that, find someone with a lot of experience to look at it with you.

[sail sfbay]

In addition to the survey tips offered by the forum, I will add to look for one that has the highest displacement and ballast for stability AND puts a smile on your face. The displacement/ballast for the Endeavour 26 and 24 are 5040/2100 lbs and 3307/1600 lbs, respectively. Could not find published data on the Cole 26.

[Nico Domino]

Water

[MJH]

Originally Posted by Lukellin

Hi am am new to this forum and am looking at buying a small yacht for casual sailing and hopefully weekends away. Am currently looking at something an endeavour 26 or 24 or Cole 26 but not sure what to look for when inspecting a boat. Any tips are much appreciated as going to view some boats in the coming weeks.

As this will be your first boat TAKE YOUR TIME, BE PATIENT, AND LOOK AT MANY, MANY BOATS. After a while you will get a good idea what you are really after, what you like, and what you don't like.

The most important parts of the boat are the hull, keel, rudder, rigging, sails, and engine. These are the big things to concentrate on. Everything else is secondary and can be replaced more easily and cheaply (in terms of boat pricing). Don't spend all your time looking inside the cabin...that's not what small boat sailing is all about.

Continue to research and learn as much as you can. We have all been there before like you...you've got to start somewhere.

Good Luck.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[nightowle]

My first question would be to ask if the seller is leaving the booze behind. If yes, move on to the herein suggested queries.

[sail sfbay]

Originally Posted by nightowle

My first question would be to ask if the seller is leaving the booze behind. If yes, move on to the herein suggested queries.

Depends on the boat's name. The first sailboat I purchased was named "Zin...Ful" and when I too possession the previous owner left a bottle of Zinfandel in the wine rack.

[johnn33]

One of these?
https://sailboatdata.com/designer/cole-peter
John

[Manateeman]

It’s very helpful to tell us where you will go sailing and something about you and even a rough idea of budget.
Thanks.