Hi Guys I'm a new member but been a sailor for years. I've been thinking about buying a yacht and my budget is small so my question is about buying a custom yacht against buying a regular branded boat. The custom yacht seem to sell a lot cheaper and you appear to get a lot more for money?
There is a reason yachts are made as one offs. If they were good they would sell more. There will be exceptions that prove the rule, but few. Unless your budget is very low, you wil be able to get a Tophat cheap and, in my view, you couldn't do better.
Select to expand quoteMorningBird said..
There is a reason yachts are made as one offs. If they were good they would sell more. There will be exceptions that prove the rule, but few. Unless your budget is very low, you wil be able to get a Tophat cheap and, in my view, you couldn't do better.
My Father once bought a one off outboard speed boat in a turn it was the most dangerous thing on water it had a tendency to grip in a turn and let go and grip again with enough force it could throw you out of the boat . Worst boat he ever owned . Only went in it once just l kept sailing after that.
I am sure if you look hard enough you will find a production boat with all the features you need and want its a buyers market out there
Top hats a great boats lots of room inside and they sail well. Dollar wise the out board hot hats are cheaper .But treat your self and buy one with a diesel if you can afford it.
I know that a lot of people shy away from them but as far as a lot of boat for your money, ferro cement would be a option
Regards Don
Why not an Adams? At least they are sailing yachts not Duch herring busses. I am racing and sailing them for years, they are tough, fast, reliable boats and locally made so parts should be no problem.
Anything made 'custom' is usually very hard to find parts for. If it breaks, well...
Anything from Adams 8's, 10's, or like the 28 which is a fully fitted out cruiser with 1.47 metre keel, or if your budget is such, 10.6, or like the 35 with shoal draught, 0.7 metre keel and daggerboard.
I could recommend them any day and they sail circles around any top hat or cavalier or such.
Joe was a tiny man so the smaller ones are lacking head room, no doubt, but Graham Radford, the ex partner of Joe is alive and well and very willing to help with plans and advise.
You won't get one for four grand, though. Those cheapies are to be aware of. Before l bought mine, - for two years - l was aquainting myself with the mooring minders on the east of Oz between Mooloolabah and Adelaide.
Have a look at my photos you'll see Adamses there.
I hope you know already what 'boat' stands for?
Bring Out AnotherThousand?
Fair winds!
That Townson 34 is in port here again at the moment, or was yesterday when I was swanning about on the river. Lovely boat.
During the week two Supersonic 27's sold on eBay by Maxiyachts. One went for just over $1000 [needs rudder instal] the other with a dead Yanmar 8 sold for $710. I tried hard to get one of my sons to bid on the second. It needs sails but I have plenty to suit. I would watch on eBay, particularly boats that Maxiyachts lists and Gumtree. When you see something of interest raise it here and we will assist. Add details to your Bio, particularly our location and there might be a lister close by.
Best to stick with stock 'glass boats as starters. Custom often means race oriented boats with nasty stuff like running backstays. There is a 30 foot 'glass boat built in fairly large numbers called a Custom 30 too.
The Manitou started out as a 27 foot yacht and had a canoe stern added to create the centre cockpit. Just imagine a Compass 28 like stern where the aft cabin window is. That's why the interior room is just like a 50's 27 footer long keeler. Good concept though at the time. Extend a good old design and sell it in kit form.
One thing to remember with the Custom 30 is that it is in WA and will need to be relocated. Either by road or sea. If she is not in a current state to cross the bight it could add a lot of money to the purchase price.
I like the look of the boat and the price seems good though.
Select to expand quoteFranrick said..
One thing to remember with the Custom 30 is that it is in WA and will need to be relocated. Either by road or sea. If she is not in a current state to cross the bight it could add a lot of money to the purchase price.
I like the look of the boat and the price seems good though.
I was presuming JBrab was in WA. It's hard to know sometimes where people live if they don't add info on their bio.
Select to expand quoteRamona said..Franrick said..
One thing to remember with the Custom 30 is that it is in WA and will need to be relocated. Either by road or sea. If she is not in a current state to cross the bight it could add a lot of money to the purchase price.
I like the look of the boat and the price seems good though.
I was presuming JBrab was in WA. It's hard to know sometimes where people live if they don't add info on their bio.
I am in WA all you have to do is check my profile if its important to you or actually relevant
Select to expand quotebrizzydave said..
You get used to the useless "cranky old barstard" comments after a while jBrab. 
Yeah ....what he said. After all we got used to you too Dave ... here, have a rum
Select to expand quoteJBrab said..Ramona said..Franrick said..
One thing to remember with the Custom 30 is that it is in WA and will need to be relocated. Either by road or sea. If she is not in a current state to cross the bight it could add a lot of money to the purchase price.
I like the look of the boat and the price seems good though.
I was presuming JBrab was in WA. It's hard to know sometimes where people live if they don't add info on their bio.
I am in WA all you have to do is check my profile if its important to you or actually relevant
JBrab
I Checked your profile before I made my post.
Where you lived wasn't there when I checked otherwise I wouldn't have made the comment.
Select to expand quoteFranrick said..JBrab said..
I am in WA all you have to do is check my profile if its important to you or actually relevant
JBrab
I Checked your profile before I made my post.
Where you lived wasn't there when I checked otherwise I wouldn't have made the comment.
Yup, I too had a look earlier and there was no location information listed in the bio.
Yep I checked too and it said Australia! But feel free to ad more details, it helps us help you.
Select to expand quotejapie said..
This isn't by any chance the boat you are talking about is it?
I flew up to Townsville to have a look at it. Turned into a nightmare trip and was the principle defining moment which led to my decision to leave the country!
No that is not it but that is a design by another leading Kiwi designer whose name escapes me at the moment. Possibly Alan Mummery.
There seems to be something about Townsville. I drove all the way up there to look at a yacht that was advertised as a Van De Stadt 34 which was a VDS 30. Total waste of $800. It was advertised privately.
While I was there I tried to have a look at an S&S 30 (Defiance) but the broker was out sailing.
Select to expand quotecisco said..
No that is not it but that is a design by another leading Kiwi designer whose name escapes me at the moment. Possibly Alan Mummery.
There seems to be something about Townsville. I drove all the way up there to look at a yacht that was advertised as a Van De Stadt 34 which was a VDS 30. Total waste of $800. It was advertised privately.
While I was there I tried to have a look at an S&S 30 (Defiance) but the broker was out sailing.
Maybe the brokers working hours are from 9:00am to 15 knots
Japie- Was it the boat or the trip which was a nightmare?
One thing you can do if you are interested in a boat that is far away is ask on this site if someone is nearby who can take a look at the boat for you. I have done it for somone who was interested in a boat in Cairns and I was heading there. Next week I will pop into Albany-any good boats there?
