Looking for advice: cheap yacht purchase

Evening all, new to sailing (but not the ocean, surfer for 30 years +), I've wanted to get a sail boat for many years and new to this site/forum so please be gentle on me lol..Also, should I be starting a new topic? Not sure where/how to post so apologies in advance! From what I've seen browsing this forum as a guest, there are alot of helpful, interesting and intelligent people/ideas hence why I finally joined!
Hoping to get some advice on what to look for about a boat I'm interested in buying : a Thunderbird 26..
Year unknown, sails are quite new, deck not spongy, no dodgy car bog repairs visible.. Some rigging will need replacing, deck repainted eventually + anti foul soon (hasn't been done in a while!). Appears to be a totally wooden boat, I'm not sure when they started glassing Tbird hulls but I know the eventually (?) did.
Comes with the original (but not running properly) Old Seagull outboard lol.. Small tender + mooring /mooring apparatus included with year of boat rego and mooring fee also included.
It needs a bit of TLC inside, paint, cushions etc but compared to alot of the yachts I've seen online at my price range, this can be sailed and stayed on overnight tomorrow, plus comes with mooring..
Basically what should I be aware of?

Where are you Snowgoose and what are you intending to use the boat for?

gary

I'm in Sydney Gary (Five Dock to be exact) and atm I'm just looking for a harbour cruiser, something to spend the day on with a few friends and visit some nice beaches

Check if there's a waiting list in the mooring field if so you can't assume it will be yours, you will have to get on the list and wait in line
Insurance is a vexed issue for older boats and without it you cant haul out anywhere. Not trying to be discouraging, just making sure you're eyes are open. It can be done though with a little creativity

Oh, Woko I forgot to mention in my last reply to your post that there is no wait list currently.. However in the event that a wait list forms the owner will keep the mooring in his name until I can get a spot

Hi bob, thanks for that input. You'll be glad to know I've taken the (heavily tinted!) rose coloured glasses off now (they lasted about a week) and wearing my prescription glasses, hence I have decided to join this forum and ask some more experienced people for their thoughts. FYI owner has another 30ft yacht moored in Sydney also that he uses for accommodation when in Sydney. He doesn't really use this one much either, the costs of 2 yachts are getting to him (his words). Unfortunately he has little to no idea about yachts in general or particularly this one which makes it hard for me to know the history of any repairs etc :( I do now think it was raced previously with Parramatta River SC so they might be able to track down the former owner as ideally I would like to speak to him/her.

hi nsw,

Did not know that had existed but I wish I had before searching!! Had a quick squiz now :)
Budget was $5k ( yes I know, its low and to be honest I had realistic expectations about what I was getting)..I missed out on a few bargains whilst the wifey and I argued over my (potentially) newest toy haha! Top Hat was the first one I looked at, was ready to buy and the owner never showed up at our first meet, I waited 2 hours!!! Don't take my money then >:I Also looked at quite a few Endeavours, I was really after a full GRP/Glass yacht

Snowgoose, I hope you get a boat and enjoy it.

Something else to consider, have you got a shed/workshop and a bunch of decent tools? If you have, you'll be able to save some by taking some stuff home, fixing it then taking it back, especially the Seagull.

What is the output of the Seagull? I'm guessing a 26ft boat will need at least 8HP to do 5 knots, but you'd probably need more HP, say 12 to 15. Its not just a speed thing, its a getting-out-of-trouble thing (dodging ferries?). The boat already has a bracket, so you could replace the Seagull with another outboard at a later date. The advantage with an OB is that its cheaper than fitting an in-board diesel, but the disadvantage is that the OB is putting weight in the wrong place, at the extremities of the boat (not low and central), which could affect the way it sails.

Cushions can be surprisingly expensive. Can you make them up yourself?

Cheap boats can be the most expensive! A guy at my club has a Thunderbird 26 that he spent a lot of time doing up. It looks amazing, but was a lot of work. He's an ex ocean racer so that's some sort of recommendation for the class.

If you can find one try and get a fibreglass boat. Plastic doesn't rot and if that tbird has been neglected on a mooring by a self proclaimed inept owner then I would be concerned.

I've seen a few people follow their sailing dream only to be put off by getting the wrong boat and having it turn in to a nightmare. Do your homework and don't jump too soon.

If your not financially flushed with cash , Time is your enemy , I lived on my boat for about 5 years . All the little things got done , she looked great. Moved ashore , spent lots of time "working " on the boat ,not a lot of sailing. Sailed up north from Sydney to the Kepples a few times , awesome.
Decided to do a little bit of work on her , two years later she looks like a derelict, masts off etc. COVID and other things stopped progress. She will return to her former glory , it's all cosmetic. Just need some time , can't buy that unfortunately. She sits happy , mooring serviced , visited often , to make sure all is well , the needed parts sit in my spare room , a week on the slips and we're good , next cruising season is ours. Chase your dreams while you can , time won't wait. Unless you enjoy working on boats , don't buy one. Some of us enjoy the process of fixing and maintenance almost as much as sailing, it's like tinkering in the shed on water.

Hi Gary,

Appreciate you coming back to my post..Yes, the cushions (marine is alot of extra $$$) I will be sourcing, cutting and covering myself. Cockpit first obviously..You know, I had a chuckle to myself when I read what you pasted back in bold: I guess I should be aware of everything really..and to be quite honest I am expecting the very worst (even though that might not be the case)..and the sailing bit I have done, many years ago and that time on that yacht has stuck in my mind ever since and has never let go.

I wish I could post photos on here but as a new member I cannot yet..If anyone could PM me with their email address and take a look at the interior pics I shot last week whilst on the boat that would be greatly appreciated, if not all good!

Hi Morningbird, that would be amazing! It's in Tarban Creek, not far from either of us

Happy to shout you a case of beer or something for taking a look or whatever else you might want/need? It really would put my internal angst to rest

To be honest, prior to Covid, that T bird would be in the "Free" section of Gumtree. Wooden boats are a lot of work. Plenty of fibreglass boats going relatively cheap, but it is a sellers market ATM. Keep looking!

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Snowgoose said..
hi oldboy,



The boat I want is honestly not too bad. Hull has been professionally glassed so is not just a wooden one thankfully (which I found out yesterday after speaking to the previous owner who raced the boat with PRSC)

This would kill any dreams of owning this boat for me, timber boats that have been glassed are only glassed because they are on their last legs, truely I join the list of those that say find a boat that that is true to its origins, you will pay more initially but very soon you will realise that it is a far cheaper option.