Hello all,
I have an opportunity to purchase either an Endeavour 24 or Swarbrick 25. I cannot find any info in relation to the swarbrick.
Both are "renovators delights", but I'm ok with that as it gives me a chance to learn, understand and know how things work.
A little about myself.....50yrs, 6'3, all original equipment, no spare parts.Never sailed, looking to learn, with the idea of moving up to something in the 28-35ish range for blue water cruising which would require tankage etc.
I guess my ideal future boat would be something along the lines of a Cape Dory,Tayana 37 and thats just based on my limited knowledge of long keels/skeg hung rudder. SO I guess safe/strong/ seakindly motion/ slow/comfortable.
Could anyone suggest the better boat out of the Endeavour/Swarbrick or their thoughts.
Words of wisdom you want?
Here you go.
Don't buy junk!
The condition of the boat is more important than whether it is a Swarbrick or an Endeavour.
You want to start with a boat that has as much gear as possible. Lines, anchors, sails a working engine and more.
You want a boat with a mooring,
You want a boat that you can cast off on the day after you buy it. Putter around for the day with the engine.
A couple of days later raise the foresail and see what happens and a few days after that raise the foresail and the main.
Notice that I didn't mention spending months or years every weekend grinding fibreglass.
I also didn't mention laying out lots of cash and spending twice what the boat is worth.
Gary
Welcome.
Never heard of a Swarbrick 25 sorry. This list here includes most but not all - eg S99 and S111 are missing from this list.
sailboatdata.com/builder/swarbrick-swarbrick
If you can post a link of the yachts you are contemplating obviously it would assist in focused responses. Is the S25 this? Off this website it might be anything...............apologies.............
boats.waa2.com/detail?id=bc5a42522f71046068fb50f7217fc3ba&q=swarbrick%20yacht
E24s are a solid boat but their rudder is over balanced which can give a vague steering feel. See prior posts here on E24s. later models after the first might have corrected the issue.
If you have never sailed suggest at least take a basic sailing course or go crew on a similar size yacht at your nearest club.
Thanks Gary, and I hear what you are saying. I can't see either costing a lot given the buy price would be around $1000 max.If I was to spend another $5k on either would I be in too deep?
Both run with outboard motors, and are on jinkers in a yard
There's what looks to be a fantastic Cole 32 which looks ready to go, but probably beyond my skill set right now and would require a mooring etc
r13, I agree as I cannot find anything either, it might be advertised incorrectly, and because I'm new here cannot post links
Search "Swarbrick 25" in bookface market place Rockingham and "Endeavour24" same place
Without looking at any of the boats you are referring too, my initial thought is go the Cole 32.
Send me a PM and I or other WA Seabreezers can help put you in the right direction. Or at least help with helping learn the ropes 
Hey Allords
Piloting a 32 over a 26 isn't much different. The biggest challenges will be wether the lines lead back to the cockpit. A boat set up for single handing (even a 40 footer) will be easier to sail than a 26 where you have to go to the mast to raise the main
Hi Allords.
In answer to your question.
I can't see either costing a lot given the buy price would be around $1000 max.If I was to spend another $5k on either would I be in too deep?
Both run with outboard motors, and are on jinkers in a yard
These are my thoughts without seeing the boats as I can't open the fac#book page.
1. $1000 sounds too cheap to be true. Or is a realistic price for someone who just wants to get the boat off their hands. Be careful.
2. $5000 can be spent in the blink of an eye. Do the boats have reasonable sails, Lines. electrics, anchors and rode. fenders cushions. sail covers. bilge pumps ( and on and on).
3. What is the fee for keeping the boat in a yard on a jinker? Are you renting the jinker? Can you work on your boat in that yard?
How long is the drive from your place to the yard?
4. What are your time/ family commitments? How often can you realistically get down to work on her? Remember that you will be paying to keep her in the yard?
5. What are good quality Endeavours selling for in the west?
I don't want to be entirely negative so, on a different note. Building your skill around Rocky with a boat like an Endeavour will give you the boat and the ability to make runs down to Busselton and with luck around to Denmark of Albany.
Thanks ACT, I didn't know that. Thought it might be a different world weight and size/girth wise.
Hello Gary, for ease and to keep things brief, I'll answer the following points this way.
1. Both boats are deemed to be abandoned. The CYC sailing club is selling them to recoup monies I guess.
2. They do indicate good sails as they have been stored. My guess is lines deck equipment etc would be weathered.Cant speak for bilge pump/fenders.
3.$700/year, but im guessing you would need to be a member to get that price. I'm uncertain if the tinker is included. If its owned by the club then probably not.
4. I stopped working 2 yrs ago, I don't like the word retired. So this would be a project for me, give me an interest, and keep me active. Then learn on the water, if I liked it would move up to something that can blue water in the 32-35ish range. If I didn't enjoy it, I'd be into it for $5-$8k. what I dont want to do is over capitalise. Spend $5-8k on a boat thats only worth $2k.
At this stage my intention is to travel, Perth-Esperance, Perth Geradlton/Broome....Then further afield, not do circle work on the river etc. Theres reefs, troublesome winds/waves etc here, shallow waters in an around the Kimberly's, with big tidal changes hence my reasoning for long type keels, solid boats, that generally have shallower drafts, and more freeboard to make it more difficult for crocs to board. Just my thoughts and I could be wrong .The boat would be an hours drive at most ,from me as i'm in Perth City, can be pulled out etc
Select to expand quoteAllords said..
SO I guess safe/strong/ seakindly motion/ slow/comfortable.
No boat smaller than an aircraft carrier is comfortable.
Fast boats are more comfortable than slow boats because they get to the anchorage sooner.
Found this 2008 link - Swarbrick Pinnacle 25. Is that the design type you mean? Looks ok.
www.boatdesign.net/threads/small-offshore-yacht-design.22593/page-2
Toph, sorry I missed your reply earlier. But yes, I wouldn't mind sitting down over. a beer at some point and picking your mind/experience.
Cisco, I see your point as well as the ability to "outrun" trouble etc. Overhere we seem to have a lot of "fast boats" S&S30/34/UFO's are falling out of trees here. In fact there looks to be a good one in gumtree no, an s&s34 "Wandering Star", but I think its too much boat for me at this stage.
r13. Ha!!, you know that was the only Swarbrick 25 I could find. The cabin top looks the same, as do the windows. However I recall the transom being different, bulkhead is the same, sink layout the same, no fridge or cabinetry, no chart table and just bench bunks.
Select to expand quoteAllords said..
If I didn't enjoy it, I'd be into it for $5-$8k. what I dont want to do is over capitalise. Spend $5-8k on a boat thats only worth $2k.
Leave the project boats to those with open cheque books who do it for passion or the foolish dreamer who jumps in without seeking advice. Luckily for you it sounds like you're neither so my experience after doing it three times is that you'll almost certainly over capitalise in money, time, and patience. 100% you will get far more value for your dollar saving to buy something in good nick and spending your time and money maintaining it in that condition and actually sailing.
I've done the numbers on many project boats and the reality is 99% of them are worth zero and in reality have a negative value as the cost to bring them back is more than what you could buy one for in good condition already.
Forget the yachts with outboards. As a bare minimum buy an inboard diesel and a yacht with headroom. If there is a Cole 32 in the mix buy it!
An Endeavour 24 for $1000 is overpriced!
Don't bother with the long keel yachts. A UFO34 or an SS34 are pretty much the ultimate for a singlehander.
How much is the Cole 32?
I've got to agree with Ramona, avoid an outboard. The market has seen a recent surge owing to travel restrictions & there's some folks trying to get their $ back, waiting for the right vessel is easier & cheaper than fixing one up.
Ok, well I think I have the jist of things now.
Don't buy junk/ Leave projects alone
Buy something that goes now
Cole 32 good boat x2
Not a big difference between 25" and 32"
Faster = betterish
No outboard
SS34/UFO Definite too much too soon
Ok well I've a little more to consider in the way of Mooring etc.
I appreciate the feedback, it has been helpful.
Select to expand quotecisco said..Allords said..
SO I guess safe/strong/ seakindly motion/ slow/comfortable.
No boat smaller than an aircraft carrier is comfortable.
Fast boats are more comfortable than slow boats because they get to the anchorage sooner.
I have heard they are safer too for the same reason, I didn't agree with that so I opted for a slower boat with a conservative rig and moderate displacement. So far she has proven to be quite forgiving to a newb, I think there is a good argument for that particularly if your sailing short handed.
Select to expand quoteAllords said..
Ok, well I think I have the jist of things now.
Don't buy junk/ Leave projects alone
Buy something that goes now
Cole 32 good boat x2
Not a big difference between 25" and 32"
Faster = betterish
No outboard
SS34/UFO Definite too much too soon
Ok well I've a little more to consider in the way of Mooring etc.
I appreciate the feedback, it has been helpful.
Moorings
Umm...
if you can find a affordable " marina " berth ( in the povo section ) take that over a swing mooring out in the boonies...
No power out there to fix " stuff "
You sleep better at night when the gale force winds are rattling your house window frames...let alone on the boat.
More boats sink on swing moorings...in most areas...than in marina berths.
Like ours did 5 weeks ago...still sitting on the bottom.
Anywho, at times you won't be able to get out to the boat...or off it... if the weather does not play nice.
Swing moorings are cheap...that is their only positive IMO
Select to expand quoteAllords said..
Ramona
$28k Neg for the Cole 32. Gumtree ad
I watched that ad. I thought it was exceptional value. There have been a few really good buys in WA in the last few months. And don't discount projects, there are some superb vessels to be found amongst the projects that require very little money just labour.
Woko. I hear what you're saying, it's real. If you were thinking of selling and haven't . It's over, it's a race to the bottom.
Cammd. As a "newbie". My thoughts exactly, based on where I am and its waters, If I was still in Neutral bay maybe a different story. but its always good to get real world opinions.
Ramona, Thanks for the heads up on the Cole, it does look good indeed.
Tired, you've opened up a whole new can of worms for me. Here's my dilemma , I looked at a yacht in the swan, on a club swing mooring, in a not so good place In that its a chore to get to and then dismast at the Freo bridges etc .Not to mention the week it would take to clean off the bird ****.
Anyway , I went to the club to see if it can be transferred....no problem.
$3k for the mooring. $2k for membership, $1.2k Waiting period fee.
Hang on, theres a sign out the front that says "new members welcome"..................Yeah but thats what it is.
Ok Fine.....The cost of yachting
So What's the cost of pulling it out?
$280 but that includes a clean, and environmental fees and putting it back in the water.
Ok cool
What are hardstand fees ?.........$280 for the day but it varies...........Ok so 20 days, throw me a figure ....................$2,280.00
Ok again, cost of ownership.
Now I can sand, grind, paint?.................No plucking way!... You need to use our approved contractors , here's a list, and get approval before you even think about sanding, and if you do, we can rent you this and that, yada yada yaddda.
Right about now i'm thinking is this a club, or a division of Goldman Sachs/ JP Morgan.
The nomination fees on top of the membership certainly raised my eyebrows when I bought a boat at a club.
At least at Nedlands you get a couple of weeks of workbay time included and you can do your own work.
