Often debated at length here and there is one simple answer - price. People who buy new boats simply do not value an enclosed steering position at the 25-30% price premium, which is even heavier when you look at boats like yours which are already 50% or more expensive than a mass production boat...
Pretty sure that plate can only have been installed after the internal moulding was bonded in and the deck attached. So the chances of there being nuts are small. could be machine screws into a tapped plate bonded into the moulding but that would require precision unless drilled and tapped...
I seem to remember Dylan Winter (Keep Turning Left) having grief with that style of coupling on the old Volvo in his Mirror Offshore and not being able to find a direct replacement. replacement Had a look on his site to see if there was anything on his trials and tribulations with the beast but...
Yes, much better choice of such boats in France and no restrictions on keeping it there whereas if you took a boat from the UK it would be limited to 18 months after which it must leave the EU and re-enter to start another 18 months. For many EU inland waterways you need an ICC with a CEVNI...
Buying a used boat from the EU for use by a UK resident in the UK is essentially a non starter. There are some situations where a boat that originated in the UK but is now in the EU can be returned and then sold without paying VAT but this is increasingly rare as it effectively only applies if...
I have done just that and there really is not much available as so few boats were built. I found the OPs boat hen it was for sale in Poole but all the others had bow platforms - very different from his boat which has a through the bow anchor rather like that used by Malo. See post#7
Wales seems to be a good place to buy boats as the local market is limited and a long way from more densely populated places. Loads of Centaurs sailing happily all round the UK and far better bet for the OP than some of the suggestions.
Yes, that seems to be the EU position on recertification - they retained the pre 1997 exemption for EEA built boats, but as ever the decisions are taken locally. VAT coming back to the UK would be based on declared market value or what the importer paid so maybe a couple of grand at the outside...
Once you get above 26' and looking at cruising twin keels (think Westerly, Moody, Cobra, Sadler) 6'1" is not generally a problem. For weekend use headroom is not essential I am 6'3" and owned a 26' boat with well under 6' headroom for over 30 years and cruised every year along the south coast...
Trolling motors were originally designed to run off the main boat's on board 12v system. Some examples here shutterstock.com/search/trolling-motor . Independent use came later and restricted by the limitations of power and need for separate power supply - which some people can live with.
Although there only seem to be 2 for sale currently twister.org.uk/twisters-for-sale/ they do come up frequently.
The boat referred to would remain UK VAT paid if the current owner sailed it back to the UK. If it was bought in France it would be EU VAT paid and a UK resident could not bring it...
Not at all surprising. The "market" does not demand electric in volume. Just like cars. EVs in volume only exist because of legislation and there is no sign of this for marine engines. Almost all marine engine technology is spun off automotive and industrial as there is insufficient volume to...
I think this poole.boatshed.com/degero_28_ms-boat-232542.html is the same type of boat. some good shots of the foredeck, locker and anchoring arrangements. I suspect quite a challenge to fit a windlass.
Maybe contact the builder if still around. Other examples have an extended bow platform...
You write as if there is only "one way" and it is fraught with problems. amazing then that anybody does it at all. There are so many ways of going about it from taking years to dashing round as quickly as possible with as few stops as possible. The series of day sails seems to be the most...
If it was essential to have only one kind of boat to go there it would be a pretty empty space. It is clearly your preference to have only one kind of boat but the majority (including those who sail in those waters may not agree.
Pity you did not Coppercoat having gone to the trouble of blasting.
This is the AF I use CU-PRO Antifouling | Commercial Grade | For Leisure Use which has similar drying/immersion times.
Because for most people it is no big deal and having it cleaned once or twice a year is fine. Having said that many of the smaller keel boats that are raced in our club do indeed have cradles that will allow access under the keel, but for a cruiser the benefits are small if any