Boats for restoring under £20,000

Duncan Kent picks the best sub-35ft sail and power boats to look for when aiming to undertake a restoration on a budget

- Duncan Kent

There's no such thing as a free boat is an oft-repeated expression in the world of boat restoration and, sadly, it's usually not far from the truth. I've lost count of the number of 'bargain' boats I've been offered over my many years of sailing, many of which I've been sorely tempted to make an offer on. But having brought three 'oldies' (including a 1950s woodie) back to life over the years I too have learned the hard way that the cost of returning a near wreck into a sound and seaworthy condition can often be way more than its end value-and that's without factoring in my time.

That said, there's no reason not to try if you're passionate about boat craft and enjoy the restoration work as much as the sailing; just don't get stuck in the restoration rut and forget your end goal.

With a budget of £20,000 you need to be very careful when choosing your project, so take along a knowledgeable friend to help you with your preliminary survey. The most important (expensive) items to inspect carefully are hull condition (including hull/keel joint and keel bolts), sails, engine, rigging and electrics.

If you don't think you're up to doing much of the work yourself then I'd advise you to stop looking for a restoration project right now as getting the professionals in will blow your budget very quickly.

A major item such as an engine replacement could make the whole project untenable. If this is the case but you like everything else about the boat then try a very low offer to compensate and be prepared to walk away.

Also, don't be tempted to go too large. A big boat might look like value for money, but with it comes big bills. Every extra foot could cost you a further £3,000 to restore, and up to £1,000 to moor when it's finished.