Getting a second boat for Scotland

[Alan H]

Well, the deal with the Albin Vega seems to be off. On the other hand, the Mrs. has agreed to a summer 2024 long trip, probably solo by me to Caledonia. So along around March 2024 I'll be scanning Apolloduck and Gumtree for a trailer-sailer in the 23-24 foot range that won't break the bank. There's also the possibility of acquiring a Sonata 7 at a good price. I have visions of using a Drascombe Longboat (with the cabin) but not sure if that's quite comfy enough. Extending the cabin with a boom tent is fine, but maybe not if squalls blow through at 35 knots. On the other hand, being able to beach the boat is pretty attractive.

About midges and klegs...Midge bites are seriously annoying but it's the raw numbers of the fuckers that is a pain. Yes, any sort of breeze keeps them down, I've learned that. Also, they can be horrific in one spot and 50 yards away, completely non-existant. I don't think they fly very far and they tend to cluster, so you can often get away from the worst of them by just moving 50-100 yards.. I have experience with kleg bites....they seriously suck. I got a few, hiking in Glen Affric in shorts, and those fuckers blew up into dime-sized, hot, red, painful abcesses that didn't go away for three weeks. I hate klegs. There's no hiking in shorts in the Highlands for this guy because of those little bastards.

 

[Prairie Boater]

Glen Africc in February was bite free for us!

 

[Kris Cringle]

About midges and klegs...Midge bites are seriously annoying but it's the raw numbers of the fuckers that is a pain. Yes, any sort of breeze keeps them down, I've learned that. Also, they can be horrific in one spot and 50 yards away, completely non-existant. I don't think they fly very far and they tend to cluster, so you can often get away from the worst of them by just moving 50-100 yards.. I have experience with kleg bites....they seriously suck. I got a few, hiking in Glen Affric in shorts, and those fuckers blew up into dime-sized, hot, red, painful abcesses that didn't go away for three weeks. I hate klegs. There's no hiking in shorts in the Highlands for this guy because of those little bastards.

The young woman who does the Sailing Free Spirit Youtube does nice video and commentary on the coast of Scotland.

This scene of a sudden attack of swarms of midges was eye-opening. The contrast of wearing heavily insulated outerwear, and being attacked by midges in mid-summer displays the challenging Scottish climate.

 

[Alan H]

Actually, now the Albin Vega is back on the table. Which is good, but I can also see doing the trip in a Drascombe longboat with a cabin, or a Drascombe Coaster. I can't see doing it in a completely open boat. Having a beachable boat would be really nice on Loch Etive.

I'm thinking that a jaunt up to Kinlochleven might be in order. Clearance on the bridge is 60 feet, so no problem there. There's a little sailing club and some moorings up near the head of the loch. Hop the boat, catch the bus up to Glen Coe, and then hike in for an overnight in the Lost Valley? Yeah, I can see that.

 

[Alan H]

Aha! Now that ticks a LOT of boxes for the OP!

Which keel+engine combo, I wonder...?

David Thomas design, sails well, capable, about as big as it's practical to tow, owners association...

Definitely one for the (very?) short list.

Before that Albin "came back available" the Hunter Delta with the lift keel showed up a few times and really appealed. I absolutely could see owning one.

 

[Kris Cringle]

The Sailing and Cruising Scotland FB group has an affiliated Yachts for Sale located in Scotland.

I just checked it out and there are several interesting small cruisers for sale, starting under a thousand pounds, even a few with trailers.

Yachts for sale Scotland | Facebook

Exclusive group for yachts sales in Scotland.

www.facebook.com

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

challenging Scottish climate.

Scottish barbecue (or picnic) weather

 

[Jim in Halifax]

Scottish barbecue (or picnic) weather

View attachment 584222

That's rich, coming from someone on the We(s)t Coast of Canada...

 

[robtoujours]

Vega is good, or a Ballad even…

There is a nice old school YT channel from an old Scottish guy who explores Scotland via his inflatable dinghy and outboard. Might be good for ideas.

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

That's rich, coming from someone on the We(s)t Coast of Canada...

Ha! You call that rain!

There’s a guy I know who always jokingly refers to a light rain shower as “Scottish BBQ weather”. Always gives me a laugh.

It’s funny, moving here from the E Coast US (as a sort of American refugee ) the west coast rain was originally a bit of a shock, I will admit…I actually didn’t know that this is a temperate rainforest. It’s been 22 years here so far, and there are some winter days here that I seriously hatch a plan to keep a cheap sailboat in Mexico just to escape to a few months of the year in winter…