Buying a used boat: 7 small cruisers under eight metres - cheap cruising
Kristina Müller
· 04.10.2024
Leisure 23 - plenty of space
The big sister of the Leisure 17 was built with a chine keel or centre keel. She sails rather comfortably, but can fall dry in the chine keel version and offers a lot of space inside for a boat under seven metres in length. This is also due to the wide and high superstructure, which comes at the expense of a running deck on deck - you have to go over the roof.
The Leisure 23 is almost identical in construction to its predecessor, the Leisure 22, but has a larger cockpit. In the 1980s, the newer Leisure 23 SL was sold with a more modern superstructure (photo). The cabin has a dinette to starboard, the galley to port and a separate foredeck. Information about the boat is also available at of the British Owners' Association. Prices currently around 3,500 to 6,000 euros.
Technical data
- Hull length: 6.90 m
- Width: 2.39 m
- Draught (chine/centre keel): 0.81/1.90 m
- Weight: 1.8 tonnes
- Sail area: 28.2 m²
Hurley 800 - Compact cruiser for long voyages
The Hurley 800 is considerably larger, exactly eight metres long, and its history begins as the Junker 26 in 1977. Arne Borghegn's design hit a nerve. Over the next four years, 146 were built in Denmark. From 1981 onwards, the Holstebro Plastværk shipyard delivered almost 100 more ships, fully equipped, to the Holland Yachting shipyard, which took over the sale of the ships and gave the yacht the name Hurley 800. From 1985, the yacht was built by the Dutch themselves and slightly further developed. The GRP work was outsourced to various shipyards. Over the years, a further 160 boats were built. Construction number 402 is the end. By then, the rights already belonged to Jachtbouw de Eemhof near Almere. In later years, the ship was also offered as the Hurley 830 with a slightly different interior layout. Most used boats are traded in the Netherlands and cost between 15,000 and 25,000 euros.
Technical data
- Hull length: 8.00 m
- Width: 2.70 m
- Draught: 1.40 m
- Weight: 3.2 tonnes
- Sail area: 35.1 m²
- Hurley 800 "Big Liz": Compact cruiser for travelling the world
Granada 24 - beautifully aisled
The Danish-built boat combines various features of a real yacht in just 24 feet: up to five berths, fixed galley, sea toilet, headroom of up to 1.72 metres thanks to the high superstructure, lots of storage options - and a ship-like exterior. The boat, designed as a fast family boat, is also neatly built and solidly laminated. However, it was also sold in the seventies as a pure hull, where the owners then completed the interior themselves; the quality can vary accordingly. The sailing characteristics of the Granada 24 are good-natured. Even though she is not a racing goat, she sails well. The high ballast ratio of 53 per cent allows it to cope well with gusts, and a skeg protects the rudder. This means that nothing stands in the way of cruises at sea with the little Dane. Only the fixed keel is available as an attachment; however, both built-in engines and outboards are available. Used boat prices are around 6,000 to 8,000 euros.
Technical data
- Hull length: 7.20 m
- Width: 2.52 m
- Draught: 1.25 m
- Weight: 1.6 tonnes
- Sail area: 28.2 m²
- YACHT test: 8/2008
Bavaria 707 - cosy trailer boat
The Bavaria 707 is a typical small cruiser of the 1970s with a lot of space for its size, which is really habitable thanks to its well thought-out design and also impresses with its sailing performance. Around 520 units were built between 1978 and 1985. According to the concept of the sailing weekend cottage, many used boats still have sails, running and standing rigging from the year of construction. However, the option of trailering advertised at the time was mostly not utilised and so the substance of the used boats on offer is mostly still good.
Technical data
- Hull length: 7.07 m
- Width: 2.48 m
- Draught: 0.84 to 1.25m
- Weight: 1.5 tonnes
- Mainsail: 11.4 m²
- Jib/Genoa: 12.2/19.5 m²
- Spinnaker: 35 m²
- YACHT test
Shark 24 - all-rounder with a bite
The fact that the small cruiser (dealer slogan: "Regattafreund's family boat") has a lot to live up to has been clear since the winter of 2012/13 at the latest. Back then, two German sailors crossed the Atlantic in a Shark 24. However, with a draught of less than one metre, whether fixed keel or centreboard, the boat is also suitable for shallow water and for regattas as well as cruising. The slim hull has good sailing characteristics and sails agilely. Although the boat was one of the first GRP production boats and was built in 1959, it is still popular and is still being built today. There is a Class association and regatta scene. The boats are advertised from around 9,500 euros, depending on their age.
Technical data
Biga 24 - timelessly elegant and fast
The Biga 24 surprises with good sailing characteristics even in light winds. The workmanship is spectacularly good, the mahogany interior is very attractive and easy to use. Everything is on board, even for longer trips. Typical of the Bicker shipyard, however, are the many possibilities to have your boat customised. This is why there are so many different variants on the used boat market. This also applies to the annexes: keel centreboards with different draughts and a fixed keel version with a draught of 1.20 metres were offered.
Technical data
- Hull length: 7.50 m
- Width: 2.50 m
- Draught/recovered: 1.40/0.85 m
- Weight: 1.35 tonnes
- Mainsail: 12.5 m²
- Furling genoa (115 %): 18.0 m²
- Jib: 12.0 m²
- YACHT test
Dehlya 25 - Cruising boat with lifting keel
The exterior is typical Dehler from the eighties, the interior is unusually divided by the box for the lifting keel: it separates the galley or the navigation table - depending on the model - from the rest of the saloon. The Dehlya 25 sails well, can be used flexibly thanks to its variable draught and is a good all-rounder for new and more experienced boat owners. Used examples are available from around 10,000 euros.
Technical data
- Hull length: 7.60 m
- Width: 2.50 m
- Draught (lifting keel): 0.45/1.20 m
- Weight: 1.35 tonnes
- Sail area: 36.0 m²
The extensive refit project of a Dehlya 25 (see pictures) was completed in the past few years in the YACHT, here on yacht.com and on YACHT tv documented.
YACHT-TV series in 33 episodes:
The big YACHT used boat special:
- New, used or chartered - here's what to consider
- Which type of boat is the right one? Decision-making aids
- Overview: Used boats under 6 metres
- Overview: Used boats under 7 metres
- Overview: Used boats under 8 metres
- Overview: Used boats around 9 metres
- Overview: Used boats over 9 metres
- Dream yachts: These are the favourite ships of YACHT readers
- Buying a used boat: Your guide through the online jungle
- Own inspection or surveyor? What you need to look out for
- How to avoid traps in the purchase contract
- The boat is bought - what's next? The first steps
- What insurance do I need for my boat?
