![Boats for restoring under £20,000](https://cdn.magzter.com/1387288621/1717666567/articles/PucW9_tVo1717668909945/BOATS-FOR-RESTORING-UNDER-20000.jpg)
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.
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Denne historien er fra Summer 2024-utgaven av Practical Boat Owner.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Orca sink yacht in Strait of Gibraltar](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5181/1724270/t6ax8PPRU1717673072530/ORCA-SINK-YACHT-IN-STRAIT-OF-GIBRALTAR.jpg)
Orca sink yacht in Strait of Gibraltar
Spain's maritime rescue service, Salvamento Maritimo, has reported that a 15m (49ft) yacht sank in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar following interaction with a pod of orca.
![No kill cord or lifejackets were worn during fatal powerboat crash](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5181/1724270/v2aGVcFRs1717672925704/NO-KILL-CORD-OR-LIFEJACKETS-WERE-WORN-DURING-FATAL-POWERBOAT-CRASH.jpg)
No kill cord or lifejackets were worn during fatal powerboat crash
A kill cord and lifejacket are useless unless worn-that's the warning from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), following its investigation into a powerboat crash that killed a 32-year-old woman and five-year-old girl on 2 October 2022.
![Multihull sail work](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5181/1724270/jkkaOmRei1717672674784/MULTIHULL-SAIL-WORK.jpg)
Multihull sail work
Brush up on multihull sailing skills before heading off on charter with Gavin Le Sueur's guide to spinnaker handling, tacking and gybing
![Five top causes of engine failure and how to prevent them](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5181/1724270/7-w2sUV3y1717671984894/FIVE-TOP-CAUSES-OF-ENGINE-FAILURE-AND-HOW-TO-PREVENT-THEM.jpg)
Five top causes of engine failure and how to prevent them
Jake Kavanagh talks to Sea Start marine engineer Nick Eales about how to avoid the five major causes of an engine breakdown at sea
![Sail the Atlantic with strangers](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5181/1724270/QDwGRVFhy1717671480181/SAIL-THE-ATLANTIC-WITH-STRANGERS.jpg)
Sail the Atlantic with strangers
Would you sail across the Atlantic with someone you've just met? Ali Wood meets the cruising crews who've done just that
![IZIBoat: simple sailing](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5181/1724270/nF2KUavzo1717671193861/IZIBOAT-SIMPLE-SAILING.jpg)
IZIBoat: simple sailing
Rupert Holmes sails an innovative catamaran design intended to widen participation in sailing among those with little time to get on the water in more conventional craft
![30 WAYS TO GET AFLOAT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5181/1724270/m8ioY-HXV1717669643837/30-WAYS-TO-GET-AFLOAT.jpg)
30 WAYS TO GET AFLOAT
From tall ships to small dinghies, you needn't own a boat to sail. Ali Wood looks at the options, and how skippers can also find crew
![Boats for restoring under £20,000](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5181/1724270/PucW9_tVo1717668909945/BOATS-FOR-RESTORING-UNDER-20000.jpg)
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
![Seaworthy dinghies for less than £500](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5181/1724270/fbM535g9P1717668644460/SEAWORTHY-DINGHIES-FOR-LESS-THAN-500.jpg)
Seaworthy dinghies for less than £500
For low cost traditionally-styled GRP trailer-sailers, consider the Foreland and the Otter available at bargain basement prices
![Playing with coloured sails](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5181/1724270/MRP_aNkf21717668515548/PLAYING-WITH-COLOURED-SAILS.jpg)
Playing with coloured sails
Maintaining an hourglass-shaped balloon and ratcheting up the log numbers