The Story Behind My Boat SV Sirocco: Why & How I Bought Her
When I first started looking for my own boat, I had an idea of what’s important for me personally: something that felt like home but was also seaworthy and practical for long-term cruising. After my Atlantic crossing and two years of sailing on a 38ft Hallberg Rassy (HR 382 from 1988), I’ve gotten to love those sturdy and strong-built boats with a fin keel and skeg-hung rudder.
Since Sirocco would be my first boat that I owned alone and would sail solo, I didn’t want it to be too big, so I was looking at 28-34ft boats. These were the key points that I was looking for when I started searching the boat market (which is great fun, by the way! I love boat watching / boat window shopping haha).
I actually ended up not finding my boat the traditional way (on one of the online boat marketplaces), but rather by a lucky coincidence. One of my Instagram followers saw a post that I was looking for a boat and reached out. They knew that another content creator posted about selling their 29ft Dufour, a great brand with the reputation of sturdy boat designs, so I was definitely interested. He gave me their details and we were actually on the same Caribbean island, Martinique, which gave me the opportunity to check out Sirocco personally.
The second I stepped on board I was amazed by the size! She actually felt bigger than 29ft. Probably mainly because of her extremely generous headroom! I’m 176cm (5’9”) and can walk through the whole boat without hitting my head, and there’s plenty more space. She’s also very cozy and has a nice layout. So great first impression. I could also tick off most of my other points: she has a fin keel with skeg-hung rudder, good brand (she’s a Dufour built in 1976) and I personally love older boats because they used to build them stronger with a thicker gel coat back in the day, which I like. She was already fully equipped for long-term sailing and living aboard because the previous owner lived on her for a year and had just successfully crossed the Atlantic, so I knew she was seaworthy! Everything necessary was already installed, from navigation systems to safety equipment, and I knew I wouldn’t have to spend months fixing her up before moving aboard. I also knew the engine was exchanged in 2009, so I’d call that a “pretty new engine” and running like a charm. There were also enough solar panels installed to meet my needs, so there was really not much I had to add or fix, which was what I wanted.
One of the things that made the decision easier was the fact that the previous owner was active on social media. I could actually follow Sirocco’s journey online and see how well she had been treated, which gave me peace of mind. The owner was also super helpful, answering all of my questions and offering support even after the sale. It was really reassuring to have that connection.
What I can highly recommend is doing a survey before purchasing your boat. I had mine done in Grenada by Mr. Peter Nigel, and it was definitely worth it. The survey revealed a few minor issues and repair jobs, along with a small area of delamination on the hull during the short haul-out that’s part of the survey process. Knowing this not only gave me confidence before setting sail, but also allowed me to negotiate on the price. (I had the delamination professionally fixed during my haul-out and mini refit in November 2023.)
The survey cost me $500 USD and was extremely thorough: a 31-page report covering every detail of the boat, plus notes on her sailing performance and the engine during a test sail. Keep in mind, the larger the boat, the higher the survey cost will be. As I keep saying: small boats have a lot of advantages.
When I started boat shopping, I was on a pretty tight budget. I knew I wanted to stay under $27,000, which meant looking at older, smaller boats rather than newer models. During the survey, a few issues came up - including some delamination - but instead of seeing that as a deal breaker, I used it for negotiations. The price came down, and the money I saved went straight into getting those issues fixed professionally during my haul out. In the end, I stayed within my budget and got a boat I could trust.
Sirocco’s Features and Specifications (all upgrades below)
- Type of Vessel: Masthead Sloop
- Manufacturer: Dufour Yachts, France
- Model: Dufour 29
- Designer: Michael Dufour
- Year Built: 1976
- Length Overall (LOA): 29ft 04in (8.94m)
- Beam: 9ft 08in (2.95m)
- Draft: 5ft 04in (1.60m)
- Displacement: 7,250lbs (3,289kg)
- Ballast: 2,645lbs (1,200kg)
- Engine: Lombardini LDW 1003M, 27HP, 3-cylinder in-line diesel engine
- Fuel Type: Diesel, 50-liter stainless steel fuel tank
- Freshwater Capacity: 120-liter forward tank, 150-liter aft stainless steel tank
- Rigging: Simple masthead sloop with a single set of spreaders, all stays and shrouds are stainless steel wire, mast steps all the way up for easy inspection
- Windlass + anchor: Quick 700W windlass with a 12.5KG Danforth anchor and 70 meters of 8mm galvanized chain (this has been upgraded, see below)
- Navigation Equipment: Plastimo Contest magnetic compass, NASA Marine Wind Instrument, Raytheon Analog R40X Radar, Standard Horizon Matrix AIS/DSC/VHF, and a 9” tablet with Opencpn charting software and Pi Pilot
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Additional Equipment: Wind vane, two autopilots, satellite phone, and an array of other useful items such as diving gear, tools, and even an electric scooter
What I’ve Upgraded and Fixed So Far
Of course, no boat is perfect, and since buying Sirocco I’ve completed a number of essential upgrades and maintenance to ensure she’s fully ready for extended cruising. I carried out a small refit and added key upgrades, including a new 15 kg (35 lb) Mantus M2 anchor with 200 ft of 8 mm chain. I also had professionals strip the old bottom paint back to the gelcoat, repair a small area of delamination identified in the pre-purchase survey, and apply Hempel semi-hard antifouling below the waterline, along with fresh topside paint. She now looks like a brand new boat now! Other maintenance included replacing the cutlass bearing and servicing the through-hulls, as well as addressing minor issues highlighted in the survey. With everything in top shape, Sirocco is ready to sail safely and comfortably, giving me peace of mind both living aboard and when cruising.
The Benefits of an Older Boat
I personally love that Sirocco is an older boat. Sure, the equipment will be older and some things will need replacing, but that’s to be expected. What I appreciate most is the sturdiness: the strong hull, the thicker gelcoat, the fin keel design, and the skeg-hung rudder. Back then, boats were built like tanks, making them seaworthy even in rough conditions. Dufour is a well-known brand with a great reputation, and I feel safe knowing that Sirocco was built to last. I love her interior, because they used high-quality materials back then (instead of the cheap mass-production boat interior you’ll find on a lot of modern boats). She’s super cozy and I made her my home.
Why I Love a Smaller Boat
I’ve come to really appreciate Sirocco’s size. Maintenance is easier and faster, and everything - from materials and gear to insurance and marina fees - is much cheaper. Every foot of boat length adds exponentially to costs, so a 29ft boat like Sirocco keeps life simple and affordable without sacrificing seaworthiness or comfort. For solo sailors or those cruising on a budget, smaller boats are a huge advantage! You can still have long-term cruising fun without feeling stretched financially or logistically.
Conclusion
The choice of the right boat really depends on your sailing plans, and it’s always a compromise to some extent. If you want to cross oceans or even circumnavigate, I’d recommend strong-built boats like Hallberg Rassy or Amel. (Amel boats even have compartments that you can fully seal in case there’s a leak, which means your boat will still float, an invaluable feature.) These brands are always solid choices, but generally, most older boats are built like tanks and meant to last, so I'd always recommend older boats altogether. But if you’re more interested in coastal cruising or island hopping, almost any boat will do the job. For comfort, catamarans are ideal because of the living space they provide.
In the end, it all depends on your plans and what you need out of your boat. What’s your dream boat and why? Leave a comment, I love talking boats! And if you enjoy my content and want to support me, feel free to leave a little tip in my tip jar here. I truly appreciate your support.
Fair winds,
Kristina
