TIKI 26 FOR SALE £6,500 UK

[Robert Hughes]

My Tiki 26 “Zest” is for sale. She is located on the south coast of England, afloat and ready to go. I'm asking £6,500. This is very low considering her condition and what's included, but having made the decision I want her sold. There's time for the new owner to do some serious sailing this season

You can message me on this forum, or by SMS to +44/0 7811 095898, or email [e-mail] 

She is one of the Imagine Multihulls GRP (glassfibre) versions, and I have completely renovated and updated her to a very high specification

The engine is a Tohatsu 6hp four stroke, which has run for less than ten hours since new. It's the UL SAILPRO version with an ultra long shaft and high thrust prop optimised for this use, rather than on dinghies. On Zest it gives 6kts economical cruising without using full throttle

I had the sails made by Jeckells and they are in good condition. As well as the main and roller reefing jib there's a storm tri-sail which has never been used

This boat has a more extensive electrical & electronic fit-out than most boats of its type & size. I did this because I was hoping to do some serious long-distance cruising, but for health & fitness reasons that is now unlikely. Power comes from two solar panels, each feeding its own battery through a controller. The engine also has an alternator which can be plugged into either battery. Electronics include:-

• Standard Horizon GX1850 fixed VHF with DSC and inbuilt GPS

• Em-Trak AIS (transmit & receive), with stealth switch for when you don't want to be seen

• B&G Vulcan 7 Chart Plotter with current charts, connected to AIS to display information about other vessels

• NASA Easy Navtex receiver for weather & navigation warnings up to 200 miles offshore

• Raymarine ST1000 Plus tiller pilot autohelm

• LED Navigation lights and a pair of bright deck lights mounted at the masthead

• Stereo system feeding pairs of speakers in each hull and a larger pair in the cockpit

I replaced the original main cross-beams with engineered carbon fibre tubes made for her by C-Tech in New Zealand. They make carbon components for the Admirals Cup AC75 and AC40 racing boats. The standard beams were GRP mouldings with a vertical plywood web inside, the new carbon ones are much stronger and lighter, and have nothing to rot. Zest's aft netting beam is also carbon, as is an extra one I added at the stern to support a goal post structure to carry solar panels and antennae.

I replaced the old gunwales and beam lashing points with iroko, on the basis that it should outlast me. I repainted the red hull topsides with Toplac. The hulls below the waterline had already been coated with epoxy by the previous owner. Anti-fouling was done just before she was launched this season

I built a new cockpit in epoxy/carbon foam sandwich, greatly increasing locker space and saving weight. The floor incorporates a layer of kevlar/carbon composite cloth for impact resistance, in case an anchor or outboard motor is dropped on it. A walkway was added from the foot of the mast forward to provide a stable platform for anchor handling, with a roller and small bollard. New tufnol mooring cleats of a sensible size have been fitted, four on each hull. Two anchors with chain & warp are included

The hulls each have a good sized berth in the forward half, but a set of extra bunk cushions are also included, to fit the aft part of each cabin. The galley would have to be lifted out in order do that in the port hull. In the starboard hull the chart table folds up to the deckhead out of the way. The cabin sides are lined, for insulation and to look smart, and for easy cleaning

A pair of four-wheel trolleys for the hulls are also included. They dismantle quickly to fit in the back of an estate car