Practical dream boat?
- Thread starter Jackdaw
- Start date
The Seascape 27 would be my choice if trailer-ability was a factor. You are correct its kinda like a small Pogo. That being said, I had a friend that has done offshore races in both and said that the Pogo is MUCH more comfortable.I am not surprised in Jackdaw's choice. If I haven't seen the reply, I was voting for (including the Pogo 30)
a) Sapphire 27
b) Seascape 27
Pogo 30 fall right in the same category of hand-laid adrenaline infused boats. Good choice for your style of sailing!
Easy
Why... I like to sail in shoal waters... Chesapeake Bay and the sounds of North Carolina
Why... I like to sail in shoal waters... Chesapeake Bay and the sounds of North Carolina
The list would be too long but at the top would be "The Muppet Movie." And for those of you who might wonder which one, there is only one with that title.
My Dream Boat would be the Swan 62 I have already talked to the wife about selling the house on the Straight It would give me enough to buy it outright and still have enough to take off into open water and sail it as far as I would like to ANY WHERE around the World But would never ever be able to come back to shore except to get enough fuel to keep it to be able to get out of Marina Entrances and hope like hell I always had wind and winning the Lotto would help very much But I'm very happy with what I have now the San Juan 30 SL she is a great Sailor especially in rough water and light wind. I've owned her for Many years and had great Sailing experiences she has seen every single part of the PNW But I have always wished she was Bigger for the wife's comfort But If I was Filthy Rich I would have a Perini Nave about 72m and a full crew and be able to at least fill the tank I believe is 90,000 liters that is one heck of a fuel bill one would have to be filthy Rich just to fuel it up. I would only Dream of owning such a Beauty
Hinckley Bermuda 40 (mk III if possible).
I think everyone is familiar enough with this boat and the pedigree of the design to understand all of attributes and its few compromises... (the head is pretty cramped). All that said and done, this is still my number 1 choice. And Yes, I can afford it (sort of). I can sell my house right now and buy one is cash, but I'm working on a smarter financial plan... Keeping my house as an investment property and still buying the boat. Lots of stuff going on, Grad School, Job offers; many things that need to be ironed out first... BTW, the B40 pictured is on the market although not my first choice. Most of them are on the east coast and shipping to the west coast might cost too much. The great thing about Hinckleys is that there are always several on the market.
haha, I forgot they 'why' part;
Classic lines and highest builder standards in the structure as well as finish
Shoal draft centerboard design for gunkholing in far off destinations
Although not fast by today's standards, they used to race them and it still makes for a comfortable and efficient passage maker.
And really.... Just LOOK at it!
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You know, with a Hinckley yard in the area, and lots of sailor money we have a quite few B-40's laying about, several in need of a good home. And I always thought it was my dream boat too. Gorgeous lines. Then I had a chance to go aboard a fine example of the B-40 and was struck by just how cramped they really are. Hard to believe they are 40 feet of length. Built to older design criteria I consider the B-40 a spartan cruiser or really just a great day-sailor. God bless em all, but you need to be a man of leisure and considerable reserves to keep em looking good.
I agree, by today's standards they are cramped for space and storage... but four words that I have added to my most frequently used vocabulary greatly help with reduction of gear adrift as well as expensive whiz-bang gear and toys; "I don't need that"... Very useful words when it comes to things like flat screen TV's and stereo systems. Also, I'm only 5'10" and have a slender build, helps me deal better with less space.
I do love that most Bermuda 40's and Block Island 40's that I have seen do not have teak decks; no leaks and way less maintenance. On the flip side, at least for the Hinckleys, they make up for the lack of teak decks with plenty of topside brightwork that requires constant attention. Shout Blasphemy if you will, but if I were planning extended cruising in the tropics I would apply several coats of varnish as usual (like 8 to 10), and then I would topcoat that with 2 coats of a single polyurethane white or other light color that will look as good as it can with the design. This way the wood stays protected from UV for the cruising duration but with some sweat equity it is harmlessly removed with light heat, a gentle stripper or sanding, no paint fouling of the wood grain deep under the varnish. The hand rails I would remove and stow away carefully wrapped in foam while I make durable 'voyaging' handrails from polished 1 inch SS tube. I would bend the feet at either end to match the original handrail foot-print with a support foot in the middle or 2 x quarter spacing, tig welded with 5/16" studs to thru-bolt to the cabin top. I can buy all materials and have then bends done on a CNC bender for around $500, welding the support feet and studs then finish polishing myself. I'm not sure what the cabin overhead is like in a B40, I never really looked 'up' while aboard one, LOL. I hope getting to the backing nuts isn't a destructive process. I would probably come up with similar but temporary upgrades to reduce maintenance while cruising for everything I can, but some of the topsides brightwork I probably would not touch and varnish as required.
Cloud,
For sure the B40 is one of the all-time classics. Timeless in looks and built to a hugely high standard. But the appeal has started to wear off, mostly I suppose due to the work/time/effort in maintaining them, as well as the effort sailing them by older and older enthusiasts. Just like Sabre, Hinckley stopped making them because nobody wanted a new one.
But a modern version is available, take a look at the Alerion Cruising 41 its what anyone who loves the B40 is buying new.
http://alerionyachts.com/alerion-series/alerion-41/
For sure the B40 is one of the all-time classics. Timeless in looks and built to a hugely high standard. But the appeal has started to wear off, mostly I suppose due to the work/time/effort in maintaining them, as well as the effort sailing them by older and older enthusiasts. Just like Sabre, Hinckley stopped making them because nobody wanted a new one.
But a modern version is available, take a look at the Alerion Cruising 41 its what anyone who loves the B40 is buying new.
http://alerionyachts.com/alerion-series/alerion-41/
@Jackdaw, that Alerion 41 is a very fine example of a modern classic but it just doesn't have 'it', at least not for me. It also is nearly a foot deeper on the shoal draft and I really wouldn't want to see price tag on a new one, LOL! The B40 certainly isn't for everyone, but if I were to pick a new build I would probably do a Block Island 40. After the gelcoat is sprayed in the mold they do the first two layers of the laminate with vinylester resin before hand laying the remaining laminate with polyester. that info may be old, they could possibly be going with all epoxy now and I know they are using vacuum bagging for certain critical stages. The Block Island 40 is not as elaborate on the interior woodwork as the Hinckley cousin, but the same is true up on deck with much of maintenance deleted along with the brightwork. The Alerion 41 still has teak decks I see, but I am sure they use adhesives rather than screwing them down, so that is a plus if you don't mind the upkeep.
I'll be the first to admit, keeping up with a B40 won't be easy even with any of the UV defeating modifications I mentioned earlier, but I'd certainly be up for the challenge!
I'll be the first to admit, keeping up with a B40 won't be easy even with any of the UV defeating modifications I mentioned earlier, but I'd certainly be up for the challenge!
Now if we wanna get a little crazy... and I have plenty of crazy to go around;
If I did my own build it would be this: the Larchmont O class by William Gardner was a one-design under the Universal rule for the Larchmont Yacht Club. Only 6 were ever built. This is as close as you get to a J class at 1/2 scale (60ft LOA), IMO anyway. Unlike the Tempus Fugit class or Hoek Firefly, I wouldn't go with a Fin/bulb Keel and highly modernized bottom. I'd stick with the full keel although using a carbon spar and lighter rigging will greatly increase righting moment = less required ballast = reworking the sail plan etc. BTW, the Larchmont O was originally Gaff rigged, which looks incredible, but a few hulls were modified with a Marconi Rig. Building round carbon spars is much less expensive than other carbon spar shapes, so its possible to build the Gaff version with modern materials and retain the traditional look at a much lower cost than the Marconi rig.
I'll shut up now; Same final comment applies - Just LOOK at it!
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No.... not to have a new one outfitted like mine is now....
the cost of a new boat doesnt seem like so much, until one starts fitting out and outfitting the new boat, then the dollars seem to fly away fast.
but then I suppose if I had the option to custom "design" my new boat and have it built and outfitted as I wanted, then a new boat would fit the purpose and I would definitely rethink what boat I would choose... it would be a cruiser, not a racer.
you are probably correct, but im not aware of it. you did ask what is my dream boat, so I can only go with what I know
... to be gifted a new, stock boat, it would have to be pretty high end to be outfitted as I would like it... i would not want someone giving me any boat to care for, for the next ten years if it wasnt what I wanted... but it is a fun thread..
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yea, there is more than a little wisdom in those words, Gunni, but with a boat a careful man has somewhat of a chance
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