Lost my Hunter 33 in Katrina, and after trying to make do with a powerboat for the last year, have decided I have to get back to sailing. I've got a chance to purchase a 1979 Gulfstar 37 that has been well cared for (I've known the boat and owner for years). If anyone has any experience with this model I'd appreciate sharing it with me. A couple of areas concern me: It has a perkins 4-108 diesel - are parts and service easily obtained for an engine this old? I know a lot of boats have them, but don't know if parts are easy to get. Second, the weight of the boat is around 19,000 lbs. It seems to me this might be a very slow boat in light air and probably would not be that fast in 15k breezes...anyone got any experience with this boat in sailing conditions?
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nice off shore boat...
you are correct on your two concerns. But you can still get the engine parts by ordering them, as they won't be in stock.
you are correct on your two concerns. But you can still get the engine parts by ordering them, as they won't be in stock.
Gulfstar 37
I have hull # 2 of the gulfstar 37 sloop. I've had it for the past 17 years. It is slow in light air but respectable at 15 kt winds. Handles chop nicely because of its weight. Very comfortable. I've repowered with a Yanmar 50 hp, increased shaft dia 1/8 inch because of the larger engine and changed to a 3 blade prop. When I'm sailing it's for fun - when I need to get somewhere or fight heavy weather the extra power is nice to have. Sailed from the central Chesapeake Bay to Mass. for 3 months this past summer and found the boat to be very comfortable in the ocean and high NE currents.
I have hull # 2 of the gulfstar 37 sloop. I've had it for the past 17 years. It is slow in light air but respectable at 15 kt winds. Handles chop nicely because of its weight. Very comfortable. I've repowered with a Yanmar 50 hp, increased shaft dia 1/8 inch because of the larger engine and changed to a 3 blade prop. When I'm sailing it's for fun - when I need to get somewhere or fight heavy weather the extra power is nice to have. Sailed from the central Chesapeake Bay to Mass. for 3 months this past summer and found the boat to be very comfortable in the ocean and high NE currents.
Adrian - Gulfstar 37 - engine size????
Adrian, when you bought your boat what was the horsepower of the perkins? Present owner seems to think the boat has 50 horssepower, but i am thinking that the orginal perkins in this 79 model (I think hull 116) probably was the 40 hp 3000 rpm version of the 4-108. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Adrian, when you bought your boat what was the horsepower of the perkins? Present owner seems to think the boat has 50 horssepower, but i am thinking that the orginal perkins in this 79 model (I think hull 116) probably was the 40 hp 3000 rpm version of the 4-108. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Perkins M-108
My boat has an M-108. I have never had a problem getting parts. It seems Perkins pride themselves on always having parts available. The M-108 has oil leak issues but most Perkins owners seem to live with that. They also smoke more than other engines. Make sure you get a compression test before signing on the dotted line. The engine has a long life if well looked after.
My boat has an M-108. I have never had a problem getting parts. It seems Perkins pride themselves on always having parts available. The M-108 has oil leak issues but most Perkins owners seem to live with that. They also smoke more than other engines. Make sure you get a compression test before signing on the dotted line. The engine has a long life if well looked after.
Franklin - Sorry, I misunderstood your question
The sail area is 615-630 square feet depending on which source you look at...definitely needs genny and I would not expect much performance under 12 kts of breeze...but everything I read on them says they are comfortable cruising boats....
The sail area is 615-630 square feet depending on which source you look at...definitely needs genny and I would not expect much performance under 12 kts of breeze...but everything I read on them says they are comfortable cruising boats....
Thanks jlogan
Yes, that could use some more sail area if you can find a way to do so. Heavy boats are great to have out in deep water if you can get up enough sail to move them. Seems though that those boats are extremely costly and definately out of my price range.
Yes, that could use some more sail area if you can find a way to do so. Heavy boats are great to have out in deep water if you can get up enough sail to move them. Seems though that those boats are extremely costly and definately out of my price range.
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