MoodySabre
Well-Known Member
My son is looking at one of these this week. No long passages planned just toodling about with family and having fun. Are there any known issues with these boats - things to look out for?
Achilles 24
- Thread starter MoodySabre
- Start date
Gwylan
Well-Known Member
Great boat, exciting sail, learn to reef early. Look for roller reefing on genoa and 3 point slab reefing on the main. Reefing the main can be an experience if you leave it too late.
Can be a bit wet if things get interesting. Tend to be very near the action and get an early sensation of speed.
Well built, get a Mk2 - has the step into the cabin, stops the sea getting in too easily.
Avoid boats with inboard - unless it is new. Needs a 6hp outboard with separate tank to make any progress. Make sure you get the plugs for the outboard hole in the cockpit - not essential, just stops stuff falling down it when [if] you every take the o/b out.
Widely varying prices and quality of finish. Lots were home finished.
Can do everything from the berth, everything is near
Bilge keels so you can park anywhere.
Cozy for 2 and crowded for more to do more than overnight. Basic facilities, great for the weekend.
I spent 6 months on one going up the West Coast as far as Ardnarmurchan - and had a whale of a time
Replace the sea toilet with a porta potti or a red bucket!
Check the chain plates and that the rigging has not forced the mast foot into the cabin roof. Can be fixed, but will take time and effort.
Can be a bit wet if things get interesting. Tend to be very near the action and get an early sensation of speed.
Well built, get a Mk2 - has the step into the cabin, stops the sea getting in too easily.
Avoid boats with inboard - unless it is new. Needs a 6hp outboard with separate tank to make any progress. Make sure you get the plugs for the outboard hole in the cockpit - not essential, just stops stuff falling down it when [if] you every take the o/b out.
Widely varying prices and quality of finish. Lots were home finished.
Can do everything from the berth, everything is near
Bilge keels so you can park anywhere.
Cozy for 2 and crowded for more to do more than overnight. Basic facilities, great for the weekend.
I spent 6 months on one going up the West Coast as far as Ardnarmurchan - and had a whale of a time
Replace the sea toilet with a porta potti or a red bucket!
Check the chain plates and that the rigging has not forced the mast foot into the cabin roof. Can be fixed, but will take time and effort.
MonniotC
Well-Known Member
Most Achilles 24s are fin keel. A number are triple-keeled (mine is). None are bilge (twin) keeled.
Structure:
The deck is a balsa sandwich. If the deck is springy, then water has got at the balsa. Try bouncing gently all over the deck. If it is stiff, then fine. If it is soft or springy, don't touch it with a bargepole.
The other structural thing to check that I know of is the forestay tang. This is inside the anchor locker and is galvanised mild steel. They have been known to rust through. Not a huge job for a competent person/yard to replace, but needs checking.
Apart from the above, they are generally bombproof.
See the owners club website: http://www.achillesyachts.co.uk/
Although small, the Achilles 24 is very seaworthy, and will look after you in a blow.
It's worth noting that the triple keel performs almost as well as the fin keel, and much better to windward than most bilge-keelers.
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webcraft
Well-Known Member
Yep. We know someone who did an Atlantic circuit in one. Here they are setting off from La Gomera to cross the pond:
They encounterd some serious weather on the W-E trip but had no serious problems.
We know someone else from Oban who went to the Canaries and back in one. Both these were fin keeled.
- W
tarik
Well-Known Member
Achilles
Great little boat, owned one for 8 years before moving up to my Colvic Atlanta.
Easy boat to sail and very forgiving.
Go for it !!
Great little boat, owned one for 8 years before moving up to my Colvic Atlanta.
Easy boat to sail and very forgiving.
Go for it !!
Gwylan
Well-Known Member
Sorry, most are triple keel not bilge keel = my error! Triples have a very favourable racing rating though!
PeteCooper
Well-Known Member
Yep. We know someone who did an Atlantic circuit in one. Here they are setting off from La Gomera to cross the pond:
They encounterd some serious weather on the W-E trip but had no serious problems.
We know someone else from Oban who went to the Canaries and back in one. Both these were fin keeled.
- W
Nick, just as a matter of interest, why have they reduced sail so much? There doesn't look to be much wind.
webcraft
Well-Known Member
Because in about three minutes they are going to enter the almost permanent wind acceleration zone that sits just offshore from San Sebastian, where the wind is blowing F7-8.
- W
Achillesheel
Well-Known Member
Great little boat, I agree with all that has been said above, esp re checking that no water has got into the coachroof - although it is fixable.
Accomodation is limited but we have just spent a week on ours, with no ill effects.
Triple keels are apparently as fast as fins - there is little difference in PY numbers.
The inboard outboard works well.
Prices range from £2000 for a project, to £5000 for a good 'un.
We have found that wherever we tie up, someone will come along and say "Ah, an Achilles, I had one of those, they're great little boats", which says a lot - I used to get the same comment about my classic Mini Cooper.
As well as the Achilles website, there is a very active and enthusiastic discussion group on Flickr, search for Achilles Yachts. You'll get loads of useful advice from either site.
Accomodation is limited but we have just spent a week on ours, with no ill effects.
Triple keels are apparently as fast as fins - there is little difference in PY numbers.
The inboard outboard works well.
Prices range from £2000 for a project, to £5000 for a good 'un.
We have found that wherever we tie up, someone will come along and say "Ah, an Achilles, I had one of those, they're great little boats", which says a lot - I used to get the same comment about my classic Mini Cooper.
As well as the Achilles website, there is a very active and enthusiastic discussion group on Flickr, search for Achilles Yachts. You'll get loads of useful advice from either site.
Kilter
Well-Known Member
I saw someone sail in to that with full sail up; they dipped the spreaders!
We were well reefed and sailed through just fine.
To The OP great little boats that have made some substantial voyages...and done a lot of pottering too!
AndCur
Well-Known Member
Hi
Have been sailing an Achilles 24 for the last 10 years. For there size I don’t think you will find a better sea boat. They are light on the helm and a pleasure to sail when cruising passage speeds are usually over 5 knots. We crossed the North Channel on sat in a force 5/6 (Big Reef in main and jib) covering 22 miles in 3 hrs 45 mins. They are wet to windward, but they will keep going when other boats the same size would be running back to harbour. They liked to be reefed early but this is not a problem. The cabin is small and not really idea for extended cruising, but ok for overnights etc. They are well built. Interiors will vary in finish as lots were built as kit boats. Factory finished boats were finished very well.
Feel free to PM me if you need any more info
Cheers
Andrew
Have been sailing an Achilles 24 for the last 10 years. For there size I don’t think you will find a better sea boat. They are light on the helm and a pleasure to sail when cruising passage speeds are usually over 5 knots. We crossed the North Channel on sat in a force 5/6 (Big Reef in main and jib) covering 22 miles in 3 hrs 45 mins. They are wet to windward, but they will keep going when other boats the same size would be running back to harbour. They liked to be reefed early but this is not a problem. The cabin is small and not really idea for extended cruising, but ok for overnights etc. They are well built. Interiors will vary in finish as lots were built as kit boats. Factory finished boats were finished very well.
Feel free to PM me if you need any more info
Cheers
Andrew
MonniotC
Well-Known Member
Most are fin keel
Achillesheel
Well-Known Member
Is that William Garnier, who wrote up his exploits in Big Bloke Small Boat?
MonniotC
Well-Known Member
The dodgers are red, the same as on the front of the book, and the wind-vane looks the same - see here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Bloke-S...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281445762&sr=1-1
I believe there have been numerous transatlantics etc. in Achilles 24s, as well as to New Zealand, and a circumnavigation.
Vid
Well-Known Member
I've owned my triple keel for 12 months now - mostly day sailing and club racing with two or three crew. Had a great week on the east coast on it in July - fine for two of us but a third would have made a crowd. Recommended.
Edit: forgot to mention that Chris Baker, chaplain to University of Greenwich, is currently sailing his Achilles 24 around the UK at the moment - details on his blog here: http://alumni.gre.ac.uk/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=764&frcrld=1
Edit: forgot to mention that Chris Baker, chaplain to University of Greenwich, is currently sailing his Achilles 24 around the UK at the moment - details on his blog here: http://alumni.gre.ac.uk/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=764&frcrld=1
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