any opinions on the early Southerlys?

[herdman]

just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on these earlier models - in particular I am interested in the 100 and 105. in particular:

1) do these earlier models sail OK? I know that they introduced twin rudders later on - were they OK ish with just one?

2) Are they know to have any particular problems? eg osmosis

3) do those lifting keels still work - or do they fall to pieces after a while?

4) I know they have a good ballast ratio -but what is the form stability like? (mrs doesnt like boats that lean over too much...)

Any thoughts or more general observations (eg don't buy that model buy this one instead etc) much appreciated...


many thanks

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

A friend of mine had one and the keel fell out! Suggest you check that any boat you purchase has had the necessary modifications done to prevent this.

 

[rwoofer]

What I know of Southerlies:

1. I think earlier models where not very directionally stable and the rudder tended to loose grip fairly early when heeling.

2. Southerly seem to have a very good build reputation overall. I know they specificaly invested in an anti-osmosis system called Nordseal. Not sure when though.

3. Not heard many problems with their keel systems. Generally were over-engineered.

4. Form stability is good due to the high freeboard and pilot houses. Don't think any are below 130.

 

[GeorgeLlewellin]

For the last four years I have been sailing with my brother on his 1991 Southerly 100, “Mogendi”, this boat had the copper gel coat, it had not been treated for osmosis and there was no need to, he sold it in July of this year.
1. The lifting keel mechanism works particularly well, we had some problems at first but this was because someone had wired the relay for the electro hydraulics incorrectly and a reduction valve in the return oil pipe had been refitted the wrong way around. We sorted this in the first season and had no further problems.
2. Roller reefing main was a pain, sometimes difficult to get out, boom height and other settings were critical. Also a roller main has no battens and no roach so produces much less power.
3. Twin rudders would have been a great advantage, because of the short rudder the boat could not be pushed to hard.
4. Good sound boat, Northshore is an excellent yard with only one problem, it costs a lot. But then you get what you pay for.
George

 

[toad]

1 The shallow rudder on the 100 and 105 did tend to lose grip if pushed to hard and Northshore bought out a modification consisting of winglets on the rudder. The best one was the predecessor to the 100 the 95 which had a full length lifting rudder but you have to remember to lift it when going aground.
2 No more problems than any other manufacturer, probably less.
3 My keel is 25 years old and never been apart, most problems with the keels stem from lack of use or owners letting it down to fast (it weighs nearly a ton) and hitting the stops at full speed. Also you have a cast iron grounding plate which weighs just over a ton that the keel operates through.
4 Form stability is about average, the beam to length ratio is less than more modern boats.
The build quality is excellent but new Southerlys are nearly twice the price of a AWB so you get what you pay for. Northshore are very approachable and will give advice over the phone. On November 3rd Northshore are having a open day at there boat yard/factory give them a ring and get a invite.
I take it you have seen http://www.soa-online.org.uk/

 

[chasroberts]

As a 105 owner (sail no 35) I can agree with most of the comments above but as with pretty much everything boaty there is a compromise involved in all aspects.

The underwater profile is not the best for sailing as close to the wind as a AWB might and they are are a bit tender up to a point. The rudder problems have been addressed by the Southerly Owners Association (more on them later) by a couple of different methods which apparently have improved the situation.

The keel assembly has effectively remained unchanged from the early models to date so the basic concept can't be that bad. Yes, I have heard of people who have had probs with them and we had to get ours taken apart a couple of years ago to have some work done but then you hear problems about different aspects of different boats all the time and I don't think that the problems are endemic by any means. Ours is a manual lift keel using a trolley jack type arrangement and that takes about 60 strokes to get the keel fully up and takes a couple of minutes gently. Our record is about 18 seconds! My fault - miscalculated available water at Knock John.... The addition of a 12V motor from the tail lift of a Ford Transit is on the list of things to be done.

Build quality is excellent. The core that was removed when we had a bow thruster fitted had to be seen to believed. The guy who fitted it thought he was cutting through a solid layup and kept looking inside the boat to make sure that there was a space where he was drilling.

Anyway after all this rambling you can probably guess that I am rather enthusiastic about our Southerly despite these problems. Why? Well the accomodation is excellent (she has 8 berths although the one time we had that many people on board it got a bit 'friendly'.... The interior is light and airy with great headroom throughout. She's solidly built and the ability to reduce your draught from 2.4mts to 0.8mts (that's about knee high!) is a great comfort which we have used in anger once or twice especially on the East coast which was where we originally based. She'll go through all the European canals including the Midi with ease which is how we came down to the Med after getting bored with waiting for a weather window to get across Biscay.

The Southerly Owners Association is a great source of information and is very active. They have their own technical manuals on problems and solutions for all types of Southerlies. The manufacturers are also very good and willing to spend time discussing problems and how to solve them on a bpoat that came out of their yard more than 25 years ago. Now that's what I call after sales service.

Are you going to win the RTI race in one? Unlikely, although an early Southerly came second in class in a AZAB race a year or so ago I believe.

If you can find one in the right price range and condition then thoroughly recommend them to you. Feel free to pm me if you need more specific info.

Good luck with your search.

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