Anyone have any experience with Island Plastics boats ?

[kgwanchos]

Hi all


Im in the process of rationalising what type of boat would be best for us now that we have a young family. I will be selling our Trident 24 as I cant afford the rest of the restoration till the wife goes back to work in a year or two so we will go without a boat till then (sob!). I saw this the other day

http://www.albion.uwclub.net/index.htm

Sorry about the stick thing on it I guess it is a motor sailer and I have put the same post over on the sailing forum and have one reply saying they were built on the IOW until early nineties..... perhaps not many ??

I get the impression of a good solid safe fishing/cruising/motorsailer hybrid with reasonable comfort levels ..... which is kind of what I had in mind. Can anyone shed any light on these boats.... ie
Are they well built
Are they good/bad under sail
General Pros and Cons
Anything about the company
Anything similar along these lines that you might recommend

Many thanks in advance

 

[ash12]

nice looking boat. slow though and it would roll like a pig if you didnt have the sail up!

 

[kgwanchos]

yes Im no expert but rolling did come to mind looking at the hull shape.... do you mean slow in general or just sailing....

 

[jfm]

Nothing major to say but IP were in business through the 1980s and made loads and loads of boats, some bare mouldings and others finished, and were regarded as a good company. Dunno what happened to them after that. Also I dont see why that boat will particularly roll like a pig: people often say that of round bilge boats but it's an old wives tale: the chine of a hard chine boat adds very little to roll resistance

 

[ash12]

no it definatley will roll a lot, i have a round bilge! As a hard chine boat have a bit more speed to stop the rolling action but because the round bilge boats are generally slower they will roll a lot more. Oh and i mean that it will be slow on both maybe 8-10Knts.

 

[Spars]

I get the impression of a good solid safe fishing/cruising/motorsailer hybrid with reasonable comfort levels ..... which is kind of what I had in mind. Can anyone shed any light on these boats.... ie
Are they well built
Are they good/bad under sail
General Pros and Cons
Anything about the company
Anything similar along these lines that you might recommend

Many thanks in advance

You are asking in the wrong part of the Forum as MBO's, in general are not used to displacemant hulls, and yes, they will roll but make very safe sailors/motor sailors.
The Island Plastic moulds were very popular and made two standards, basic, and a thicker one a half lay up and were both very strong.
It depends here on which one it is but the owner should know.
Colvic moulded similar styles to Lloyds A1 and you can find many examples of Motor Sailors, Sailors and Semi Planing and Planing hulls.
It's now down to you, safe displacement or speed and run back to harbour in a swell.

 

[coastwise]

IP23

I have had dealings with 2.

First one was build as a cutter rigged gaff ketch rig motor sailor by Keightleys of Boston in 70s. Topsides simailar to the advert but in varnished timber. Engine was a Farryman 10hp, which was a little underpowered (6knot max). Beautiful safe seaboat especially stern on in breaking seas going over the estuary bar. She had 16" bilge keels fitted which no doubt dampened the rolling and helped to keep her level when drying out. Nice beamy little boat but obviously not very close or good to windward undersail. Downwind with 2 foresails & gaff main & mizzen she was very comfortable and reasonable speed.

2nd one was a flushdecked with aft wheelhouse used for research work. Fitted with a Ford 4D which was a bit overpowered at about 52hp. Again fitted with bilge keels , with that power she was a brilliant little sea boat with minimal rolling with power on. I had her out in some really scruffy weather.

I would thoroughly recommend them for seakeeping, but for length, some space is lost by the canoe stern. They have a deep long straight keel that gives them directional stability and rolling is not unacceptable and considerably dampened by bilge keels.

See if you can find one near you & ask the owner ...or of course, a pre purchase trial

Paul

 

[kenspratt]

IP

My dad had one of these when I was a wee little lad. He must have bought it early eighties or late seventies. His was fitted out by his own fair hands.

I do just about remember a holiday with 5 of us and a dog on the thames. Emphasis on the motor part of the Motor sailor. Ours was a waste of time for any real productive sailing but out in a bit of a chop the sails stiffened her up and took out the worst of the roll. A 12hp engine is gonna be a little on the light side so don't expect to win any races and make sure you have good knowledge of any tides you plan on encountering as you would not want to be hammering into a head see stemming the tide on a miserable afternoon.