Approx 30 foot walkaround - what would you buy

[Nautibusiness]

Winchester Yachts

OK, here is a spanner for the works as it isn't yet available....

...Remember the Landau range of boats?
They had the 20 and the 29.

Super efficient, slightly eccentric, but very sea worthy hulls. Smart launch look to the 20 and Down East or Lobster Boat style looks in the 29.

They developed a real niche market which sadly went pop with the economy. The 20 was a very VERY good boat, but with some simple design flaws such as you couldn't actually see where you were driving when on the cruiser version and you had to peer all the way through the accomodation.
Never went on the 29, but it got a very good review (which I have a copy of) in MBM.

Anyway, the point of this post is that an old Jeanneau customer of mine bought the moulds and took the basic designs to a MAJOR us design house and had the quirks ironed out and some great features built in.
The 20 is due to hit the market first and the first will be available in a few weeks with a view to a magazine review on it with MBM shortly after. This is outboard driven. Built by the guys down at Cornish Crabbers who have a real attention to detail with the onus being real wood rather than wood veneers. A rather large step up from the usual suspects in the pilot house / small cruiser market.

The Landau 29, reborn was due to be relaunched in a year or so after a few 20s had been sold, but if there was a real live buyer who wanted to get involved with choosing the finer points of detail such as dash layout, woodwork colour, fabrics etc etc then I am sure a very good deal could be struck and time scales could possibly be brought forward.

I have a copy of the review of the 29.
With a Yanmar 240, the old boat clocked 2.15mpg at 21.5knots.
Not strictly a walk around, but very safe side decks.

The 29 (29'5" loa) will be getting the same revamp as the 20. Modern and fresh yet full of traditional workmanship and real wood. Same slightly eccentric hull, but only eccentric as it breaks the moulds and really works.
Shaft drive and economical!

Not priced cheaply, but below some of the big known names.

The brand is being reborn (not relaunched as there are too many changes) as Winchester Yachts.

Keep an eye out or send me an email. The hull is proven, be part of the thinking behind the new look.

 

[Firefly625]

in a market like this with a new business selling re-designed boats that although didn't have a bad name, they didn't sell great to start with... I personally wouldn't put my money into one of those before a good few had come out the moulds and had established themselves... but all IMO!

Still prefer my Rhea 850 option...

 

[Nautibusiness]

in a market like this with a new business selling re-designed boats that although didn't have a bad name, they didn't sell great to start with... I personally wouldn't put my money into one of those before a good few had come out the moulds and had established themselves... but all IMO!

Still prefer my Rhea 850 option...

The point here being the hull is already first rate.
The interior can "almost" be designed to suit keeping key components that worked in their original places.

It's not the same as buying boat 1, 2 or 3. Bit like when Jeanneau or "A N Other" mass producer launch a facelift of an already existing model. Take my boat, the Merry Fisher 695. More then enough were made to iron out weak spots so when they launched the 705 there were few fears of having boats 1 to whatever.

The difference being that Winchester Yachts are maintaining very small levels of production and so the detail can be sorted out on the first boat. If it aint right, it don't go to market... It's not like one of those automated car washes where the next one is being shoved along behind you.

The Rhea is alright. Over priced in my view. And the 850 is (I think) a lot smaller than the aimed for 30'? Pretty boat though. Juicy(ish) on fuel.

 

[stuartwineberg]

I know but ......

I dont know why you are limiting yourself to shaftdrive because most boats around this length will be sterndrive and sterndrive will give you better economy anyway. If you are set on walk round decks, most of the Scandinavian builders offer models which may be of interest eg

http://www.targa.fi/Boats/27_1
http://www.minoroffshore.fi/minor-offshore-28.html
http://www.nordstar.no/

These boats, especially the Botnia Targas, will give you the same kind of rufty tufty seaworthiness and build quality that you are used to with your Hardy. At a cheaper level. the Karnics have built a good reputation and most of their models have WA decks

http://www.karnicboats.com/index.php?pageid=65

At the risk of severe thread creep induction, I can't get my head round the complexity and service costs of sterndrive. Something about aluminium in seawater and rubber gaiters keeping the sea out

 

[stuartwineberg]

Labrador

Is that right? I'm amazed because I can't see the logic of hybrid power for a sea going boat. Where have they all gone?



The side decks on many 30 footer boats are either non existent or dangerously narrow and if I was getting on a bit (which I am), I'd be thinking about WA decks too just for ease of movement and safety, even if they did compromise the accomodation

Apparently most are non hybrid - without all the hybrid gubbins they are a very good price foppar the size - as I said I still await comments on their performance in a seaway - there must be an owner on the forum


Absolutely agree about the decks - I nearly broke my neck trying to get on the foredeck on my friend's Windy Sirocco. Add a labrador to the mix and walkaround is the way to go

 

[stuartwineberg]

That's more like it

From the list of boat suggested the imagination seems a touch jaded. I would go for a proper boat every time. Why anyone would want to downsize to some of the boats mentioned can only mean that you have bought boats that you no longer want and no one else wants to buy, or you are a dealer. Take a look at the Vigilante 33, from Lyme Bay Boats, for example, 33ft long and a real boat, go for the single Caterpillar 3126, at 420 hp not only will it be economical on fuel it will be reliable and get you most way round the globe before it needs work. Cockwells in Falmouth make a beautiful 27ft vessel, there are some wonderful boats out there, you just have to look a bit further.............

Aha - some off the wall suggestions - thanks - and to LongJohnSilver as well.. I must admit that with the Nimbus/Corvette/Aquador suggestions - all good boats, I was thinking I had already seen all the options. I will look at these

 

[bumpy_the_dog]

Absolutely agree about the decks - I nearly broke my neck trying to get on the foredeck on my friend's Windy Sirocco. Add a labrador to the mix and walkaround is the way to go

Another vote for walkaround decks...fantastic for fishing from!

 

[BartW]

TBH i do not get the logic of WA in this size boat (unless it's a dayboat where accom doesn't matter). Two side decks eats loads of internal space.

well actually I specifically wanted a WA in that size (slightly smaller)
because:
- the kids or the crew can easily go on the bow, without having to climb on the dashboard, and annoying the driver.
- they can use the bow to sit on, with their foods in the walkway
- the lady's can nevertheless use the bow as a sunbed
- much more easy for mooring,
- the inside accommodation is indeed limited but nevertheless acceptable for the limited use / occasional overnight, most of the time is spend on the outside

I like the Rhea suggested above
and of cause the Karnic, as I still own one,
my K2660 has a 26ft hull but has lots of space with its 29ftloa,
still some K2660’s on the market, but only single or twin outdrive

before the Karnic I had two Faeton 630 and 730,
if I remember well Faeton models from 780 and higher, 1080....
they are available with shaft drive.
Solidly build boats, but a bit more utilitarian