Best ketch on a budget

[Rivers & creeks]

If the OP is singlehanding then I get the ketch thing, it makes each sail more manageable. I think it looks much nicer too. Those old designs have a grace about them but gosh they are narrow! Our old Macwester 28 was 9' 6" and that Trintella and Renown are about the same. I don't like narrow long keeled boats, too rolly and a bit poky inside. Apologies to anyone who has one but I'm no fan at all of the Neptunian.

The Coaster is a very fine boat, the Countess 33 is brilliant, really recommend that. The Colvic watson 32 will look after you in any weather but the side decks are a real pain with all the shrouds led to deck plates. The Colvic Watson 34 is a big old beast for singlehanding in a big blow, I often sail single handed but not out into the wilds though both the previous owners regularly two handed her around the west coast of Scotland.

If you fit a mizzen staysail a ketch will beat a sloop of the same size in speed terms, we couldn't use one because we had a wind generator on the mizzen mast.

Any chance of some oics of the mizzen staysail, we have a cruising chute but want to add more sail area.

 

[lw395]

>..... If you fit a mizzen staysail a ketch will beat a sloop of the same size in speed terms, we couldn't use one because we had a wind generator on the mizzen mast.

That's because ketches usually motor upwind.
If that suits what you'd like to do, then that's fine, I've only been overtaken under sail by ketches or yawls when they were seriously bigger than what I was sailing.

 

[Eyore]

That's because ketches usually motor upwind.
If that suits what you'd like to do, then that's fine, I've only been overtaken under sail by ketches or yawls when they were seriously bigger than what I was sailing.

Wow, that's a very sweeping generalisation , no need to to slag off ketches due to your prejudice. Its horses for courses, ketches have a very valid raison d'etre and shouting your way round the cans isn't one of them.

 

[lw395]

Wow, that's a very sweeping generalisation , no need to to slag off ketches due to your prejudice. Its horses for courses, ketches have a very valid raison d'etre and shouting your way round the cans isn't one of them.

Ketches have their uses, but to imply they are faster than a similar sloop or cutter is nonsense, except downwind.
And even then, that's debatable.
I'm reminded of the big ketches in the latter whitbreads, they were quick downhill.
A lot of sloop owners seem happy to motor upwind too, perhaps they should get ketches, at least it would be easier for them to get some sails out downwind?
Personally I think the Bermudan ketch is not a pretty sight, at least the last ketch that overtook me was a very pretty gaff job, about 65ft, not including bowsprit IIRC.

As I said, if the performance of the boat suits what you want to do, that's great, but I've known a couple of serious cruising blokes regret not putting windward ability higher up the wish list.

 

[Ludd]

I have a NAB35(sloop) but it is the same boat as the Rasmus 35 (HR) and most of them were ketches. Exceedingly comfortable in bad weather,original engine was md 21 (75hp!) but most will have been re-engined.The hard top is brilliant!

 

[Eyore]

Ketches have their uses, but to imply they are faster than a similar sloop or cutter is nonsense, except downwind.
And even then, that's debatable.
.

Similar being the operative word. ie same waterline length and displacement. Bit pointless comparing apples and oranges.

 

[lw395]

Similar being the operative word. ie same waterline length and displacement. Bit pointless comparing apples and oranges.

Even if you take the same hull, a sloop will generally be better upwind, although I'm sure there is a badly enough designed exception of a sloop to prove the rule.
Even if you were comparing a sloop or cutter with a bigger ketch with a similar sized main, I think you'd struggle to get the performance.

Being on a budget myself, a boat that will sail when others are motoring is a great pleasure.
However if the OP wants a ketch, there are plenty out there to choose from.

 

[alant]

Very good value Trintella 36 Mk111 on Apollo duck. Its an executors sale and is lying in Valentia Island at Murphys boatyard. Should fit the bill perfectly.

http://www.apolloduck.ie/feature.phtml?id=328839

Any idea of actual condition?

 

[KellysEye]

>Do you find the mizzen affects your vane steering?

No not on any point of sail. The only issue was the mizzen boom was over the back of the pushpit so we had to lift the boom up to tack or gybe, but on the long distances you rarely have to do that.

>I think you're being a bit generalised, and optimistic, about the performance benefits of a mizzen staysail, as a sloop will be able to fly a bigger spinnaker.

A spinnaker is cheating ;-) We had one but didn't use it. We had a twin headsail Twistle rig which you can reef whereas a spinkaker is up or down and usually down at night on a long passages.

>That's because ketches usually motor upwind.

We never did that, for example we sailed 500nm from Bonaire back to the island chain twice and sailed all the way. Motoring upwind, upcurrent would be a nightmare.

 

[Eyore]

Any idea of actual condition?

I knew the previous owners, very elderly husband and wife. They maintained it well in their ownership and did little except potter about. Unfortunately she died about 6 years ago and he couldent do much with it by himself. He died about 3 years ago since when it has been laid up ashore. I have no doubt its absolutely sound and only in need of cosmetic tidy up.

 

[alant]

I knew the previous owners, very elderly husband and wife. They maintained it well in their ownership and did little except potter about. Unfortunately she died about 6 years ago and he couldent do much with it by himself. He died about 3 years ago since when it has been laid up ashore. I have no doubt its absolutely sound and only in need of cosmetic tidy up.

Thanks, will pass it on.

 

[Ashman]

I'm with NOHO, a Victory 40 is a safe affordable Van de Stadt designed ketch that is easy to sail and yet delivers a good turn of speed especially when there's a breeze.

Of course I am biased ....this pic (sorry about the quality but taken from 1.5 miles) of our Victory 40 was taken just three days ago rounding the southern tip of the Island of La Palma in 30kts under full genoa and mizzen and clocking 7kts - we were having a ball in perfect safety and comfort under the cover of the centre cockpit shelter.

 

[lw395]

I'm with NOHO, a Victory 40 is a safe affordable Van de Stadt designed ketch that is easy to sail and yet delivers a good turn of speed especially when there's a breeze.

Of course I am biased ....this pic (sorry about the quality but taken from 1.5 miles) of our Victory 40 was taken just three days ago rounding the southern tip of the Island of La Palma in 30kts under full genoa and mizzen and clocking 7kts - we were having a ball in perfect safety and comfort under the cover of the centre cockpit shelter.
View attachment 39479

Can the OP get anything like that in his budget?

 

[Ashman]

Its possible - we did.....but it then it took us three years to rebuild her from one end to the other. We still have the original engine, spars, sails and most of the original fittings. We had to rewire etc and we could have been seaworthy in budget but we wanted her for our long term offshore cruising plans so we replaced all the electronics, autopilot, sails, standing rigging etc

We looked at several Victory 40's before finding this one in Spain, the OP should contact www.victory40.co.uk/ they might able to point him in the right direction.

 

[Sybarite]

I sail on the south west coast of Ireland and I am looking for a good strong ketch or yacht with a dog house / wheelhouse for cruising this coast and beyond where inclement weather and strong winds are the norm. I would have cruising aspirations to head north to Scotland and the Faroes so the boat needs to be a good sea boat. I have a limited budget circa €25 to €30k and would ideally require a 30 to 40 footer. I am considering a barbary ketch or neptunian 33. If I could find a good example of a Nicholson 38 within my budget I would go for one but they are in short supply and possibly beyond my budget. I would like to know from sailors with experience of these vessels or other vessels they may deem suitable and in particular how well they sail and any comments re accommodation and living space.

Look at a Rasmus 35 hard top.

Also Salar 40; Amel Sharki, Moody Halberdier, Malo 50 (36').
Jouët 10m40, Bénéteau Evasion 34/37, Moody Eclipse, Jeanneau Espace 10m/11m.

Just Google them for info.

PS Welcome to the forum Tony.

 

[Eyore]

So do many sloops.

And you will see the ones that don't motor, thrashing to windward a mere 5 degrees off the wind with 10 gorillas on the rail , while the rest of us poor deluded ketches and yawls will be lucky to get anywhere at all without the iron topsail.

 

[Frankie-H]

Moody 42 '81. Junica is seriously for sale and might just be within your budget. Lived aboard for 18 years and now swallowed the anchor. Laid up ashore in the S of France. PM me if you are vaguely interested. I can give you my phone number for a chat. She will need work but certainly not a stem to stern rebuild. I hope this does not breach any advertising rules.

 

[baggypipes]

Nothing wrong with a ketch rig we have had ours for past 4 years & don't have to put the engine on to get anywhere or have gorillas hanging off the side, there is only two of us oldies, sadly we now have her up for sale in 'Suffolk' as we need to retire into the canals & cant take it with us. Its a very solid westerly solway 36' twin keels, it also has a SOLID DOGHOUSE . did have it on the duck but that adverts finished, it is on the e bay

 

[baggypipes]

I sail on the south west coast of Ireland and I am looking for a good strong ketch or yacht with a dog house / wheelhouse for cruising this coast and beyond where inclement weather and strong winds are the norm. I would have cruising aspirations to head north to Scotland and the Faroes so the boat needs to be a good sea boat. I have a limited budget circa €25 to €30k and would ideally require a 30 to 40 footer. I am considering a barbary ketch or neptunian 33. If I could find a good example of a Nicholson 38 within my budget I would go for one but they are in short supply and possibly beyond my budget. I would like to know from sailors with experience of these vessels or other vessels they may deem suitable and in particular how well they sail and any comments re accommodation and living space.

Hi tried sending PMs not sure if you got them pm me if not cheers

 

[Jim@sea]

In 1982 I bought a 1973 Nauticat 33 Ketch. Fond memories.