Birchwood 370 Commando

Have to say that does look better, but i think the point is that its doesn't look like a T37, if you bought one of these you wouldn't want it to be msitaken for the common as muck T37 would you /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Some people have too much free time!!!

Problem with 'blanking off' part of the window is that you cut down on visibilty, the windows are too tall to look over and down even when standing up (and I'm 6ft 3in) so you need to be able to see down through the window, I think that's why the windows are designed that way.
looks good though...

That Yanmar powered 370; was she in Chichester by any chance??
 
[ QUOTE ]
That Yanmar powered 370; was she in Chichester by any chance??

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, she was. Cloud Nine was the name. Very, very rarely went out. She was on the market for £120k ish, and took an absolute age to sell.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Have to say that does look better, but i think the point is that its doesn't look like a T37, if you bought one of these you wouldn't want it to be msitaken for the common as muck T37 would you /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh I dunno... I might :-)
 
[ QUOTE ]
That looks much better, shame you weren't around before, they might not have gone bust /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Going back years Nick, maybe 5 years, I think there was someone on here from Birchwood. Like the MD or something. There was a big thread and general consensus (shared by me) that Birchwood was a strong brand name and the business could be turned around and could prosper, becuase the boats were well built/specced/priced and there were many years of loyal customers.

But in the same thread there was a strong view (me included) that they had to sack the stylists and redo the GRP tooling. The knuckle had to go we said (which Mr Birchwood, iirc, thought was sacrilige; HE liked it so it would stay, with complete disregard for the fact his potential new customers didn't like it. He said his customers liked it, but he seemed oblivious to the views of his almost-customers...). The window shapes had to change, we said, and the flybridge deck tools all had to be redone - some looked Reliant Robin.

They didn't listen and went bust. (Not saying direct causal link there!). Shame really. There are lots of theories/views on why they went bust but imho they just didn't do a few things that would have made the product more attractive to those many folks with £400k buring hole in pocket, back in the boom years. Ho hum, sad really.

Of course now the brand is back with knuckleless hulls and sensible windows, but very little marketing in a wheels-fallen-off economy. Will be interesting to see how it goes. Best of luck to them
 
Ahem....spoke to chum last night who has one of these and he claims a GPS 40 knots.
Only critical comment was from another friend(Fairline 43ft Targa/ tent boat owner) that the Birchwood ride is very bouncy compared to his boat.
 
Sorry to resurrect this slightly old thread .... but Jez if you're interested there's one of these for sale privately in Brighton Marina with an asking price of £80k. It's been up for sale for years (literally) so there might be an opportunity there for you praps? PM if you want the contact number.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
[ QUOTE ]
he claims a GPS 40 knots.

(Fairline 43ft Targa/ tent boat owner) that the Birchwood ride is very bouncy compared to his boat.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bit unfair this comparison. The T43 weighs almost double the Bitchwood and is shaft driven as oppposed to outdrives

The T43 is a far more upmarket off shore cruiser with a top speed of around 33-34 knots ish. Also more than twice the price. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
A Bitch Would 360 Without Knickers

well, that's a bit generous. I seem to recall it being variously suggested that the last-ditch-Sunseeker-challenging original full name as above was wimpishly changed at the last moment to "Birchwood 370 Commando", a completely rubbish name and the boat itself so poxy-looking that nobody could ever take it very far (eg med) for fear of being laughed at, and even a never-designed-a boat before Newbie Stylist could do loads better in five minutes, and now proven above in a lot less than 5 minutes, even without starting on the ghastly hull. So well done jfm, bit late tho.

I mean for crissakes "Birchwood" is only one step up from calling it "Sidebottom"? Actually given the shape, Sidebottom 370 more appropriate....

And the model name is a bit lame - old brit bike Commando (Norton can't come after us hehe). Mind you better than the alternative Dundee Cake 37 Atlas or the Birds Custard 370 Speed Twin. Jeez! Sorry Mrs Spitfire. There again, i spose it's a good job there aren't any competing boat manufacturers offering boats called Larchtree Hurricane ME 109 frinstance, hm? Or the Maranti Supermarine 911? Er, although Maranti Supermarine 911 is actually a better name.... Ahem, anyway, proves the point, and we can call jfm's new design that to start off with, perhaps....

Anyway.... i hope it's cheap cos brandwise it won't ever sell for more than 50k. So...offer 50k?
 
Re: A Bitch Would 360 Without Knickers

oooh get her!! what's TCM stand for? Total Crap Moron??? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: A Bitch Would 360 Without Knickers

Traditional Chinese Medicine

or

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

You choose /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Re: A Bitch Would 360 Without Knickers

Sorry Jimmy, didn't realize he was your girlfriend /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I'M ONLY KIDDING....
 
Re: A Bitch Would 360 Without Knickers

One turned up in Gib at OV this weekend. Looked awful stern on. Looked narrow and tall and those knuckles did it no justice at all. Mind you it was blowing strongly around Europa point so must have good sea handling as I saw a Fairline (46?) Flybridge struggling! I was on my way to talk to him when I got waylaid by a cold beer...

Goes to show that a boat looks very different in the flesh...

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: A Bitch Would 360 Without Knickers

well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess...sounds like you're describing a flybridge though...
 
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