birchwood 370

[Guest]

Re: steady on Neilc!!

I was also at the boatshow this year and spent quite a long time on the Birchwood stand and found them to be both knowledgeable and friendly. As far as I could see, the boats were well put together but it is not possible to make a detailed inspection at the LBS.

If they are only for the Mediterranean, there are going to be a lot of disappointed UK dealers.

Nick

 

[markc]

AN INVITATION TO BIRCHWOOD!!!!

Ian

Thank you for your kind invitation, I presume that Neilc does indeed work for Birchwood.

I would gladly take you up on your invitation to visit the factory should I ever decide to buy a new Birchwood, which is unlikely. However, perhaps you should be inviting Chris, the originator of this message instead? At the same time, I could show him the two boats I was referring to?

I’m sorry I touched a nerve!

Mark

 

[chris]

Thanks for you reply. Your comments are presumeably relevant to all the sports cruisers that I see advertised not just the Commando 370. Am I making a mistake trying to get the best of both worlds? Should I really be looking at buying something designed for the river and resign myself to the hassle of tading in when I am ready to move to the South Coast in a couple of years?
This forum is really useful to a new boy like me trying to find his way through the miriad options available.
Thanks

 

[Guest]

Re: good show Birchwood!

I'm impressed! You can't argue with a personal invitation from the company itself. T'would be great if other compnay engaged their customers, or potential customers a bit.

Anyway, ahem, I think that the er 40 metre Feadship "Sussuro" is a bit rubbish, I hear er that the er build quality is dodgy, and that it can't crack 40 knots at all. Wonder if this will work?

Seriously tho, good stuff. The only prob with Birchwood IMHO is that the general look of them is a bit ungainly. Alright then, pig ugly. The commando range isn't as good looking as other competitors, frexample, and look as tho concerted effort has been made to avoid it looking like targa 48, by uglifying it. Also only a jetbike in the back, bit useless and passe.

 

[markc]

Chris

My comments about Birchwood aside....are you planning on restricting your cruising over the next couple of years to the Thames or will you be making sea passages during this time?

If you are planning to venture coastal then I would go for a craft suitable for that - there really are no unsurmountable problems with having a large sports cruiser on the Thames just plenty of close quarters manovering practice and giving it a good run now & then to stop the bores glazing up - this will save you swapping boats and probably save you some cash.

Good Luck
Mark

 

[Guest]

I think if you are going for river use only then get something designed for that - probably a single engined, naturally aspirated diesel with a low wake hull and maybe a bow thruster to help with close work. Change it for something designed for offshore work when you base yourself at a coastal marina.

If you intend to do a bit of sea work as well then you might as well go for a twin screw job capable of offshore passages and this will have a different hull which whilst more sea kindly, will be marginally less efficient for river use. You can use a sports cruiser for this but she will need a regular "blow through" which is achieved by running at near flat out speeds for a bit.

If you do go for a sports cruiser, I would seriously try for a shaft drive boat. They are easier to drive, more precise, better balanced and more reliable (this last is a bit of a generalism which no doubt someone will quote examples to disprove).

Consider also a Flybridge boat which IMHO is more suited to the UK climate. A drawback for river work, however is her air draft for getting under bridges but it is nice to have an inside helm position rather than being under a tent when it rains. Also, you will get more use in winter if you wish at the lower (heated) helm unlike the "boy stood on the burning deck" stuff of sports cruisers. It can be very cold at an external helm position, especially at speed.

You will also need different equipment for offshore work. You tend not to need GPS or radar, for example, for river work but these are serious offshore tools.

Good luck

Nick

 

[Guest]

Hi Chris,
The Birchwood TS37 with the aft cabin is one of the most popular cruisers around, good accomodation and quality built check out the boat reports
As to the new look of Birchwood the big windows on the commandos arent flattering but sensible as for protection and seeing out of but personally i like the challenger look better but I have to agree that they are more for the med than river use
Anyway whatever you choose dont buy anything without getting it properly surveyed.

 

[Scubadoo]

Re: steady on Neilc!!

I think this Saleman was based in the Med. The trouble is I often seen Birchwood boats in Marinas and advertised and was quite interested what they are like. Unfortunately my first encounter with them was this salesman, basically I was put of from ever buying Birchwood - then companies wonder why they loose sales. One day Boat companies (not just Birchwood) will realise that their Sales staff do put of potential customers by their attiude.

RM.

 

[Guest]

Re: dealers

This worth a whole 'nother thread, RM. Worst are the med dealers who meet you in sunglasses, hidden eyes, very suspicious.

 

[Guest]

Re: AN INVITATION TO BIRCHWOOD!!!!

Mark

Sorry but you presume wrong. I do not, and have never worked for Birchwood, I do not even own a Birchwood (Draco actually).

I see that you have declined Birchwoods' offer to discuss their build quality. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that they have contacted 370 owners?

So where does this leave us, perhaps you have a problem with Birchwood?

Or perhaps you work for one of their competitors?

 

[Guest]

Re: steady on Neilc!!

I think it would be fair to Birchwood if Markc were to identify the boats he refers to as Birchwood apparently can't find them. Where were they?

Nick

 

[markc]

Re: AN INVITATION TO BIRCHWOOD!!!!

Neil

Sorry, but this is getting childish now. You can make your own mind up as to why I don't want to go to Birchwood and if you think I work for a competitor - feel free.

Mark

 

[Guest]

Re: msge to neilc

Hi neilc. This is just a forum, so we all get to say our bit, and the others all get to make their own minds up. It isn't a formal enquiry-type place, and there's only a few of us so it isn't as tho we're slagging off products on TV, like (say) J Clarkson on the telly, somewhat different k of f.

I can't believe Birchwood have never had a problem boat anyway, so it wd be a little unrealistic for us all to say how utterly utterly irreproachably fab they or others are. And the fact that a B'd director has popped his head above the parapet as above remains pretty impressive to me, and I expect to others.

Anyway, now you can tell us all about the Draco problems.

 

[jfm]

I Willgress and Chris, gotta call a spade a spade

Hey look it's perfectly fine to report boat defects here. No-one's picking on Birchwood, I have a fairline and have mentioned their build mistakes on here, others have done the same.

The real problem with current Birchwoods, Ian Willgress and Chris, is that they are unbelievable plug-ugly (window shapes and that knuckle in the hull), and the brand image of the new boats is too close to Robin Reliant. Now, all that's in the eye/mind of the beholder, and it's just MHO, so you can disagree, but I suspect (can't prove) I'm not alone. Birchwood have to raise the appeal and chicness of the current product line. People who are able to buy a £200k upwards boat are generally pretty savvy, they will not be attracted by anything remotely near reliant robin brand image. So Chris, unless it's a great price I wouldn't buy it. And if it is a great price, remember there's a reason for that.

JFM

 

[Guest]

Re: I Willgress and Chris, gotta call a spade a spade

I agree with your view that the windows/hull shape just doesn't work. Certainly I wouldn't even consider one. I can't help feeling that they are chasing the wrong market. The TS33, TS37 and TS54 were good. Just look at how popular Traders are at the moment. Even Shetland are coming back with an aft-cabin design which makes the Birchwoods look even worse.

Doug A

 

[Guest]

Re: I Willgress and Chris, gotta call a spade a spade

Yes, agreed re B'wood image etc. But jfm a bit unfair to include Chris and Mr Willgress as "plug-ugly" too ;-)

 

[jfm]

Re: ooh er sorry bout that, never even met them

....sorry, didn't mean that, I promise to enrol in syntax classes this winter at nightschool, instead of yachtmaster watsit.

JFM

 

[Guest]

Re: msge to neilc

Matt

Point taken, nuff said on this subject, however just trying to balance the argument.

As for the the Draco it's a 3400 Zircon(always wanted a Windy but couldn't afford one) which I have owned since last year, and it is now 7 years old so any problems could not be reasonably pointed at the builder.

We love the boat. and think the layout is brilliant, although we have made some mods re storage etc.

She still manages 35 knots full up (with Yam 247's) which I think is pretty good.

I am keen to hear from anyone with same boat or similar installation

 

[Guest]

Re: Draco Zircon!

Wow, now *there's* a fabulous name! Something out of flash gordon. I like the windy's but they all say WINDY up the side in rather too-large lettering.

Yes, quite reasonable to balance up the argument - except on a forum, where the conversation runs off and away: it's near-impossible (and lame) to answer a point, however contentious with "how dare you! how rude! etc" and I suppose we've flushed out agreement between a random sample of boaties that (secretly) many agree that they are not good-looking and have a poor image.

 

[Guest]

Chris

I am with Mark on this one. I run a Draco 34 sports cruiser with twin outdrive turbo diesels.

A lot of our time is spent on the River Trent, however she usually goes to the coast for summer.

Most outdrive boats will tend to wander at river speeds which can be a pain, and you need to ensure that the turbo's get run up regularly, also slow manouevring can be an art although not a massive problem.

All this said I would not swap the enjoyment I do get when at sea.

As a permanent river boat you are not looking at the ideal thing, however as a compromise or stepping stone to a wider cruising area you could do worse.