Can an Elysian 27 be used as a costal cruiser?

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Seafra

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Hello all,

I have been given an Elysian 27 with centre cockpit from a family member (yeah, i know, i know, lucky sod) and i'm wondering if it's suitable for harbour/costal cruising? I have spent many years holidaying on this boat, but always on a river. Unfortunately there are very few suitable rivers (and marina's) where i live that would be desireable. I don't intend to go mad and try cruising across the atlantic (i'm in Cork, Ireland) but would love to see her out on the sea for a bit of fishing etc. Nothing major. I've heard that the Elysian can and has been used as a Coastal Cruiser, but wanted to make sure before i get her transported off the Shannon and brought to Cork. thanks in advance for any replies.

Seafra.
 
The basic hull is fine for fair weather stuff and the engine size may not be a problem if you just want to potter about, there are plenty seagoing boats out there with small engines.
But if it has been built as a river boat there will be lots of none seagoing features that may prove trouble, windows that aren't wave proof, a non sealed front hatch, no drains in the cockpit that take water overboard, skin fittings too low that back syphon when a wave hits them, no where to stow an anchor, no where to put 20-30m of chain. A raw water cooled engine that will rot in seawater, no u-tube riser in the exhaust so water goes back up in into the engine, the list goes on and on. Then you need to add equipment, compass, plotter, flares, etc....
The answer is yes an Elysian 27 can be used at sea but not just any Elysian 27, the centre cockpit version was designed as a river boat where as aft cockpit versions were made for sea use, so I think it is unlikely yours will be seaworthy without some work.
 
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Fantastic video moonraker,a real blast from the past.senior 26 was my 1st time on the sea,thames to ramsgate,no electronics.
How did we all manage back then with no gizmo's;)
 
There's a fair size of river/canal network in Ireland so there's plenty to explore, although I don't think any of it comes very near Cork.
 
Great video Moonraker. Fascinating to sea our cruising ground as it was back then with some boats that are still around today :)
 
Great video Moonraker, think that proves there is nothing wrong with an Elysian at sea if its well prepared I've seen plenty of them sitting on bouys all around the coast.
I'd still be wary about advising a newbie with a centre cockpit version will be ok though as most were just fitted out as inland boats.
I used to have an Elysian 27 hulled Andrews Day boat and always wanted to get it down the estuary but never made it.
 
What part of Cork are you in?

If you are near Cork city, there is a big harbour there to explore, probably plenty for a summer of 2 of boating and it should be relatively sheltered.
However if you want to go outside the mouth of the harbour, then you're going to be hit by the full force of the Atlantic and you need to be prepared, it's amazing how fast it can blow up.

I'm in Baltimore and there are some boats here that never leave the shelter of the Islands and again you would be fine for a bit of fishing and sight seeing, as long as you're careful.

However, you've got a boat designed for river cruising, personally I'd take the opportunity to cruise the Shannon and it's lakes for your holidays and when you want to go coastal then look at selling and buying something more suitable.
If ever you do want to sell it on, it will be a lot easier to sell on the Shannon than down in Cork.
 
My parents had one in the 70s, and we did cross the channel in it to France and Belgium.

But...

We had swapped the 1000cc Morris Petrol for a 2litre Ford Petrol so it was good for 9-10knots.

And compared with boats I have been on since, it was a godawful sea boat!

But with the right kit (VHF, Spare Outboard on Bracket) etc etc it will do it.
 
I first saw this boat (in the photo below) here in the early '70's - she was then called 'Miss Kaywana', and she had two small inboard diesels (I am guessing BMC or Perkins?) on shafts. I think she is (or was) an Elysian 27, or similar.
She went through various transformations - at one stage with the original length cabin she had a small wheelhouse that even had a flying bridge on top.
Then she was bought by a commercial fisherman who converted her into a small 'ice-boat' - ie a boat with an icebox in the cockpit that can stay out at sea for up to a week at a time.
The cabin was shortened, a new wheelhouse built, she was converted to single screw and an icebox was added in the larger cockpit.
I am guessing that she probably has a Ford engine now of approx 80 hp.
She is obviously seaworthy, as she goes out fishing in winter tradewind conditions when the winds are typically 15 - 20 knots and the seas easily 2 - 3 m, and she might stay out for a few days at a time, or longer.

DSCN2729_zps149de0dc.jpg
 
Another little fishing boat of English origin that has pitched up here is 'Harmony', in the photos below.
She is a Myra 21 and was built in the mid seventies - I think she originally had a Volvo MD1 7 hp inboard diesel and shaft drive.
Some years ago this outboard bracket was added - the engine is a bit of an over-kill, but I guess it all works well.

DSCN2731_zps8e9ceda5.jpg



DSCN2730_zpsce0a3ba0.jpg


And both the Elysian and the Myra above are probably a lot more seaworthy than this little Westerly 22 sailing yacht that was re-fitted in the hope that she would become a speedboat......

Noskiere-fitted_zps87b5b225.jpg
 
We came across a Freeman 2MKI in Wells next to sea this summer. It had made its own may from Boston.(Lincs) Single petrol 998cc. Hand held GPS.
No worries.
 
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