Choosing a single handed, live abord

My visits into the Baltic and rock island dodging is that it is motor boat country. Have you thought of the dark side?
 
Last edited:
BluePeter said:
OP here again, I thought this thread might be drawing to a natural conclusion, but something Tranona said about the V34P's D/L & SA/D concerned me. So I felt I needed to justify my initial thoughts, if not alter my decision to stick with my N331.

Based on an LWL of 27.5 ft and a nominal displacement of 14000 lbs, I reckon a D/L of 300 (my N331 is 247). Either boat will cope with the short Baltic chop, but I assume the V34P might do it more gracefully?

I've never been sure of how to calculate the SA/D for a boat with a flexible sail plan, but I reckoned figures of 16.25 under main, yankee, & self tacking stay; or 18.7 under main & genoa (a more likely set-up in the Baltic's light winds?).

Now I recognise that these figures will mean Vancouvers are not fast, but they are not as bad as Tranona suggests.

Another interesting figure is the draft of only 4'9" or 1.45 m against the N331's 1.68m - I liked the idea of that extra bit of clearance in the rocky Baltic, not that it's my intention to meet to many of them.

Can anyone be bothered to check my calculations?

And anyway how important is a speedy boat, if I am likely to be cruising relatively short daily (tideless!) distances and then only several days in a week? The idea is to enjoy the scenery and the stops (both in busy towns and quiet anchorages) rather than set myself to catch the boat in front (isn't that what we all do in the Solent?). So being able to keep watch from the pilot house, where SWMBO is also happily ensconced seemed appealing. It's also easy to fit (with the traveller on the coachroof) a cockpit cover, giving an extra room when at anchor. My N331 has no traveller but the main sheet attaches to the cockpit sole when sailing and to the toe rail when not, making a cockpit cover more of a problem.

Most of the V34P's for sale at the mo are from circa 1995. My N331 is from 1998. Can anyone tell me which will cost more in the next ten years?

But what persuaded me to stick with my N331 despite the "apparent advantages" of the V34P, is firstly that I know and trust her - and of course that's very important. Next was that she will turn on an öre (about the same size as a sixpence, but worth even less!), which will be useful in the tight channels between some of the islands. And goes in reverse sweetly. Lastly of course buying out my partner and making the necessary alterations I listed in my last post (plus an anchor winch, which I forgot), is by far and away the cheaper option!

BluePeter

PS Doug: are you my son-in-law?
Click to expand...

The data for both boats came from Sailboat, so they are directly comparable using the same formula. The SA is based on main and standard jib, so of course will vary according to the actual sail area being used. The figures for your boat area Sa/Displ 16.18, and Disp/L is 272 - both of them typical of a sprightly cruiser of the time. These figures, of course only tell part of the story, but enough to show the two boats are very different. What gives your boat extra "performance" advantage is the deep keel of efficient shape and the high aspect fractional rig, both of which contribute to far better windward performance and particularly good light airs performance. You will be able to sail in conditions (common in the Baltic) where a Vancouver would need to motor.

I can see the attraction of a wheelhouse, but suspect that is more in the imagination than in reality. It starts to get more attractive as boat size increases as the Regina that Malo 37 is offering, although you might find the cockpit a bit cramped given the size of boat. Really start to make sense when you get to something like a Nauticat 42 which is big enough to have both a decent deckhouse and cockpit and has a big enough rig (SA/Displ 17.5, Disp/L 331). However is in a different league of cost to buy and run.

Should not be too difficult to get a spray hood and detachable cockpit tent made - suggest you talk to John Bland at Tecsew in Gosport who has a wizzo bit of software for designing such things to your requirement. He made an excellent job of the covers for my boat.

Good luck with your project.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

stav
What sailing jacket have I worn out so I can ask for a new one from Santa?
Replies
9
Views
451
Boathook
Boathook

Share this page

Top