Colvic 26 Northener

[Captain Daz]

Colvic 26 Northerner like this one http://www.prestonmarina.co.uk/brokerage_pages/boats/Colvic Northener 26.html

What kind of fuel economy would she get?

Would she be OK for steaming up to Scotland (from NW England) and hopping round some islands?

And finally, would she be able to handle the same roughness of sea as an equivalent length yacht?

Thank you.

 

[LittleShip]

Before I went and bought Little Ship I was very tempted to buy a Colvic Northerner.

In answer to your questions.

1 Probably about 1 gallon/hr at cruise....approx 6knts
2 Only in settled weather. I think you will find they were designed as an estuary river cruiser. That said many have been tramping around the seas for years.
3 Probably but be aware that she is round bilge and will roll, you wont get the same stability as a yacht due to the breaking effect of the sail and keel.

Good luck, I was quite taken with the one I looked at on the East coast.

Tom

 

[sarabande]

what a fine, tidy, and clean vessel ! Go for it.


I note she has bilge plates which will reduce rolling.


Perkins 4108 - spares available everywhere and cheap.


Used sensibly in reasonable weather (i.e. don't challenge Corryvreckan in full flow!), she looks a good coastal cruiser.


A sailing boat of the same length will tough out really bad conditions more ably, but with a biggish engine you should be able to seek shelter before the wind arrives.

 

[PCUK]

Nothing to stop you adding a steadying sail which will reduce rolling and also enhance her looks!

 

[Chris_d]

Great little boats very seaworthy, use about 1gph at 6knts as already quoted. Ideal for the Scottish Isles as that was what it was designed for, if you search old MBM's there was a story of a couple who took one right round the UK.

 

[PCUK]

Chris, I was doing the same the same thing and met them on several occasions on the way. She was the skipper and he ran around as the crew. Worked very well.

 

[Captain Daz]

Thanks all for your responses, I do think she is remarkably pretty. And the permanent 'double' bed looks mighty useful.

As a very inexperienced boat person, perhaps I would feel more secure in a cat or a motor sailor.

I cannot find any reference to a round Britain journey on the MBM website.

 

[MANXPEDRO]

I have a northerner, and would not swap her.....unless I won the lottery! Yeah, she rolls a bit, but hey, what boats don't roll? I'm also using a gallon an hour with my BMC. I've taken her from Ramsey (Isle of Man) to Whitehaven several times without problem. Came home heading into a gale force 6 and she handled it fine. I'd certainly recommend a northerner!

 

[sarabande]

a pednat writes: ( )


err, "gale force 6" ?

"Gales" start at F7, and there's nearly 8 kts difference in wind speed between F6 and F7.

In terms of wind pressure that's more than 60 Newtons per sq meter.


But yes, the Northerners are really tough boats, and the one for sale is particularly attractive.

 

[Searush]

a pednat writes: ( )


err, "gale force 6" ?

"Gales" start at F7, and there's nearly 8 kts difference in wind speed between F6 and F7.

In terms of wind pressure that's more than 60 Newtons per sq meter.


But yes, the Northerners are really tough boats, and the one for sale is particularly attractive.

Dear Pednat.

"Gale force 6" is known as "the Yachtsman's Gale". It's to do with us only having lickle boats like.

 

[Captain Daz]

Well they certainly seem well respected.

As I mentioned earlier, I have very little experience and it is limited to the Lancaster canal and a sports cruiser on the Mar Menor, Costa Blanca. The boat advertised seems to missing items that other boats seem to have, like a depth meter and an autopilot, are these necessary?

There is no mention of a fridge, could it be that it has no fridge?

Thanks again.

 

[PCUK]

Let's be pedantic. Gales start at 8. 7 is a near gale so not a gale.
As for Capt Daz's list, none of the above is of any importance whatsoever when buying a boat. A fridge is the absolutely least important thing on the boat. Everything can be fitted later as required. You buy the boat for what it is. What it has is decided by the final price.

 

[JKay]

Well they certainly seem well respected.

As I mentioned earlier, I have very little experience and it is limited to the Lancaster canal and a sports cruiser on the Mar Menor, Costa Blanca. The boat advertised seems to missing items that other boats seem to have, like a depth meter and an autopilot, are these necessary?

There is no mention of a fridge, could it be that it has no fridge?

Thanks again.

It has Gps,Radar and a depth sounder(Fishfinder) you could fit a fridge yourself that boat looks to be in great condition which is more important than a few toys

 

[Captain Daz]

It has Gps,Radar and a depth sounder(Fishfinder) you could fit a fridge yourself that boat looks to be in great condition which is more important than a few toys

What could be more important than a fridge?

Thanks for the reply, I did not know the fishfinder acred as a depth meter.

 

[Captain Daz]

Let's be pedantic. Gales start at 8. 7 is a near gale so not a gale.
As for Capt Daz's list, none of the above is of any importance whatsoever when buying a boat. A fridge is the absolutely least important thing on the boat. Everything can be fitted later as required. You buy the boat for what it is. What it has is decided by the final price.

I appreciate that, I was asking what things it would need buying for it.,

 

[MANXPEDRO]

I'm Sorry that my slight 'err' on the Beaufort scale, could overtake the main topic of the thread!!!

I should have wrote Beaufort wind scale 6, strong breeze and sea state rough!!!

Getting back, if your new to boating, be sure to have a couple of runs out in her, take somebody who knows boats for an un biased opinion, and see if she has a survey. Also track down other owners an get their opinions too. I can't rate my old girl high enough!

 

[Searush]

Well they certainly seem well respected.

As I mentioned earlier, I have very little experience and it is limited to the Lancaster canal and a sports cruiser on the Mar Menor, Costa Blanca. The boat advertised seems to missing items that other boats seem to have, like a depth meter and an autopilot, are these necessary?

There is no mention of a fridge, could it be that it has no fridge?

Thanks again.

Nothing is actually "Needed" for pottering round, if you take care & stick to the blue bits on the chart in good weather. With bilge plates she should hold a course long enough to put the kettle on or pop to the loo. But on longer passages, especially if solo, an autopilot is very useful. Fishfiders are echo sounders with a pictorial display that shows a rolling picture of the bottom plus any shoals of fish under you. Fridge? A bucket of sea water with a cloth dipped in the water & draped over the side will keep milk cool for a day or so.

More important is condition of engine, hull etc. things that are not easy (or cheap) to fix if they go wrong. Beware of buying a dream that turns into a nightmare - go on sea trial believing it's rubbish & let it prove otherwise.

 

[PCUK]

Dead right Searush. After all the thread drift and opinions so far I think Daz can be pretty confident that the overall opinion is go for it! These are great boats and if it is as good as it looks you will be very happy.

 

[Captain Daz]

I agree, the general gist is to go for it.

I would not consider buying anything without a survey.

I live in the North West but had a revelation last night to moor any boat I buy up in Scotland, where I would want to sail her.

Any opinions on this?

 

[PCUK]

Makes sense!