siencyn
Well-Known Member
Hullo, I am about to buy a Colvic Countess 33 Ketch. Are there any common issues with this Model I should look out for?
Thanks for any advice
Thanks for any advice
Colvic Countess 33
- Thread starter siencyn
- Start date
Abraxas33
Active Member
Richard,
I see you already have a Colvic so you will know that the fit-out varies from very professional to real dogs. I think a few Countess 33's were finished by professional yards but most were home completed (some of the home jobs may well be better than the yards)!
I've had my 33 ketch for seven years and love it although there are a few 'odd' features, such as:
The aft berth (in Abraxas) is positioned across the boat rather than fore and aft. I'm on the short side at 5' 4" and my wife even smaller so it's not a problem for us.
Our boat has two heads which I did thought was daft when we bought the boat but it works very well well for us and is great when visitors stay.
The design displacement is 6,000 Kg's and the rig is not that big so she will never win any races. Also we do not use the mizzen much... well not to set a sail but it does carry the radar, radar reflector, TV aerial, navtex aerial, spare VHF aerial, cockpit light for when sun-downer parties get a bit late, support for the aft gantry that carries a 100 watt photo panel via stays that act as a SSB aerial.
The main rigging is 7mm which is a bit odd as most boats this size use 8mm. We had the boat re-rigged when we bought her and have not had any problems.
The Countess Owners Association is a good source of information and the designer (Ian Anderson) can be contacted for advise if needed.
Go ahead and buy one. You won't get more volume in a 10 metre mono. (we live on ours for seven months of the year and have cruised her from West Wales up to Scotland and down into the Med via Biscay and are now in Greece. They are very comfortable boats.
PM me if you need more.
Gareth
I see you already have a Colvic so you will know that the fit-out varies from very professional to real dogs. I think a few Countess 33's were finished by professional yards but most were home completed (some of the home jobs may well be better than the yards)!
I've had my 33 ketch for seven years and love it although there are a few 'odd' features, such as:
The aft berth (in Abraxas) is positioned across the boat rather than fore and aft. I'm on the short side at 5' 4" and my wife even smaller so it's not a problem for us.
Our boat has two heads which I did thought was daft when we bought the boat but it works very well well for us and is great when visitors stay.
The design displacement is 6,000 Kg's and the rig is not that big so she will never win any races. Also we do not use the mizzen much... well not to set a sail but it does carry the radar, radar reflector, TV aerial, navtex aerial, spare VHF aerial, cockpit light for when sun-downer parties get a bit late, support for the aft gantry that carries a 100 watt photo panel via stays that act as a SSB aerial.
The main rigging is 7mm which is a bit odd as most boats this size use 8mm. We had the boat re-rigged when we bought her and have not had any problems.
The Countess Owners Association is a good source of information and the designer (Ian Anderson) can be contacted for advise if needed.
Go ahead and buy one. You won't get more volume in a 10 metre mono. (we live on ours for seven months of the year and have cruised her from West Wales up to Scotland and down into the Med via Biscay and are now in Greece. They are very comfortable boats.
PM me if you need more.
Gareth
siencyn
Well-Known Member
Thanks/Diolch Gareth,
Thats really helpful. I am going to buy her provided the survey does not show up anything really bad. Do you know how you can tell a home build? Should there be some paperwork. By the way, I've sold my colvic sailor. Just luck brought me the chance to upgrade to this 33 but you are right. If she is as solid as my old sailor she will be a good buy. Why do you not use the Mizzen? Is it a lot of trouble? There is Mizzen staysail with the boat. I guess thats for very light airs?
Thanks again
Richard
Thats really helpful. I am going to buy her provided the survey does not show up anything really bad. Do you know how you can tell a home build? Should there be some paperwork. By the way, I've sold my colvic sailor. Just luck brought me the chance to upgrade to this 33 but you are right. If she is as solid as my old sailor she will be a good buy. Why do you not use the Mizzen? Is it a lot of trouble? There is Mizzen staysail with the boat. I guess thats for very light airs?
Thanks again
Richard
sailorman
Well-Known Member
a friend of ours sailed his 33 fron Cyprus to Thialand single-handed.
God knows where he is now ( Yacht - Storyville ) have unfortunatly lost contact
God knows where he is now ( Yacht - Storyville ) have unfortunatly lost contact
jerryat
Well-Known Member
Im assuming your survey will fully check for nasties like osmosis. Friends of mine with one of these had dreadful pox in theirs, with blisters up to 30mm diameter.
They may just have had a 'Friday night' one of course and hopefully the one you're considering will be pox-free.
Otherwise, and as others have said, lots of space for the money.
They may just have had a 'Friday night' one of course and hopefully the one you're considering will be pox-free.
Otherwise, and as others have said, lots of space for the money.
Abraxas33
Active Member
Richard,
I bought mine from the guy that built her so I got loads of info but just from the paper work you should be able to tell (I got seperate invoices for hull, deck, engine etc.)
I find that for most of the time the mizzen does not add much and if you end up on a run in freshening wind then it gives the autohelm problems. I have used the mizzen on occasion in F6 with a bit of genny to good effect. We don't have a mizzen stay-sail but it would be a good addition for light airs.
I bought mine from the guy that built her so I got loads of info but just from the paper work you should be able to tell (I got seperate invoices for hull, deck, engine etc.)
I find that for most of the time the mizzen does not add much and if you end up on a run in freshening wind then it gives the autohelm problems. I have used the mizzen on occasion in F6 with a bit of genny to good effect. We don't have a mizzen stay-sail but it would be a good addition for light airs.
siencyn
Well-Known Member
Many thanks Guys. Its brilliant how you can always count on constructive advice from forumites on this site. The boat has been out of the water for some considerable time, at least since July I believe, should the surveyor still be able to pick up excess moisture readings?
Rich
Rich
sailorman
Well-Known Member
i woz told by a Pro Yard Manager that GRP is fantastic stuff to build boats from & wont get Pox if you dont launch it /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
jerryat
Well-Known Member
I'm no expert on osmosis, but I pretty sure any underlying moisture content won't have dissipated in that time. Your surveyor will use a meter and be able to give you a good idea of the state of play.
Hope it's got low readings and you buy and enjoy the boat! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Hope it's got low readings and you buy and enjoy the boat! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Jonny_H
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I'm in the process of buying a Countess 37 (subject to survey!). We haven't seen a 33, but the 37 certainly feels enourmous for the size of the boat - interior space is closer to a 45 ft than a 37!
I would agree about the interior fit out - the one we have an offer on was fitted out by a master shipwright and looks beautiful, however we have seen a couple of home finished ones which look quite shabby.
Good luck with the purchase
Jonny
p.s. how nerve racking is the whole boat buying process - contracts, insurance, finance (if applicable), surveys ...
I'm in the process of buying a Countess 37 (subject to survey!). We haven't seen a 33, but the 37 certainly feels enourmous for the size of the boat - interior space is closer to a 45 ft than a 37!
I would agree about the interior fit out - the one we have an offer on was fitted out by a master shipwright and looks beautiful, however we have seen a couple of home finished ones which look quite shabby.
Good luck with the purchase
Jonny
p.s. how nerve racking is the whole boat buying process - contracts, insurance, finance (if applicable), surveys ...
Rowana
Two steps lower than the ships' cat
Send a PM to Lady in Bed. Nigel has one, and I went over to Cherbourg with him on the 1st Scuttlebut jaunt in 2004. Lovely boat.
Haguesail
Member
I'm currently looking to buy a 33 sloop rig and Tony from the Association site has been very helpful. He counseled to check the bulkhead bonding, to look for any compression cracking at the foot of the mast, and any cracking/stress by the shroud fittings. The one I am considering is decently fitted, amazing space as noted earlier, and the owners group are active, helpful, and evangelical about them.
graham
Well-Known Member
Nigel likes to admire Lady In Red from different angles. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Thanks Jim /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Anither use for your Mizzen /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Storyville
Thanks all,
this Forum is totally amazing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
made contact with Storyvilles owner thanks to this forum. it only took 3 weeks for the message to find Nick ,he is in Thailand as we thought
thanks
roger
Thanks all,
this Forum is totally amazing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
made contact with Storyvilles owner thanks to this forum. it only took 3 weeks for the message to find Nick ,he is in Thailand as we thought
thanks
roger
