Colvic Victor 34

[Tranona]

I would beg to differ & of course you could say it's a motorsailer so it doesn't count but a Colvic Watson 34 is roomier (I have one)...

Agreed - you could almost fit an entire Victor inside a Watson. Pointless claiming it is the roomiest 34 footer around when it obviously isn't, and without qualifying it by saying what you are comparing it with.

 

[Tranona]

The Beneteau Evasion 32 is very similar - @Tranona do they share the same fibreglass mouldings?
Evasion 32 - Sailing Yacht Heritage For Sale | BENETEAU

The Evasion was an earlier design (and French!) but guess the format might have influenced John Bennett who designed the Victor for Colvic. He was mainly a power boat designer, but did a number of motor orientated sailing boats mainly for Colvic. So nothing in common apart from similar looks. The Evasion was also old school full long keel and over 1' narrower on the beam. Other similar boats at the time were Trident Voyager (wheelhouse version of the Challenger hull) by Angus Primrose and Seastream 34 by Ian Anderson. All medium to heavy displacement (Seastream very heavy!).

The concept appealed to many (particularly dreamers) as it still does, but few dreamers seem to then go on, at least when buying new to convert their enthusiasm into orders, and none sold in any volume. High cost obviously was a factor and no doubt the potential lower cost of home build attracted many like my mate's dad to buy a kit. The boat in question was moulded in 1979 but not completed until the early 90s and not by the original builder. Not unusual for home builds, but at least from the photos this one looks to be a good standard.

As I said earlier, such boats were on my shopping list when I first looked at moving up into that size range, but their shortcomings that I outlined earlier show up clearly when you put them against the similar size boats I listed. However if you boat in the less clement parts of our islands the positives come into their own and you find many of the type were built in Scotland and are still popular today. Just not for me.

 

[Bajansailor]

Another excellent dissertation (as always) - thanks Tranona.

Yes, times, and styles, and desires change with time - I can see why the Colvic Victor would appeal to some in high latitudes, and 40 years ago I thought that long keel boats were the (only) way to go, but nowadays I would agree that the typical BenJenBav is generally a better all round cruising yacht - and hence why they are so popular.

Some Kiwi pals who were living in Britain in the 80's bought a set of mouldings for a Colvic Victor 40 and after doing a fine job of building Ngaio, they sailed her to a new home downunder via Panama, taking in Barbados and the Mount Gay Regatta at Christmas 1986 on the way (and I think they did pretty well in the cruising class of the regatta).

 

[LittleSister]

The Evasion was an earlier design (and French!) but guess the format might have influenced John Bennett who designed the Victor for Colvic. He was mainly a power boat designer, but did a number of motor orientated sailing boats mainly for Colvic. So nothing in common apart from similar looks.

John Bennett also designed the mighty Seahawk 17 (lifting keel sailing boat), as sailed by many an illustrious skipper, including none other than Lakesailor, formerly of this parish .

 

[PCUK]

Cancel all my previous nonsense, I was thinking of the Watson not the Victor.

 

[Seastoke]

Cancel all my previous nonsense, I was thinking of the Watson not the Victor.

Bit late now.

 

[PCUK]

True, but at least I've come clean!

 

[Declan Naughton]

Dartmouth boat is really nice....I have looked closely...