Comfortina 32 - what to upgrade first?

TSailors

TSailors

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We recently bought a Swedish Comfortina 32 in good condition in Norway, and we intend to take it to the med.
The boat has the original Volvo Penta 2002 engine, no solar panels and recent batteries. It has 80 liters of potable water tank.
It obviously needs upgrades for long passages during our journey. Any ideas what you might upgrade first on this boat?

Many thanks, -t
 
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I have a 60 litre water tank. It’s our main range limiting feature. Obviously we have space and weight limitations that you don’t so we just carry extra water in plastic cans. You’ll find that tank will grate before anything else.
 
Nice boat. Echo post#2. Use for a year before you decide what to change. There are really 2 levels of upgrading. The first is the basics that apply to just about any yacht - sails, reliable engine, rigging, functioning domestic and navigation systems. Second is to make more suitable for what you intend doing with it. That sort of boat does not need much in terms of sailing longer distances, but will need a lot to make for tolerable living aboard in warmer climates. Large fuel and water capacity - modern boats of that size generally have 150l of each, bigger battery capacity if you choose to rely on electrical appliances, particularly fridge, plus means of charging, including solar. Shade, usually a bimini over the cockpit. Light weather sails if you want to sail in the Med. Good ground tackle - anchor chain windlass and second anchor. While not compulsory it is wise to fit a blackwater holding tank. It is common to spend a lot of time at anchor, partly because of limited berths in many places and partly cost so a focus on being independent of shore facilities is wise. Hence the larger capacity of water, fuel, batteries and charging plus means of keeping cool (shade, fans, fridge for food preservation etc). You also need to consider access to the water and ashore - most Med berths are end on rather than alongside. A tender is essential.

As I suggested in your earlier posts it is really helpful to spend some time sailing in the Med to get an idea of what makes it work as it is very different from Scandinavian sailing - as is the journey to get there. That is what I did before buying my own boat which was very different from what I had in mind before I started. This does not mean you can't adapt your boat, but you have to accept compromises and being aware of what the "ideal" is will help you spend your money wisely
 
Boats from that area often have what we would consider inadequate anchoring arrangements, so It might be worth reviewing this.
 
I'm a little surprised that no one has suggested changing the engine, but having had an ageing 2003 in our last boat, as long as it's behaving itself, I'd keep it.

Just be aware that a good many parts are no longer available, so a serious rebuild may not be possible.
 
You might want to look at the sail drive seal if you already haven't. Solar panels should be high on the list to keep the fridge going which might need looking at to improve the insulation or even fitting if not there.
 
Comfortina 32 ....

Of course there will be the usual comments about upgrade sails / engine etc - which most often is just words and not needed ...

I assume OP will sail the boat over a period and find what HE thinks are limitations ...

The Comfortina falls into a similar class of boas as my Conqubin 38 ... sleek older 1980's design - to cover not only cruising - but the occasional bit of racing / Club Regatta ...
This means that tankage will usually be limited (she's spec'd for 75 - 100lt water and 55 - 65lt fuel) to reduce 'unnecessary' weight etc.
She does qualify for Ocean Class if owner has a mind for it ... Review of Comfortina 32 - www.yachtdatabase.com

Interesting that depending on which online source you use - designer is different ! Ingmar Boding on one ... Kennet Albhinsonn on the link I give ..

My first considerations would be to decide how much domestic 12v you need and how its charged while sailing / possible long legs between stops on way to Med. Personal experience - having to run engine at intervals to top up batterys !
Water ? My C38 has two tanks ... ~70lt built in in the bow and 120lt under the port main bunk ... I will be removing that underbunk flexi tank - I really do not need it even though intention is for longish cruises.
Fuel ? that is another matter - twice I have been nervous as the fuel level has dropped and I'm worried about running out before I really need the engine ... a few calm windless or wrong direction stints and that fuel tank looks decidely small !! I like to carry a good supply in small 5L plastic cans stowed into corners / nooks and crannies just in case !

OK - something I rarely read or hear ... be sadistic in deciding what stays and what gets removed from those lockers ... BUT always have a nice long towing hawser ... as well as various length lines.

My list would be :

Sort out how to stow gear .. maybe add subdivisions in lockers.
Have good amount of domestic 12v power and means to charge
Extra fuel to help when engine gets more use than expected !
Get rid of that 'maybe it will be useful one day' crap in the lockers.
Bag of assorted size cable grips for emergency repairs
Reasonable tool kit

there are many other additions - but those are my ideas ..
 
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