Could a Cornish Crabber 32 be ideal for me

[ShinyShoe]

So Cornish Crabber have announced they intend to make a Cornish Crabber 32.

http://www.cornishcrabbers.co.uk/news/new-cornish-crabber-32-new/

I've always likes the Cornish range. Something about them appeals.

I have a 5 year old kid who would be nearly 8 by the time these leave the mold.

I fancy doing a Round Britain. But I fancy doing it slowly. Work does not fancy this at all! So I'd be doing it in lots of short legs - weekends and weeks at a time. Parking up the boat in harbours for perhaps up to a month at a time to return do a long weekend 3-4 days of sailing, park at a new harbour and get bus/train back to start point and drive home.

Am I being lured by what I think is a sexy take on a traditional look and missing something? Is there another boat I should be looking at...?

I'm expecting to take maybe 3 years to get round Britain like this. After that perhaps I'd try and cross the North Sea and do the Scandanavian coast in a similar way - maybe as 1-2 week blocks at a time. Oh and of course there is Ireland to do... Eventually I might get to the rest of Europe...? No desire to enter the Med. Hot is not something I like.

 

[prv]

I like the original Crabbers boats; as many here know, we used to have a Cornish Yawl and there are certainly aspects of that boat which I still miss.

However, their more recent 26 was a real clanger aesthetically as far as I'm concerned, and aesthetics is of course a major part of these boats. The main failing was the huge coachroof artlessly dumped on the top in order to achieve "full standing headroom throughout" in a boat which was really too small for that. You don't need it anyway in a boat that doesn't have the layout and sole area to stride through, forward of the galley and chart table you're going to be scooting along the settee regardless of how high the deckhead is.

The other mistake was making it rounded, on a simulated-clinker boat whose antecedents would have had a more boxy wooden cabin. You might not explicitly notice that, it took me a while to realise it myself, but the disconnect between the two styles just projects a constant subconscious impression of "wrongness" towards anyone who's used to looking at boats.

The 32 in their pictures seems to have the same inverted bathtub of a roof. The bigger boat carries it better, so it's not as ugly as the 26, but I remain unconvinced as to how good the real thing will look. Also that drawing is just crying out for a topsail, no real gaffer would have such a tall masthead without one. Hopefully they'll offer one (probably as an option - take it!) but if not it shouldn't be hard to add.

Are you aware of their previous "big boat", the Pilot Cutter 30?
http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/cornish-pilot-cutter-30/pilot-cutter-30.htm

Pete

 

[FWB]

I imagine they will be very expensive. As has been stated the 26 looks dreadful.
If you want shallow draft then a second hand Pilot Cutter would be better, but if you want the real thing and don't mind 5ft draft then consider trying to get hold of a Heard 28. Probably well under £40k and spend some dosh getting her converted to suit you. Would still be miles cheaper and you'd have a real boat. Heavily laid up GRP hull, the rest wood.
http://www.galawebsite.co.uk

 

[Wansworth]

I agree the 26 looked like it was about to explode.........personallyI am prepared to give up some head room for as its known in the trade as a wow row away factor..As to the job of sailing round Britain you have an ideal opportunity according to the blurb..... your input in the early design stage

 

[Birdseye]

So Cornish Crabber have announced they intend to make a Cornish Crabber 32.

http://www.cornishcrabbers.co.uk/news/new-cornish-crabber-32-new/

I've always likes the Cornish range. Something about them appeals.

I have a 5 year old kid who would be nearly 8 by the time these leave the mold.

I fancy doing a Round Britain. But I fancy doing it slowly. Work does not fancy this at all! So I'd be doing it in lots of short legs - weekends and weeks at a time. Parking up the boat in harbours for perhaps up to a month at a time to return do a long weekend 3-4 days of sailing, park at a new harbour and get bus/train back to start point and drive home.

Am I being lured by what I think is a sexy take on a traditional look and missing something? Is there another boat I should be looking at...?

I'm expecting to take maybe 3 years to get round Britain like this. After that perhaps I'd try and cross the North Sea and do the Scandanavian coast in a similar way - maybe as 1-2 week blocks at a time. Oh and of course there is Ireland to do... Eventually I might get to the rest of Europe...? No desire to enter the Med. Hot is not something I like.

I visited Crabbers the last time I was weather bound in Padstow. Got to say I wasnt impressed by their manufacturing techniques. Still stuck well and truly in the old manual polyester resin and brush era highly dependant on conscientious workers. Reminded me of Prout cats back in the 80s rather than Benny. I didnt see anything obviously wrong but I wouldnt pay premium money for a boat built that way.

Sadly typical of the UK. The obvious parallel is Morgan cars

 

[Spuddy]

Further north you go, the more into the track of weather systems you get. So likelihood of being weatherbound for days - maybe even a few weeks; means that set off on long weekend but get nowhere. Good chance to investigate the area and you did say "slow". Dunno owt about boat; can remember reading blog of similar but smaller boat circumnavigating Scotland - sorry, can't find bookmark. Hope your plans work out; looks like you'll have plenty of time for research and armchair cruising - probably the best bit

 

[prv]

I visited Crabbers the last time I was weather bound in Padstow. Got to say I wasnt impressed by their manufacturing techniques. Still stuck well and truly in the old manual polyester resin and brush era highly dependant on conscientious workers.

Can't disagree with that, but I'm also not convinced it's a problem for the style of boat. They build very strong hulls, yes they're heavier than the same strength built in well-engineered high-tech composites, but the traditional-style designs are good at carrying that weight. Provided of course that you have the sail area to drive it in light airs, which is why the 32 without a topsail would be a mistake.

I was never all that worried about crashing into stuff in Kindred Spirit

Pete

 

[prv]

If you want shallow draft then a second hand Pilot Cutter would be better, but if you want the real thing and don't mind 5ft draft then consider trying to get hold of a Heard 28. Probably well under £40k and spend some dosh getting her converted to suit you. Would still be miles cheaper and you'd have a real boat. Heavily laid up GRP hull, the rest wood.
http://www.galawebsite.co.uk

I rafted alongside a Heard boat once, in our Crabber. Every time I crossed her deck, I was thinking "this is a proper boat" :encouragement:

Pete

 

[Tranona]

Remember that Libby Purves and family circumnavigated the UK in a Crabber Pilot Cutter.

However, not sure that the boat choice is a significant factor in the success of such an enterprise, given the wide variety of boats (and people) who have done it. Shallow draft does open up a lot of possibilities for stopping places that are difficult without it as Dylan regularly reminds us.

Buying a new 32 would though demand very deep pockets and there are many other boats that would be equally suitable for a fraction of the price.

 

[doug748]

I know little of these boats but I can see they are lovely and look just the job for your requirements.

What are the drawbacks of the Pilot Cutter 30? (This is a genuine question not the usual smart-arse imperative suggesting that I know more about the subject than you do: ) ) It looks a grand thing to me.

PS

I see CC have a used one on the site. Heads in the forepeak as well, this always seems sensible to me, on a small boat.

 

[dylanwinter]

jolly nice looking boats I think

they will be forever out of my price range though

D

PS - I have wooden spars on Katie L - a not inconsiderable amount of work involved so if the boat is going to be a long way from home then that is worth considering because good varnishing is dependent on several days of warm weather - warm enough for sailing and therefore a day or a week lost

 

[Seajet]

I imagine they will be very expensive. As has been stated the 26 looks dreadful.
If you want shallow draft then a second hand Pilot Cutter would be better, but if you want the real thing and don't mind 5ft draft then consider trying to get hold of a Heard 28. Probably well under £40k and spend some dosh getting her converted to suit you. Would still be miles cheaper and you'd have a real boat. Heavily laid up GRP hull, the rest wood.
http://www.galawebsite.co.uk

+1, couldn't agree more !

I have never been impressed by CC's build quality; if there was any justice the Heard boats - and Victoria's - ought to be the expensive options !

 

[Twister_Ken]

Tim and Liz Dodwell did a RB in their CC 30' Pilot Cutter High Barbaree in 2014. Took them four months, but as they are no longer youths, they didn't have the constraints of getting back to work every Monday morning. Look for the Old Gaffers Association account of the cruise in company - bound to be online somewhere - even OGA members are aware of the information superhighway.

 

[ShinyShoe]

jolly nice looking boats I think

they will be forever out of my price range though

Well I wasn't sure they had announced a price. So I was working on a crazy assumption that if a 21ft Shrimper costs £36k plus options a 21ft would maybe cost in the region of 50% more. The £40-50k mark is probably more than I'd expect to spend on a boat but I'd be guessing after 8 years (child will be 16 and inevitably wont want to be anywhere near me!) I'd get a bit of that back... However it seems its a different market! The Pilot 30 and the 31 will set you back something around the £140k mark!

PS - I have wooden spars on Katie L - a not inconsiderable amount of work involved so if the boat is going to be a long way from home then that is worth considering because good varnishing is dependent on several days of warm weather - warm enough for sailing and therefore a day or a week lost

Thats a good point. I had wooden spars on a dinghy and replaced with aluminium for just that reason. If you were specifying new, presumably you can specify 2-part and reduce the repainting frequency as a result?

 

[prv]

Well I wasn't sure they had announced a price. So I was working on a crazy assumption that if a 21ft Shrimper costs £36k plus options a 32ft would maybe cost in the region of 50% more.

Yep, that's a pretty crazy assumption

For a start, if you want to just multiply up, you need to multiply volume, not length. Volume is the cube of length.

Then, bigger boats tend to have more and more-complicated kit. Just as one example, a new 32-footer will have an electric windlass. In its place, a 21-footer will have a cleat.

Then, you need to throw all of that out of the window because a sensible business doesn't price based on its costs anyway (except to ensure it's not making a loss). You price on what the market is willing to pay, and today's Crabbers market is mostly rather-wealthy retired or about-to-retire people.

New Crabbers are notoriously expensive, and they tend to hold their value.

Thats a good point. I had wooden spars on a dinghy and replaced with aluminium for just that reason. If you were specifying new, presumably you can specify 2-part and reduce the repainting frequency as a result?

By default these days they use a breathable woodstain rather than varnish. I think it looks rather naff, makes the spars look almost plastic, but there's no doubt that it's practical and low-maintenance.

We had traditional varnish and it did need work every winter, though I quite enjoyed doing it.

Pete

 

[FWB]

Forget varnish, it's the Devil's brew. Woodskin seems to be the way to go, presently lasting years with no sign of deterioration. Easy to apply and no rubbing down between coats. At least that's what my man tells me

 

[Norman_E]

Will it be twin keeled? I think a twin keeled boat might be a good idea for a leisurely round Britain trip, as it allow you to use muddy drying harbours.

 

[prv]

Will it be twin keeled? I think a twin keeled boat might be a good idea for a leisurely round Britain trip, as it allow you to use muddy drying harbours.

No Crabbers boats are twin-keeled. The nearest was some versions of the Yawl (including ours) which had small bilge plates either side of the hull, bottoms level with the main traditionally-shaped keel. These would dry out upright. Otherwise, they all have a fairly shallow long keel with a centreboard for additional draught. They won't dry out upright on a hard surface, but would be very happy in mud or leaning against something. If you need them to be freestanding on a firm bottom, a pair of legs would be a simple addition and short enough (because of the shallow keel) to be stowed without too much trouble.

Pete

 

[Plum]

I imagine they will be very expensive. As has been stated the 26 looks dreadful.
If you want shallow draft then a second hand Pilot Cutter would be better, but if you want the real thing and don't mind 5ft draft then consider trying to get hold of a Heard 28. Probably well under £40k and spend some dosh getting her converted to suit you. Would still be miles cheaper and you'd have a real boat. Heavily laid up GRP hull, the rest wood.
http://www.galawebsite.co.uk

+1 for Heard boats. I have a Heard 23 and have sailed a few Heard 28s. Very stable and powerful boats. There are a few 32/34 foot Heards about but very rare. A Heard 28 would be perfect for what you are planning if you want a classic with a plastic hull. There is one available right now in Essex for £27k which is a bargain and even if you spent some money bringing it up to perfection it would still be a fraction the cost of a Crabber 32 and you would be sailing in 2016. Let me know if you want more info on Heard boats.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Birdseye]

Well I wasn't sure they had announced a price. So I was working on a crazy assumption that if a 21ft Shrimper costs £36k plus options a 21ft would maybe cost in the region of 50% more. The £40-50k mark is probably more than I'd expect to spend on a boat but I'd be guessing after 8 years (child will be 16 and inevitably wont want to be anywhere near me!) I'd get a bit of that back... However it seems its a different market! The Pilot 30 and the 31 will set you back something around the £140k mark!


Thats a good point. I had wooden spars on a dinghy and replaced with aluminium for just that reason. If you were specifying new, presumably you can specify 2-part and reduce the repainting frequency as a result?

PRV is right. At a guess the price will be somewhere between 140k and 170k