Could a Cornish Crabber 32 be ideal for me

I've read all through this thread and I still cannot see what a sub £10k wooden boat wouldn't do the trick.

Cosy, warm, pretty, easy to sail and seaworthy. Can be left in a mud berth anywhere and always a pleasure to sail into any port.
 
PhillM said:
I've read all through this thread and I still cannot see what a sub £10k wooden boat wouldn't do the trick.

Cosy, warm, pretty, easy to sail and seaworthy. Can be left in a mud berth anywhere and always a pleasure to sail into any port.
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Only I was aiming for GRP to reduce repairs and reduce risks if having to leave it a few weeks till I can return.

But if you wanted to suggest something to see what I'm missing ;-). In the dinghy world people occasionally wrap a wooden hull with GRP... Does that get done to big boats?
 
ShinyShoe said:
Only I was aiming for GRP to reduce repairs and reduce risks if having to leave it a few weeks till I can return.

But if you wanted to suggest something to see what I'm missing ;-). In the dinghy world people occasionally wrap a wooden hull with GRP... Does that get done to big boats?
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No. Generally it is considered a silly thing to do as wooden boats are flexible and GRP is rigid. However, epoxy wood composites - that is wood core and epoxy glass sheathing is common in custom built boats. You will find one off boats of a type you might like using this method of construction which claims the beauty of wood with the maintenance of GRP. However they come with a price tag that rules them out for normal people and like many things that sound too good to be true, they have a patchy reputation.
 
eddystone said:
It is possible, just faintly, remotely possible, that CC know their market and potential purchasers a tad better than their naysayers of this forum - and getting people to pay a lot for a certain "brand value" is, as I understand it, what some/most businesses aim to achieve. They are not for me (although I did once own a small one) but I wish them every success rather than wishing them into bankruptcy.
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So how come I, operating from Chichester Harbour into the Solent, one might think according to some, both places where we use gold leaf for antifouling, I only remember seeing one CC Pilot 30 ( I rather like those ), the odd 24 and one visiting CC22 !

Yes there are a lot of Shrimpers about but there's a limit to how many well heeled pipe smoking coffin dodgers want a boat with the hassle of a cruiser and seagoing ability of a dinghy ( not a Dye style Wayfarer either ).

The Shrimper 19 certainly hit a niche and I strongly suspect it's the reason they are still going, but I reckon they've blown it with the 21, they did with the 22 & 26.

Most people shelling out £150k + are going to want the real deal and a very capable boat, not something that looks a bit like it if one squints.
 
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Tranona said:
No. Generally it is considered a silly thing to do as wooden boats are flexible and GRP is rigid. However, epoxy wood composites - that is wood core and epoxy glass sheathing is common in custom built boats. You will find one off boats of a type you might like using this method of construction which claims the beauty of wood with the maintenance of GRP. However they come with a price tag that rules them out for normal people and like many things that sound too good to be true, they have a patchy reputation.
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Well I sheathed a 30 odd year old clinker Stella in 300gm mat in epoxy in 1999 & I am told she is still perfectly good & I suspect one of the few that do not leak. The boat was un-sailable, had loose planks & areas of rot. along with chainplates that just pulled off when I took the 2 year project on
It is not silly if done correctly. Sheathing a clinker boat is unusual but given care is quite possible & adds a lot of life to a boat that may well have hit the fire long ago. Can be done very easily to a carvel hull.
I would recommend it on any wood boat- But has to be done correctly .I doubt that most owners have the facility to do it.
 
K
Seajet said:
So how come I, operating from Chichester Harbour into the Solent, one might think according to some, both places where we use gold leaf for antifouling, I only remember seeing one CC Pilot 30 ( I rather like those ), the odd 24 and one visiting CC22 !

Yes there are a lot of Shrimpers about but there's a limit to how many well heeled pipe smoking coffin dodgers want a boat with the hassle of a cruiser and seagoing ability of a dinghy ( not a Dye style Wayfarer either ).

The Shrimper 19 certainly hit a niche and I strongly suspect it's the reason they are still going, but I reckon they've blown it with the 21, they did with the 22 & 26.

Most people shelling out £150k + are going to want the real deal and a very capable boat, not something that looks a bit like it if one squints.
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I have owned and sailed a CC24 mk1, a proper boat in every respect. Sailed like a dream and a lot prettier then an A22. Her gaff rig was easy to handle and her topsail and watersail kept her moving when most other plastic fantastics were motoring. Her lifting keel was a boon in our shallow east coast waters but off the wind it was lifted and she flew. Aditionally the pilot cutter and her sister boat the Pilot Trader were out and out long distance blue water sailers. I know nothing about the Shrimpers and later 24's and 26 so, unlike others, will not comment.

Why the anti CC remarks? Jealousy, "not an A22 so must be rubbish' or simple ignorance? How many CC have you actually sailed? From your comments, I assume none.

Steve
 
Rhoda Rose said:
K


Why the anti CC remarks? Jealousy, "not an A22 so must be rubbish' or simple ignorance? How many CC have you actually sailed? From your comments, I assume none.

Steve
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Ignorance I am afraid. He demonstrates this characteristic just about every time he posts anything. Best to ignore him.
 
Tranona said:
No. Generally it is considered a silly thing to do as wooden boats are flexible and GRP is rigid. However, epoxy wood composites - that is wood core and epoxy glass sheathing is common in custom built boats. You will find one off boats of a type you might like using this method of construction which claims the beauty of wood with the maintenance of GRP. However they come with a price tag that rules them out for normal people and like many things that sound too good to be true, they have a patchy reputation.
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In the late seventies I knew of someone who cad their fishing boat in cement,ie using the wooden hull as the mould to fasten the mesh to and plaster...... seemed to work well.
 
Buying a pleasure boat is not a logical concept, so, if people decide to splash their dosh on what they think is an attractive boat and enjoy their use of it, who is to question that? I personally think the older CC boats are really good looking. They tripped up on trying to get into the AWB market, so now have regrouped on what works.
SJ wanted to get the A22 back into production. Fine, but realised that it would be too expensive compared with the big production outfits AND, not different enough to justify the cost. CC are different and it seems to appeal to enough buyers.
As for the OP's RB boat, so much is out there on the market, at prices that make buying new eyewatering, that I know what I would do.

To add: There was a CC 30ft for sale on the Isle de Ré a couple of years ago. Bit of a one off, as it had a huge cockpit and a small cabin that didn't come back past the mast by much. Sold quite quickly.
 
Spuddy said:
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
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I suspect the blog you mentioned Spuddy was my single handed trip from the Forth to the Clyde over the top of Scotland in a Mk1 Crabber. See the website http://eventoftheyear.co.uk & blog http://davidgoesoverthetop.blogspot.com

As to weather, if you just knuckled down and day sailed around Scotland you would take a about a month to do it. For weather, allow another month. To have time to stop and smell the flowers add another month. Spreading that out over long weekends sounds like a fantastic way to see the place. The scenery is fantastic.
To the OP I would say if you like the look and can afford it go for it. No need to listen to the armchair pundits, just get out there and do it. No one can really assess if a boat is suitable for you. Only you are qualified to do that.

Have fun and Happy Sailing! :-)
 
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I went from an Anderson 22 to a Mk1 Crabber. I'm a rubbish sailor but the A22 sailed like a dream, and having got caught out in F6-F7 off the mouth of the Crouch never had any worries about safety at all. Certainly wouldn't like to be out in a F6-7 in the Crabber, and it doesn't sail that well (compared to an A22 or the various East Coast Gaffers we've been sailing with) but it ticks totally different boxes for us. Easy to get the mast up and down, drop keel, inboard diesel, much more space. Perfect for cruising between the East Coast rivers, can get to very shallow areas, do inland waterways with bridges etc. Hope to take across to Holland at some stage and leave there, do remote Friesland canals etc. Depending on what you want them for, both fine boats.
 
Thread drift.

I remember reading about a Mk1 Crabber that crossed the Atlantic twice, then crossed the Indian Ocean and finally hit a container near New Zealand and sunk after knocking her rudder off. Single handed chap was rescued by a passing ship. Something to do with the British Heart Foundation iirc.

Still miss mine :-(
 
I'd have a Crabber in a heartbeat. Lovely traditional looks, well made, clever design, trailable, reliable diesel engine, spacious, what's not to like for a recreational sailor not interested in crossing oceans. The answer to my question is ........ the price, which is way too high for a small boat (ignoring the 26 and 32). They do hold their price though.
 
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