Deck Saloons and Wheelhouses

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yachtorion

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Following on from the thread on cockpit enclosures...

Please could someone tell me which wheelhouse/deck saloon cruiser which costs about £35000 is the most focused towards sailing rather than motoring/motor sailing?

The reason being I work contracts, and am hoping to go sailing in gaps between them - but these could be at any time of year. I'm imagining that a boat with an internal helm position may be more comfortable, and a lounge with a view is appealing.

But I'd at least like the option to sail upwind :) - so if it is too much of a compromise then open cockpit and a thicker jumper it will be... be that Moody 31/Sadler 32/Discus/Fulmar...

Thanks as always for valued advice offered...
 
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If you go down the back numbers of PBO in the last year or so you will find a series of articles reviewing just what you are looking for with comments on where individual models sit on the sail/motor continuum.

You will find your choice is very limited as under about 35' it is difficult to get a decent wheelhouse and maintain good lines and sailing performance. A few have managed it like the Konsort Duo, but most have never been built in large numbers because the additional cost deterred buyers who would prefer to spend the extra on a bigger boat.

With a bigger budget you can look at some of the Scandinavian boats where the style is more common, but you still have the same problem of few to choose from on the used market.
 
Tranona said:
If you go down the back numbers of PBO in the last year or so you will find a series of articles reviewing just what you are looking for with comments on where individual models sit on the sail/motor continuum.
Click to expand...

Thanks Tranona. I've got the digital issues of PBO/YM in the past 8 months or so which I'm going through, and I've been down the Find Articles section on ybw.com and purchased a few.

I still always appreciate as wide a set of views as possible and this forum usually provides some :)
 
omegajames said:
Please could someone tell me which wheelhouse/deck saloon cruiser which costs about £35000 is the most focused towards sailing rather than motoring/motor sailing?
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despite its appearances, the LM32 was always considered to have the best sailing performance of its peers. There is was a hunter (channel 32?) that had internal helm that sailed rather well too.

we have a beneteau evasion 32. its sails well but is too low cheap for your budget.

Have a look at the evasion 34 for your budget. westerly riviera too but that was never pretty to my eye.

If I had the wedge I'd buy a moody eclipse.

One final thought for you having made the rounds ourselves for similar reasons; Do you want a wheel house or a deck saloon? you see, some yachts - like the LM32 have a wheelhouse that pretty much just has the helm. Others -our evasion and the eclipse, also have part of the saloon and in the evasions case even the galley 'upstairs'.

The raised saloon has the advantage of, if you are sailing with family they can enjoy the view from the shelter of inside. people rarely get seasick when they can see out so if they can sit and even cook with a view out - great.
Finally if like me, you take leave well in advance only to have your plans foiled by punk weather, sat around a saloon table in harbour with the wind and rain driving outside is actually quite cosy and nice if you can see out. If you end up marooned in the belly of a conventional yacht with tiny portlights you may as well have stayed at home!

good luck. there are far more deck saloons/wheelhouse yachts out there than you think and most actually give good account of themselves to windward if you take the time to sort out sail trim. the way I always think of it when I look around the marina is most cruising yachts by the time they have a sprayhood, dodgers, goalpost on the back, liferaft on deck, dinghy on davits - well, they might have started out better but with all that gear they have more windage than my deck saloon!
 
 
contessaman said:
food for thought:

heres an e34 archive:

http://www.western-horizon.co.uk/archive_boat.php?boat_id=31

They sail better than my 32 as they are fin and bermuda not long keel and ketch. even so my 32 sails well.

the hunter:

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...ting_id=60469&units=Feet¤cy=USD&access=Public

lm32:

http://www.western-horizon.co.uk/archive_boat.php?boat_id=194

jeanneau espace:

http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1983/Jeanneau-Espace-1000-2161351/France

jouet 1040

http://www.western-horizon.co.uk/archive_boat.php?boat_id=151

westerly riviera:

http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1993/Westerly-Riviera-35-2607594/United-Kingdom


happy hunting!
Click to expand...

I could have composed that list except I would put the Espace at the top.

I would add the Konsort Duo too.
 
aquaplane said:
I could have composed that list except I would put the Espace at the top.

I would add the Konsort Duo too.
Click to expand...

Oh,it wasnt in any order of preference/sailing ability. The konsort duo along with the westerly vulcan hurt my eyes too much to make the list! (all my opinion no offence to any owners) The pretty moody eclipse is too expensive. theres a sailing orientated colvic too. 34 foot is it a victor or something..? the few I looked at when we were shopping were home fit out and were quite frankly brutal below decks. Im sure there are more deck saloons that I have forgotten about... I'll have a look through my daytons' guide to yachts of yesteryear when I get a moment.

It was the french that surprised me -they all had a go of making proper yachts with an inside helm in the 80s. Im just suprised that more companies dont make them today. I mean, given todays technology on say a 34' hull you could have really clean lines and sparkling performance but with a sleek looking deck saloon and inside helm. modern fractional rig and self tacking non overlapping jib, stacker on a fully battened main and you'd have a great boat.

one more point. those french yachts that have a midships internal helm are very clever. Mine has offset steering and its a pain in the ass when you are sailing over on your ear and you are on the low side. all you get is a window full of white or if your unlucky green water! the windscreen wiper helps but its not perfect.
 
You may well find a centre cockpit boat such as a Moody 36 or 346 or One of the mid 30ft Westerlys much more suitable. A cockpit enclosure is easier to arrange on that style of boat rather than a sleeker aft cockpit, and many are fitted (or can be) with a fixed windscreen which means you are halfway there. Still not as good as a deck saloon, but do provide a generally more protected helm. Lots of choice at the top end of your budget.
 
If the colvic interested you
Have you considered a Fisher 34.
I'm told they sail quite well. I'm sure my open cockpit 35 could kick its ass on most points of sail. when I'm cold and wet he is warm and dry and might not care.

They used to be quite popular on the West Coast of Scotland, Ive seen a few in far flung corners. probabaly not the traditional choice for world cruising but they get around
 
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