do tired old racing style cruisers make sense?

[alec]

I've owned one for 12 years and never regretted it.

They are the 'Easy Listening' of sailing boats.

You get a cracking sail (often at exaggerated angles ) , a much nicer ride in the rougher stuff, and no slamming and banging to tire you out.

The accommodation is usually rubbish with an obligatory dark interior.

But when they were designed, you came for the sailing but didn't stay too long for weekend cottage experience.

We then went through the 'Caravan' period . Followed by the eighties 'gulp, gobble and go' lunchtime speedier types with weird bits to beat the system.

I think we now have some great boats that combine lots of things but some are a bit too openly gay for some.

 

[cumbrian]

[ QUOTE ]
In case you were thinking of buying outside of the UK,

[/ QUOTE ]thanks for that. i'm not in a position to travel far to buy - the following two links are no doubt well known by many - but are interesting pointers to the diversity of craft suitable for cruising -

james baldwins list of long keeled ocean yachts

mahina - guidance on choosing an ocean yacht with an extended list

some of the boats mentioned will be legendary to hard core long distance sailors but may not be at all known to the rest of us...

 

[Twister_Ken]

Harrumph - no mention of the Twister

 

[zarathustra]

i'll second the She36.... an exceptional boat..... the only boat i've ever wanted to take out in a F8!!!

Looking at the current prices, I think there is a lot to be said for paying them close attention

Presumably some of its competitor boats had similar qualities in windy conditions? Why do you single this boat as exceptional.

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

Sigma 33

Folk i know who have or sailed on them swear by them. looked at a few and it was too racer and not cruiser enough for SWMBO.

Some have been very well cared for and some flogged round the race course for 30 years.

Some have had the pox already and have been properly repaired

The price of the good ones are not massively more than the knackered ones.


I would have one. I miss sailing upwind well.

Get looking and judge for yourself

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Presumably some of its competitor boats had similar qualities in windy conditions? Why do you single this boat as exceptional.

Simply because (in my opinion), the She36 just has something of a spark, perhaps a little bit of magic even, about it... They are just a delight to sail, and the windier it gets, the more fun they are... If it fitted my current boat needs, which it doesn't, then I'd have one in the blink of an eye... I'm equally sure you are right in that other boats of it's era are excellent... Only I can't help but feel that the She36 has a little more than most!

 

[Bajansailor]

I would agree with Morgana that a SHE 36 (rather like an S & S 34) has a bit of a magic spark about her - I haven't sailed on a SHE 36, but I have on an S & S 34, and they are just the same, in that the more it blows, the more they like it - they just heel over a bit, dig themselves in and start truckin'...... all while beautifully balanced on the helm.

Here are some photos of the SHE 36 'Wishful Thinking' - http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/NDYClub/WishfulThinking#
I seem to remember the name of the tender is 'Wilful Drinking' - a pal of mine who posts on here sailed on board her a few years ago in the Caribbean.

And I have posted a copy of my UFO 34 catalogue on the 'other' UFO thread currently running - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=246719&page=3

 

[goosewing]

Good grief those pics brought back some memories Martin. Wishful thinking was shipped back to the UK and when i last saw her May 2009 she was on the hard in Plymouth and for sale. She was a lovely sail and was in need of some TLC.

 

[webcraft]

to be used for cruising and clumsy racing but probably not for hammering on with a spinnaker in a blow (ufo and sigma?).

Have you considerd the masthead version of the Sigma?

- W

 

[Abestea]

I can only add my support for the Sigma 33. The one i have was a bit tired when i got it and it is starting to look good now. But yes there are some good ones out there but do expect to look at replacing a lot of stuff (engine/stove/etc)

I have had 4 years of great fun on my sigma.

 

[Monique]

FYI...

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1981/She-36-2122735/Falmouth/United-Kingdom

 

[zzjfawce]

She 36

Although I have never seen one, every comment that I can recall reading about this boat has been strongly positive. Given that various "retro"ish designs appear from time to time, eg Hunter Mystery 34 (something like that anyway) and seem to be successful, could production of the She 36 be resurrected? Or just too expensive now to be a viable prospect? Would the moulds still even be in existence?

jonf

 

[zarathustra]

Is a SHE 31 for sale that appears to have much done to her including new engine. Her price is reduced to £14k. Would that be a similar figure to what you would expect its worth???

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1970/She-31-2205411/Pwllheli,-North-Wales/United-Kingdom

We have a tired old racing cruiser as per your list - an S&S She 31

 

[john_morris_uk]

The trouble with the designs you mention is that they all have short waterlines and fine ends, so are not only slower than their racing pedigree would suggest, but have limited accommodation compared to boats of the last 20 years. They also tend to have poorer motoring qualities and smaller tanks for water/fuel. On the other hand, they are all good sea boats and would be safe in a blow, and with simple masthead rigs.

One or two of them have a reputation for being a handful under spinnaker, as designers got much cleverer at balancing hulls when freed from the current racing rules.

Modern cruisers offer much better accommodation/speed per pound than the old boats did, though I would steer clear of some modern designs with exaggerated beam in the stern, and excessively full sections forward, with inadequate forefoot.

On the other hand, the boats mentioned are all lovely to look at and are classics of their kind, and those of us poncing around in newer craft should be grateful to those who want a labour of love for keeping them going.

I am not sure that all of what you say applies to a Sigma 33!

We cruised one (as a family of four) for several years and never found her anything other than a delightful boat to sail upwind and downwind.

The accommodation was just as good as many of the 'cruisers' from a similar generation. You don't get an aft cabin, but you do get impeccable sailing manners. I notice that several others have spoken up in favour of the 33'.

Do watch out for the common faults - get a good survey! Not all the Sigma 33's have been thrashed round the cans to within an inch of their lives. There are still good ones about if you look long and hard.

 

[Kelpie]

I've seen a Sigma 33 sailing past me and they do seem to go upwind like a rocket- very impressive.
What are the larger ones like? I think the Sigma 36 is one of the few boats with an aft cabin and a tiller... might eye it up as a possible (very) long-term upgrade... any thoughts about this boat?

 

[john_morris_uk]

I've seen a Sigma 33 sailing past me and they do seem to go upwind like a rocket- very impressive.
What are the larger ones like? I think the Sigma 36 is one of the few boats with an aft cabin and a tiller... might eye it up as a possible (very) long-term upgrade... any thoughts about this boat?

Uhh - the last Sigma 36 I sailed had a wheel - sorry to disapoint you?

 

[lw395]

Tillers and aft cabins

Two boats spring to mind,
Lightwave 395, some of these beasts had tillers. (My advice is get one with a wheel).
X-332. Tiller is preferred by the racing chaps. I don't think these have got cheap or tired yet?

A boat with proper windward performance makes sense as a cruiser, if you actually want to get places under sail.
Bit of pace downwind doesn't hurt either IMHO.

 

[savageseadog]

I'm going through a similar exercise at the moment, on a larger scale. There's no substitute for sailing performance in my opinion and that's something you will get with an ex racing boat. The extra knots and sail performance in lighter airs will be a joy. You won't generally speaking however end up with a go anywhere blue water cruiser.
What you will have to watch for is general boat and rig condition. The keel area is the one to have a really good look at.
I know the Sigma 33 quite well. It's a little bit weak in the hull and the rig is very highly stressed, on the limits of rig design. You can get round the problem by not bashing it around and taking an early reef/smaller jib.

 

[zarathustra]

What are the opinions here of the Dehler db1 10.1metre from the early 80's, is an interesting one for sale near me, needs alot of work mostly internal, the well-looked after models are an attractive boat and look quite spacious for a 33footer.

 

[KevinV]

Simply because (in my opinion), the She36 just has something of a spark, perhaps a little bit of magic even, about it... They are just a delight to sail, and the windier it gets, the more fun they are... If it fitted my current boat needs, which it doesn't, then I'd have one in the blink of an eye... I'm equally sure you are right in that other boats of it's era are excellent... Only I can't help but feel that the She36 has a little more than most!

I would agree with Morgana that a SHE 36 (rather like an S & S 34) has a bit of a magic spark about her - I haven't sailed on a SHE 36, but I have on an S & S 34, and they are just the same, in that the more it blows, the more they like it - they just heel over a bit, dig themselves in and start truckin'...... all while beautifully balanced on the helm.

Here are some photos of the SHE 36 'Wishful Thinking' - http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/NDYClub/WishfulThinking#
I seem to remember the name of the tender is 'Wilful Drinking' - a pal of mine who posts on here sailed on board her a few years ago in the Caribbean.

And I have posted a copy of my UFO 34 catalogue on the 'other' UFO thread currently running - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=246719&page=3

Good grief those pics brought back some memories Martin. Wishful thinking was shipped back to the UK and when i last saw her May 2009 she was on the hard in Plymouth and for sale. She was a lovely sail and was in need of some TLC.

The combination of Google and the years of posts on this forum is amazing - I was having a little trip down memory lane, seeing if I could find out where Wishful Thinking got to ( I crewed on her out in the Caribbean yonks ago) and found this thread! Cracking boat to sail, she'd embarrass pretty much anything upwind, especially if there was a bit of sea - I only wish I'd had to the money to buy her when Suzy upgraded.

And yes, the tender was indeed Wilful Drinking, and aptly named - I remember a few nights struggling to get back on board after a few too many rum punches