Early Halcyon 27...?

U

up_spirits

New Member
Joined
6 Jul 2016
Messages
11
Visit site
Greetings!

Firstly, hello to everyone! I've just bought (what i believe to be), an early example of a Halcyon 27 and will begin overhauling her over the next 6 months (provided a survey comes through to my liking)!

I'm told that she was produced in 1968 but can't seem to find a similar example of her anywhere online! The boat has wooden toe-rails and a cylindrical bowspirit....? 8hp Saab engine, built by 'offshore yachts ltd'.

I'll get some more pictures added once she has been cleared out and cleaned up slightly, including the engine and other bits and pieces (I believe that the boat has the remote fore/aft gearbox), but can't be sure.

Does anyone have any ideas what I have let myself in for....!? The main sail has 'H27' and the number '49'. There are also some other sails that were included in the sale (including another main). It's currently in storage but will pull it out soon and check the number.

I'm looking forward to getting her back to her former glory and over the moon to have found this forum!

Thanks guys!

Harry (the Halcyon owner)

*please excuse the beer cans and bottles - i may have had a small party in the cockpit upon arrival in the harbor! :)

IMG_4090.jpg


image1+(2).jpg


image1.jpg


image2.jpg


IMG_4065.jpg
 
Welcome to the forum. Nice boat, should look after you. The bowsprit is a bit unusual.
What state is the standing rig in?
 
I've seen a few Halcyon 27's but never one with a bowsprit! Great lines, good sea keeping, nice manners and a cockpit that's just made for sunny days or parties, under way a sprayhood will help as they can be a bit wet with their low freeboard. Pop down to the dentist to have your fillings reinforced, that Sabb (not Saab) engine will rattle them loose for you :) The number on the mainsail may be a red herring, by that age of boat it may have a set of secondhand sails. Welcome to the forum, it's a great place for helpful advice and unwanted suggestions :D
 
Really tough little boat. At some point someone has fitted the plank and bowsprit on the foredeck, and the louvred doors at the companionway. The Sabb engine is not as 'vibratey' as all that: the massive flywheel damps out a lot of it. Sabb are not the same as Saab.
 
Wonderful boats.

I owned a 1968 built one about twenty years ago.

They're just what you would expect from looking them, and typical of the many Folkboat derivitatives that became so popular (Contessa 26, Great Dane, Invicta 26, etc). ie Tough, very capable in heavy going, and. by moderm standards, rather cosy below.

I loved the engine: always totally reliable, a lovely example of marine engineering (eg several aids for seriously cold starting: oil cap to increase compression, 'cigarette' pre-heating', facility to add warm water around the cylinder, eg very easy to do an oil change: run the engine to self empty).

The variable pitch prop works well, too, once you get used to it. eg When coming alongside, don't ease the throttle to slow down, but reduce the pitch.

We greatly enjoyed ours, and I often regret selling her.

The Offshore Yachts Owners Association used to be very active at organising rallies and races, and was a great source of knowledge. Probably worth getting in touch with them:

http://oycoa.org.uk/

Personally, I'd vote for getting rid of the bowsprit, and the big toerail, to get her back to her original, classic beauty. Alan Buchanan knew what he was doing.

I believe the Joint Services had fleets of H27's based at Gosport and Kiel.
 
Last edited:
Yikes! Bit of a misprint there (Saab) damn autocorrect! :)

I (unlike quite a few opinions I've come across), absolutely adore the 'put put' of the sabb engine! It's fantastic to listen to when at low revs and have had great fun seeing how low down it can go before spluttering itself into silence - beautiful!

As I said, she's being lifted out this morning (in about 2 hours), so I'll be able to see her underbelly and get her cleaned up a bit. I'm expecting a fair amount of wildlife under there as I believe her to have been in the water for over 2 years.

The standing rigging needs some serious attention! The boat was bought in Scotland, which involved a sail back to my homeland (Isle of Man) - however, within 15 minutes of her first sea trial, the port side aluminum spreader snapped within the mast and fell down into the jib sheets, causing allsorts of shouting from my end! Quite the experience! I managed to get her back into the Harbour under power, removed the other spreader and tightened up all the shrouds to motor her back home (9 hours in 'moderate' seas)! Great fun! :)

I'll post some pictures of the spreader holes shortly - I'm off to work to pay for some new ones!

H
 
Hi & welcone
I was working @ OSY about that time fitting out the Trintella 29`.
The timber to the gunnals & bow sprit are from "A Previous Owner" improvements :).
The Sabb would be original.
I cant remember but those hatch doors again are not original as wash bds would have been fitted.
It might be the original owner had a part completed boat & "improved" @ home.
anyway a good solid yacht albeit cosy as has been stated. Folk forget that yacht like cars are "of their day", just as todays mass produced yachts with kitchen unit fit-outs are.These yachts were all hand built to a very good standard by time server tradesmen, not assembled on a production line.
Sorry i rambled on a bit , as i usually only manage a one liner :o
 
My Dad owned one in the 1960s; as others have said, a good sea-kindly boat that will go anywhere. By today's standards she is tender; she will sail with the lee rail under most of the time, but won't go much further. If over-pressed she will simply lean over a bit further. The Sabb diesel is an excellent piece of kit - it just works! And I found the slow revving "thump-thump-thump" very reassuring. The bowsprit is a bit strange; however, I think ours tended to have a bit of weather helm, so maybe the bowsprit is an attempt to move the centre of effort of the sails forward a bit to overcome that tendency.
 
Really solid and capable seaboats. The JSSTC had a fleet of then (and a few '23's, although they may have been "unit boats"). They were the first to go, followed by their Contessas. I attended the auctions when they were disposed and was amazed at the money paid for hard used but well maintained examples. Very "cosy" below. Not popular with women as they are cramped by modern standards and lacking in "mod cons". An example in my club has made a couple of Atlantic crossings.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
My Dad owned one in the 1960s; as others have said, a good sea-kindly boat that will go anywhere. By today's standards she is tender; she will sail with the lee rail under most of the time, but won't go much further. If over-pressed she will simply lean over a bit further. The Sabb diesel is an excellent piece of kit - it just works! And I found the slow revving "thump-thump-thump" very reassuring. The bowsprit is a bit strange; however, I think ours tended to have a bit of weather helm, so maybe the bowsprit is an attempt to move the centre of effort of the sails forward a bit to overcome that tendency.
Click to expand...

1) Yes, sailing with the lee rail under was part of the fun.In fact, you could sit in the saloon, and see the windows become part of the heeled waterline

2) Yes, we also found the engine noise "very reassuring". However, ours definitely said "donk, donk, donk", rather than "thump, thump, thump".

3) I don't recall that we ever had problems with weather helm. Maybe to do with mast rake? Also, we did get very good new sails, which may have made a difference.
 
NealB said:
1) Yes, sailing with the lee rail under was part of the fun.In fact, you could sit in the saloon, and see the windows become part of the heeled waterline

2) Yes, we also found the engine noise "very reassuring". However, ours definitely said "donk, donk, donk", rather than "thump, thump, thump".

3) I don't recall that we ever had problems with weather helm. Maybe to do with mast rake? Also, we did get very good new sails, which may have made a difference.
Click to expand...
Sabb one of the last real marine engines
 
I have just made two attempts at a reply only to have them both wiped out by some annoying statement about "502 Bad Gateway" or some such rubbish :disgust:

Welcome to the forum & good luck with thinking you will have her done up in six months.I bought a Macwester 27 in a wreck like condition much worse than yours appears to be & five years later & thousands & thousands of hours work later I am only now really starting to feel that I have got a good wholesome impressive boat.......you need to love the design,love working with your hands & have the patience of a saint revelling in the fact that every job you do you are proud of or I don't think you will stick it. I fully expect to still be working on my boat when I'm ninety but I would'nt have it any other way.

It's a wonderful hobby & if your boat is "in commission" & in a wonderful location like mine (with the occasional chance to actually go sailing) then to my mind priceless. :encouragement:

All the best.........
 
up_spirits said:
Greetings!

Firstly, hello to everyone! I've just bought (what i believe to be), an early example of a Halcyon 27 and will begin overhauling her over the next 6 months (provided a survey comes through to my liking)!
Click to expand...

Hi nice to see another Halcyon 27 owner, depending on the bow profile you may have a Halcyon 27 Clipper, though the cabin roof line looks a 27.

Have fun

Brian
 
halcyon said:
................... you may have a Halcyon 27 Clipper, though the cabin roof line looks a 27.
Click to expand...

I'm certain the OP's boat is not an H27 Clipper.

As you say, the coachroof is wrong (the Clipper has: a full width cabin, ie no sidedecks and doesn't have a doghouse). Also, the Clipper has a plank bow sprit.

I'm sure the OP has got the real thing!
 
Last edited:
NealB said:
I'm certain the OP's boat is not an H27 Clipper.

As you say, the coachroof is wrong (the Clipper has: a full width cabin, ie no sidedecks and doesn't have a doghouse). Also, the Clipper has a plank bow sprit.

I'm sure the OP has got the real thing!
Click to expand...

They did make them with side decks and normal doghouse, but late production possibly, only true way is side view.

There was also the Nantucket Clipper that was 31 foot.

Brian
 
Last edited:
The engine does sound like music but does it go put,put or donk,donk or thump thump. Perhaps the donk, donk means
the big end is worn.
 
As stated, the old girl was lifted out of the water today without too much hassle! i even treated her to a pressure wash. I'll upload some pictures tomorrow once I have my laptop with me, she has a VERY large amount of anti-fouling to be removed (someone's applied it with a brick by the looks of it)!

I'm considering removing the bowsprit (which will mean purchasing a different sized jib), but also considering leaving the toerail in place.... Undecided yet, but the companionway doors will be staying for sure!

I have another couple of questions re: the boat... I have been told by someone in the harbor that the second jib was never on the halcyons, and that it too is an after thought from someone - he said that the adjustable back stays that had been added when the sail was added are insufficient to hold the mast when tacking....?

Also, the pushpit and pulpit have both been removed by a previous owner, along with the stancions (which have been hack sawed off)!? God knows why, but that's not my question;

Is there anywhere I'll be able to find another pulpit/pushpit? Where would be the best place to start looking? Or am I better off having them bent up at a shipyard?

Thanks for the input guys. I'll post some pictures soon.

H
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

A
HELP! Trapper 300 Restoration - Seeking Blueprints for a Unique Family Yacht!
Replies
2
Views
266
Neeves
N
geem
Atlantic crossing 2025
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
geem
geem

Share this page

Top