Etap26 or Seawolf26?

[SteveGorst]

Hello all, after many years of pressure I have finally been given the go ahead to buy my first yacht. I am looking for a family yacht of about 26ft length 4/5 berths and a budget of £15,000. I have seen 2 boats locally (Conwy) that fit the bill, a Seawolf 26 and an Etap 26 but I really don't know which to get. The Etap has a lifting keel and support legs wheras the Seawolf is a bilge keel. Friends have advised me to get a bilge keeler as we have many sandbanks and drying moorings.

I do fancy the unsinkable qualities of the Etap however. Could anyone advise me of the sailing characteristics of the boats and where can I find out what their seagoing category is.

Thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[Jacket]

Don't know the seawolf, but the Etap is a very nice boat. Sails well, fast, and reasonable accomodation. Also looks nice (well, i think so anyway). Lifting keel lets you tuck well into the shore- you can practically drive up to the beach.

As for bilge keels vs lifting keel:

i) If you dry out a bilge keeler and one keel lands in a hole you fall over. Lifting keeler not so sensitive to (un)flat bottoms when drying out. Also, they dry out "lower" (ie, not balanced up on keels) which may make getting on and off easier if you have small kids.

ii) If you hit a sandbank with a bilge keeler, chances are you're stuck, as you can't reduce draft by heeling the boat. Sometimes you can get off by piling everyone onto the foredeck, but not often. In an Etap, you just lift the keel.

iii) a lifting keeler sails much, much better (unless its a Hunter, which are better than most).

 

[sailbadthesinner]

i tend to agree with that
esp in conwy
ypu want the boat that points highest as you will get pushed around by the tides enough trying to go up to say the gazelle.
donot know how good the seawolf is but assume it will not point as high as the etap which i hear is a good boat.
i am assuming a non drying mooring.
in which case you may not dry out that often.

This isn't an office, its hell with strip lighting

 

[IanPoole2]

There is an online owners association for the SeaWolf.

www.cobra-seawolf.org.uk

They have a forum to which you can post (similar to this), and you may be able to get personal opinions etc from there. They also have a potted history of the marque.

 

[Dipper]

I own an early fin keel Seawolf 26. She is strongly built, sails well and has never given me cause for concern in strong winds. I have never sailed a bilge keel version but I do have some moth-eaten, photocopied reports that came with my boat that I could scan and email to you if you wished. One of them describes the Seawolf 26 as stiff, quick and predictable but heavy on the helm at times. Mine has a different rig so isn’t heavy but you can cure the heavy helm by reefing earlier. The other report I have was impressed with the pointing ability of the bilge keeler.

I don’t know the Etap 26 well. I’ve been on a couple at their moorings but never sailed one. They look well built. With a lift keel, you have the opportunity to creek crawl and it should point high. The downside is that it is likely to be a little more tender and there is more to go wrong with the moving parts.

With sailing, I believe you need to work your way through several boats so that you can experience all the various qualities eg shallow draught, pointing ability, speed, excitement, sea kindliness etc.

I’m sure either would be suitable as a first boat. If you buy the Seawolf, join the club – it’s free!

 

[SteveGorst]

Thanks for all your help. I feel a lot more informed now and able to make a valid decision.

As was mentioned there is a lot of tide at Conwy so good pointing ability will be a major consideration.

Thanks
Steve