Gib Sea 84 advice required

[sr04]

I've been looking for a while now for a suitable boat to upgrade to from our 23ft motor sailor. I would eventually like a36ft ish yacht but feel the step up at the moment is too large (in size and finance). After looking at many boats in the 27 - 30 ft range I quite like the Gib Sea 84. It fits our criteria of having 2 cabins and saloon, it reportedly sails and motors well and quickly, all lines are fed back to the safeish cockpit and with it having a swinging keel it should suit our main cruising grounds of the Irish sea where we regularly dry out safely in our bilge keeler. These comments however come from people selling their boats.
I have searched the internet and not found many/any reports on how well these yachts sail, how well built they are etc so are there any present/past owners who would like to comment on there suitability?

 

[jac]

Owned a 1985 Fin Keel model for about 3 years.

They do sail quite well. We would pass boats bigger than us and was fun to sail. Good saloon layout as well with useable seaberths and nice galley. Chart table a good size but not much space for instruments. There is a lot of accom squeezed in and they are built to an OK quality rather than a good quality. Hull form makes them a little uncomfortable in a chop (although thats true of lots of boats)

Accom is a compromise - the fore cabin V bunk is a little tight on leg room - i'm 5'11 and wife is 5'4 and our feet were cosy in forecabin. In aft cabin is not much clearance between bunk cushion and cockpit so I couldn't sleep on my side as I'm too broad across the shoulders and therfore had to take the outside position. (And no definitely to broad in the gut department!!!)

So to sum up - good sailing - especially in flatter water, Ok build quality, accomodation you would need to test to ensure you were happy with one of the cabins (i.e. you're both either short or skinny)

 

[kengill]

I owned Gaia a 1986 Fin keel Gib'sea 84 for five years.

She was completely comfortable for a family of four on a two month cruising holiday and her lockers could hold a great deal of kit - including the guinea pigs for the occaisional weekend.

They were very well built with fittings suitable for a much larger bost.

The highest winds I sailed mine in was when we were inadvertantly caught out by an unforecast summer storm. the life boat operating a few miles from us rescuing another yacht, which was foundering a few miles away, recorded force 11 and she was still quite controllable under a fully reefed main only.

OK as a precaution I did replace the rigging that winter 'cos I reckon winds of that force are enough of a test.

We recorded average speeds of over 10 knots along the south coast just sitting on rollers for hour after hour and she kept up easily with boats like Contessa 32s , etc.

When ours was surveyed by the buyer when we sold her the surveyor could not detect any significant moisture within the hull structures and she stayed afloat 49-50 weeks of the year.

Mind you she's the only boat I've sailed which was smaller than the largest fish we saw while sailing - we saw a monster basking shark on the way back from the channel islands which was longer than the boat.

The one problem we had during the five years was when we had an underwater impact with a submerged fridge and this cracked the bottom rudder bearing on the half skeg. This made the rudder a bit stiff until we could get it repaired. But it was quite straight forward to weld and actually said a great deal for the structural strength of the boat to be dragged to a virtual dead stop by the rudder with no major damage to the structure.

She was a delight to sail and could sail the pants off anything her size we came across even when loaded with all our gear for the family and a tinker traveller on the foredeck beside the avon in the cockpit locker!

Important load carrying data . She was absolutely fine with the entire lower decks loaded with forty cases of beer and 20 cases of wine - took us two years to drink that lot!!
You'll love her.

 

[TheBoatman]

I regularly sail my uncles Gibsea Master 96 and it is one of the most comfortable boats about - I just luv it to bits - I know its not an 84 but Gibseas are all round good boats - strong, reliable, and more over - safe.

Peter.

 

[Judders]

I've done a lot of my sailing on a Gibsea 402 and for all the Swans, Nics, Vics and what ever else I've sailed, sailing on Mistress is like going home. She seems well put together to me too and they always seem to offer good value.

 

[dedwards]

Have recently bought one myself.
I cant comment personally on the sailing ability but I havent heard a bad comment made about one yet. I have a friend who used to own one and swears by the structural integrity because his weathered the '88 hurricane on a swinging mooring in portsmouth harbour and only suffered a slightly bent cleat.

Definitely go and have a look 'cause I never found a 28 footer with accomodation half as good (in the same price bracket) and if you do buy then definitely make sure the surveyor gets a good look at the keel mechanism cause they can be neglected. Also. if she's in the water, have a go at lifting/lowering the keel 'cause ours is a pig to lift!

 

[KREW2]

I have one, every year I think of selling and upgrading, then as I look round I realise the amount I would have to fork out would not buy me much more. If the one you are looking at has a VP 2002 engine ask if the gear box has had a spline conversion done.

 

[Sailfree]

[ QUOTE ]

We recorded average speeds of over 10 knots along the south coast just sitting on rollers for hour after hour and she kept up easily with boats like Contessa 32s , etc.



[/ QUOTE ]

Its great to read informed comment from previous owners but my understanding is that this is a circa 30' boat.

On my 36' I passage planed for 5kts on my 38' I passage planned for 6kts with a 43' I plan for 7kts. Now I have hit 10kts cruising on occasions in favourable conditions but never averaged it. How do you do it or did you mean occasional 10kts and not average?

 

[sr04]

Thanks for all the info everyone. Is there a prblem with shafts slipping if the gearbox hasn't had the spline conversion?
Another slight worry with the lifting keel I have is that if we dry out is there not a large chance of getting stones into the iron stub keel and blocking the swinging mechanism?

 

[Sybarite]

Gib Sea have a general reputation of being reliable frills-free boats in France. Personally I would tend to try to go just a little bigger to ensure head-room.

John

 

[Whitelighter]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

We recorded average speeds of over 10 knots along the south coast just sitting on rollers for hour after hour and she kept up easily with boats like Contessa 32s , etc.



[/ QUOTE ]

Its great to read informed comment from previous owners but my understanding is that this is a circa 30' boat.

On my 36' I passage planed for 5kts on my 38' I passage planned for 6kts with a 43' I plan for 7kts. Now I have hit 10kts cruising on occasions in favourable conditions but never averaged it. How do you do it or did you mean occasional 10kts and not average?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think he might have meant during the F11 - hence the sitting on rollers bit.

 

[KREW2]

[ QUOTE ]
Is there a prblem with shafts slipping if the gearbox hasn't had the spline conversion?


[/ QUOTE ]
See here, http://www.dbmarine.co.uk/
Ive just had mine done, the engine has only done 800 hours and they were starting to wear, it's not a question of will they wear but when on this model.