Heard 28 Offshore?

[Vitalli]

Hello!
I'm considering buying boat Heard 28 for offshore cruising. After rebuilding cockpit to be self-drained and smaller size would be she capable for extensive offshore? Would her high ballast ratio generate violent motion in storm condition or would easy it up? I’ll be very thankful for any answer. Could be this boat suitable for offshore cruising?


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[Peterduck]

Some highly unlikely boats have been successfuly used for ofshore cruising. More often it is the occupants which are more or less suited to it. The main difference with offshore cruising from coastal cruising is that you cannot get off the boat if you want a change. How long do you think that you can live in a broom-cupboard or wardrobe for without going crazy?
Peter.

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[halcyon]

Phone Martin Heard on 01326 374441, good source of advise.
Size is a matter of personal choice, our Halcyon 27 was sailed to the States, West Indies, Azores, around the Med and back to the UK, by the couple that owned her before, then they lived on board for a couple more years.

Brian

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[Mirelle]

The devil is in the details

Absolutely nothing wrong with the hull form; plenty of boats of this (rather old-fashioned) sort of shape have made long passages.

Nothing wrong with the rig, either.

Assuming that the boat is properly finished off, so that she is watertight and strong enough, no big deal. But that is just the rub. Cockpit, hatches, windows/ports, bilge pumps, a place for everything below and everything in that place.

I would not worry at all about the ballast ratio; that will soon drop as soon as you load up with stores and water, and the hull is not very narrow.

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[Vitalli]

Re: The devil is in the details

Thank you for your replies.
Heard 28- is a type of boats, which I never heard about. That’s why I posted my question. She attract my attention by her lines, rigging, etc- she is not standard production and looks to be a good ocean going boat. In a few days I’ll phone to Martin Heard.
Vitalli


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[Jacket]

Re: The devil is in the details

Have you seen the review of the Heard 28 in a recent Classic Boat?

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[FWB]

My Heard 28 AEOLUS was reviewed in July Classic Boat. All you need to know is in that article. If you cant get a copy then feel free to ring me 01225 466047. Dont try to contact Martin----it's almost impossible. He unbelievably has a website now, but you will not get a reply to your emails.
I was down there today talking with him. He works on the principle that if you really want one of his boats then you will go and see him. You get 3 chances, if you dont leave a deposit on your 3rd visit then you are a tyre kicker and a dreamer and wasting his and your time.
If you do decide to have one you will not regret the decision.
Please ring me, only too happy to help.

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[Vitalli]

I did hear about this article, but couldn’t get a copy of it. Do somebody knows link to the review or have it scanned? If so, please, send me to mmae@hotmail.ru I’ll be happy to read it.
Dylan –Thank you, I’ll call you.


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[Plum]

Hi. The Heard 28 can be built with or without a self draining cockpit and many of them are used for offshore use. These are very stable and imensely strong boats. I have the Heard 23 but have sailed the 28 also. Martin Heard's website is at
http://www.gaffersandluggers.co.uk/default.htm but as already mentioned by Steve, e-mails to Martin are not likely to be answered.

There is an owners' association for Heard boats (Gaffers and Luggers Association) and we have an existing member with a Heard 28 based in Howth, Dublin. If you send me a PM with your contact details I will forward them to him for you.

Good luck.



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[Gaff_rigged]

I've sailed a 1992 Heard 28 for the last 10 years. The cockpit is deep, very secure, and not self-draining. I have not at any time felt exposed with the cockpit, and very little water has ever come into it, although I've been out, and sailing to windward, in heavy weather, on a number of occasions.
Her sea-keeping in heavy conditions, is exemplary, with a lovely easy motion, and I have a high respect for her ability in bad weather, when she goes to windward like a witch, when suitably reefed-down, with a balanced sailplan.
Her ability in this regard is due in no small measure to her excellent sails from SKB, which still set beautifully, even when reefed, and do their job extremely well.
She can be heavy on the tiller, if you set an unbalanced sailplan, just like all other boats, and it takes longer to prepare to go to sea, than say, a simply-rigged bermudan sloop....... But that extra effort is all part of the pleasure for me.

I get enormous pleasure from her, helped in no small measure by having a talented and experienced sailor as a partner in the boat, and I would certainly recommend that anyone contemplating purchasing a heavy gaffer, would ensure that they had appropriately experienced crew, to share the workload, and the sailing with.

Our boat is admired, wherever she goes, and that is another delight.

Whatever craft you buy, Fair Winds, and a Safe Haven to you !

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[Ernst]

Hi, I do not now if you are still looking for a Heard 28....I have a beauty for sale ...self draing cockpit completly overhault and very fast sailer.
Look at http://www.botentekoop.nl/zeiljachten/405207/Cornish_Heard_28_1978.html

Kind regards,

Ernst Goudriaan
The Netherlands

 

[Flopette82]

Hi Steve,

I'm Florence (from Belgium), I came some time ago with my father to look at your boat in the Milor marina. We even had the chance to sail with it, and I'm really glad we deed that. So I know it's a long time ago but i wanted to thank you, it was a really nice experience. I have to say that before we came along i wasn't so sure it was a good boat to sail with (even if my father was trying to convince me). But now we sail with Aeolus I can't wait to sail with my father's boat.
Do you know how it is going with the heard 28 Martin is building at the moment? My father and I want to have a look at it before she leaves, I think we'll come in May or June if it isn't too late.
So thanks again and I hoop to read you soon,

Florence

 

[nealeb]

All the 28's are now built with self-draining cockpits as they need these to meet RCD requirements. As a result, the hull now has a little more freeboard as well.

Take a look at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-1366039,00.html, an obituary of a lady who crossed the Atlantic twice, at the age of 88, in a very similar size and style of boat.

You may also find more information which is relevant to the Heard 28 style of boat by looking for Falmouth Working Boats - the first Heard 28s came out a mould taken from the last wooden FWB built by the yard.