Hi and Falcon advise please

[Knighty]

Hi and Falcon advice please

Looks like a great site with loads of good info on the site but after three years with our small river boat a 1979 Norman 20 which i have spent way more than the boats worth i am thinking of upgrading to something a little bigger and newer.

I really like the look of the Falcon 22 and 23SPC as they have a nice size cockpit and seem to untilise the space well, nice looking boat, British made with a shallow draught. We only use our boat mainly as a day social boat with friends with the occasional overnighter so don't really want the power so smaller engine as poss.

I know it will cost considerably more on fuel than our fairly new Mariner 9.9 which is around 1.5 ltrs per hour but can live with that.

The Falcon seem to be advertised as good for river or coastal but at inland river speeds would it be a mare to handle ?

I know some will say stick to Viking and Shetland or the likes but just fancy something a bit more 'exotic' looking and Falcon 22/23 seem to tick a lot of boxes.

Rich

 

[Knighty]

Anyone help or know about Falcon for river use

 

[pussy-mechanic]

Hi,

Look up user 'DAC' on here. he knows loads about Falcons used to have a Falcon 23 on the thames now has a Falcon 275 at gosport sure he will be able to give you any answers you need...
cheers

 

[FalconSteve]

Hi Rich,
I have the larger Falcon 27, I can highly recommend it as a well made and durable boat. It has great sea keeping and as you have already noted, lots of space in the cabin and deck. You will find that the 23 probably weighs more than the newer rivals, this means higher fuel costs of course, but also increased resilience to knocks etc.
I don't use mine on the river so I can't advise on that aspect. I know that they were popular on the broads and Falcon were based up there, perhaps you could post on a dedicated broads thread as well?

 

[Elessar]

Looks like a great site with loads of good info on the site but after three years with our small river boat a 1979 Norman 20 which i have spent way more than the boats worth i am thinking of upgrading to something a little bigger and newer.

I really like the look of the Falcon 22 and 23SPC as they have a nice size cockpit and seem to untilise the space well, nice looking boat, British made with a shallow draught. We only use our boat mainly as a day social boat with friends with the occasional overnighter so don't really want the power so smaller engine as poss.

I know it will cost considerably more on fuel than our fairly new Mariner 9.9 which is around 1.5 ltrs per hour but can live with that.

The Falcon seem to be advertised as good for river or coastal but at inland river speeds would it be a mare to handle ?

I know some will say stick to Viking and Shetland or the likes but just fancy something a bit more 'exotic' looking and Falcon 22/23 seem to tick a lot of boxes.

Rich

Friend of mine had one and I helped him get his BSS.

Like all planing out drive boats they will wander at low speeds.

This can be minimised, and you get used to it.

Planing boats are directionally unstable when not planing - when they lean left, they turn right and visa versa. So say the boat needs correcting left, which you do. The boat will then lean right and turn left some more, so you've overdone it and correct right - and wobble all the way down the river.

Once you learn to read the lean, and train yourself to hold the wheel lightly in one hand, move it less than 1/4 turn and wait and see before correcting more, then you will go in a fairly straight line.

The rules change once planing, turn right lean right is the order of the day, thus they become directionally stable.

Falcons are solidly made boats, and my friends has the distinction of being the only boat I've fallen off!
With the covers up there is little to hold onto when going forward, he had grab handles sewn into his new covers.

 

[jmw]

Hi Rich,

We had a Falcon 23 until a couple of years ago and felt it was a very well made and solid boat which was excellent for coastal use.

Although we never used it on a river I believe that they were made in Norfolk and a lot were used on the broads. In fact the couple that bought our boat took it from the south coast up to the broads.

Ours had the Volvo Penta 501 engine which was 229hp V8 petrol and I think this was fairly standard so fuel economy is somthing to look out for if you are used to a frugal outboard.

The only consideration for us when looking was the need for a transom door (so the dog could get on and off easily) and this is the main difference between the 22 and 23.

If you are hoping to use it for coastal trips as well as river I think it could be ideal. If it is for river only then you may find something with an outboard is better especially as the big engine takes a lot of room!

Cheers,

Joe

 

[rafiki_]

The 22/23 SPC will be fine on a river, and use max 1 gallon petro per hour at river speeds. As others have said, it will wander a bit, especially with any breeze, but you will soon get used to the helm.

Again, as others have said, the most challenging thing on a river is getting to the bow for mooring or locks, as there are no side decks. Again, you will get used to this, even getting the odd dunking.

Nicely built boat and good for a weekend.

 

[lynall]

We looked at a couple of 23spc before buying our fairline sprint.
The comments about low speed handling are spot on can be a real nightmare, but then weve only had it a month, and we are getting better each time we go out.
The wind is a real factor even a light breeze will chuck you of course at low speed.
Engineer asked me this morning can he take a look at my engine as hes got to convert a 23spc from a 5.0 v8 to the same as mine engine 4.3 v6.
At river speeds uses less than a gallon an hour ish
Engineer also commented the fairline are real well built and it was all simple stuff to get it through the BSS



Lynall

 

[Knighty]

Thanks for the replies, some food for thought there.

I am used to the wandering with our Norman 20 which has a planing V shape hull and it took me most on our first season to get used to it, well it gave the marina i bought it from a good laugh as i zig zagged all the way up the river but got it sussed now the constant steer/oversteer comes second nature after a while and i can live with using more fuel.

Unfortunately live too far inland (Worcestershire) to ever see any coastal use.

Never thought about having no gunwhale walkways that could be an issue especially locks etc will have to have a rethink maybe.

Many thanks.

 

[mercuryman]

Falcon 23 SPC

I too have a Falcon 23 with a 211 Volvo in it. Great boat and well built. Yes it does wander at low speeds but I dont know of many small sports cruiser that dont. Im currently giving mine an overhaul and a bit of an update which once shes complete I will post pictures.

She was a complete mess when we got her. So a major valet and upholestry going on down stairs and a new dash, covers and an engine rebuild going on.

I too contemplated sticking a V6 in but being on the sea I wanted a little extra power as a just incase.

I looked at the 22 but dismissed it on the lack of transom door and nightmare to remove the seats to access the engine bay.

 

[rafiki_]

Thanks for the replies, some food for thought there.

I am used to the wandering with our Norman 20 which has a planing V shape hull and it took me most on our first season to get used to it, well it gave the marina i bought it from a good laugh as i zig zagged all the way up the river but got it sussed now the constant steer/oversteer comes second nature after a while and i can live with using more fuel.

Unfortunately live too far inland (Worcestershire) to ever see any coastal use.

Never thought about having no gunwhale walkways that could be an issue especially locks etc will have to have a rethink maybe.

Many thanks.

So you will be on the R Severn. In the locks we use a boat hook from the cockpit to grab onto the mooring lines that drop in the locks every 20 or so feet. If it is very breezy, I need to use the bow thruster to keep Rafiki in check. This way there is no need to venture onto the boat bow. When mooring to a pontoon, I disembark from the bathing platform and secure the warps.

 

[ARA]

I had both a Falcon 23 on the Thames & a Falcon 27 on the Solent, had to re engine the 27 so had to sell the 23 early this year. The 23 spc is absoluteley fantastic, solid & well proportioned boat. Very easy to handle by oneself, just practice & learn from the experts. It is not good in shallow waters, give yourself at least 1.2 meters clearance which seems to be the same for any outdrive boat. When mooring in shallow always protect your prop & go bow in to the shallow bits close to the banks & push the stern out & reverse away from the banks when leaving....simples. Beware of adverts trying to pass the Falcon 22 as a Falcon 23, there are a lot of differences & the 23spc is far superior in all respects compared to the 22 even though you have to pay a little more

 

[Knighty]

I'm moored on the Avon just north of Evesham.

Also found a 24ft Capriole for sale which looks even better with a diesel Volvo Penta 30hp which might suit rivers better. Draught might be an issue though if i need over 3ft as at present the Avon is fine but last few years it has been quite low in places but spec i have found gives the 24 a draught of only 2'3" which is only 4-5" more than my Norman.



http://motorboats.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=243518