Hurley 24/70

I've not sailed one myself, though used to have a Hurley 22 (long fin keel version) and been on 2 or 3 Hurley 24/70s as I was intending to buy one (I wanted something just like the 22, but more room), and I'd still seriously consider one if I was looking again now. Very well regarded. Ian Anderson was very good at designing great sea boats - not the fastset (though not slow) and not the most roomy (though the 24/70 is not bad), but will really look after you in adverse conditions.

There was a review of Hurley 24/70s as a second hand buy in either PBO or Sailing Today a few years ago you might be able to track down.
 
I tried a fin keel Hurley 24 some years ago (not sure if it was a 24/70). It was a good solid little seaboat. Carried it's sail well. Relatively comfortable motion. Very cosy below ( three good friends perhaps four familly max). I didn't want a petrol engine (it had a dolphin 2-stroke) and I wasn't that keen on having to stop the engine and start it going backwards to reverse. If it had had a diesel, I might have bought it.
 
Thanks for the comments

The version i am considering is a bilge keel, as i have been advised due to being a novice sailer.

I would like to sail it good distances if possible, so have been advised that i should opt for the bilge by several people.

I heard somewhere that Dame Ellen took one around Britain.

Yikes !
How long would that take???
 
LittleSister said:
I've not sailed one myself, though used to have a Hurley 22 (long fin keel version) and been on 2 or 3 Hurley 24/70s as I was intending to buy one (I wanted something just like the 22, but more room), and I'd still seriously consider one if I was looking again now. Very well regarded. Ian Anderson was very good at designing great sea boats - not the fastset (though not slow) and not the most roomy (though the 24/70 is not bad), but will really look after you in adverse conditions.

There was a review of Hurley 24/70s as a second hand buy in either PBO or Sailing Today a few years ago you might be able to track down.
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting
I will have a good dig around
Thanks
 
Hurley 24

I sold my H24 last year after 4 happy years with her. Mine was a fin keel and I'm not sure why you would get a bilge keeler because you're a novice, and especially not if you want to sail distances. The reason for a bilge keeler would be to go into shallow areas or drying harbours etc.
I kept mine first on a swinging mooring then in a small drying marina where it sank into the mud without any problems.
Good sailer for its size and easily handled. Pretty stiff and dry too. Great accomodation for 24' - I'm 5'10" and I had standing headroom in the saloon. Although 4 berth it is a bit of a crowd. 2 or 3 is much more sensible.
Fantastic solid boats that will keep going much longer than me but they are getting old so check it carefully before buying. They really need an inboard engine of 10 - 12hp - don't let anyone tell you an outboard will be a good low cost substitute so make sure the engine is OK.
Good luck with your search
 
Gelmaster said:
Hi
I am considering buying a Hurley 24
Can anyone enlighten me on it's sailing qualities if possible
Thanks
Click to expand...

A friend went through the French canals to the Med in a Atlanta 25(same boat)not fast but quite seaworthy for size.Had problems with keels and had to get them reinforced in Greece.Had cracks all the way round keels,reckoned it was caused by drying out in deep mud,deep keels lots of leverage on them.Luckily insurance paid.
So check the keel roots.
 
Google Hurley Owners or get in touch with Nick Vass via Hurley Owners and currently writing for Sailing Today...he sailed one for many a year and went miles in it. ( Boat called Omega out of Brixham)
 
Pasarell said:
I sold my H24 last year after 4 happy years with her. Mine was a fin keel and I'm not sure why you would get a bilge keeler because you're a novice, and especially not if you want to sail distances. The reason for a bilge keeler would be to go into shallow areas or drying harbours etc.
I kept mine first on a swinging mooring then in a small drying marina where it sank into the mud without any problems.
Good sailer for its size and easily handled. Pretty stiff and dry too. Great accomodation for 24' - I'm 5'10" and I had standing headroom in the saloon. Although 4 berth it is a bit of a crowd. 2 or 3 is much more sensible.
Fantastic solid boats that will keep going much longer than me but they are getting old so check it carefully before buying. They really need an inboard engine of 10 - 12hp - don't let anyone tell you an outboard will be a good low cost substitute so make sure the engine is OK.
Good luck with your search
Click to expand...

The H24 Bilge i have in mind has a 6 Horse outboard "unfortunately"
Being a novice who wants to travel, i have been told i need a bilge especially for the different harbors & marinas on my journey.
Also been told that being a novice with itchy feet, the likelyhood of me grounding out with a fin would generate allsorts of problems!!
Is this reasonable advice i have received?
 
peteK said:
A friend went through the French canals to the Med in a Atlanta 25(same boat)not fast but quite seaworthy for size.Had problems with keels and had to get them reinforced in Greece.Had cracks all the way round keels,reckoned it was caused by drying out in deep mud,deep keels lots of leverage on them.Luckily insurance paid.
So check the keel roots.
Click to expand...

Ahaaa.............

No problem for me as my profession "fortunately", Is repairing GRP & Gelcoat.
Good chance to plug here...........................
www.apexboatrepairs.co.uk

but thank you for the heads up on that one !
 
Gelmaster said:
The H24 Bilge i have in mind has a 6 Horse outboard "unfortunately"
Being a novice who wants to travel, i have been told i need a bilge especially for the different harbors & marinas on my journey.
Also been told that being a novice with itchy feet, the likelyhood of me grounding out with a fin would generate allsorts of problems!!
Is this reasonable advice i have received?
Click to expand...

Many of us, as novices, have probably touched the bottom once or twice and learned to be more careful in future. Grounding is certainly not something that should be happening frequently and is most definitely not a factor in boat choice.

The fin keel will give you better sailing performance, maybe better hull condition. Bilge keels, as said, give more flexibility in shallow areas. So if you intend to sail mostly in Cardigan Bay, for example, where most harbours and estuaries dry, a bilge keeler would be useful, and cheaper to berth. Otherwise a fin would be my choice, anchor a little further out and berth on a swinging mooring.
 
vyv_cox said:
Many of us, as novices, have probably touched the bottom once or twice and learned to be more careful in future. Grounding is certainly not something that should be happening frequently and is most definitely not a factor in boat choice.

The fin keel will give you better sailing performance, maybe better hull condition. Bilge keels, as said, give more flexibility in shallow areas. So if you intend to sail mostly in Cardigan Bay, for example, where most harbours and estuaries dry, a bilge keeler would be useful, and cheaper to berth. Otherwise a fin would be my choice, anchor a little further out and berth on a swinging mooring.
Click to expand...

Please excuse my foolish lack of knowledge, but if i arrive at different harbours and marinas on my travels, how do i make my way to shore if the tide is "in"or "out"?
This is also presuming i own a H24 bilge.
 
Hurley 24

I agree with Vyv about likelihood and desirability of grounding. It happens occasionally but that means you take more care in the future! If you intend to sail to lots of drying harbours then it may be a good idea, otherwise I wouldn't worry about keel type.
H24 keels are moulded in, both bilge and fin and the bilge keels are both vertical unlike most boats where they are splayed out. This means they are unlikely to suffer from the problems of damage around the keel hull joint that afflict many other types. One thing to be aware of when looking, though, is that the ballast was lead shot but on some boats it was apparently bound round with mild steel strips. If water has got into the keel then that steel corrodes and can cause swelling in the GRP case. Mine didn't have the problem but I have no idea if there was any steel strapping there.
More likely to be a problem is mast compression which many 24's suffer from. It can be sorted quite easily and will probably already have been fixed. Again, mine didn't have the problem but reinforcing had been installed at some time across the forward bulkhead.
I would be very wary of a small outboard on any 24. They were originally fitted with Petter 6hp engines which were generally reckoned too small and most have been re-engined with bigger diesels. Mine was 12hp which seemed ideal.
I suggest you look at the owners association website (www.hurleyownersassociation.co.uk)
as there is masses of information available and loads of free advice from current owners. Someone suggested Nick Vass who used to be the guru of all things Hurley. He's now got a bigger boat and takes a lower profile but still hugely knowledgeable, and if you are in the south or southwest is probably the best person to talk to about a survey
 
Gelmaster said:
Please excuse my foolish lack of knowledge, but if i arrive at different harbours and marinas on my travels, how do i make my way to shore if the tide is "in"or "out"?
This is also presuming i own a H24 bilge.
Click to expand...
In a few places you have to be a little careful, as you may settle into mud. Fine when the tide is in but not good for getting back when the tide goes out. Don't worry too much as it is always possible to find details from Almanacs or local knowledge.
Allan
 
vyv_cox said:
A Day Skipper course will answer all your questions. Read the charts, calculate the depths.
Click to expand...

Thank you
When i do have the funds to buy my first boat (cant wait) a day skipper course is on the cards!

Someone suggested today taking the course in Majorca.
Would that be a good idea?

Is an inflatable dinghy necessary when on me gullivers to get ashore?
 
Gelmaster said:
Thank you
When i do have the funds to buy my first boat (cant wait) a day skipper course is on the cards!

Someone suggested today taking the course in Majorca.
Would that be a good idea?

Is an inflatable dinghy necessary when on me gullivers to get ashore?
Click to expand...

I would say do the course close to home, so that what you learn is relevant to your sailing area. You might get lucky and find an instructor who is a gold mine of advice for safe cruising grounds which will give you a good start.
 
Gelmaster said:
Thank you
When i do have the funds to buy my first boat (cant wait) a day skipper course is on the cards!

Someone suggested today taking the course in Majorca.
Would that be a good idea?

Is an inflatable dinghy necessary when on me gullivers to get ashore?
Click to expand...

The problem, which I'm sure has occurred to you, is that you will learn nothing about your question, i.e. how to cope with tidal conditions in harbours. As has been suggested, a local course would be of greatest benefit.

But, if I was intending to learn to sail from a standing start I would most definitely consider doing it in Mallorca. It's a great place for sailing with ideal weather most of the time. In UK you could easily have a week of very strong winds which would be testing, rather than informative.

Most cruising yachtsmen would consider a dinghy to be essential, it's only those marina-based people whose idea of cruising is heading for another marina who don't. Sitting around waiting for the tide to go out so you can walk ashore is extremely tedious. Then having gone for a beer and a meal, the tide comes back in and...how do you get back?
 
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