Info re Colvic/Fisher

[thane]

Within the next 18months I shall be retiring and intend to pursue more leisurely sailing than hitherto. I am very interested in the Colvic/Fisher 29/32 range.

I have been following Colin Jones' articles with interest and intend to head south through France and cover the Med, however there is a lurking desire to do the 'ARC' and head across The Pond one day.

I would be very interested in gleaning any information from readers regarding Blue Water sailing in either of these yachts. Any details of extended voyages??

Very grateful for any responses

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi - Having owned a Colvic Watson 34 for a long time and the use of a Fisher 34 there are pros and cons for both. You get a lot more boat for your money with a Colvic Watson but the Fisher is undoubltably a better sailer but if you wanted to sail you would not get a motor-sailer! The Colvic Watson has bags of space which cannot be rivalled by the corresponding Fisher. If space, comfort go for the Colvic, if sailing ability then go for the Fisher.

Albin Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703

 

[LadyInBed]

I considered both of those for a long time and like you, expect to take the boat across the Atlantic. As much as I love Motor Sailers, I decided that a compromise would be necessary for long passages, so chose to go for a ketch rigged, wheelhouse version of the Colvic Countess. It has the advantage of the ‘all round viz’ but the glassed area is not so large as to make it too vulnerable in a blow. The 37’ is probably the best option but I ended up getting a 33’ which I reckon will be adiquate.

 

[TRH]

Hi If intrested in the Colvic Watson, go to www.colvicwatson.com. This is Colin Jones owners Web site.

 

[jonjo]

Would you take either design across the Atlantic?

 

[Sinbad1]

The Fisher range of boats are excellent cruising vessels and will take you anywhere safely. The wheelhouse has the added advantage of giving you visibility and protection, both from bad weather and excessive sunshine.

The Fisher is available in a number of sizes. 25, 30, 31,34, 37 & 46 feet. The 30 is an old design and was supersceded by the 31 which has a larger wheelhouse and double folding doors from the wheelhouse into the cockpit. There is also a 32 available and these were built by a number of Ozzie boat builders. These models rarely come up for sale here in Europe.

The 34 is perhaps a better sailer than the 31 and of course gives you much more room/volume.

Before you consider buying either a colvic or a fisher you have to learn how to handle these long keeled boats. They take a little practice, an occasional bowthruster useage and strong nerves.


Have a look at the Fisher Owners web site and talk to Northshore who build the Fisher.

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi

If I had a choice to cross the Atlantic I would choose the Fisher as it has a more sea-kindly action. I was caught out in Mallorca in 50 knot winds and huge seas that got up in an instant and she rolled a fair bit but she was under ballasted so perhaps that was the reason. Go to the Colvic Watson website and ask. I think it is something like www.colvicwatson.org but I may be wrong

Steve

Albin Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703