Konsort or Fulmar

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petersto

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I know its been asked before but I cant find the thread. As I cant go sailing again due to the weather I am cheering myself up by giving some thought to moving up from my Centaur and would welcome any advice gained from owners or users previous experience.
 
I must add, I have never sailed a Konsort so may have a slight bias to my response.

The true response should be, what is it you are looking for?
 
The Fulmar was arguably the best boat that Westerly produced and the fact that, in its day, it was the choice of many sea schools is testament to its performance and ability to handle heavy weather. However, the Konsort was also a successful boat albeit in a different market and has a reputation for being safe and dependable if not exactly quick. Personally I would go for the Fulmar, but a another factor to consider is that the Konsort, being somewhat smaller, will probably be cheaper to moor and maintain.
 
Yes very nice John but it would have to be a Bilge for me. Strictly a criuser me Colvic 987 the layout inside almost the same just more of it in the Fulmar. So perhaps its just down to performance.
 
I've sailed both... many years ago though

Fulmar is much more of a cruiser racer. Konsort more of a sailing caravan.

The Fulmar I sailed belonged to the old National Sailing Centre and had been modified a bit to improve it for racing with a centre mainsheet system. The instructor was an out and out racing man so he made us sail it hard and with its big mainsail ( which he did not lets us reef) was quite a hand full at times.

Accommodation was good as I recall but head room a bit limited forward. Quarter berth I remember was big enough for the instructor to share with his GF.

Konsort relatively docile. A couple of points about the accommodation. Stbd side bunk was only full length by virtue of a trotter box extending it into the bottom of one of the hanging lockers. I found the ports side bunk narrow but that may have been because I did not discover that the back rest could be removed.
More width and headroom in the focs'l than the Fulmar IIRC .

Heads compartment may have been better in the Fulmar ( apart from lacking a bit of head room for a 6 footer)

Konsort if you want a much better floating caravan than a Centaur.
Fulmar if you want racier performance than the Konsort offers.
 
Yes thats how I see it richardbrennan, but its nice to ask these questions because there is always something that surfaces that you hadnt thought of, some little gem that will steer you in one direction or another. For instance is that extra cost for the Fulmar in maintenance and moorings justified against the cheaper overall of the Konsort? Has either boat any negatives?
 
I have sailed a bilge keeled Fulmar and I humbly suggest that you can hardly tell the difference between the bilge keel and fin version (unless you are really racing).

I also humbly suggest that you don't have to sail it like a racer either. The big main keeps the boat going in lighter airs when you would be reaching for the keys to the iron mainsail on some boats...
 
petersto said:
Yes thats how I see it richardbrennan, but its nice to ask these questions because there is always something that surfaces that you hadnt thought of, some little gem that will steer you in one direction or another. For instance is that extra cost for the Fulmar in maintenance and moorings justified against the cheaper overall of the Konsort? Has either boat any negatives?
Click to expand...

I had a Fulmar for 5 years and found it my best yacht I had ever owned, having had before Centeaur and pentland. So much more safe performance form the Fulmer. We cruised France, Holland and Germany with 3 kids and it was a fast stable boat.

My friend went from a centauer to a Konsort and was never really happy he felt the performance was really poor and sold it after 2 years to move to a Moody 376.

Only drawback on the Fulmar was the narrow sidedecks and bow and the position of the mainsheet. But I am being a bit picky.

Go for the Fulmar if you can afford it
 
I have sailed the Fulmar, bilge keel, for a week a years ago. I was very impressed, especially when I was against a Sigma 33 fin keel; the Sigma eventually overtook the Fulmar after a very very long time.

The Fulmar is very comfortable for its size; I would consider buying a Fulmar bilge keel
 
When looking for a 31ftr I was advised the Fulmar was the one to go for in the Westerly Range.

(Didn't buy one but that's another story)

As for running costs - I don't expect you would notice it as there's only 2ft difference.
 
Thanks for taking the time to reply guys all have been read and digested. Powersalt I will look at the sidedecks again and you were obviously a satisfied Fulmar customer. Thanks again.
 
Fulmar obviously.I'm biased but only because I couldn't be happier with mine.She sails beautifuly and is very ruggedly built.
 
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I am not sure the side decks on a Konsort are much wider than on a Fulmar. If this is an issue try and find an Ocean 33, I am biased as I have one but they're great boats and were the Fulmar's replacement. A Storm might also be worth a look, as might a Tempest but these had a quirky layout with twin aft cabins.
 
I chartered a Konsort once and never again. I certainly would never have bought one. Having also chartered a centaur and a berwich I am still no sure where they went wrong with the Konsort
 
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