MG Spring 25

sighmoon

sighmoon

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Does anyone have any experience of these?

Do they stand up OK when they dry out? The wing keel width looks much smaller than the leg span on a bilge keeler. If there's a rock under one side of the wing, and soft mud under the other, will it fall over?

I'm thinking of one for a very leisurely father and (4 years old this summer) son sail round the UK over a few summers, to escape the heat of the Persian Gulf. It's that or sit at home in the air conditioning, or sleeping on parents lumpy futons in the UK. If he'll be bored either way, I might as well be having fun...
 
I can think of many yachts which I feel would match your requirements better.

the spring whilst it is a well thought out craft is a bit tender when conditions get rough and not really for cruising round Britain with a four year old.

There are many boats you should consider.

Among those you should be thinking about is something like a Coribee or one of the many bilge keelers which are very seaworthy. Even a cobra 850 would look after you and your son very well.

I am sure that other formites will add to a potential list of more suitable craft.

Cheers

Iain
 
I would welcome suggestions.

We'll be fair weather sailing, in short coastal hops where possible, with no real schedule to stick to. If the forecast is rough, we'll be staying put.

I'd like something that can take the ground, is reasonably quick in light airs, and has plenty of interior volume for playing in when we're storm bound. The budget is £20k ish
 
SlinkySpring has one (strangely enough) but as he is on Coniston I reckon his experience of taking ground will be minimal.

Mrs Lakesailor hiding to leeward

SlinkySpring_2.jpg
 
A good boat, plenty of room for 2. Probably a little light if you are pushing into a gale but otherwise fine for what you are planning.
 
I have only ever sailed one on a trip from Poole to Plymouth and I loved every minute of it. A really fun boat to sail that was responsive and lively but, for her size, had pretty good accomodation. One of the only things that stopped me buying one a few years back was the lack of a cooker (hob and grill only and my DIY skills were not up to changing it).

Probably not great in a gale but then neither is your average 4-year-old....

Mind you, in your price bracket there is a lot of choice.
 
They are very tender and struggle in any blow. Not particulalry fast either. For the price of an MG 25 you might be better off with something like an Elizebethan 30 for some extended cruising round the coast.
 
I hate to slag any boat, but I really believe the Spring 25 isn't the boat for you. I had one and loved it, but it is not the place to be in a heavy sea or even a moderate one for that matter. It's very, very tender and will be on it's side very easily in a blow. Used around fairly sheltered locations it's brilliant and has great accomodation and fun to sail etc.... but get caught in a blow and you will Sh£$ yourself! The Yanmar engine we had on ours really struggled to push the boat into a head sea and more than one we had to to turn back to port. As I said I am not slagging the Spring 25 as I loved ours but IMHO definitely not for venturing too far off shore. As for the build quality? Seemed okay. All the GRP bits were fine. Okay you could say the interior joinery was a wee bit flimsy, but if the one you are looking at looks okay then it has stood the test of time as the boat will be 20 years old I imagine. The initial issues with the mast breaking (not the boats fault of course) will be long fixed by now. Sorry I can't halp you on drying out, but my recollection was that they could dry out on the wing keel and twin rudders, but I never tried it.
 
Oo-er! Well that's put me in my place. Mainly in the heads it seems. Having owned my MG Spring for 18 years, I'm starting my round Britain trip in June. Surprisingly, I'm really looking forward to it.

Regarding the wing, it might lean over if there is a rock on one side and mud on the other but why would you want to let it dry out on that sort of place? Its not really designed for drying out like bilge keelers. The wing's purpose is to give some lift and extra weight down below without the draft.
If you're looking for a boat to sleep on while you dry out, the MG Spring isn't for you. If you want fun, (sorry, and fast) sailing then its as good as any, and great value.
 
Here I go again.

I worked for MG and probably sold all of these boats to their original owners.

1. Ballast ratio - doesn't look that high until you take into consideration that the wing is 80% of the keel weight, and quite deep at that. We aimed for 50% on all of the range, but the geometry of a heavy wing gave the equivalent righting moment.

2. Tippy. Not when you step on the sidedeck. Could it be that we decided to give you all a sail area way in excess of what the others were giving? We also did it on the 27, 335, 36 and 40.

So, like the big engine version of you car, you were expected to be able to match power to conditions.

Ooh er missus, it's tipping past 20 degrees - well go down to a No 3 headsail or stick a reef in you muppet. You'll sail past everything else of your size.

3. Two rudders. Broach? What's that then?

4. 10 Knots on a two white sail reach? No, not very fast.

5. 13 Kts with a spinnaker up, let go the helm and walk to the bow and back. Done that.

6. 15.4 Kts. Did that too. Still here.

7. Interior joinery. Utter pants.

8. Isopthallic gelcoat. Check. (No Osmosis).

9. Demo sail to some doubters in an F8. They bought one and then onto a 335.

9. I bought one for myself.
 
Interesting thread as I am also thinking of one of these. I'd be interested in Boguing's views on drying out as he seems to know his stuff.
 
I've seen a few dried out, including my own. Very stable (on the right bottom of course) - but don't have a party on the foredeck. We used low cradles inn the yard, or on wooden chocks under keel, rudders and a pit prop under the bow. We did supply one customer with stainless shoes to fit the rudder tips because he was drying out on gravelly stuff a lot. Used to reverse mine onto the beach/hard so that it sat as level (fore/aft) as possible for a good nights sleep.

Wing getting stuck in soft mud was a regular question. Nonsense. If 2.00 Kg pushed it in, the total hull volume would lift at something over 10,000 Kg before flooding.

On one of our other boats I had the chance to sail both fin and wing. Wing noticeably damped the motion, and was faster offwind, slower upwind. Only downside I ever found was that it stalls fairly easily, and when sailing you have to get onto a reach to get flow reattached. Motoring, when parking, key is not to do it too slowly in strong cross winds. Keep at least one Knot on until the last minute.
 
I wouldn't risk drying out a Spring 25 but with its twin rudders and broad keel it probably woukld be OK. If that girt great keel sinks into the mud I'm sure it will come up again but the resistance and suction effect will be huge.

In general I agree with others. The Spring is, in many ways an interesting and well designed boat but not what I would choose for a round-Britain voyage. How about a Sadler 26 bilge or lifting keel, or maybe a Contessa 26, Invicta for steady long keeled performance. If you are planning to spend some time on board, teh extra space of the Leisure 27 or Jaguar 27 would come in handy. All should be available for the same money or less than the Spring
 
OOH Erh what a cufuffle! I have a spring and its fantastic, my oldest child has sailed on it since she was 3 and my youngest since birth. like any boat you have to know when to reef and when to stay at home. As to sailing- up wind needs concentration but downwind is fantastic, i work on 5knts passage time and always beat it. Ive been to cherbourge several times, channel islands and to dartmouth every year. if you want to know more ask your questions to the real experts, the owners here at the home of the MG spring 25. Boguing, if you have any info on the MG Spring 25 can you pm me as I'm trying to gather as much info as possible.
 
I owned one from new for 5 years.

Great little boats but as stated they can be a bit tender in strong winds.. But thats what reefing is for.

Like many other boats they were built to a price and that can be reflected badly in some examples so have a pre purchase survey .

However I do know of one that was T boned by a 40 footer at 6 kts +, and the Insurance Company had it repaired. Its now better than new.. Many orther yachts would have been written off.

I sailed mine from the the East coast across to Holland and Northern France on several occasions for holidays with no problems but as always you need to ensure the forecast is for the planned duration of the trip is not beyond yours or the boats comfort zone.

Very comfy for 2 people. OK for 4 for a couple of nights.

They dry out on the wing keel no problem at all. But I guess if you did dry her out with a big rock on one side and and mud on the other she might complain.

Like all second hand boats get a good survey before purchase

They dont like being sailed on the "ear ole".. Keep them upright and they go quicker.

We had a lot of fun in ours and would think it might suit you well, but look at other possibilities as well. You might find something else that suits you better
 
Thanks all.

I'll take the suggestions on board.

While we're here though, Alanpat, as you sailed yours on the East coast, can you quash the rumours of the keel suction causing problems in mud?
 
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