New awb's.

[RupertW]

No comment on the wheels, but I can't see the idea of easy access to water level going away.

We have a small swim-step on our 1997 boat and do swim off it from time to time in the summer. Obviously boats in warmer places use it for that purpose daily.

Many people use them for getting in and out of the tender.



Pete

I think you are bang on for warm climate sailors - the walk through is used many times a day by all crew except when under way, for stepping on and off the boat onto a pontoon, for stepping into the dinghy and for swimming.

Twin wheels could become joysticks or mini powered tillers or be replaced by asymmetrical placed single folding wheels or anything that allows an unobstructed walkway from cabin to water level, but for now I think twin wheels does the job aesthetically compared to other options. Our own boat is just old fashioned enough to have a very large single wheel and it's like having a bicycle perpetually in your hallway.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Twin wheels on my boat and I love it, but there are issues (eg throttle placement). Drop down transom on my boat and I love it. Never been swimming off it, but for access to the pontoon and dinghy it's excellent.

 

[robmcg]

There are some, but I stick to my point which is that the further you get from the Clyde, the older and more traditional the boats are. The profile of boats in Craobh, for example, is very different from the profile of boats in Largs. And of course there are perfectly good reasons for this. AWBs are very well designed for life in marinas with shortish hops between them in good weather. Perfect for the Med, perfect for retired people in Poole. Less good for areas with fewer faciities. Doesn't make them bad, just different.

I'm with Jumbleduck on this one. I was very surprised at the dearth of AWB's after leaving the Clyde. In fact, we joked that most Hallbergs, Malos and Najads must be based on the west coast of Scotland ?

 

[prv]

Twin wheels on my boat and I love it, but there are issues (eg throttle placement).

In due course I expect electronic throttle heads to become more common and then it will be technically very easy, and hopefully not too expensive, to fit more than one and put them wherever you choose.

Modern diesel designs are electronically controlled and don't have a mechanical throttle; motorboat engines are already of this type so electronic controls for them are standard. Many yacht-sized engines are still mechanical and so fitting an electronic lever also requires a mechanical actuator at exorbitant cost, but this will probably change as common-rail technology moves down the size range. The current 45hp Yanmar with saildrive is electronic, though I think it has a faux throttle lever that just operates a variable resistor, for compatibility with existing morse-cable boat designs.

Pete

 

[Minchsailor]

...... including the Isle of Skye yachts charter fleet, which comprises Hanses, Jenneaus etc.

Willing to be corrected, but I believe the IoS fleet is privately owned, but managed by IoS. I imagine they have them because it what the punters' expect, rather than any suitability for the area.

Very different to about 1980 when I chartered a big Rival from IoS's predecessors. They also had a somewhat bigger 'traditional' yacht which I had thoughts about taking to the Faroes - it had done the trip the previous year - although that had to wait until I could do it in my own boat, then a Nic 32.

 

[doug748]

..

With the advent of the flap-down transom they needn't take up much space, and the stern can be reassuringly enclosed under way. Provided they use a simple tackle (which most do now, after a period of flirting with electric actuators) there's little to go wrong, and really it's hard to find much of a downside.

Pete

The downsides are the weight, both the thing itself and the extra that has to be put into the structure of a boat without a back. In the raised position it offers no advantages over a standard boat, in the lowered position it is vulnerable to damage. I would not be keen on reversing with it lowered in poor conditions.
I always think a swim platform, on a suitable boat, is a great idea because it is always at the ready. Maybe the better compromise might be a vestigial swim platform and a drawbridge.

Anyroad feel free to ignore these digressions, the main thing is that you are happy with what you have.

 

[westhinder]

I presume the OP went to the London boat show. The sort of boat he is looking is not on display there. What he wants does exist and they are made in the West country. He shoudl look at a Mystery 35, which I think is probably the best fit for his requirements. It is a Stephen Jones designed hull, sails astonishingly well and is probably the most beautiful boat under 50 feet made today.

Alternatively there are Rustler yachts and many other good boats made by small European manufacturers which can be seen at the Dusseldorf boat show.

Or he could look for a secondhand Starlight in good condition. It sounds like he would enjoy one

 

[steve yates]

Or he could look for a secondhand Starlight in good condition. It sounds like he would enjoy one

We were just admiring them on the web And those mystery 35's someone else mentioned. One thing the show did teach us, you need to go and see something hands on to get a real feel for it.

 

[stevepick]

There are some, but I stick to my point which is that the further you get from the Clyde, the older and more traditional the boats are. The profile of boats in Craobh, for example, is very different from the profile of boats in Largs. And of course there are perfectly good reasons for this. AWBs are very well designed for life in marinas with shortish hops between them in good weather. Perfect for the Med, perfect for retired people in Poole. Less good for areas with fewer faciities. Doesn't make them bad, just different.

Hmm, not sure about that JD. I am based in craobh. Lots of (active) AWB's there. On the pontoon I am based on the sigma 40, my dufour 40, the finnigulf 41 and the dufour 44 are far and away the most active boats. Away most weekends, and long summer cruises to all points. The Malo next to me hardly ever seems to leave its berth, but that maybe due to circumstances for the owner, not everyone can sail every weekend.
Last may on our 2 week cruise we hardly saw any other boats. The most we saw were in canna, 3/4 AWBs and Arran Comrades. Out at Barra the only other boat in the marina was a dufour arpege, which I suppose qualifies as a MAB ( but she was in sparkling nick). Previous summers we always head N and W of Ardnamurchan MABs are very much in the minority, lots of Jeanneaus, Benes, Bavs - then lots of Scandi yachts sailed from scandinavia and quite a few french folk in some stunning RM yachts. The amusing chat I had with one RM owner at Oban was it only took him 3 days to get there from the french west coast, so the far NW of scotland is in weekend cruising range of modern french AWBs ( mind you I dont think I have seen an RM done in white)
Also not sure why an AWB is unsuited to being away from a marina? Ours hangs on its rocna as well as any other boat. Large water and fuel tanks means we can stay in anchorages for long periods, good fridge and galley means food is always top notch on our boat, and there is plenty of space for vitals like wine and beer storage . Plenty of space below, so you don't go stir crazy on rainy days. Good heads and showers mean a visit to harbour, pub or marina to get clean isn't needed.

 

[Tranona]

I presume the OP went to the London boat show. The sort of boat he is looking is not on display there. What he wants does exist and they are made in the West country. He shoudl look at a Mystery 35, which I think is probably the best fit for his requirements. It is a Stephen Jones designed hull, sails astonishingly well and is probably the most beautiful boat under 50 feet made today.

Alternatively there are Rustler yachts and many other good boats made by small European manufacturers which can be seen at the Dusseldorf boat show.

Nice boat though it is, for what it sets out to achieve, not sure that it is suitable for living aboard - might as well buy a Nic 35 and save close to £150k. If you did want a traditional boat in that size range for long distance voyaging (but not med meandering) then a Rustler 36 or 37 (at a mere £360k) would suit.

However these boats will only ever sell in tiny numbers because there is so much choice of suitable boats at a fraction of those prices. You can see from the latest models that are coming from HR and Najad that the days of the "traditional" boat are numbered as designers are taking the developments in the cheaper production boats and trying to make them better. This strategy reflects the trend for those with more money to look for both speed and style as well as those on a lower budget.

 

[steve yates]

whats an RM boat?

 

[stevepick]

whats an RM boat?

http://www.rm-yachts.com/en/home

They are modern plywood/epoxy french boats. Great styling, very, very fast. Also available as bilge keel. Did I say they are fast? They look like they sail beautifully, and I would love to try one. Seen quite a few around the NW of scotland in the last few years.

 

[ashtead]

Looks quite sporty but at what price ? Are we not in the HR XC and Arcona price bracket here ?

I suspect might be slightly more than the Bav/Ben/Jen family so mocked on here by some ?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Yes. And very sparse, plywood interior with painted panels.

 

[Frogmogman]

http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/reviews/yacht-reviews/rm-970-review

 

[ashtead]

Yes. And very sparse, plywood interior with painted panels.

Yes - I dared not mention the interior given the love of dark brown solid hand crafted interiors of some posts earlier .

 

[Trop Cher]

Willing to be corrected, but I believe the IoS fleet is privately owned, but managed by IoS. I imagine they have them because it what the punters' expect, rather than any suitability for the area.

Very different to about 1980 when I chartered a big Rival from IoS's predecessors. They also had a somewhat bigger 'traditional' yacht which I had thoughts about taking to the Faroes - it had done the trip the previous year - although that had to wait until I could do it in my own boat, then a Nic 32.

IoS own most of the boats that they charter and presumably feel that they are very suitable for the area they cover.

 

[[70521]]

Yes - I dared not mention the interior given the love of dark brown solid hand crafted interiors of some posts earlier .

I wonder how you get any sleep in that funky new interior after a few nights at sea and your body is demanding a dark cabin at 1400?

 

[TangaraToo]

Yes - I dared not mention the interior given the love of dark brown solid hand crafted interiors of some posts earlier .

and certainly dont mention the RCD cat B

 

[RupertW]

Yes - I dared not mention the interior given the love of dark brown solid hand crafted interiors of some posts earlier .

I thought it would be the speed that would be off putting as that needs modern design and lightness so it can zoom to hull speed when a MAB owner is wondering whether the ripples means it's time to switch the engine off and starts to plane when a MAB owner is proud of his 6 knots.

I am a bit jealous as my AWB is not a frisky flyer unlike my first two AWBs as my wife wanted something more ploddy. I know know that a lot of the earlier friskiness was my love of reefing late and sailing on the edge back in my twenties and thirties so I could have bought a sporty boat this time too but sailed it better.