New Motorsailer.

[rotrax]

First Mate and I are fortunate in having a spacious, comfortable and seaworthy up to date Motorsailer, the Island Packet SP Cruiser MK1. She is getting on a bit now, we have used her hard for the last eight seasons, living aboard most summers and averaging 2,000 NM's per season. She still looks great and is a credit to the guys who built her in Florida.

Island Packet are building a newer version. Our model was followed by a MK2, bigger rear cockpit and slightly different layout.

Just put on youtube is the new owners of Island Packet giving a tour of the 42 Foot Motor Sailer mock up. Very impressive. Massive storage, up to date features and practical features.

Like all boats, it will have compromises, but it looks pretty good to me.

Our older model has features we really like, like side by side seating at the helm. The new one has two heads instead of a single 'Jack and Jill' type with access from both cabins. Not really sure two heads are neccessary.

Take a look and see what you think.

Many Motor Sailers are quite old fashioned. I am looking forward to seeing a new one in the flesh sometime.

Never be able to afford one though.

Come to think of it, that is EXACTLY what we said about the one we have......................................

 

[Davy_S]

 

[Stemar]

I'd never be able to afford it, but one of these would have been straight onto my big lottery win shortlist

 

[V1701]

If I had the money for one I'd want a built-in dedicated bin to store all the ropes around that electric winch. I'm sure they could work something out...

 

[dunedin]

I'd never be able to afford it, but one of these would have been straight onto my big lottery win shortlist

Yes, and they sail massively better than an IP - especially the even more cost no object ones specced with carbon spars

 

[Supertramp]

Your Mk1 is still a great boat - the basic design is clearly still in demand. Unless you really want the new boat I would have thought it uneconomic to change. Although the economics of keeping older boats in top condition may not be as far away from buying new as some of us think.

There aren't many alternatives - Sirius, Nauticat (still in business?), Regina are nice but more sailing oriented. Possibly Moody DS models offer a similar deck saloon feel.

Perhaps the question to ask is what is the right boat for the next 10 to 20 years? You probably already have the answer and the boat!

 

[Wansworth]

My choice would be a small mfv type with bulwarks lots of deckspace to carry a proper 10 foot sailing /rowing dinghy,good engine access and wood stove,fitted out without luxuary but practical wc,ketch rigged

 

[doug748]

It's reached the stage where I think anyone cutting holes in a hull for windows should have their fingers smacked.

.

 

[rotrax]

Your Mk1 is still a great boat - the basic design is clearly still in demand. Unless you really want the new boat I would have thought it uneconomic to change. Although the economics of keeping older boats in top condition may not be as far away from buying new as some of us think.

There aren't many alternatives - Sirius, Nauticat (still in business?), Regina are nice but more sailing oriented. Possibly Moody DS models offer a similar deck saloon feel.

Perhaps the question to ask is what is the right boat for the next 10 to 20 years? You probably already have the answer and the boat!

First Mate and I are already exploring what comes next. If we have to meet yard bills as well as an alongside berth, insurance and other fixed costs we will not be able to afford to keep her. At the moment I handle all repairs and routine maintenance except rigging.

I was VERY tongue in cheek about the new one-well out of reach!

At 76 years old on Monday, I am unlikely to be skippering a largish, heavy and unwieldy vessel in twenty years time. Something small perhaps, but not a large sailboat with all its physical and service requirements.

We will keep Jarrow Lily for a while yet. She is the most comfortable boat we have so far experienced alongside or on the hook.

In the two columns 'Must Haves' and 'Nice to Haves' she is the one that ticked most boxes for us.

If sailing performance had been in the 'Must Haves' we would, of course, purchased a different boat.

 

[rotrax]

It's reached the stage where I think anyone cutting holes in a hull for windows should have their fingers smacked.

.

I understand where you are coming from, but Island Packet have started to fit hull lights too. Pretty sure they would have looked into it carefully.

I suppose it is called progress as materials and technology improve.

You would be unlikely to choose such a vessel for the NW Passage or the Southern Ocean! though!

 

[rotrax]

It's reached the stage where I think anyone cutting holes in a hull for windows should have their fingers smacked.

.

As should the sailmaker with that poor fitment of the code zero! I fitted a furling code zero last season. It is ALL above the guardrail, not rubbing on it at the front! Perhaps that is why it is 'pre reinforced there.

 

[Supertramp]

My choice would be a small mfv type with bulwarks lots of deckspace to carry a proper 10 foot sailing /rowing dinghy,good engine access and wood stove,fitted out without luxuary but practical wc,ketch rigged

No stove (but Eberspacher) and a 10ft dinghy really wouldn't fit. But ticks the other boxes. I chose it amongst other things because of walk round decks, easy cabin access and not too big, thinking more of the coming decade rather than the past ones. Otherwise I would have had an Ovni or similar.

The problem is its hard to find boats like this, and you have to keep on top of 35yr old boat and equipment.

It is the perfect formula for making passages in all weather's and living aboard.

 

[Wansworth]

Yes you have a handsome craft,IthinkI was tending toward a boat to be more at anchour farting about with scraping varnish and having cups of tea

 

[Wansworth]

Yes you have a handsome craft,IthinkI was tending toward a boat to be more at anchour farting about with scraping varnish and having cups of tea

Like the handrail along the cabin side,looks a proper seagoing craft

 

[Sandy]

It's reached the stage where I think anyone cutting holes in a hull for windows should have their fingers smacked..

Smacked! I'd be thinking of something more painful.

Utter madness unless you only ever move the boat from the marina to the local bay for a spot of lunch in a F2/F3 in a flat calm.

 

[Wansworth]

Smacked! I'd be thinking of something more painful.

Utter madness unless you only ever move the boat from the marina to the local bay for a spot of lunch in a F2/F3 in a flat calm.

One small advantage would you could see if your dragging from your bedroom window

 

[dunedin]

Smacked! I'd be thinking of something more painful.

Utter madness unless you only ever move the boat from the marina to the local bay for a spot of lunch in a F2/F3 in a flat calm.

You had better tell Oyster Yachts - and Contest etc - then, as clearly they need to benefit from your expertise. Don't many of them do their round the world rally? But clearly not voyaging as far as you have

 

[Iliade]

Nor as hamfistedly as I have...

 

[rotrax]

Same on the IPHomeport. The traditionalists dogging off something because they consider it to be 'unseaworthy'.

Properly designed and installed, hull ports can easily be as strong as the hull material.

When a boat fitted with such ports has them stoved in, subsequently sinking the boat and drowning the crew, it will be time for a rethink.

Just so you know, I, a very prudent person, here state that I would not choose to buy such a boat.

You might consider that strange. I have few concerns about their strength or sea keeping qualities, I just dont like how they look.

70 years ago, in my Great Uncles front room, on a tiny TV screen with a large magnifying lens on the front, I watched, in fully frontal Black and White, the Funeral of the King. Look at TV sets now.

It is called progress.....................................................

 

[38mess]

Talking about windows low down in the hull I remember on a nic 32 waves slamming into the side windows occasionally in a blow and worrying about the slamming noise they made. Then the other week there was a new Bavaria 52? Alongside With windows right down low just above the water line in the bow. They must be bullet proof glass and built in to the hull. I recon they would be under water most of the time in a blow.
No thanks