newbridge coromandel

[stuartgsd14]

Of to have a look at one of these for sale tommorow any tips on what weak points to look out for....
help appreciated..

 

[Seajet]

Rudder fittings spring to mind for a start, well known snag on some Newbridge boats- the whole rudder structure that is.

 

[Red Admiral]

Of to have a look at one of these for sale tommorow any tips on what weak points to look out for....
help appreciated..

Presumably the Coromandel is the junk-rigged version - most were. The hull is that of the Corribee with a different coachroof and with a well for the outboard motor. The rudder is the later version with a skeg so no problem there. If junk rigged you will not be concerned about the Corribee's problems with the U bolt shroud fastenings, especially that of the lower aft shroud which has been known to pull through the deck! If you have to do anything with the headlining inside the cabin it is a pain - a rubbishy foam backed stuck on fabric which makes an awful mess.

Otherwise these are excellent proper small yachts. The junk rigs designed by John Christian are sound and these boats, within the limits of their small size, make good seaworthy cruising yachts. Final thought; there is an excellent Corribee Association which has an on-line manual for these boats. Really worth a look. Sorry don't have URL.

 

[VicS]

I think you may find that the hull is not the same as a Corribee.

Its a lot more sturdy for some reason.
I was comparing one with a couple of Corribees a few weeks ago.

You can rock a Corribee standing on its keels and see the hull flex! Quite Alarming

Not so a Coromandel. The hull seems as solid as a rock.

Possible that the particular Coromandel had been strengthened but very unlikely although a third Corribee in the yard has ... I know the bloke who did it!

 

[stuartgsd14]

After a search on the forum it seems that build quality can vary ,have read that ballast depends on what was lying around at the time
Corribee and coromandel seem to share the same hull with topsides adapted to take advantage of the junk rig on the latter.
Have been looking at bigger yachts so expect to find this will seem cramped but i do like the idea of the junk rig as a novice and elderly newcomer to sailing it might be just the ticket.I would think as a trailer sailor it would be ideal as easy to rig i assume?

 

[stuartgsd14]

It is equipped with a mercury 7.5hp outboard but as it is out of water i assume i will have to play russian roulette as to the runnng condition of this?

 

[pugwash94]

Navigator

As a newcomer, and looking at Newbridge boats - you might consider the Navigator. I had one in the 80's and cruised it around the Baltic with wife and young son (very young).
It was roomy, sturdy, capable, and could handle a blow. I got caught out in a 9 when on my own - a German frigate kindly gave me a lee for several hours (I had no radio to talk to them, they just spotted me and did it). It was interesting but I really never felt overwhelmed).
I had the bilge keel version and while not as close winded as I would have liked she was forgiving and fun.
On one occasion, in Blankenburge in Holland, a customs man came aboard and departed apparently satisfied but returned with two large policemen. They asked permission to come aboard and sat in the cockpit and chatted with us. Then they asked if they could go below. We assented and my wife and three large Belgians crammed into the cabin, she made them coffee. After about an hour, during which I was wondering what I had done wrong,they took their leave. I asked if there was a problem.
The customs man said "No".
It was just he had never seen such a good small boat and he wanted to show it to his friends.
She was a great boat - I would recommend her to anyone wanting to dip their toe in the water!

 

[Lakesailor]

this will seem cramped

Nathan of these forums has been living on one for about 3 years. He is a tad younger though, and has now treated himself to a bigger boat.

 

[Seajet]

After a search on the forum it seems that build quality can vary ,have read that ballast depends on what was lying around at the time
Corribee and coromandel seem to share the same hull with topsides adapted to take advantage of the junk rig on the latter.
Have been looking at bigger yachts so expect to find this will seem cramped but i do like the idea of the junk rig as a novice and elderly newcomer to sailing it might be just the ticket.I would think as a trailer sailor it would be ideal as easy to rig i assume?

Beware the 'trailer sailer' idea.

I have a lift keel Anderson 22, and launching / recovering is a reasonably major task at this size; get a mooring, a half tide one on mud is actually preferable in my view as it's usually much closer inshore, and access by tender is very often tidally limited anyway.

Trailing the boat home for the winter, or maybe relocating for a summer cruise may be on but as for trailing, requiring a machine gun to get access on & off a busy slipway, launching & rigging, de-rigging then back onto trailer for every weekend, unless you're really curious as to what a heart attack feels like, forget it !


The junk rig is not to my personal taste, but each to their own; one Anderson was junk rigged, as the buyer was a friend of Blondie Hasler, a name which will ring bells with any junk devotee.

This boat was immediately converted back to standard bermuda rig by her next owner.

Also check out the mast step and any raising / lowering arrangements, I can't remember the Coromandel set-up but a lot of junk rigs use a flexible mast stepped on the keel, through the coachroof; this would be a big and usually very expensive exercise to step & unstep frequently, requiring a crane or hoist.

 

[Fantasie 19]

http://corribee.org/history/coromandel/

...interesting reading...

 

[chrisedwards]

Beware the 'trailer sailer' idea.

I have a lift keel Anderson 22, and launching / recovering is a reasonably major task at this size; get a mooring, a half tide one on mud is actually preferable in my view as it's usually much closer inshore, and access by tender is very often tidally limited anyway.

Trailing the boat home for the winter, or maybe relocating for a summer cruise may be on but as for trailing, requiring a machine gun to get access on & off a busy slipway, launching & rigging, de-rigging then back onto trailer for every weekend, unless you're really curious as to what a heart attack feels like, forget it !


The junk rig is not to my personal taste, but each to their own; one Anderson was junk rigged, as the buyer was a friend of Blondie Hasler, a name which will ring bells with any junk devotee.

This boat was immediately converted back to standard bermuda rig by her next owner.

Also check out the mast step and any raising / lowering arrangements, I can't remember the Coromandel set-up but a lot of junk rigs use a flexible mast stepped on the keel, through the coachroof; this would be a big and usually very expensive exercise to step & unstep frequently, requiring a crane or hoist.

If your free standing mast is on a hinge then raising and lowering could not be easier - the sail bundle stays fully rigged on the stump and you do not have the wires and delicate foils and cross trees of marconi rigs to worry about.

Please undertake wide research before being influenced by statements such as in this quote. Many give opinions of this fine, subtle and sophisticated rig, are based upon very little experience of it - if any! "Taste" develops with experience - such as for a fine wine or piece of art. The junk rig has developed over thousands of years and is far superior in so any ways. Sail with people who have it, join the junk rig association/forums etc.

 

[VicS]

If your free standing mast is on a hinge then raising and lowering could not be easier

???? Can it be free-standing and on a "hinge"?
Wont it just fall down?

 

[Lakesailor]

I thought that. Any photos to make the concept clearer?

From their forums....

I have the opportunity to purchase a folding mast (I believe made by needlespar, but not 100% sure)

I understand that the substantial hinge is made from stainless, with a stainless sleeve that slides down to keep the mast in position.

 

[chrisedwards]

???? Can it be free-standing and on a "hinge"?
Wont it just fall down?

Two of my junk rigged kingfisher 20's had a superb hinging arrangement about four feet above the deck. The joint was covered by an alloy sleeve about four feet long to give the strength. These vessels did many thousands of miles and one memorable cruise through the gorgeous Brittany canals. I had a purpose made pole to use when raising/lowering but more often I would sling a rope over a tree,lampost,pontoon pile etc.

Eight minutes to raise and fully rig and four minutes to lower.

Be careful - Newbridge sometimes saved costs by substituting the above arrangement with a crude "floating" tabernacle.This is ok but causes chafe in the sails and running rigging. My son's Junk rigged Newbridge Navigator has this and we have taped one inch plastic pipes inside to round off the corners.

 

[stuartgsd14]

I have little or no experience but as mentioned in this thread,and looking at diagrams and photos on the web a junk rigged vessel would seem to be ideal for lowering the mast as there is surely a ditinct lack of rigging compared to more traditional cruiser trailers.

 

[Tommyrot]

As already mentioned, the original hinge is a great setup.

Mine has the stainless tabernacle and every time the lines get caught around it I threaten to throw it overboard.

Apart from that, it's a great little boat. I did a cruise from just south of the Humber (Saltfleet) to the Tyne and back this summer. My other half was onboard for most of the return trip and we had plenty of room.

 

[NealB]

I owned a Coromandel some years ago.

I thought the cabin worked well, though the separate heads is, of course, rather tight.

The rig has lots of good things: simplicity and repairability spring first to mind.

However, we sold after a year, as I found the rig so simple that I got bored. Tacking required only putting the helm over, gybing was usually relatively gentle. You could rightly say these are big advantages, but it just took away lots of the 'feel' and satisfaction of sailing.

 

[chrisedwards]

I owned a Coromandel some years ago.

I thought the cabin worked well, though the separate heads is, of course, rather tight.

The rig has lots of good things: simplicity and repairability spring first to mind.

However, we sold after a year, as I found the rig so simple that I got bored. Tacking required only putting the helm over, gybing was usually relatively gentle. You could rightly say these are big advantages, but it just took away lots of the 'feel' and satisfaction of sailing.

There is irony here. It is just because the rig is so "simple" that you can actually truly get "satisfaction from sailing" - You can sail when no marconi could or should.

 

[Seajet]

Unlike a junk rig, a bermudan ( or marconi ) rig has the rigging to control raising and lowering the mast if one knows how, and 'delicate foils' are optional, I actually advise against roller headsails on this size boat.

From photo's the Coromandel would appear to have a gaiter and through-deck mast; doesn't seem a simple idea for chucking up the rig on the slipway to me.

I always raise and lower my mast afloat, often with just my girlfriend to help...

Coromandel, is that a gaiter or a covered pivotted step ?

 

[prv]

From photo's the Coromandel would appear to have a gaiter and through-deck mast; doesn't seem a simple idea for chucking up the rig on the slipway to me.

I assume that's one with the aforementioned hinge. It's a couple of feet above the deck, and when sailing would be hidden inside the sliding sleeve.

I'm more curious how they managed to make a tabernacle support a freestanding mast.

Pete