Newbridge Navigator Good or Bad?

[Danzibell]

I am thinking of buying a lifting keel Newbridge Navigator for coastal cruising.
Can any owners of similar boats advise how well or bad a Navigator with a lifting keel sails, I have been told that the twin keel boat will not sail to windward, is a lifting keel boat any better?
Also is the keel lifting gear accessible for maintenance.

 

[moondancer]

I don't think they were known for their sailing qualities. Not sailed the lifting kell version.

 

[Topcat47]

The Navigator is a bit of a caravan, albeit an upmarket one, as the production boats were well built and fitted out. The "fin" keelers go alright, and the bilge keelers are not the worst going to windward either so my guess would be that the lifting keel would be somewhere in between (lacking an owners perspective), however if you want something that sails really well, look elsewhere.

 

[Chrissie]

I have one, albeit a bilge keel version, a real sturdy reliable little boat. I used to go all over in mine till I got the Contessa.

 

[mainmarine]

You may get more info here: http://www.newbridge-nava.fsnet.co.uk/

 

[halcyon]

Very nice well made boat, we had a lifting keel called Relax (ex Pispytog or similar spelling) around 1990.

Outboard is in a locker port quarter, boat only turns to starboard, will not turn to port under engine. Fitted a bungy on outboard fixing, lift lid and steer by turning engine against bungy, not rudder, bit odd but does work.

It was tender to me, you would be sailing along relaxed, then a gust and you were standing on the lockers. The chap who bought ours sailed a dinghy, and thought it a fantastic boat. It was our first yacht, so may now have a better view of her handling, we moved onto a Hurley 27.

The only way to decide is to try sailing her, and see how it suits you.

Brian

 

[sailing86]

We had the bilge keel Newbrige Venturer (22ft version). It was a very good boat, handeled well and went to windward ok. Performance is not their strong point but accomadation and family sailing is. They do still sail better than alot of other similar boats their same size (eg vavacity).

On a longer trip she would almost always take longer than most others however she would get there and safely. In a rougher sea she would begin to 'bob' and be stoped by waves. A decent sized engine helps though (9.8hp) and being in the well, does not lift out the water. Sailing in anymore than a F5/6 would become a bit silly and hence the decent engine.

When manoevering, the offset prop makes certain things interesting however do not let this put you off. For tricky berths it just means you have to manhandle the boat a bit and have 'pogo sticks' (wooden poles with rubber walking stick ends) at the ready for fending off. We had to reverse 2/3 boat lengths astern before we had full stearage. The offset prop is also sometimes an advantage.

This was the venturer and not the navigator however they are very similar. I do not know about the lifting keel versions however the bilge is certainly better than the press it gets.

To conclude, they are excelent boats and I would recomend them.

 

[Dave_Rolfe]

New website for NAVA (Navigator and Venturer Association) is now at www.newbridge-nava.co.uk. Old website no longer able to be updated so new one started. Very friendly and helpful association if you are looking for advice / help regarding either of these popular small yachts