Newbridge Pioneer Pilot

[230740]

Having reached that certain age where one is no longer waterproof, and having just sold my nice Sadler 26. We are looking for a motor sailer 26/29ft, but very much with the abillity to Sail.
One of the boats viewed has been the Newbridge Pioneer Pilot, of which we can find no information in respect to performace under sail or build quality ect,or the things to look out for with this maque.
Any advise on this boat would be well recieved, or advise as to what alternatives are available around this size with a pilor house within a budget of 30k
Regards
Ted Adderley

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[steve_cronin]

A stretched Newbridge Venturer with a modest rig but very high freeboard. Didn't sail particularly well but kept up with contemporaries (it was designed by Bill Dixon of Moody fame) and the finish was reasonably good. The accomodation was surprisingly spacious with a decent heads. We had a Venturer for seven years and it took us to S Brittany -albiet through the canals!. Pioneers and particularly Pioneer Pilots always looked top heavy to me but they got around, mostly crewed by those whom it might have been assumed had hung up their racing togs for good! They were also quite good family boats.

I think you can still download a brochure from:- http://www.virgo-owners.org/ You'll have to ignore the "Site down" banner, click on the picture of the boat and a pdf document will load. I can't remember his name now but the chap in the picture with dark hair and glasses was the boss of Newbridge (& latterly NB Boats) the two young ladies were his daughters.

Now if the budget would stretch to it, how about a Hunter Pilot? Now that DOES sail well. Or even a later Westerly Konsort but do you need a wheelhouse?

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion