Next boat?

Porthandbuoy

Porthandbuoy

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www.backbearing.com
I'm looking for something to replace my Nicholson 26 as my grandaughters have reached that age where they are developing curves and require a degree of privacy not available on a single-cabin boat.

Budget is up to 20k, which does not preclude asking prices in excess of that. Obviously there must be a forecabin, but I'd also like a sheltered helm position. Boats that have caught my eye are the Trident Voyager 35 and the LM 30. Not so keen on the Fisher / Colvic type as I'd prefer something leaning more towards sail rather than motor.

Any recommendations?
 
Porthandbuoy said:
I'd also like a sheltered helm position.
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For the purposes of this forum, Porthand, you'll need to stress that point, if you really mean it.

Otherwise, most of the suggestions will ignore it, and favour what the contributors themselves own, or covet.

I'd put the sheltered helm above all other considerations, especially at this end of the summer. Open-cockpit designs are nearing their six-month holiday ashore, largely because owners don't like sitting outside in winter.

Sadly, sheltered-helm designs don't sail as well as flatter-decked yachts, so you'll be told many times that what you need is an open cockpit with a spray-hood, good waterproofs and a stiff upper-lip about the British weather.

That doesn't convince me, either. :biggrin-new:
 
dancrane said:
For the purposes of this forum, Porthand, you'll need to stress that point, if you really mean it.

Otherwise, most of the suggestions will ignore it, and favour what the contributors themselves own, or covet.

I'd put the sheltered helm above all other considerations, especially at this end of the summer. Open-cockpit designs are nearing their six-month holiday ashore, largely because owners don't like sitting outside in winter.

Sadly, sheltered-helm designs don't sail as well as flatter-decked yachts, so you'll be told many times that what you need is an open cockpit with a spray-hood, good waterproofs and a stiff upper-lip about the British weather.

That doesn't convince me, either. :biggrin-new:
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A well designed and implemented cockpit enclosure can meet the requirement, but they don't come cheap if the boat does not already have one fitted.
 
maby said:
A well designed and implemented cockpit enclosure...
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...for the purposes of making the cockpit into additional living space when moored, or for actually sheltering the helm while the vessel is under way, including under sail?

I've seen the former, not the latter...which would be a fine thing if it really works.
 
dancrane said:
...for the purposes of making the cockpit into additional living space when moored, or for actually sheltering the helm while the vessel is under way, including under sail?

I've seen the former, not the latter...which would be a fine thing if it really works.
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As we have said many times if this is a "must" at £20k budget you end up with a very narrow choice of boats and it is clear that most people, even if they desire that feature compromise if they are going to actually buy a boat that meets all their other requirements.
 
dancrane said:
...for the purposes of making the cockpit into additional living space when moored, or for actually sheltering the helm while the vessel is under way, including under sail?

I've seen the former, not the latter...which would be a fine thing if it really works.
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Ours is sailable with the enclosure up - but it is a full bimini plus side panels, not a small cockpit tent. The only real issue is that it limits the swing you can get on the winch handles. I have to say that it is not my choice to sail with it in place - if the weather is too horrible to sail with the side panels around the helm, at least, raised, then it is probably too horrible to be sailing for pleasure, but if it is actually necessary to move the boat in bad weather, it does make it bearable.
 
Porthandbuoy said:
Budget is up to 20k... ...the LM 30.
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I know you said you'd not preclude spending more, but I haven't seen an LM30 for sail for under £30K.

The LM27 (an older and less purposeful-looking design) can routinely be found for £15K, and had a huge production run. Probably pretty dull sailing, but clever design with a semi- or completely weatherproof helm, plus awning over the cockpit.

Mr Maby, your bimini helm-shelter sounds pretty good, though as you say, not cheap and not ideal for sailing. Much better than sitting outside in driving rain, though. :encouragement:
 
As an LM27 owner I can state that the internals are excellent on the LM range and the pilot house useful but still low profile to minimise drag (hence the pop up nav hatch). I couldnt afford the LM30 or I'd have got one. My guess is that Danes sail later in the year or in colder weather than the Brits so they sorted it properly
 
oldmanofthehills said:
As an LM27 owner I can state that the internals are excellent on the LM range and the pilot house useful but still low profile to minimise drag (hence the pop up nav hatch). I couldnt afford the LM30 or I'd have got one. My guess is that Danes sail later in the year or in colder weather than the Brits so they sorted it properly
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In my experience the Danes don’t sail as much in early and late season as we do in the U.K. For example this April was great sailing in Denmark but never saw another boat sailing, and only one other boat in any guest harbour that week.
It was a German boat (who do seem more hardy and sail longer seasons). Neither of our boats had enclosed wheelhouse, and never needed
 
dunedin said:
In my experience the Danes don’t sail as much in early and late season as we do in the U.K. For example this April was great sailing in Denmark but never saw another boat sailing, and only one other boat in any guest harbour that week.
It was a German boat (who do seem more hardy and sail longer seasons). Neither of our boats had enclosed wheelhouse, and never needed
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You are correct in that it was the Germans who insisted on cabin doors between cockpit and pilot house. This was mainly on the grounds of safety as no washboards, but also keeps the crew warmer. (I have added "bridge" washboard to mine anyway).

But keeping on thread: the LM27 sails well enough and comes with fair sail area but is limited by its blunt fishing boat/lifeboat bow which is a issue at low wind strengths. The LM28, LM30 all modified the bow to more yachty slippery design and the LM27 derivative Scanyacht 290 added bowsprit to extend foresail area.
 
I rather like the conspicuous peace in the short LM27 vid below...skipper's sleeping off his lunch, don't wake him. :rolleyes:

The open 'sunroof' above the helm is evident there, but it appears to me that the water ahead of the yacht is also well visible from inside...which isn't always the case from inside the deck-saloons of more streamlined designs. I daresay such versatility accounts for LM selling 1,500 of these, while slicker motor-sailers haven't excelled in the compromise their crews are meant to benefit from.

 
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