Nordic Folkboat: Wood or GRP; deep cockpit or self bailer

[chrislangdon]

I'm a former Sadler 34 owner with withdrawal symptoms. Circumstances preclude sailing in the short term (namely since I spend most of my time now in the Arabian desert). However, I'm taking steps to rectify and the plan is to soon arrange a base in the northern Stockholm archipelago. Anyhow, I'm torn between buying a new Danish built GRP or wooden hull nordic folkboat. I expect that, in this Forum, I need not explain my attraction to the nordic FB.

Anyhow, I met the shipwrights at Brandt-Moeller boatyard near Copenhagen and was surprised to hear from them that a wooden hull or GRP hull made no difference in terms of maintenance. They said that a new built wooden hull incorporates all the advances in technology one would expect (ie wooden hull construction did not just stop in time when the folkboat was designed in the late '40s). So, a new build wooden hull does not leak in the Spring and there is really no difference in maintenance over the course of the season. This view tends to accord with my sense that a well maintained wooden vessel is probably, going forward, not far different from a decently maintained GRP hull. I have a good sense of what it takes to keep a GRP hull in good shape, but what about a wooden hull - and a new wooden hull, in particular. Does anyone have thoughts/ experience to share?

Also, since this will be a new build, built to spec, I have to decide whether to go with a deep cockpit or self bailing cockpit. My experience has been South Coast/ English Channel sailing and so I would tend to err on the side of self bailing. However, nordic folkboats were initially designed for sailing in the Baltic sea and the basic spec features a roomier, deep cockpit without a bridge before the cabin entrance. As I initially plan to berth her in the Baltic I am leaning towards the deep cockpit. However, I may plan to bring her back to the UK and sail in the Solent (hopefully racing out of Lymington). Am I insane to not have a self bailing cockpit if I ever plan to sail her off the English South Coast?

Apologies in advance for the lengthy discourse!

Cheers

 

[KenMcCulloch]

I think if you are having a new boat built you would be well advised to have a self-draining cockpit. I have 60 year old Folkboat with a deep cockpit and high on my list of 'improvements' would be to make the cockpit less of a liability in heavy weather. Much easier to do it as part of a new build I think.

 

[Lakesailor]

If you intend to race at Lymington I would imagine a GRP boat would be the best bet. I have a friend who races there who has a GRP Folkboat.
He won the Nationals a couple of years ago and is usually in the top 5.
But if you just want to enter for the fun, a wooden boat would provide plenty of that. His boat is the one he describes as the "male" boat.

 

[Roach1948]

[ QUOTE ]
Am I insane to not have a self bailing cockpit if I ever plan to sail her off the English South Coast

[/ QUOTE ]

No not really.

There is a lot to be said for a deep cockpit in that size of boat. For s/d to be really effective one might need to raise the cockpit and compromise that feeling of security - specially on a boat that already has a low freeboard. There is also there is an argument, that if pooped, the water equalises its weight in the bilges thus not pinning the stern down. I have a bilge pump fitted down below that I can pump whilst seated in the saloon if, heaven forbid, I get myself in a nasty fix.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

You are talking about countries that are in the EU, even having the boat built in Denmark.

I might be wrong but I do not think that a commercially built boat would be allowed (by the RCD) not to have a bridge separating the cockpit from the accommodation unless you are willing to have it rated only for inshore waters. I doubt if one could by-pass that restriction by invoking the 'replica' clause.

Like I said, I could be wrong; however, my vote would go towards a self-draining cockpit.

 

[mollyoxford]

Molly (Heard 28 Falmouth Work Boat) has no bridgedeck - but does have cockpit drains. Most Heards don't self-drain and you have to pump them out. She was built in the UK in 1989. I have no idea what she is rated.

Fitting another bilge pump or moving it from inside a cockpit locker is on my todo list, though.

 

[chrislangdon]

[ QUOTE ]
If you intend to race at Lymington I would imagine a GRP boat would be the best bet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. I thought that the GRP boats were supposed to be identical in weight and performance to the wooden so as to maintain the 'one class' character of the nordic FB. I suppose that the GRP may be stiffer, though, and this may enhance its performance over wood builds.

Excellent 'T-bone" pic btw - was this from last year in Poole?

 

[chrislangdon]

[ QUOTE ]
high on my list of 'improvements'

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. Any other recommendations for new build?

Btw, does anyone know if the Lymington fleet tends to have more SB cockpits v Baltic deep cockpits? Has anyone been pooped in a Baltic deep cockpit?

 

[Lakesailor]

It was the Folkboat Nationals, if they were in Poole.

He said " Force 6 and fully powered up and the white boat tacked on to s'board with no warning. We had a boat close on our weather so elected to bear away but didn't have enough room!"

He added "Actually, what was even worse was that I wasn't even driving. My good friend XXX XXXXXXX was - highly experienced Americas Cup/Admirals Cup and all that sort of stuff. We went to the protest meeting and lost! So we appealed to the RYA - and lost that as well!!

Ho hum - good job they are well built."

So there's a testimonial.

 

[DownWest]

My choice would be a strip/veneered/epoxy sheathed wood hull, but this would be a LOT more expensive than one built from an an existing GRP mould. Self draining too. But, I ´m not sure that many have trouble with the non-SD ones. Any stories out there? Certainly reefing is not common.
Andrew