Now boat suggestions.

wooslehunter

wooslehunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 Oct 2002
Messages
1,960
Location
Hants, UK
Visit site
Just getting a little twitchy so starting to think about changing up.

Here's some basic specs.

31 ish foot. Bigger that 34 means I can't use my favourite cheap winter lift out. Reasonable performance but can be sailed single handed - i.e not some go faster racing shell that needs a team of gorillas on the rail. Easily sleeps 4 adults - perhaps need 1 up front, 1 in the saloon & a good sized double at the back. Thinking 15yr old max but possibly lore for a really good one.

I've deliberately left out budget but the age gives it away. Possible at the moment is Moody 31 mk2 but maybe could go for an S31. How's about Bene First 31 - too lively for single handed perhaps? Oh & I guess HR is probably out on cost.

Suggestions please.
 
wooslehunter said:
How's about Bene First 31 - too lively for single handed perhaps?
Click to expand...

Do you mean a 31.7? Or one of the older Beneteau Firsts (I'm not sure if there was an original First 31 but I've sailed on others of the same generation).

Ironic you dismiss out and out racers, which in my experience usually have huge ballast ratios, then mention Beneteau Firsts. If you are genuinely thinking of a 31.7, which is probably the twitchiest boat I've ever sailed on, then I'd say no way for single handed sailing other than in flat inshore conditions. Suffice to say that if the helmsman and main trimmer ever disagreed on which way to sail, the helmsman would never win.

The very oldest Beneteau Firsts though, I'd put in the same ballpark as Sigmas. Both are well balanced and feel good in seas, albeit they have a surprising low ballast ratio & AVS when you look at the figures.

And of course you could always consider a Dehler 31 of the crash test variety.
 
S31 is a fine boat, with a nice performance aspect..... I bought one new in 1996 had it until 2002 and bought an S38.... never regretted it.
 
lpdsn said:
Do you mean a 31.7? Or one of the older Beneteau Firsts (I'm not sure if there was an original First 31 but I've sailed on others of the same generation).

Ironic you dismiss out and out racers, which in my experience usually have huge ballast ratios, then mention Beneteau Firsts. If you are genuinely thinking of a 31.7, which is probably the twitchiest boat I've ever sailed on, then I'd say no way for single handed sailing other than in flat inshore conditions. Suffice to say that if the helmsman and main trimmer ever disagreed on which way to sail, the helmsman would never win.
Click to expand...

Not sure that is entirely fair - I knew someone who regularly sailed his 31.7 across the North Sea singlehanded (sometimes in rather likely conditions) while his family took the ferry across. His last boat had been a Contessa 32.

My last boat was also a 31.7 which we cruised extensively with just us two on board.
 
Brent Goose said:
Not sure that is entirely fair - I knew someone who regularly sailed his 31.7 across the North Sea singlehanded (sometimes in rather likely conditions) while his family took the ferry across. His last boat had been a Contessa 32.

My last boat was also a 31.7 which we cruised extensively with just us two on board.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I didn't see your response as I was away last weekend.

The big problem is broaching. I've even been one one that broached under headsail in a gust - the main was dumped but the genny wasn't. The hull form is a significant factor as the onset of severe weather helm is pretty sudden as the heel increases.

No doubt with caution the features of the boat can be lived with but there are certainly better 31 footers in heavy weather. I'd certainly recommend that if the OP was seriously interested in one he goes for a sail in strong winds outside sheltered waters.

Taking a 31.7 right across the North Sea single-handed is pretty impressive. Was he ever caught out in heavy weather?
 
lpdsn said:
Sorry, I didn't see your response as I was away last weekend.

The big problem is broaching. I've even been one one that broached under headsail in a gust - the main was dumped but the genny wasn't. The hull form is a significant factor as the onset of severe weather helm is pretty sudden as the heel increases.

No doubt with caution the features of the boat can be lived with but there are certainly better 31 footers in heavy weather. I'd certainly recommend that if the OP was seriously interested in one he goes for a sail in strong winds outside sheltered waters.

Taking a 31.7 right across the North Sea single-handed is pretty impressive. Was he ever caught out in heavy weather?
Click to expand...

At least one of his crossings were in weather conditons that I wouldn't have made that passage in a small boat, apparently the bow navigation lights were demonstrated to work while under water. Although if I was routinely sailing heavy weather it wouldn't be my choice of boat.

There certainly was a tendancy to broach when overpowered but the boat always seemed to sail just as fast when reefed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top