Pics from sibs - inc Hardy 62

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Blimey, and I thought to have seen all sort of engineering horrors on pleasure boats... Is that a joke, or what?
Aesthetic aside, just imagine someone leaving cushions/inflatable toys/whatever on the f/b, obstructing the intakes, and as a consequence the engines struggle breathing...!?!

Yeah you're right, Mapism. As I say, Hardy are a small builder who have been through a crisis recently and I bet they thought long and hard about whether they should bring a half finished product like the 62 to the show. But I think the kind of experienced owner that they are hoping to attract would see through all the detail faults and recognise that there's a good boat somewhere in there. No question though that if I had to choose one boat at SIBS to cross the E Channel in a gale, it would be the 62.
One more btw. Apparently the reason that the hull is painted blue and battleship grey was that the Russian buyer was planning to use her in the White Sea and because of the risk of piracy there, he wanted his 62 to look like a naval boat! Believe that if you will

 

[longjohnsilver]

Yeah you're right, Mapism. As I say, Hardy are a small builder who have been through a crisis recently and I bet they thought long and hard about whether they should bring a half finished product like the 62 to the show. But I think the kind of experienced owner that they are hoping to attract would see through all the detail faults and recognise that there's a good boat somewhere in there. No question though that if I had to choose one boat at SIBS to cross the E Channel in a gale, it would be the 62.

Absolutely Mike. It's 90% of the way to being a top notch product. For some reason Hardy seem to insist on fitting the FP gen sets, although they have consistently caused problems in the past. But a savvy owner will no doubt insist on another/better make. Marks untimely death must have thrown a huge spanner into the works, he was a walking encyclopaedia of Hardy boats and installations and most of it was in his head and that knowledge died with him. So Hardy now have a difficult job trying to replace his input. So any buyer will have to be very much on the ball, although there are not many a la jfm out there, maybe an opening for a surveyor/consultant to project manage the build? There must be some out there with the necessary skills to do this.

 

[MapisM]

No question though that if I had to choose one boat at SIBS to cross the E Channel in a gale, it would be the 62.

Just curious, which were the other closer competitors?
If compared to the N43 in front of the H62, I'd definitely agree with you.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Just curious, which were the other closer competitors?
If compared to the N43 in front of the H62, I'd definitely agree with you.

N43 was the only other ocean going boat, although its arguable whether the Hardy does the same with its twin 1200hp engines. There must surely be an opening in the market for a UK built pure displacement boat, and Hardy would surely be ideal builders for such a vessel. They could free up a vast space in the e/r for updated gensets, stabs, water makers etc etc. and reduce the overall cost with a much smaller single engine with a subsequent significant reduction in running costs.
Compare the Hardy to a Nordhavn 64, now that is a proper small ship.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Just curious, which were the other closer competitors?
If compared to the N43 in front of the H62, I'd definitely agree with you.

None really. Lots of gin palaces from SunFairPrinseeker which you wouldn't want to take out in a gale because they're more glass than glassfibre these days, a few trawlery things from Beneteau and Jeanneau which would probably survive a gale but you'd be screwing them back together afterwards and some saily boats which I wouldn't take out of principle. There were a couple of rufty tufty Aquastars but the SWMBO didn't like them because they didn't have sunpads on the flybridge. So that leaves the H62 for my trip across the Channel in a gale
What's wrong with the N43? Sure it's dinky but it's got industrial strength build

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

N43 was the only other ocean going boat, although its arguable whether the Hardy does the same with its twin 1200hp engines. There must surely be an opening in the market for a UK built pure displacement boat, and Hardy would surely be ideal builders for such a vessel. They could free up a vast space in the e/r for updated gensets, stabs, water makers etc etc. and reduce the overall cost with a much smaller single engine with a subsequent significant reduction in running costs.

Agree entirely and I talked to them about putting in 2 smaller engines for D cruising with say a 18kt top speed. I have to say they were receptive but they didn't really give the impression that they would know what they're doing. For example, they insisted that their 62 wouldn't need stabs at D speed 'because of the hull design'. Yeah right!

 

[MapisM]

What's wrong with the N43? Sure it's dinky but it's got industrial strength build

I just don't like her layout, but that aside I simply agree that the H62 would be a better choice for a (relatively) short passage in a gale.
Of course she wouldn't have the range for ocean crossing, but that's another matter altogether.
Funny that LJS mentions the N64 as a better comparison, because that's another example of the latest Nordhavn style which would never make it to my short list for a boat in that size range.
The good old N62, built in a yard with proven experience rather than in some modern chinese factory aimed at cost reduction, now THAT would be a different story...
But that's me, of course.

 

[MapisM]

they insisted that their 62 wouldn't need stabs at D speed 'because of the hull design'. Yeah right!

LOL, I couldn't agree more.
Anyone who think that it's possible to design a monohull whose comfort at D speed is NOT dramatically improved by stabs, surely gives the impression of not knowing what he's talking about...

 

[longjohnsilver]

I just don't like her layout, but that aside I simply agree that the H62 would be a better choice for a (relatively) short passage in a gale.
Of course she wouldn't have the range for ocean crossing, but that's another matter altogether.
Funny that LJS mentions the N64 as a better comparison, because that's another example of the latest Nordhavn style which would never make it to my short list for a boat in that size range.
The good old N62, built in a yard with proven experience rather than in some modern chinese factory aimed at cost reduction, now THAT would be a different story...
But that's me, of course.

Interesting M, I spent a week on the N62 in Panama a few months back, a very fine boat indeed. A 64 turned up in Dartmouth a month or so back and I have to say that looked even better imho, a view which was shared by the owners who had moved from the 62 (which was unfortunately destroyed by fire) to a new 64. I particularly liked the option of steering from both the bridge or a flybridge, which is not an option on the 62.

Are you aware of build quality issues with the 64?

 

[jfm]

LOL, I couldn't agree more.
Anyone who think that it's possible to design a monohull whose comfort at D speed is NOT dramatically improved by stabs, surely gives the impression of not knowing what he's talking about...

+1. Again, while Hardy are able to make a great boat they damage their own credibility by their marketing.

Deleted User, out of the boats at the show, for that gale, I'd chose the Squadron 78. Seriously. No question that the Hardy 62 would have you heading back to port or to the guardrails for a puke, before the Sq78

 

[MapisM]

I particularly liked the option of steering from both the bridge or a flybridge, which is not an option on the 62.
Are you aware of build quality issues with the 64?

Well, you can look at the f/b either as a big plus or as a useless bunch of equipment to take care of, depending on the usage of the boat.
The first is surely true for coastal cruising in the Med for instance, but I'd rather not buy a Nordhavn for that.
Otoh, for ocean crossing, you don't want to have any sort of electronic equipment potentially exposed to green water, and the f/b helm is as useful as a chocolate teapot anyway.

Re. build quality issues, I understand that they had plenty, including hull delamination (!), with the boats built by the yard whose name I can't now remember in Xiamen (China) - hence my previous comment.
Though TBH I can't swear by heart that the 64 is also built there. If she's one of the boats still built by Ta Shing, that definitely makes a difference.
I still prefer the 62 layout anyway, but as I said that's me...

 

[longjohnsilver]

Well, you can look at the f/b either as a big plus or as a useless bunch of equipment to take care of, depending on the usage of the boat.
The first is surely true for coastal cruising in the Med for instance, but I'd rather not buy a Nordhavn for that.
Otoh, for ocean crossing, you don't want to have any sort of electronic equipment potentially exposed to green water, and the f/b helm is as useful as a chocolate teapot anyway.

Re. build quality issues, I understand that they had plenty, including hull delamination (!), with the boats built by the yard whose name I can't now remember in Xiamen (China) - hence my previous comment.
Though TBH I can't swear by heart that the 64 is also built there. If she's one of the boats still built by Ta Shing, that definitely makes a difference.
I still prefer the 62 layout anyway, but as I said that's me...

Googling Nordhavn and Ta Shing seems to show that they do build the 64, as well as several other models.

It's a good job we don't all want the same, life would be very boring otherwise! I personally wouldn't say no to either (or any) of them...............

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Deleted User, out of the boats at the show, for that gale, I'd chose the Squadron 78. Seriously. No question that the Hardy 62 would have you heading back to port or to the guardrails for a puke, before the Sq78

Well you can't beat length, I always say

 

[longjohnsilver]

Well you can't beat length, I always say

Exactly what MrsF said to me yesterday

 

[MapisM]

Googling Nordhavn and Ta Shing seems to show that they do build the 64, as well as several other models.
It's a good job we don't all want the same, life would be very boring otherwise! I personally wouldn't say no to either (or any) of them...............

Aha, happy to stand corrected.
By heart, I would have told that the 64 was already in the chinese built lot, also because they built even their new flagship in Xiamen.
Good for those 64 owners which you met in Dartmouth if she isn't... I guess it also explains why they were happy about her!
Anyway, I also wouldn't mind a N64 as a Xmas gift, fwiw...

 

[Greg2]

Had a look over the Hardy 62 today....really wanted to see it as I have always been a fan of Hardy boats, fuelled no doubt by the steady flow of demonstrators through the yacht club where we used to moor. Mark was a member and I remember chatting with him over a pint when the order for the 62 had been placed. Real shame he never saw it reach completion.

Anyway, leaving aside one or two areas for improvement (most of which have been mentioned on here) I thought it is a great boat. As with other models it is a well built serious sea boat and I really like the no nonsense practicality it provides. I know it is a personal taste issue but my preference is not for bling on a boat but for good quality practical fixtures, fittings and finish. This boat delivers that in a great layout. The only area I am not sure about is the flybridge and upper deck but it was better in reality than the photos here show and could easily be specced differently.

It is worth remembering that the boat was built to the spec of the guy who ordered it and when Mark sadly passed away he took the plans with him as they were in his head. Chatting with Trevor from Windboats it seems that all they got was the specification...no plans.....nothing else. Seems incredible but that is apparently the way it was.

All things told I think it is a super boat and the next ones will only be better, particularly with Windboats experience of building quality boats. Sure the comment about stabs may be off the mark but it is hardly representative of their experience and ability.