Pilot Cutter

[Guest]

Despite my earlier sensible post re twin keels, I can't entirely dispel from my mind the thought of a s/h (centre-plate) Cornish Crabbers Pilot Cutter 30. I saw one leaving the R Deben the other day and she quite simply lifted my heart and those of the dozen other people nearby who stopped what they were doing to look.

I dare say she is not the most practical of boats: LWL 25'9" and LOA (including massive bowsprit) 39'0"! Not one for a marina perhaps. Nor the fastest (displacement 6.35 tonnes). I fully expect to be told that she would be a crazy choice for a family with two young children and only average ability at sorting out knitting and hoisting heavy gaffs with 400 sq ft mainsail attached.

I would though be grateful for any views from those who have sailed such a boat, in particular about how easy she is for a reasonably experienced but not particularly he-man crew to sail, whether progress under sail is ever better than pedestrian, and how she would cope with occasional N Sea crossings as well as more undemanding coastal sailing.

BS

 

[Mirelle]

refer to Paul Heiney

see his post on Phillips GPS further down the page; I seem to recall he had one and sailed round Britain em famille with it (from the Deben!)

But he bought a proper boat (Holman Rummer class yawl) after that.

 

[Adrian_Morgan]

Re: refer to Paul Heiney

Then they sold the yawl, why, we are not told. Maybe the pressure of hosting Mid week; the education programme, writing Times opinion pieces etc, etc. And then Paul has his share too. When do they get time to go sailing, that pair? Tell us, Libby, in your column how you juggle it all.

 

[jamesjermain]

YM reviewed the boat in 1986. She actually sailed pretty well, particularly in winds of Force 3 to 5 and not absolutely on the nose - certainly much better than 'pedestrian'. She is also fun and interesting and creates a bit of a stir wherever you go.

The downside is that the gaff main does take a bit more handling and the accommodation is not as spacious as most modern 30 footers. That said, though, she is quite big enough for a family of four to go cruising in reasonable comfort. She is a good sea boat yet shoal draughted when needed and capable of creeping to the head of the smallest creeks.

JJ

 

[Guest]

If a boat stirs your heart, that's good enough reason to buy it, I've always thought. It was one of the reasons we had our Pilot Cutter built. She was a terrific boat, safe and very strong and not sluggish either. From kids point of view, the massive quarter bunks are like having rooms of their own. James is right when he says there's not as much space as in a modern 30 footer, but there are compensations. We never found the rig too heavy once we were well practiced with it and I single-handed her quite often. Some were built with an 18hp Yanmar, but we had a 27 with a 3 bladed prop and never regretted it. The bowsprit calls for concentration in increasingly tight marinas but it hardly takes a minute to retract ( and you save 10' on the mooring charge) Again for kids, the decks are wide and its an easy boat to move around on.

Adrian, I think, asked why we changed. Well, it was the reason first stated - we saw another boat we like the look of, a Rummer yawl, wood, 1960's. She too was a terrific boat and sailed better than any boat we've ever owned. We had her for six years and the simple reason we parted with her was because we wanted a boat we could leave in distant places without too much worry - and without several acres of varnish!

 

[Guest]

Thank you so much! You have given us courage.

 

[brian_neale]

There is also something to be said for a large, heavy and stable boat if you do have young children around, simply because it is large and stable.

Do not be put off too much by the size. Properly set up and with a bit of practice, you should be able to handle something like this singlehanded. Some techniques are a little different to the modern bermudan sloop, though, so it would be worth going sailing with someone with a similar boat to pick up some hints and tips. I have a Heard 28 on order at present, which is only slightly shorter than the Pilot Cutter, but similar displacement/sail area, etc. Deep keel rather than lifting, so less suitable for the East Coast, maybe. But still easy enough to handle by myself, although tacking involves pulling and releasing an alarming amount of string! Even my 15 year old son can manage it, though, after just a little practice.

I cannot imagine why anyone would buy a boat purely on rational analysis. If it does not give you a kick every time you look at it, it is not the right boat, whatever your head may say!

 

[Guest]

Absolutely! She's got to look right otherwise what's the point. Thankfully everyone has slightly different tastes but it was certainly high on my list of criteria when I bought my boat. Also, I often found that boats that appealed to my eye fitted my requirements as well. But maybe I'm just getting a little too romantic about the whole boat buying experience, surveys etc... are important too.