Planning the next boat

[jonjo]

While beating my way towards Poole last week in 24 knots going on 29 I started contemplating my next yacht.

Here are the outline design criteria for what I assume will be a custom build:

The yacht will have to see me through from the age of 50 to 70, so something more sedate than the Match is in order.

12 month live aboard potential in UK latitudes.

Steel hull (got swiped 1st day into my 2006 cruise in Yarmouth so I decided that GRP is not suitable when a vessel has to perform as a primary residence).

Capable of extended independence from marina costs/support.

Hull shape designed to avoid mooring dues, i.e. shallow draft, bilge keelettes and tough under body that can take to the river foreshore at the tidal limit of a river estuary.

Homely interior with a central 10ft x 10ft room finished off in the Edwardian look with cream painted wood panelling and wood burning stove.

No key hull dimension that would prevent access to a section of the European canal network.

Good sized rig because despite the other criteria this will still be a sailing vessel. Big beam and low AVS would be acceptable because I have no intention to cross an ocean again, 200 mile passages would be the limit.

Long enough to accommodate a separate galley because I don’t want to live in a nautical bedsit when I am 50. Think this means 45 ft minimum.

Ok after that preamble here is my question. I have always had a soft spot for that 1930’s little ship look but I cannot find a sailing yacht implementation of the genre.

I need something to kick start my dreaming, this is the closest I have found:

http://www.adls.org.uk/ship-showgalleryphoto.cfm?ship=156&image=222&RestTrust=0

http://www.adls.org.uk/ship-showgalleryphoto.cfm?ship=156&image=129&RestTrust=0

Has anyone come across a sailing yacht with the little ships look?

 

[Peterduck]

I have always thought that for comfort you would be hard pressed to improve on some of Maurice Griffiths' designs. Good Hope is very spacious and I believe sails well. An aquaintance has built one in steel and has been living on board for the last 20 years or so on the Queensland coast. It has a shallow, broad keel for taking the ground, and if you build in steel beaching legs would be a doddle to fit. MG was quite keen on steel as a construction medium, and it wouldn't surprise me if there were plans for building it in steel. Eventide association would have all the details.
Peter.

 

[Wansworth]

I think 45 footer too big once your over 50 unless v fit.Check out size brackets in marinas ;over 12 mtrs get very expensive .The gally could be placed as it used to be in the fore part of the boat.The rig woud be best designed so you could lower th mast yourself and a mizzen mast has lots of advantages one of which is setting the mizzen whilst at anchour.Interior sounds nice especially with wood burning stove fueldby driftwood .

 

[citibhoy]

Have a look at www.georgebuehler.com
Whilst famous for his passagemaker books - sail assisted motor cruisers he has extensive experience in simple good old fashioned yacht design.

A gentleman to boot - i bought his plans but in the end acquired an 'off the shelf' motor yacht c 1928. He was extremely helpful with wise and sound advice.

CB

 

[Mirelle]

Well, there are a couple of people who post here who are currently living aboard boats that would fit your description, except that they are wooden boats. I'll leave them to introduce themselves should they wish to.

You might take a look at Bill and Laurel Cooper's book, unless you already have - they used to post here when they were vaguely in the UK time zone.

 

[Ruffles]

This boat was parked near us a few years ago. She was designed to fit in canal locks and has a tabernacle.

A lot of boat for the money - but I wouldn't want to be paying their marina charges!

 

[jonjo]

[ QUOTE ]
This boat was parked near us a few years ago.

[/ QUOTE ]
A lot of living space for the money as you say and she looks like a serious offshore yacht but the shape is a bit Bruce Roberts and his designs do nothing for me. You know 1980's, beards, sandles, Abber that sort of thing.

 

[jonjo]

[ QUOTE ]
I think 45 footer too big once your over 50 unless v fit.

[/ QUOTE ]
You are probably right, I started at 40 ft in my head then the accommodation requirements pushed it to 45.

Galley forward of the main bulkhead hmmm, that might work, allows me to bring back the living room near to max beam and thus shrink the whole design.

I still cannot find an old 1930's yacht with a non trivial rig mounted on the TSDY little ships look. Perhaps the concept is a non runner but then I look at modern performance yachts with their long snouts and wider aft sections and think maybe the answer is to graft the above water line profile of a TSDY onto a modern sailing hull.

 

[Frangipani]

How about this one - for sale on the east coast old gaffers website(www.eastcoastclassics.co.uk) ?

 

[jezjez]

i once saw a tremendous looking liveaboard - i think it was a fijian or a tahitian 45, does that ring a bell? - an essentially flat-bottomed motorsailor. One day...