KevinN
New Member
Hi Everyone This is my first post. I am keen to purchase a pocket cruiser and the SCOD looks ideal. I would appreciate your views. Should I consider other options?
Thanks KevinN
Thanks KevinN
Pocket cruiser
- Thread starter KevinN
- Start date
Peterduck
Well-Known Member
Consider first the waters which you will be sailing. While a SCOD may be fine on the Channel coast, it may be a liability around the Thames estuary because of its draught. How many people will regularly sail on board? Do you want to sail in just one area, or would you like to sample different areas? A trailable boat will allow you to explore a wide range of areas, but won't handle offshore conditions. It just goes on and on.
Peter.
Peter.
KevinN
New Member
Thanks for your comments Peter. I am looking for a boat to sail around Australia, basically staying fairly close to the coastline. For most of the time I will either sail single handed or with a second person on board. I have considered a trailable boat but would like a boat that will handle off shore conditions - and isn't too big.
Roach1948
Well-Known Member
The ultimate pocket cruiser then; a Vertue.
Peterduck
Well-Known Member
I'd disagree with Roach's choice of a Vertue because of the huge tides around the north-west and Queensland coasts. I'd pick an Eventide or Golden Hind, which can dry out without falling over. I'd offer my own ketch, but it's not a single-hander by any means.
Peter.
Peter.
Roach1948
Well-Known Member
Maybe Peter Duck is right. I know a few Buchanan East Anglians were made in OZ. Draft not that deep and long straight keel for taking to the ground - quite a bit smaller inside than a SCOD though. When you originally suggested a SCOD I presumed you wanted wood? Maybe that is not the case and your scope widens considerably.
KevinN
New Member
Thanks for the comments, they are much appreciated. I must confess that my preference is for a wood. There is a one year course in wooden boatbuilding available in Tasmania, Australia that looks good - I am considering doing this course sometime in the future to get my skills up to scratch.
oldharry
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I'd disagree with Roach's choice of a Vertue because of the huge tides around the north-west and Queensland coasts. I'd pick an Eventide or Golden Hind, which can dry out without falling over. I'd offer my own ketch, but it's not a single-hander by any means.
Peter.
[/ QUOTE ]
As an Eventide owner, I am not sure I would entirely agree. Its 'horses for courses' - for coastal work with occasional forays offshore the Eventide or Golden Hind (which is just a grown up Eventide anyway) IS hard to beat.
But if longer offshore passages are the thing, then I think the Vertue's sea keeping qualities outweigh the Eventide simply because the deeper draught gives a better ride in bad conditions.
The Hind of course at 31 ft is altogether bigger boat, and hardly comes in to the 'pocket cruiser' league.
My other comment is that the Eventide is roomier below than the Vertue or SCOD, without loss of sailing performance.
I'd disagree with Roach's choice of a Vertue because of the huge tides around the north-west and Queensland coasts. I'd pick an Eventide or Golden Hind, which can dry out without falling over. I'd offer my own ketch, but it's not a single-hander by any means.
Peter.
[/ QUOTE ]
As an Eventide owner, I am not sure I would entirely agree. Its 'horses for courses' - for coastal work with occasional forays offshore the Eventide or Golden Hind (which is just a grown up Eventide anyway) IS hard to beat.
But if longer offshore passages are the thing, then I think the Vertue's sea keeping qualities outweigh the Eventide simply because the deeper draught gives a better ride in bad conditions.
The Hind of course at 31 ft is altogether bigger boat, and hardly comes in to the 'pocket cruiser' league.
My other comment is that the Eventide is roomier below than the Vertue or SCOD, without loss of sailing performance.
tossedman
New Member
How about Paul Gartside's gaff cutter Surprise II? 22 feet long, made of wood and a beautiful boat. Check it out at http://www.gartsideboats.com/catsail3.php#surprise. He'll sell you plans so you can go make one down in Tassie.
Todd
Todd
Peterduck
Well-Known Member
I would recommend that you don't build a cruising yacht, but use the knowledge gained at the Wooden Boat School at Franklin to arm yourself when buying an existing wooden yacht. A friend of mine here in Melbourne is beginning to think that it is time that he too 'swallowed the anchor' and sold his 25ft Lyle Hess cutter. This has been beautifully built and well-cared for, so it won't be a giveaway. This desgn will take anything that you can throw at it in the way of weather, [witness the Pardeys' circumnavigation in 'Seraffyn'] and the current owner/builder has photos of it sailing with the helm unattended, without any form of self-steering.
Peterduck
Well-Known Member
Another design which you should look at carefully is the Herreshoff H28. These are plentiful in Australian waters. I would recommend buying a cruising yacht rather than building one, as you can't get back the 5-10 years that it takes to build one, not to mention the monetary cost. By all means attend the course at Franklin Wooden Boat School, but use the knowledge gained to help you choose a really good existing wooden yacht.
Peter.
Peter.
fishermantwo
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the comments, they are much appreciated. I must confess that my preference is for a wood. There is a one year course in wooden boatbuilding available in Tasmania, Australia that looks good - I am considering doing this course sometime in the future to get my skills up to scratch.
[/ QUOTE ]
If you are planning a trip to Tasmania, just buy one of the excellent, craftman built boats that are for sale there. Good boat building timber is in short supply and extremely expensive. Plenty of $40,000 yachts about built with $100,000 worth of timber with the rig and electronics thrown in.
Thanks for the comments, they are much appreciated. I must confess that my preference is for a wood. There is a one year course in wooden boatbuilding available in Tasmania, Australia that looks good - I am considering doing this course sometime in the future to get my skills up to scratch.
[/ QUOTE ]
If you are planning a trip to Tasmania, just buy one of the excellent, craftman built boats that are for sale there. Good boat building timber is in short supply and extremely expensive. Plenty of $40,000 yachts about built with $100,000 worth of timber with the rig and electronics thrown in.
KevinN
New Member
Again, thank you for all the responses. I appreciate the benefit of your experience. I don't have any plans to build a boat but I can imagine the skills to repair and modify a yacht will be enormously valuable - hence the interest in the course at Franklin. I am heading down to the Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart early next year which should be a great chance to see what is on the market.
oldharry
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Plenty of $40,000 yachts about built with $100,000 worth of timber with the rig and electronics thrown in.
[/ QUOTE ]
Much the same in UK. My Eventide 26 would cost around £15,000 to build and equip from scratch today. The average current market price for a good one is around £6,000.
Plenty of $40,000 yachts about built with $100,000 worth of timber with the rig and electronics thrown in.
[/ QUOTE ]
Much the same in UK. My Eventide 26 would cost around £15,000 to build and equip from scratch today. The average current market price for a good one is around £6,000.
Jwoods
Member
Just to confuse all, I'll throw one in as well. I have just bought a Falmouth Pilot 6 ton, 24ft and 4ft draft. Very roomy below and with a long straight keel designed for taking the ground for scrubbing off etc. Construction is pitch pine on oak. I sometimes sail this single handed with occasional help from autohelm. This is an excellent sea boat and quite strongly built. I have also just graduated for a Paul Gartside boat, so if anyone wants to buy an Oyterman 16..........
