Production Boat Performance

[Sailfree]

Trying to compare like for like do forum contributors have any experience of performance comparisons.
I am assuming the Bavarias v Beneteau v Jeanneau v Dufour cruisers with the performance range of each make compared separately eg Match 38 v Firsts V Sunfasts v new Dufour 34/40/44 and where should the Dehler Elans and Grand Soliel be placed in any performance ranking order assuming similar lengths?
Like most people we have sailed in close proximity to other boats that you expect to have similar performance but have been suprised at either how well our boat sailed or in the case of a sigma how well the Sigma pointed/sailed.
I appreciate that except when actually racing its difficult to determine whether the other boat is trying but does anyone not check their sail trim when a bloggs cruiser 2' shorter than your boat creams past!
It would be great to see readers performance ranking orders.
I ask as we recently creamed past a boat 5' longer than ours that I had been aspiring to purchase and I just hope it wasn't trying. Our test sail will now have to be to ask the distributer to sail the dream boat and prove it has the edge on ours!

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[JOHNOO]

When checking the speed of these models, make sure the bottoms are clean. Even a little slime will slow a boat down.

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[Peppermint]

Re: No value

in the data.

You would need to take into account wind range and sea state.

Of the boats I've sailed recently I would say the most satisfying to sail would be

Westerly Typhoon, I still don't know why it went so fast. To my eye the sails were to full and it carried a bit of weed but it still did 8 knots all the time. Nice balace and easy to helm.

HR 36, a very seaworthy feeling boat with surprising passage speeds

Gibsea 414, Easy to sail but rewards the extra effort.

First 405. Easy to sail well, wide groove to windward, easy to operate.

Nic 35 a very well set up boat with hanked headsails and clean bottom.

The most exiting must be

"Maiden" The old one not the cat. very quick & tweakable & completely bomb proof.

"Storm Bird" 56ft Admirals Cup Winner, Difficult to set up but when you do WOW!

The least worthwhile

Catalina 32. Wide beam, shallow draft, lousy mainsheet arrangement.

Wolf in sheeps clothing

A Gibsea 30. We nailed a 3 boat fleet of Sigmas, they payed attention when we caught up but we still held on pretty well.

I've not put any Ben/Jen's in because the Bens I've sailed are tricky to sail well up wind, though you can get them to reach at a fair speed. The Jen's I've tried had furling mains.

If you can catch me in the Gibsea 414 or the First 405 you are sailing a very fast boat indeed.

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[billmacfarlane]

It's impossible to judge the absolute performance of a boat by sailiing it against another as there are far too many unknowns. The skill of the helm, age of sails, state of the bottom, to name but a few. If you're interested in comparisons why not she how she rates under one of the handicap systems e.g ISC and she what boats are around the same number ?

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[freebird]

HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF 412 X-YACHT VERY EASY TO HELM ALL GEAR IS TOP QUALITY .THEY ARE NOT JUST RACE BOATS BUT DEPENDS IF YOU WANT A CARAVAN OR A BOAT THAT SAILS THIS IS MY FIRST POST AND IM A BUILDER SO IM NOT TO GOOD ON THE TYPING

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[tome]

freebird

Try turning the CAPS off - looks like you're SHOUTING! Makes it much more boozer-friendly.

Welcome to the forum
Tom

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://home.btconnect.com/Amaya/Amaya_Web1.htm>Cherbourg Data site</A>

 

[cgull]

Re: No value

I really like the Gibsea 414........aaand the Maxi 1000 not sailed a 1050 or 1100.
I just dont rate the Bav/Jen/Dufours but it seems many people do!

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[billmacfarlane]

Re: No value

I can tell you anything you need to know re the Maxi 1100.

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[Oldhand]

Horror! If you are impressed by Sigmas you are a way off the mark for true performance from a production builder and some of the suggestions from other respondents are even further off the mark. Think J-Boats and possibly X-Yachts if you want decent performance form a production boat without going too extreme.

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[PeterGibbs]

It's an intriguing question but I susect the real answer is that, despite the casual use of the word "performance" in their literature, none of the marques you mention could be considered "fast". The reason is clear - what the main producers in Europe and the USA turn out is a combination of qualities - and to be fast requires too much compromise in the other departments - cube capacity, comforts, safety gear etc.

Most boats carry well over a tonne of additional weight - fuel, anchors and chains, water, life raft, inflatable, outboard etc - get rid of this and most boats will show a better turn of speed. But most of us will not follow this route - we are not really looking for a "performance " vessel. If you, too, are looking to carry "cruising gear" you might wish to reconsider how dedicated you really are to real performance.

Peter Gibbs

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