River boat or Sea boat?

[ProDave]

A friend near here has just moved up from Kent and bought his boat with him

It's a Kent 28 made by Cory Yachts of Ramsgate, with an 85hp Nani Engine.

He used to use it on the non tidal Medway, now it's on the Caledonian canal.

Is this just a river boat or will it be okay at sea in the Moray Firth?

 

[Momac]

Looks like a sea boat to me.

 

[Greg2]

The Kent is a sea boat by design but there are varying engine sizes / configurations so some more suited to coastal cruising than others. It should have an RCD classification plate on it somewhere, which will indicate the waters it is designed for.

 

[ProDave]

Thanks. I haven't seen the boat yet. I was planning to accompany him out into the Firth to give him some sea experience, but not being a mobo person myself wanted to check this was a sea boat first. I guess it's a displacement hull so 5-6 knots with it's 85hp single shaft engine?

 

[Greg2]

I would think that 85hp would push a boat that size to it’s maximum hull speed, which would be around 6 - 7 knots so cruise at 5 - 6 as you suggest. Tidal currents will obviously affect that.

 

[oldgit]

CORY YACHTS

 

[Bigplumbs]

That looks a very capable displacement sea boat to me

 

[ProDave]

Thanks for all the reassurance. It does look a nice boat, what I regard as a "gin palace" compared to the little tub I am used to.

I look forward to having an outing in it in the spring to show him around the area. You will be glad to know I am also advising him on some training, apart from anything else he needs his VHF licence.

 

[ProDave]

Another question.

Does anyone know what the underwater profile of this boat is in particular with relation to prop and rudder? the question being will it take the ground in a soft mud drying harbour or must it remain afloat all the time?

If he is going to get into coastal cruising around here being able to use drying harbours greatly increases his choice of destination.

 

[Greg2]

They are described as semi-displacement hulls and whilst there was a larger model out of the water in our marina for a while recently it had twins so a different hull configuration. My guess would be that it will have a keel with the prop shaft coming out of the back of it so drying out might be an option but would need supporting legs to do it.

There is a 35 out of the water in a photo on the FB page in the link - scroll down a little and you will need to zoom in to see it (boat on the right) Kent 35

Edit: If you scroll down there is another one being craned with a clearer view of the hull. Just remembered (Doh!) that my neighbour has one so I can confirm with him when I see him.
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