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I quite like the look of these. Is anyone sailing one and would like to comment ? I'm interested in the marine ply/epoxy construction, its maintenance and how it compares with regular grp hulls.
Thanks
Thanks
RM Yachts
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Pete7
Well-Known Member
Just back from hols in Gulf of Morbian (Brittany) were we saw dozens. Wouldn't have taken much notice them but for the recent posts on here with build pictures etc. Have to say they all looked in excellent condition and you wouldn't know they were not GRP. The one exception a yellow RM in Cruesty were the hull finish had a marbled black effect showing through the yellow paint. Most of the others had a superb dark blue finish that you could have shaved in. Certainly couldn't find any signs on the outside that they were ply construction.
Pete
Pete
jamesjermain
Well-Known Member
See YM August for a review of the RM 1050 which Chris Beeson seemedto like - with reservations.
Pete7
Well-Known Member
Final thought on the construction, spent Saturday on the Solent with some Nautical Nurses /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif about to row across the atlantic. There boat is glued together too.
http://www.gosh.org/nauticalnurses/feature.html
Pete
http://www.gosh.org/nauticalnurses/feature.html
Pete
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
Whilst sailing on a Dufour 385 in the Med two weeks ago one passed us, he was climbing to windward. Admittedly the sails on our chartered Dufour were knackered, but I'm convinced the RM was sailing near enough head to wind!
Nick_Pam
Well-Known Member
There was an RM in Port Camargue when we were there, who sailed in all weathers, including the Mistral/Tramontaine!!
It looked lovely, sailed like an absolute witch to windward and could hang on to it's rig long after we'd rolled half the main away and are loooking at reefing the genoa.
Nice!!
It looked lovely, sailed like an absolute witch to windward and could hang on to it's rig long after we'd rolled half the main away and are loooking at reefing the genoa.
Nice!!
rwoofer
Well-Known Member
I've got the one that was at SIBS. It is the first RM in the country and is currently going through commissioning, after which I'm sure I will report back to the forum.
I sailed one in La Rochelle and it felt fantastic. It had a raceboat feel on the helm, but tracked fantastically well. I think it's the chines that do that. Were doing 5.3 knots upwind in about 8 knots of wind.
On the maintenance front, I bought it because I wanted low maintenance. Having seen it in build I'm totally convinced by the engineering quality and the fact that everything is so easy to access also bodes well.
Here is the post I made after the factory visit with more details.
RM Build
I sailed one in La Rochelle and it felt fantastic. It had a raceboat feel on the helm, but tracked fantastically well. I think it's the chines that do that. Were doing 5.3 knots upwind in about 8 knots of wind.
On the maintenance front, I bought it because I wanted low maintenance. Having seen it in build I'm totally convinced by the engineering quality and the fact that everything is so easy to access also bodes well.
Here is the post I made after the factory visit with more details.
RM Build
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Thanks for that and factory visit link. Very interesting.
Steve
Steve
georgeo
Well-Known Member
I have the first RM1050 on order for the UK. Due delivery next May. i first read about them in a small article in YM I believe, then there was an article on the shape of yachts to come, which featured them heavily. Interesting build, very srong, bags of room below, and a 'biquille', but modern in form hence its much commented on sailing ability. I am looking forward to drying out on the beaches around here and see the looks on the faces of people looking on and thinking 'what a plonker, he will be on his side in a minute in that great big thing'. The impression of my trial sail was as for rb_stretch, tracked effortlessly and went like s..t off a shovel, even in light winds
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I bet you can't wait for delivery of your 1050. Is the deck and cockpit a grp molding or is this ply and epoxy as well ?
The photos of the build by rb_stretch are great and show the interior really well. I'm curious as to the interior finish of all that marine ply. Is it all epoxy "flow" coated or just painted ?
The RM web site states the exterior is cloth and epoxy clad, then painted but for Scandinavia, they use kevlar. Whats the thinking about that ?
There seems to be limited technical information on the boats and the UK distributor has nothing - perhaps they sell fine without !
The photos of the build by rb_stretch are great and show the interior really well. I'm curious as to the interior finish of all that marine ply. Is it all epoxy "flow" coated or just painted ?
The RM web site states the exterior is cloth and epoxy clad, then painted but for Scandinavia, they use kevlar. Whats the thinking about that ?
There seems to be limited technical information on the boats and the UK distributor has nothing - perhaps they sell fine without !
jamesjermain
Well-Known Member
The British importer, Portway, has a link through to teh RM site here
srp
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
The RM web site states the exterior is cloth and epoxy clad, then painted but for Scandinavia, they use kevlar. Whats the thinking about that ?
[/ QUOTE ]
Protection from hitting lumps of ice I think.
The RM web site states the exterior is cloth and epoxy clad, then painted but for Scandinavia, they use kevlar. Whats the thinking about that ?
[/ QUOTE ]
Protection from hitting lumps of ice I think.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
I picked up the 'brochure' and price list for the 1050. The epoxy and kevlar is listed as an option.
kds
Well-Known Member
Yes a very interesting boat - /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifand it is good to hear that it sails as well as it looks.
One Question - lovely modern, twin keels, but a single rudder. Why not twin rudders ?
Ken
One Question - lovely modern, twin keels, but a single rudder. Why not twin rudders ?
Ken
davidwf
Well-Known Member
They don't need twin rudders as they are not using the twin keels to give a shoal draft boat. Hence they can have a proper deep rudder which will still be in the water when heeled.
rwoofer
Well-Known Member
The deck and cockpit is GRP moulding with divinicell core for the sidedecks and foredeck. It is designed so that no fitting needs to go through the deck where the core is, with the one exception of the inner shrouds.
All wood joints are epoxy filleted and glassed together including the hull/deck. The plywood is saturated in epoxy and then both the inside and outside are painted in a blueish epoxy paint before the white finish inside and the external hull colour. In effect the boat is a plywood cored epoxy boat and therefore not dramatically different from modern GRP construction. The main benefit being plywood is significantly stronger than typical cores.
The kevlar reinforcement is a further option that is more often used in the larger sizes. Although it effectively makes the boat puncture proof eg. for containers, it does mean that repairs become more costly. The kevlar isn't actually an option on the RM880, but I understand they will do it if you really want it. This is the beauty of dealing with a small yard - customisations are a matter of asking and they will tell you if it is possible. I made several customisations, which are now standard.
Happy to give you more technical information, much of which I got from the RM association website
RM Association
Unfortunately only in french, but I find Google translation does a pretty good job.
Here are some great photos of an RM1200 in action in Norway:
These were taken in 35 knots of wind!! I saw this particular boat in the flesh, before it went to Norway and it looked extremely well specified.
All wood joints are epoxy filleted and glassed together including the hull/deck. The plywood is saturated in epoxy and then both the inside and outside are painted in a blueish epoxy paint before the white finish inside and the external hull colour. In effect the boat is a plywood cored epoxy boat and therefore not dramatically different from modern GRP construction. The main benefit being plywood is significantly stronger than typical cores.
The kevlar reinforcement is a further option that is more often used in the larger sizes. Although it effectively makes the boat puncture proof eg. for containers, it does mean that repairs become more costly. The kevlar isn't actually an option on the RM880, but I understand they will do it if you really want it. This is the beauty of dealing with a small yard - customisations are a matter of asking and they will tell you if it is possible. I made several customisations, which are now standard.
Happy to give you more technical information, much of which I got from the RM association website
RM Association
Unfortunately only in french, but I find Google translation does a pretty good job.
Here are some great photos of an RM1200 in action in Norway:
These were taken in 35 knots of wind!! I saw this particular boat in the flesh, before it went to Norway and it looked extremely well specified.
Is yours fitted with that optional hydrofoil as well?
georgeo
Well-Known Member
i am dealing with the St malo agent, for obvious geographical reasons He has been exceptionally helpful so far. Furthermore, my wife fancies him like stink `'`````phwooar, that Frenchman could sell me anything". But on a more serious note, the Kevlar is an option which would render the boat bullet proof at an extra 6000 euros or so. I did consider going for it, but was advised that few choose this for french waters, for the reasons that richard explained above. They have been very good about my option list too, and would consider anything. I am going for a Kiwi prop, have raymarine Nav at the helm and Yeoman down below. Following checking out the debates on the practical boat owner forum, am looking at the extra cost of cruising laminates for the sail and a Rocna anchor. Also LED nav lights. Plus webasto heating. Did consider the Dickinson but decided against eventually. And the colour? A steel grey with I hope a red highlight. Hope to make factory visits at the appropiate stage, and keep forum informed
