Rustler, Vancouver, Tradewind

Re: Vancouver 34 Pilot House

Understood, but you're wrong about no sea berths - Northshore has been building ocean-going yachts long enough not to make that mistake. They're there but tucked under the pilot house floor, which is what I find so appealing and miles better than berths in a working area of a boat where off-watch crew are invariably disturbed.

And the one I know had tons of storage space. Maybe you looked at one which had been specified by someone with slightly odd ideas about what he or she wanted, because the Vancouvers are built semi-bespoke.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
 
Come on then - what do you sail ?

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !
 
Insurers also said to me that they'd consider covering an Atlantic crossing 2-handed dependent on boat type and length of experience - and they weren't talking about more modern or lighter designs.

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !
 
Re: Vancouver 34 Pilot House

Ken,

"tucked under the pilot house floor." ?

You mean you remove the floor and lie under it? I know most people think traditional designs are relatively small, but it's not that bad!

Another reason for not choosing a pilot house for ocean crossings (at least not GRP) is the increased risk of severe damage should the boat be rolled in very heavy weather. Of the three, the Rustler's almost flush deck is the best in this respect. (And another, at sea and anchor it's more comfortable in a saloon that's "under" the water than one perched above it.) Can't dispute the advantages of being sheltered from the weather though.

Pramatist, that was a question for "Birdseye"?

Cheers.

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I may be wrong but I am getting the impression from your posts that your specifications come from reading rather than any direct experience and as a result rather too much emphasis is being placed on being bullet proof in all weathers. As others have said the largest part of cruising time is spent not at sea but in harbour and the boats on your shortlist, whilst very worthy designs, are neither spacious for their overall length (quite the opposite) nor fast, especially in light winds of which you may find more than you find ocean storms. Your preferred list are generally also quite pricey for their size especially if new/nearly new and I believe you might find many other options that are not lightweight flyers, are good sea boats and will provide much better living in harbour.

Another observation is that you seem to be talking about a departure next spring? IMHO that is too soon to allow time to source, fit out and de-bug a boat that you have yet to decide on.

Sorry if that isn't an answer you want to hear but it is given with the best of intentions, good luck and fair winds anyway.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
I read somewhere that it's not the best thing to sail to the Caribbean at the start of the hurricane season. Haven't experienced that but ... . Best not to assume that because someone hasn't said something they're not thinking it.

No offence, but I just wanted to know what people, from their own practical experience, thought about Rustler's, Vancouver's and Tradewind's.

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So what exactly ARE you saying? This is one very good reason why it is helpful to fill in your bio so we know where you are coming from. Are you NOT leaving next spring on a blue water cruise?



<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
I'd say all three would fit the bill perfectly,but.........they are all very small internally particularly the Rustler and Vancouver.

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Space in boats

Robin,

I agree with much of what you say, but it is a mistake to think that all 'bullet-proof' crusiers are short on space. The Rustler 36 certainly is a tight-fit, being a design which is in reality just a scaled-up Twister on the outside, and adds only a quarter berth and a decent heads in the interior.

But the Tradewind 35 is a big boat inside, with the benefit of lots of flat deck space for lounging in sunnier climes, and a small well-protected cockpit when hanging-on is a priority.

The Vancouver 34 is a relatively small boat inside, unless you go for the pilot house version which is a bit of a Tardis.*

Cetainly either of those two would not give much away on usable living space to equivalent 'modern' boats like a Sun Odyssey 36.2, or an Oceanis 361, and would be more capable of carrying world-girdling stores without knocking performance too much.

There are also 'in-between' designs like the HR36 or the Malo 36 which offer the best of both worlds but at a price.

PS _ there's no known case (according to Northshore) of a pilot house Vancouver losing pilot house windows due to waves or capsize. But if you are worried Northshore is happy to fit Lexan windows, and provide channels to drop in storm boards.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
 
Re: Space in boats

A lot depends on space useage, our 27 footer did a trans-Atlantic circuit with previous owners. They estimate that we are now a ton light on stores and equipment, all this was stored without encroaching on normal cabin space.


Brian

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Re: Space in boats

Ken

Yes but for the price of a good example of these three boats (2 of which were often home built) there are others equally easily managed by a husband and wife crew such as:-

Westerly Sealord 39 (Oceanlord better but a bit more pricey)
Westerly Conway centre/aft cockpit, sloop or ketch
Westerly Corsair centre cockpit
Westerly Discus/33 (bigger than Rustler 36 below)
Moody 376
Moody 40/41 series
Oyster 406 (and others 39 etc, not that up on Oysters)

These just come easily to mind and all to my knowledge have world cruises in their CVs, I'm sure you could add others too and I haven't even mentioned one non UK built boat! All would offer a lot more space as well as pace since cruising speed and living room requires waterline length, that is a mathematical fact.

I also beg to disagree with a small cockpit for liveaboard, when that is the area where lots of living gets done. That doesn't mean a huge open cockpit, just a reasonable one and one with comfortable angles for lounging.

That doesn't mean I don't like the 3 mentioned but just that there are others equally if not better suited IMHO.

Robin








<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
Small cockpits

We have a pre-War boat. The cockpit is a self draining footwell only, but I beg to differ - with a tent over the boom it makes an excellent bath/children's paddling pool! Have lived aboard for a time and will probably do so again.

My vote would be the T35 - best accomodation down below and easy to manage. BUt I agree the Oceanlord would have to be a contender.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?
 
Re: garcia 25 m

They make a smaller one at, currently, 43ft, and one recent build at 42ft. Seem to be able to find one from around 1990 for around £120k. Not sure what the condition would be though, but they have at lot to want. Aluminium, very sea worthy, lifting keel. Would look at the Ovni's but they have a righting moment curve that indicates they are as stable inverted as they are the right way up. Haven't tried that out, but some things are just best read about!

Cheers.

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