Sabre 27 fin keel or bilge keel?

[Greenheart]

I'd call that the nearest possible approach to sensible expenditure on yachting in the UK climate.

I quite like motor yachts. Comfy, roomy, weatherproof and effortless. Boring and noisy, and needlessly wasteful when the wind could be doing a lot of the propelling, but excellent in other respects. The more of a motor yacht's attributes a sailing yacht can achieve, the more versatile she is because as soon as the engine stops, she can still regain all the impractical glory of being under sail.

 

[Refueler]

I agree with all your reasoning, Refueler.

I know they're elderly and not very pretty, but I always admired the Westerly Vulcan for its second (interior) helm position and twin keels and sheer spaciousness, for a not-very-costly, extremely versatile 34ft yacht.

I reckon people who own them must be laughing constantly at all the dismissive rude words written about the design.

Westerly Vulcan archive data - Yachtsnet Ltd. online UK yacht brokers - yacht brokerage and boat sales

I know the Riviera is a much later build by Westerly - interior etc. probably more creative ... but I think the Vulcan looks OK ... who cares about what she looks like to others - as owner and being comfortable while others enjoy being wet ??

 

[Greenheart]

Personally, I think that's wisdom - bottle it and profit.

Although sadly, yachtsmen don't usually exhibit or seek wisdom, hence all the open cockpits and fin keels. ?

I even like the short-but-tall Westerly Konsort Duo, an excellent shortcut to low-effort, fine-weather sailing for a couple...

...sail in the sun, furl when it looks like rain, and steer indoors with refreshments while other yachts' crews soak more literally.

 

[Laminar Flow]

I agree with all your reasoning, Refueler.

I know they're elderly and not very pretty, but I always admired the Westerly Vulcan for its second (interior) helm position and twin keels and sheer spaciousness, for a not-very-costly, extremely versatile 34ft yacht.

I reckon people who own them must be laughing constantly at all the dismissive rude words written about the design.

Westerly Vulcan archive data - Yachtsnet Ltd. online UK yacht brokers - yacht brokerage and boat sales

Friends of ours had one. The amount of space inside was mind-blowing. Once on board, they don't look any uglier than others and are generally a sight more comfortable.

 

[Refueler]

On the subject of Pilot House Motor Sailers ... I apologise to anyone who owns one ... but the Eclipse 33 I found a disappointment, it was trying to be a 38 / 43 but in so doing created a mess ... that was neither a pilot house or a lounge.

Why do I like the Macwester Seaforth ? I looked over a Wight when I was thinking of selling the SR25 in UK ... but the Wight to me was cramped in the main part compared to my SR25 and the aft cabin didn't seem big enough. Then I saw a Seaforth ... similar setup - but that extra few feet made a huge difference. And a Ketch !!

The rise of bow shows she has seagoing designed into her ... and good side decks to work from.
Yes she's basically a long keeler - but many have bilge plates fitted for drying out.

 

[Greenheart]

You're right, there's a lot to like about the Seaforth.

If by design, a yacht is a pleasant place to be in dismal weather, or dried-out in a very remote spot that hasn't been expensively set up for delicate deep keelers with accompanying deep wallets, I reckon it'll get more use, please its owners far more, and be better value.

 

[Refueler]

You're right, there's a lot to like about the Seaforth.

If by design, a yacht is a pleasant place to be in dismal weather, or dried-out in a very remote spot that hasn't been expensively set up for delicate deep keelers with accompanying deep wallets, I reckon it'll get more use, please its owners far more, and be better value.

B*****r .... making me start looking again !!

 

[Bru]

We had , as some may recall, every intention of buying a Westerly Vulcan getting as far as the survey before a major hiccup with the sale of our house put the kibosh on it

Lots of people said it was ugly but it didn't look that bad to me. Lots of people said it wouldn't go under sail but i knew the previous owner had sailed her extensively (and i do mean sailed, not motored)

The accommodation was astonishing for a 34' boat and as much as we love the W33 we ended up buying (for half the money!); there are times when i really wish we'd been able to go through with the original purchase