Sadler 29

[littlepati]

Hi folks
I have been doing a bit of reading regarding my next choice of boat. I posted a thread a couple of days ago asking for suggestions. Since then I have been looking at most of them within my original preferences. 15K and no longer than 30ft. Some of the info is quite straightforward but the Sadler 29 threw me a curve ball . Looks a great boat and does all I would want. I have a question about the double skin hull. At first though this looks a great idea. Then I wondered why haven't more builders used this method. So I suppose my question is are there any issues with double skin hulls. I hope not as I shall want this boat on my short list.
Cheers

 

[Poey50]

Hi folks
I have been doing a bit of reading regarding my next choice of boat. I posted a thread a couple of days ago asking for suggestions. Since then I have been looking at most of them within my original preferences. 15K and no longer than 30ft. Some of the info is quite straightforward but the Sadler 29 threw me a curve ball . Looks a great boat and does all I would want. I have a question about the double skin hull. At first though this looks a great idea. Then I wondered why haven't more builders used this method. So I suppose my question is are there any issues with double skin hulls. I hope not as I shall want this boat on my short list.
Cheers

On the very lively Sadler and Starlight Facebook Group there are many 29 owners who universally seem pleased with their boats and extol the lower condensation from the double skin. I would have thought there was some risk of moisture getting trapped between the layers but no-one seems to mention this as a problem. I have a 32 so no personal axe to grind.

 

[vyv_cox]

The double skin is superb for a variety of reasons but it is an expensive building method that makes it uncompetitive in the marketplace. Which is why the main proponents of it no longer exist.

 

[reeac]

We had one for many years. Had no problems with the double skinned hull and I suspect that the sturdy box like structures which supported the berths added a lot of rigidity. Never a trace of condensation or mould down below so I guess that the foam acted as thermal insulation.

 

[littlepati]

Ok there seems to be plenty about and no real problems good. It does stand to reason that it's got more pro's than cons. All that said would the opinion be there westerly equivalent would be the konsort.cheers for the replies

 

[reeac]

The Konsort is beamier and also probably gains some extra internal volume by not being double skinned. Depends a bit on how many people and how much stuff you need to accommodate. I think that the Sadler looks prettier.

 

[Praxinoscope]

Sadler 29, lovely boat, we have 5 in our small fleet, no-one seems to have had any problems at all with the double skin.
I do feel quite envious of the 29's sometimes, but still love my Sadler 25 .

 

[littlepati]

Yes I would agree with the looks thing ,they do look well. Not actually been on board either yet. It will only be me for 90% of the time so I'm not Ltd to the 29. There is a 26 in our marina that looks lovely. Does anyone know what the standing room is in the main cabin on the 26. Cheers

 

[nazarmuna]

The double skin can also cause some challenges with running wires or hoses. There are (I believe) some conduits inset within the foam of the Sadler 29 to assist with this. Like others say, more a case of cost/benefit for margin conscious builders than any real cons.

 

[DJE]

We had one for 15 years and loved it. The only problem we had with the foam infill between the skins was that one of the fresh water pipes was buried in the foam when the boat was built and it was leaking. I assume that at some point someone had pierced it with a self tapping screw through the inner skin. I just capped off the ends of the pipe and ran a new one through the back of the lockers above the settee down the port side. I eventually replace all the original water pipes with new ones of food quality and the water tasted a lot better afterwards.

Ours was bilge keeled but sailed very well. My only criticism of the bilge keel design is that the root of the windward keel breaks the surface when the boat is hard pressed and this leads to a little slamming in a seaway.

 

[Praxinoscope]

Ref #10 slamming in a seaway is why many avoid going for any bilge keel yacht.

 

[gregmlucas]

I used to crew on a Sadler 29 for a couple of years, lovely looking boat and a pleasure to sail, that one was a shallow fin so leeway wasn't great.
I went on to buy an Etap 28i - also double-skinned like the Sadler. The only problem with the Etap was cobwebs in the (very shallow) bilges . Lovely dry, warm, quiet boat and a pretty good sailer to boot. Never experienced any problems arising from the double skin.

 

[Bajansailor]

I think that @john alison used to have a Sadler 29 of which they were very fond of - I tagged him, as he has not chipped in here yet.

A pal of mine in Bournemouth bought one last year - and it was a(nother) small world story, in that the boat she bought used to be owned by the parents of a former work colleague (from when I was working at the RNLI HQ in a previous life).
I sent her a copy of the catalogue that I have for the 29, and I will post a copy below.

 

[johnalison]

I think that @john alison used to have a Sadler 29 of which they were very fond of - I tagged him, as he has not chipped in here yet.

A pal of mine in Bournemouth bought one last year - and it was a(nother) small world story, in that the boat she bought used to be owned by the parents of a former work colleague (from when I was working at the RNLI HQ in a previous life).
I sent her a copy of the catalogue that I have for the 29, and I will post a copy below.

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I did indeed have a Sadler 29 ‘Queen Mab’ from ‘87 to ’99. I didn’t reply earlier because I had nothing particular to add about the double skin. We certainly had no troubles with the hull, which was quieter and warmer than our previous boats. Ours was deep fin and this performed better than the other keels. As I have said, we usually kept pace with a friend’s 32 until we were going to windward above F4. The only real weaknesses are the limited galley and what for some is an awkward companionway, though you soon get used to this and the top step is wide and safe. We certainly always felt happy under sail in the Channel and southern N Sea. I replaced the original skimpy sound insulation around the engine with proper stuff, with great improvement. Some people have criticised the side decks, but the slope that may seem strange when in harbour is just right when going forward on the windward side when under sail.

 

[Yorkshire Exile]

Very happy with my S29 but the window fitting design in relation to the double skin is not well thought out. Leaking windows are common and in mine that led to water being trapped between the skins. A previous owner had fitted a hatch low down so water could be removed. However since refitting most of the windows and various deck fittings the foam filling is now dry. The double skin has advantages and disadvantages! However overall the boat is solid, reliable and comfortable. Not a fan of small mainsail, big genoa rig (another racing rules blind alley?) but the boat is well balanced upwind.

 

[johnalison]

Very happy with my S29 but the window fitting design in relation to the double skin is not well thought out. Leaking windows are common and in mine that led to water being trapped between the skins. A previous owner had fitted a hatch low down so water could be removed. However since refitting most of the windows and various deck fittings the foam filling is now dry. The double skin has advantages and disadvantages! However overall the boat is solid, reliable and comfortable. Not a fan of small mainsail, big genoa rig (another racing rules blind alley?) but the boat is well balanced upwind.

I had a window leak too. I think that it was between the plastic and the frame. In the end it was Captain Tolley who cured it for me.

I agree about the rig, though it was typical of the time and before modern reefing systems. It works well enough, though I did meet one 29 in Cherbourg who had a mast that was six feet longer as far as I recall. We went well with a spinnaker.

 

[littlepati]

Thank for the replies. It's always good to here from people who have real experience of a boat good and bad. There are a couple of points been raised that I shall bear in mind. This boat will definitely be on the list. Also the 26. Cheers

 

[pessimist]

Late to the party but we also had a 29 for several years. Loved her. The double skin has more advantages than disadvantages. Reduced noise and condensation against some loss of internal volume. Easy boat to single hand and very responsive under power both ahead and astern. I could go on but you've probably noticed I'm a fan Go for it, you'll not regret it.

 

[Tranona]

I think that @john alison used to have a Sadler 29 of which they were very fond of - I tagged him, as he has not chipped in here yet.

A pal of mine in Bournemouth bought one last year - and it was a(nother) small world story, in that the boat she bought used to be owned by the parents of a former work colleague (from when I was working at the RNLI HQ in a previous life).
I sent her a copy of the catalogue that I have for the 29, and I will post a copy below.

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That takes me back! I was around Poole when that was produced (working for British Seagull). Martin Sadler and his family are the models. The locations are all in Poole Harbour or just outside. The anchored one is the north west corner of Brownsea. Lost count of the number of times I have anchored there, although on a sunny day like that surprised they were not surrounded by other boats. Happy days.

 

[johnalison]

The photos show what I presume was the prototype. When they built it, it was obvious that the bulkhead to the cockpit intruded into the galley. The production models have this bulkhead slanted, so access to the sink and quarter-berth are much better. The traditional wooden steps were replaced with a GRP unit with offset steps which are actually a bit easier than the little steep ones in the photo. There was storage for maybe six bottles in the cabin table, the lid being slightly recessed. This could be handy to stop things like pencils from rolling off but we had to use a paperback or two to level it off when using the whole table for some children’s games or when using a tablecloth for one of our posh dinners.