Sigma 362 to Fisher 34

cagey

cagey

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I’m finding my Sigma is becoming a handful, most of my time is single handed and she is well sorted to make single handing easy but I fancy a wheelhouse and being dry and warm. Will a Fisher satisfy my love of the sense of achievement and excitement that I get with the Sigma or is it a wallowing tub.
Ive always liked the look of Fisher etc but if I’m going to jump I don’t want to leave it too long. I’m 70 and suffer with arthritus but with the help of drugs and stubbornness I manage to keep going.
Thanks for any advice or guidance,
Keith
 
I have friends with Fishers 30-37. They do an awful lot of motoring. I believe that LMs have a good reputation as a compromise.
 
May be a step too far taking into account your experience although Fishers are lovely boats.

What do you find difficult at the moment. Berthing ? reefing ? sheeting ? maintenance ?

Would a smaller version of a Sigma type yacht help ?
 
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A lady I am aware of single-hands her Fisher (37’ I think, a larger Fisher.) every weekend.

Would you find it as satisfying as the 362? Difficult question to answer. However, I do believe that our attitudes change when we get older and what was good for us previous, is less so now. Only you can answer that.

I know that there are old grumps having a great time on their Motor Sailors having moved from sail. Go for it would be my advice as there is nothing quite like messing about on boats.
 
Going from a Sigma to a Fisher is a pretty big step!
Here are a few possible contenders somewhere in between?

The Frances 34 is the pilot house version of the Victoria 34 -
Frances 34 Pilot For Sale, 11.10m, 1997

The Vancouver 32 later became the 34, and there was also a pilot house model -
Used Vancouver 34 Pilot House for sale (Sailing Boats) | TheYachtMarket
and
https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/vancouver-32-pilot-house-harris

A Moody Eclipse should sail better than a Fisher, but not like a Sigma -
https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/moody-33-eclipse
and
1991 Moody Eclipse 33 Sail New and Used Boats for Sale -
 
Wansworth said:
Problem with wheelhouses being singlehanded is getting out on deck after gauge ing your there and putting the engine out of gear
Click to expand...

Very true! In the late 1970s, I lusted after a Fisher 34 or 37, but never bought one. In hindsight, I'm quite glad I didn't. They're not easy to sail, so they end up as motor boats with a mast. And, as you say, not easy to handle on your own. Also, the cockpit is tiny. They look so right, but there are better compromises.
 
Of course practice makes perfect watch a fisherman nicely judged approach ,slings it out of gear and wanders in the general direction of the deck and drops his bowline over the bollard........?
 
A Fisher and arthritis might not be a good match. I've just started crewing on one. The route from the wheelhouse is out the door, up on the cockpit seat then swinging/stepping over the high coaming and back down to the side deck. Depending of course on where you suffer, I currently have a dodgy knee and I think the process through carefully each time I step over in case it gives way.
 
Thanks everyone wasn’t what I was expecting but there is the value in the forum, things I hadn’t thought of made me look with eyes from the future, I hate getting older there isn’t much to like*.
THANKS everyone saved what could have been an expensive mistake.
Keith
* except for grandchildren
 
We own a Watson 32, not standard, with enhanced rig and steering. She now sails quite well. Compared to a Fisher, her wheelhouse is a formidable living space, though the F34's is already pretty good. Our cockpit is huge; we can easily seat six around the table, two on folding chairs. Docking from a wheelhouse is a little unusual at first, but easy enough, once you get the hang of it.

Whether the type might suit you depends all on the type of sailing you do. We view ours as a cruising machine and as such we make fast passages under sail only. We still have a ruddy great diesel that will let her punch her way through some nasty stuff at the end of a long haul when you're tired and the last thing you needed was a F8 on the nose.

If you are looking for something to take out for a lazy afternoon sail and only when the weather is cooperative then perhaps not.

A few years ago Classic Boat did a review on the F34. That particular model had a sloop rig with roller reefing "ev'ryfink". She was said to perform well enough. Such a rig could be easily handled single-handed without ever having to leave the cockpit.
 
dancrane said:
I haven't understood what you meant. Can you try again Wansworth?
Click to expand...
Inside the wheelhouse to get on deck to moor up it’s more of an obstacle course than if you were just in a cockpit,but if the wheelhouse has doors port and starboard it’s easier to adjacent your boat to the pier and moor up
 
I see, thanks.

I don't know because I never looked for them - but don't Fishers have engine controls beside their outside helms?

Is it much more bother getting onto a dock or pontoon from a Fisher's cockpit, than from yachts without wheelhouses?

I could tolerate putting on a coat for the last minutes coming alongside, if I could steer out of the rain for the rest of the trip.
 
Wansworth said:
Inside the wheelhouse to get on deck to moor up it’s more of an obstacle course than if you were just in a cockpit,but if the wheelhouse has doors port and starboard it’s easier to adjacent your boat to the pier and moor up
Click to expand...

How about a Fisher Northeaster 30, with doors port and starboard in the wheelhouse - it should be very easy to just pop out to drop that spring line over the bollard.
Fisher Northeaster 30 Motorsailer For Sale, 9.14m, 1974

Fisher Northeaster 30.jpg
 
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