Small Boat Options

[RetourRBX]

What would be people's preference be between a Hunter Europa 19 and a Alacrity 19 and why?

 

[Tranona]

Welcome to the forum

Apart from being the same length and having sails they are very different boats. The Hunter is derived from the Squib racing keel boat whereas the Alacrity is a simple bilge keel cruising boat with an emphasis on accommodation rather than sailing performance.

 

[Refueler]

Having owned an Alacrity 19 .... I found it sailed liked a dinghy with a roof on !
It was light enough on a trailer that I towed it with my car ... launching / recovery was a doddle .... it had a decenmt tabernacle to allow mast to be raised / lowered.

I have many fond memories of it.

During a cruise in Swedish Archipelago in my present boat - we paired up with a guy and his wife sailing an Alacrity ...

 

[Daydream believer]

I gave a lift last week to a guy who raced a Hunter across the Atlantic. Says something for his mental state, or the boat's sea keeping quality. Not sure which, because several Squibs ( from which they derived) have been sunk whilst racing. I sunk one once.

 

[Praxinoscope]

It depends upon the type of sailing one intends to undertake, the Alacrity would in my opinion suit a desire for cruising better than the Hunter which although perhaps no longer particularly competitive is I think designed more towards club racing.
When we bought our Leisure 17 back in the early 70's we looked at the Alacrity, but it was beyond our budget, never regretted the Leisure it was a great little boat, but the Alacrity would probably have been more comfortable.

 

[Refueler]

The item that got to be a pain with the Alacrity - was the lack of headroom ...

But as a weekender - I found it very good and strong to survive all sorts.

I had no additions .. no furler .. only roller boom ... Single handed was a doddle.

 

[Supertramp]

I gave a lift last week to a guy who raced a Hunter across the Atlantic. Says something for his mental state, or the boat's sea keeping quality. Not sure which, because several Squibs ( from which they derived) have been sunk whilst racing. I sunk one once.

The Hunter has the advantage of a deck whereas the Squib took on water alarmingly when heeled hard (as you probably know). I would not sail the Atlantic in a Squib! The Hunter will be more fun to sail than the Alacrity. The Alacrity will be (almost) indestructible and a better shoal waters cruiser.