Wansworth
Well-known member
Did one of the forum have one?
Snapdragon 25
- Thread starter Wansworth
- Start date
Binnacle
Active member
It would be worth trying to use the forum search engine instead of asking people to look for an answer for you.
You will discover that you yourself have several Snapdragon posts.
You will discover that you yourself have several Snapdragon posts.
LittleSister
Well-known member
One of our regular correspondents had, I think, a Snappy 26 until not long ago, but now has a catameringue. I've forgotten his forum handle but expect he'll be along shortly.
Not sure I've heard of a Snappy 25. (Edit -but it turns out they do exist. Re-edit I'd misread something, and seemingly they don''t.) There was a 24 and a 26, I know, and IIRC a smaller one. Snappies generally considered, IIRC, modest performance, good accommodation (for its day) and reasonably solidly built.
Not sure I've heard of a Snappy 25. (Edit -
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Sandy
Well-known member
Have you decided on a new boat? Do you have pictures of your new craft?
LittleSister
Well-known member
Wansworth
Well-known member
The recent choice has already been bagged unfortunately but this Snapdragon turned up in Coruna. but it’s just a very early assessment of the possibility.
LittleSister
Well-known member
Wansworth
Well-known member
S
ome chap from Santander going on a trial sail next Monday……hardlytimetoget off the sofa!Yes, best not to rush into these things!
Bajansailor
Well-known member
If she crossed Biscay on her twin keels then that is a good measure of her seaworthiness - especially at this time of year!
(I have been hove to in Biscay under storm job and trysail in November 30 years ago - not much fun).
And even if she pottered along the coast the whole way, then that is still quite an adventure - especially as there is always the threat of a lee shore to contend with.
Or did she come up from down south?
Anywhichway, methinks that you should get off that couch pronto, and put in a bid for her if she is for sale.
I am sure that she would be your perfect cup of tea.
PeterV
Active member
The first Snapdragons were 23’ and 26’. They were replaced by the 21’, 24’, 27’ and 29’ range. The 25’ Snapdragon is one of the eBay tape measure specials!
MoodySabre
Well-known member
I had a 26 as my first boat back in 2000. Built very near here and very robust for drying moorings. I got the bug and moved on after four years.
As with all boats of that age, engine is everything.
The short vertical keels bring ‘leeway’ to a whole new level.
As with all boats of that age, engine is everything.
The short vertical keels bring ‘leeway’ to a whole new level.
MoodySabre
Well-known member
Stemar.
prestomg27
Active member
I fèar you are being modest describing their performance as modest.
Their twin keels are shallow planks stuck on straight rather than with any attempt at design.
They are slow downwind and barely go upwind.
I think there are many stuck in the dark, back corners of boatyards waiting for their fate as landfill.
Quite roomy though.
Boathook
Well-known member
LittleSister
Well-known member
Likely either a Snapdragon 24 or Snapdragon 747, both of which (presumably same hull) are listed as 24.5 ft (and 7.47m).
(I've corrected my earlier mistaken impression that a 25 existed.)
I've never sailed a Snappy, so maybe they really are as poor performers as people are suggesting. But I've had several boats which, by virtue of their keel format and sometimes rig, weren't as close winded as most, yet I have had so much fun in them, and sailed much further than most boats of the same small sizes. By the application of a bit of care and skill, not to mention the advantage of shallow draft, have even on occasion outpaced more sporty, close winded boats in beating up rivers against the wind. (I've also been impressed over the years by how high a proportion of close-winded boats will usually motor upwind anyway!)
I wonder whether reports of excessive leeway are the result of trying to sail closer to the wind than suits the boat? My current boat, an LM27, isn't close winded. Its shallow draft long keel, modest sized rig and genoa sheeting angles mean that it is a waste of time trying to sail higher than about 50 degrees to the wind. It will slow very markedly and make excessive leeway, but at 50 degrees it just romps along. I have never found this supposed limitation troubling. It is a delight to sail, has lovely accommodation and character, and surprises most reviewers how fast it is off the wind.
I've very much enjoyed sailing much sportier things on occasions, but every boat is a compromise (especially given my modest means), and for my tastes (and likely that of most of my guests) comfort and character are generally more important than close winded-ness and speed, and that's increasingly so as I age.
So Snapdragons suffer from having vertical keels? Like all fin keel and long-keel boats, then!
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prestomg27
Active member
Yes they do. If you read up on hull design you will see that modern twin keel designs are asymetric and attached at various angles to the hull. The French RM's give performance nearly as good as a fin keeler and the British Hunters were also quite good for their day. Even the westerlys of the same era had splayed keels that gave far better performance than a snapdragon.Likely either a Snapdragon 24 or Snapdragon 747, both of which (presumably same hull) are listed as 24.5 ft (and 7.47m).
(I've corrected my earlier mistaken impression that a 25 existed.)
I've never sailed a Snappy, so maybe they really are as poor performers as people are suggesting. By I've had several boats which, by virtue of their keel format and sometimes rig, weren't as close winded as most, yet I have had so much fun in them, and sailed much further than most boats of the same small
So Snapdragons suffer from having vertical keels? Like all fin keel and long-keel boats, then!
Stemar
Well-known member
Madame & I had a Snapdragon 24 for 18 years and we loved her. They are lovely little things, provided you aren't into racing and have a good engine for when the wind's in the wrong direction. Off the wind they sail well, and the shallow draft and bilge keels mean you can find a spot to anchor away from the crowds. I'd describe her as tough and seaworthy; we found ourselves 8 miles off St Albans Head in 33 knots and the boat was fine, though I don't recommend such antics - that little trip cost me every sailing Brownie point I'd earned with Madame!
Of course, we did have a bit of an unfair advantage. The original, very tired, 8hp engine died, and I was given a VP2003. 28hp in 24ft did go rather well!
Of course, we did have a bit of an unfair advantage. The original, very tired, 8hp engine died, and I was given a VP2003. 28hp in 24ft did go rather well!
mjcoon
Well-known member
And, as I think I've recorded on here before, I sailed one because a fleet of them were used on flotilla back in the 1970s. Toughness and the ability to, er, go aground, were at a premium in that arena...
justanothersailboat
Well-known member
"I'm not crashing into the land - I'm taking the ground"?
Stemar
Well-known member
We managed both though, fortunately, on the rare occasions we did the former, it wasn't much of a crash, just a gentle slowing to a stop in mud. In places like Newtown Creek, we'd park away in a corner where the hoi polloi couldn't get near us.
