Kochi
Well-Known Member
Does anyone have experience of the Southerly 110? Do the sail well? Would buy one?
Southerly 110?
- Thread starter Kochi
- Start date
Laurie
Well-Known Member
I've no personal experience of them, but the consensus in articles I've read (PBO/Sailing Today/YM have all done reviews I believe; I have one on board) is that they do sail well, it is a Rob Humphrey design, so it may be taken as expected. The twin rudders whilst helping the sailing performance may make marina/berth manoeuvres difficult and many add a bow thruster.....
Would I buy one? No. Couldn't afford one......
Would I buy one? No. Couldn't afford one......
mrplastic
Well-Known Member
Hi, I bought a new one in 2007 and sailed it for a couple of years (Magic Fly) The boat sailed really well and felt 'planted' and safe. The 110 is a well built boat and heavy so not the fastest thing on the water but you'll still get 7 knots without too much trouble, my max was 12knts in a F7 with pretty much everything still up, She surfed very well! The righting moment is huge so she won't fall over even with the keel all the way up, of course that's her USP and it's a very good system which I found very reliable. I had a self tacker which made life easy but not great downwind so you'll need a chute of some form, the tall mast option is worth seeking out as it really powers up the boat very well. The main sheet traveller is in the cockpit which some may find a pain, personally I loved it. You will need a bowthruster, most of them will have them fitted already, twin rudders and no prop wash make berthing very difficult without one, if you are forced to stop whilst manoeuvring and you don't have a bowthruster you will soon wish you had! The aft cabin whilst plush has limited headroom but otherwise is OK, as is the rest of the interior which is beautifully built, there are a couple of level changes and the keel box does take up some room but it is well conceived and the saloon is a very pleasant place to relax. The separate forward facing chart table is a triumph with plenty of space to work. I would have no hesitation in recommending the 110, it's a better boat by far than the 32 which is more of an exercise in interior space! If you like it, buy it! I myself have been eyeing up the Southerly 47 that was at Southampton......gorgeous!
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charles_reed
Well-Known Member
The answer to your last two questions would be "No", from my experience of sailing in company with them in a much smaller boat.
Their undercanvassing may be partially rectified by having the tall rig, but they're still dogs off the wind and hell to control in a breeze and a quartering sea.
Barbican
Well-Known Member
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/buying-boat-articles/28346-southerly-101-a.html
Link states 101, but its a 110. Not sailed one although I do have a Southerly, as such not qualified to give an accurate view.
Best of luck
Kochi
Well-Known Member
Thank you mrplastic for giving such a full answer and for your advice. I hoped a present or former owner would be on the forum and it was good to hear from you.
mrplastic
Well-Known Member
No problem! I am sure that Rob Humprey's would disagree with Mr Reed, I know I do and as a former owner I am qualified to actually comment! The 110 is a capable and safe boat and will look after her crew when the going gets tough, I had to sell mine when the recession took bite otherwise I would still have her now and be proud to do so. I will buy another Southerly in the next year or so and look forward to the day!
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
You're perfectly welcome to disagree - I merely answered the last 2 questions of the original poster and gave the reasons why I wouldn't buy one and how badly they sailed - nothing in your replies gives me any reason to change my opinion - the Southerleys sail slowly, especially down wind and I certainly would not consider owning one.
We should, perhaps, agree to disagree, especially as I'm a totally neutral and objective observer.
Barbican
Well-Known Member
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
I suggest you verify your facts - the boat in question IS NOT a Southerly 110, as referred to by the OP but a 38, an entirely new design, with a considerably taller rig, a modified underwater shape and a considerably greater draught. Admittedly it has an hydraulic swing keel, but there the resemblance ends.
I append, for your greater comprehension, the specification:
http://www.southerly.com/images/38/pdf/1127.pdf
Barbican
Well-Known Member
Snip the Southerleys sail slowly, especially down wind and I certainly would not consider owning one Snip
You made a general comment about "Southerleys"
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Correct (if we're into nit-picking), thinking back to the original 95 which was also a slowcoach.
It's difficult, IMHO, to design a shallow-draft boat with fixed rudders - even with the twin rudders the 110 appears to lack directional control and the self-tacking jib is another performance handicap. You'll note most of the new range on the site are being sailed with a conventional "alternative" genoa.
The 38, as well as being considerably longer LWL has nearly 60% more sail area than the 110 and a new designer. The downside, nearly twice the draught with keel up and a big price increment.
alan17
Well-Known Member
For goodness sake stop bickering you two!
So much about sailing and particular boats are opinions and not hard facts!
So much about sailing and particular boats are opinions and not hard facts!
mrplastic
Well-Known Member
No matter what the subject there will always be those that disagree with another's opinions, that does not necessarily make them right or wrong and you are absolutely entitled to your opinion. However how you can say they are hell to handle in a breeze complete baffles me! As I said, I sailed Magic Fly down the East coast in a F7 gusting F8 and she sailed like a dream, just the one reef in and no problems at all! Maybe the boat you was sailing with was not setup properly, who knows! I agree they are slow downwind and suggested that a chute is required so we don't disagree on everything!
Still a lovely boat and I would happily go anywhere in one.
DipperToo
Well-Known Member
Light winds are not that great. However, 15Knots plus and the 110 really starts sailing. Came up from the Blackwater to Harwich several weeks ago running in F6/7 under genny alone with 7 knots minimum. Raising the keel gave me an extra knot. Yes, generally running under lighter winds are not a really strong point of sail.
A lot depends on what you want from a boat. The 110 lends itself to avoiding being tide bound in shallow estuaries and finding those 'special' anchorages which would otherwise have been impossible.
Its a very personal thing. The S110 has a Southerly trademark of having a great lower saloon when relaxing and harbour bound in inclement weather. Agreed that close quarters handling can be 'challenging' with the twin rudders - especially as one does not really like to rely on a bow thruster as heads pop up from companionways expecting the worst when they hear the grinding of the motors!
Eye wateringly expensive when compared to mass production boats, but less so when you look at some of the sturdy Scandinavian boats or alternatives such as Ovni.
If anyone wants a performance boat, the S110 is not for you. If you want a really safe cruising boat to let you explore shallow estuaries as well as having great stability in adverse conditions (even with the keel up), there is little competition.
A lot depends on what you want from a boat. The 110 lends itself to avoiding being tide bound in shallow estuaries and finding those 'special' anchorages which would otherwise have been impossible.
Its a very personal thing. The S110 has a Southerly trademark of having a great lower saloon when relaxing and harbour bound in inclement weather. Agreed that close quarters handling can be 'challenging' with the twin rudders - especially as one does not really like to rely on a bow thruster as heads pop up from companionways expecting the worst when they hear the grinding of the motors!
Eye wateringly expensive when compared to mass production boats, but less so when you look at some of the sturdy Scandinavian boats or alternatives such as Ovni.
If anyone wants a performance boat, the S110 is not for you. If you want a really safe cruising boat to let you explore shallow estuaries as well as having great stability in adverse conditions (even with the keel up), there is little competition.
mrplastic
Well-Known Member
Well said that man! I completely agree with all of that, It's amazing how some folks manage to form an opinion based on a few minor experiences. For me I would like to have lot more information or relevent experience before I was prepared to make a sweeping statement about a boat I have never owned or actually sailed in person. But hey, that's just me
Kochi
Well-Known Member
Thank you again, it's good to hear from owners both past and present and to hear that you have positive views about the 110.
We have seen a very nice 110 for sale which would be ideal but it has in mast furling. Will this hinder it's performance? Should I look for one with slab reefing?
We have seen a very nice 110 for sale which would be ideal but it has in mast furling. Will this hinder it's performance? Should I look for one with slab reefing?
Laurie
Well-Known Member
Again this will provoke opposing views from those that favour inmast furling and those that don't. I fall into the latter camp for the following reasons:
1/frequently (although not always, I concur) the sail shape and set is poorer with inmast systems
2/ when reefing, it puts weight just where you dont want it.....
3/if theres a problem with system jamming, that can be more difficult to remedy, just at the time you don't want it!
No doubt there will be many who use a variety of inmast systems who are very keen, certainly one seems to see more boats so equipped.
SHUG
Well-Known Member
How tall are you?
I was keen on one but found that the aft cabin bed was too short for a six-footer.
I was keen on one but found that the aft cabin bed was too short for a six-footer.
Giblets
Well-Known Member
Just do not try and nip in over the cill at St Peter Port and then turn hard to port with the keel still up!
