Southerly Yachts. worthy of the shortlist

[nickfabbri]

In compiling a shortlist for the next boat, the Southerly 35 falls is one potential contender. However aside from the interior and build quality, do you get the moneys worth? A good friend of mine who has worked with boats for 30 years says that they are well built but overpriced.
Would a 35 make a contender for a blue water cruiser? I know that Distant Shores has a 42 RS but my budget doesnt stretch to that.
I live on the East Coast and want to sail off into the sunset over the next two to three years. I don't want to leave the marina I am in and as it dries, so can't have a 6ft plus keel and keep the boat there.
Ideally I want to have the boat for 12-18 months before setting off.
Many thanks

 

[Twister_Ken]

Good choice - there's a reason they sell so many Southerlies - few boats combine shoal draft, offshore performance and build quality in the same way (see also Ovni). You have to like the internal style though (and I don't). Incidentally, the s35 and the s110 are identical hulls. The 35 is more oriented to speed, the 110 to comfort. I think that's the difference.

 

[Victoria Sponge]

I agree that they are over priced. We had some friends on board our Beneteau recently and they had been looking at Southerlies. They both said they preferred the layout of our boat, and for the price it was a much better deal.

 

[Gelfie]

I'm the proud owner of a 115 which has been an excellent boat for all uses. Can't affotd a 35 but a better option for that kind of money could be a 135. This is much larger with loads of room for extended cruising and still has all the Southerly advantages.

 

[snooks]

I used to question the quality of Southerys, just because the lay out seemed all over the place and the joinery wasn't great in places, that was before the the new owners Claire and Lester took over and invested in the company by bringing the new range out, building a new factory, and improving the quality of the boats and the brand, now I think they are up there with the best of them.

If you want to know why they are expensive, they are made in the UK but also consider the difference in price between 12 SS keel bolts, and the hydraulic lifting keel mechanism and grounding plate that each boat has

 

[Seajet]

Is this the job with the tiny rudder as a very poor answer to shoal draft, and tubby hull shape when you get up close ?!

 

[Tranona]

The latest type of 35 and 110 are rarely on the market and have held their prices very well, probably because new ones are even more expensive - but they do what they set out to do. Only major downside is the low speed handling under power, but many are fitted with bow thrusters. My next door neighbour in the marina has a 35 and seems to have no trouble getting in and out.

The older 115 and 135 were (and are) very popular as liveaboards and long distance cruisers. However they were in production for a very long time and vary a lot in price. The early ones had very shallow rudders and could be a bit wayward. Later ones were modified with an end plate to improve steering then finally fitted with twin rudders like the current designs. They are an almost unique style of boat, so I guess you will either love them - or not.

 

[E39mad]

Good choice - there's a reason they sell so many Southerlies - few boats combine shoal draft, offshore performance and build quality in the same way (see also Ovni). You have to like the internal style though (and I don't). Incidentally, the s35 and the s110 are identical hulls. The 35 is more oriented to speed, the 110 to comfort. I think that's the difference.

The S35 is a deck saloon with lower galley, fractional rig and self tacking headsail and the S110 is the "conventional" Southerly layout with raised galley - iirc the early 110's were masthead although can be fractional also.

There is some serious engineering in those swing keels and they cost a lot more to produce that your std lump of iron on most boats. The hull moulding that takes grounding plate and keel is also much more complex that a conventional hull.

The interior fit out uses more solid wood than your average boat also. They are semi custom built as most are built to order so can change things around within reason. All these things cost money - up to you as to whether you deem it worth the extra but very few boats of a similar size can do what a Southerly can if used to its full potential.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

The S35 is a deck saloon with lower galley, fractional rig and self tacking headsail and the S110 is the "conventional" Southerly layout with raised galley - iirc the early 110's were masthead although can be fractional also.

There is some serious engineering in those swing keels and they cost a lot more to produce that your std lump of iron on most boats. The hull moulding that takes grounding plate and keel is also much more complex that a conventional hull.

The interior fit out uses more solid wood than your average boat also. They are semi custom built as most are built to order so can change things around within reason. All these things cost money - up to you as to whether you deem it worth the extra but very few boats of a similar size can do what a Southerly can if used to its full potential.

+1 Very well built, if you are seriously considering one even SH go to the factory and have a look at some in build you will not be dissapointed.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

If you can get one at the right price

+1 Very well built, if you are seriously considering one even SH go to the factory and have a look at some in build you will not be dissapointed.

+1- we've never regretted buying Tringa- 115 Series2, although We loved our Redfox and Wayfarer days.

It was a lot of money compared to other 37' we looked, but there's no rewind button on Life, and we've reached some terrific places using that keel to the full and had some great times.

They are usually a custom build, and I think the first owner had good and bad ideas, but, hey, no way could we afford a new one at the time.

We haven't got a bow thruster, but do have 14 fenders and lots of string
Usually only average berthing cockups, and it's really solid in a blow, if stodgy and donk/chute on under 10kts.

 

[Ric]

I've always been very intertested in the Southerly range.

I don't suppose they are great light wind boats as inevitably they will be heavier than a fixed fin keeler of the same length. However, I suspect the newer boats are a bit better in this respect, as they've upped the sail area compared to the older models.

I bet they're good in a blow, and they must be a blast going upwind with that deep fin down and the self-tacker.

I'm interested to know whether owners use the variable geometry of the fin at different points of sail. On a broad reach, have you tried lifting the keel slightly to move the centre of pressure backwards and reduce drag? On a run with chute up, do you lift the keel up entirely?

 

[Tidewaiter2]

I've always been very intertested in the Southerly range.

I don't suppose they are great light wind boats as inevitably they will be heavier than a fixed fin keeler of the same length. However, I suspect the newer boats are a bit better in this respect, as they've upped the sail area compared to the older models.

I bet they're good in a blow, and they must be a blast going upwind with that deep fin down and the self-tacker.

I'm interested to know whether owners use the variable geometry of the fin at different points of sail. On a broad reach, have you tried lifting the keel slightly to move the centre of pressure backwards and reduce drag? On a run with chute up, do you lift the keel up entirely?

dead right, you can sail it as tho it were a dinghy, with centreboard, takes a bit longer to adjust mind

 

[cutofherjib]

I think they are lovely boats, but very expensive.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Would a 35 make a contender for a blue water cruiser?

I looked very seriously at buying one when they first came out but even at the 130k price they haggled down to, I couldnt persuade myself to go ahead and I backed out. Bought a seond hand Starlight instead for half the money and very happy I did so. With a new boat I'd spend my time worrying about scratches etc.

The Southerly woodwork quality was beautiful. The grp build seemed sturdy and they were just then changing to vinyl resins which are a bit better. And they definitely are a quality match for the Swedes so charge similar prices for similar sized boats so the price isnt silly from that point of view. Sailed well albeit with high topsides. Engine a bit small for the boat size.

I wouldn't consider one for blue water. Simply too small. To be comfortable long term you need 200 gals water capacity, a decent diesel genny, and room for lots of storage. You wont get that on any 35 footer.