The very worst boats

[dk]

Maybe it was me. Never had the same problems in any other boats though. Having the boat completely reefed down, and yet still rounding up uncontrollably in 20 knots of wind though is not a reassuring sign of a good sailing boat. When the wind got to 25 knots all we could do was drop the main and run downwind under the genoa. Luckily it was the right direction.

Don't see how I was trolling either. The OP asks for peoples opinions on the worst boats and I gave mine.

I sailed the W33 when she was first launched and, as far as I remember she sailed really well. I must go back and check my notes, but there's no way she would have needed 3 reefs in a F3! Had her keel dropped off?

BTW - 20kn T = top end of F5 (the point at which most modern AWBs would need a 2nd reef when beating), 25kn T = F6 (would be checking out the 3rd reef by now if it had one)

 

[dk]

Quote: Cerddinen - In my humble opinion the only true contender for this award is the new Moody-shed-on-a-hull. No matter how badly some of the designs suggested may perform they all have one distinct advantage over the Moody: the helm can see where the boat is going. Would you buy a car where you had to drive with your head out of the side window?
/Quote

Have you actually sailed one?

 

[Cerddinen]

No. I have stood on one at a boat show. I could find no position in which I have an adequate view from the helm. I could not see over the coach roof. I could not see through the saloon. I could not see "round the corner". On safety grounds I would not even attempt to motor one off a mooring.

 

[dk]

It's not perfect I agree, but when I sailed her I didn't recall ever finding it a problem - certainly under sail, when even the slightest heel allows an uninterrupted view forward down the side decks.

The helm stations are raised up and I am 6ft tall BTW.

You do need to think more moboaty when motoring, though. There are pretty good windows forward, which are fine under most open water situations. Then you stand at the helm for close quarter work.

I have to say I had many doubts myself before sailing her, but came away actually quite impressed in the end. I don't even detest her looks - provided you think more in terms of cat/motorboat. Brilliant deck saloon for anchoring etc.

 

[Colvic Watson]

Been following this thread and could only vaguely remember the Mirror Offshore so googled some images, I can't see what the problem is, she looks rather nice

 

[Ubergeekian]

Been following this thread and could only vaguely remember the Mirror Offshore so googled some images, I can't see what the problem is, she looks rather nice

If the mast was 50% taller the proportions would be fine, if a wee bit dumpy.

 

[richardbrennan]

I do own a Westerly Ocean 33 and find the comments about reefing in a force 3 to be total nonsense. For her size, the boat has a lot of sail which enhances the light weather performance and 5 knots in a force 3 is no exaggeration. I find that I need to start reefing at about 15 knots apparent and by the time there is 30 knots over the deck she is most comfortable with the third reef in the main and the genoa furled to about working jib size. She still makes good progress to windward in such conditions. In general sailing the boat generally goes past anything of similar size excepting X-Boats.

I personally do not find the interior uncomfortable but that is going to be a very personnal matter. If the boat has one fault, I would say that the ventilation is not as good as it might be. I have hatches in the saloon and forecabin as well as the main hatch, but opening ports would be nice, they are not fitted to my boat, but were available as an extra.

Westerly built 33 of these boats before they went broke so they appear fairly infrequently second hand. I do not think they were ever quite as expensive as the equivalent HR but they were certainly dearer than the Bavs and Benes etc. I bought mine when she was to years old and paid £10k more than I was quoted for a new Bav 34 with everything on it. I have been on board probably about half of the O33s built and no two yet have been the same, so I think Westerley were trying to offer a semi custom boat at a price somewhere between the mass produced offerings and the Scandanavians. Whether this formula might have worked in the long term we shall never know.

I also look at similar size boats when attending the Boat Shows, and so far I have not seen anything that would temp me away from my O33. All boats of this size are, of course, a compromise, but the balance of the O33 works well for me.

 

[royal]

Dufour T7

The Dufour T7. God knows what persuaded me to sell a Corribee and buy one of these centre cockpit "Trailer sailers"!
I knew within 5 minutes of launching it that I had made the most god awful decision ever. It was hopeless on all points of sail except downwind, noisy as hell under engine (in the cockpit) and both cabins may as well of had no roofs because of the water they let in.
Sold it mid season to a couple, and bumped into them a year later. Thought they were going to take me to task for daring to sell such a bathtub........but they were raving about her!
As has been said.....each to their own!

 

[webcraft]

.

Now that is just mad and ugly.

- W

 

[snowleopard]

Any boat that is stable at 180 degrees of heel.

That will be all Open 60s and a few Bavarias too.

 

[Quandary]

Timeless elegance

This is the title of an ad. in Yachting Monthly for




Hanse's Moody 45 'shed on a barge', it may possibly be a fine boat but - elegant?
Perhaps the Germans are getting a grasp on irony.
How do owners of real Moodys feel about the use of the name for these craft, must be painful?

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

An escapee from Pirates weekend at Peaseholme Park Boating Lake in Scarborough..surely

Tim

Buckler24 as sailed by Captain Pugwash and Seaman Staines etc.......


I almost forgot the Snapdragon 24. Ideal for sailing sideways!!!!!!

 

[armchairsailor]

Has nobody mentioned the new Bav 32 Cruiser? I doubt that'll make it to the front page of Mr Farr's portfolio...

 

[flaming]

This is the title of an ad. in Yachting Monthly for




Hanse's Moody 45 'shed on a barge', it may possibly be a fine boat but - elegant?
Perhaps the Germans are getting a grasp on irony.
How do owners of real Moodys feel about the use of the name for these craft, must be painful?

can't believe I'm saying this, but....

I really like that boat. When it first came out I was very dismissive, like many around here, and viewed it as a really ugly attempt at a powerboat interior on a sailing boat.

Then I saw one out sailing, and it matched us for pace. (Ok I was on a boat 10 foot smaller, but we had a kite up..!) So I took a bit more notice.

Then I got to sail one. And I get it, I really do. It's not the fastest, and it certainly isn't the prettiest, but the accomodation really works. The sailing experience isn't terrible, and even the visibility is ok. Being sat in the pilothouse in the driving rain with a cup of coffee was a revelation. Ok, not exactly new, but it's the only sub 50 foot pilothouse yacht that isn't really a motorcruiser that I can think of!

If I ever grow out of racing and am looking for a liveaboard med cruiser (and have the budget) it would be on my shopping list....

 

[Twister_Ken]

"Being sat in the pilothouse in the driving rain with a cup of coffee was a revelation."

Aah - the end of your racing career has just punctured the horizon!

 

[flaming]

"Being sat in the pilothouse in the driving rain with a cup of coffee was a revelation."

Aah - the end of your racing career has just punctured the horizon!

Not yet, but the brochures for antigua week etc have appeared on my coffee table!