Thoughts on SIBS

J

jwilson

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 Jul 2006
Messages
6,227
Visit site
Looked at the weekend forecast and went on Friday... good plan.

Looking at AWBs between 34 -38 ft, at first sight some of the twin wheel arrangements seemed a bit "posey", but the layout actually works well, genoa winches right by the each wheel and you can sit right outboard with the wheel comfortably to hand.

Almost all the AWB builders now have no rubber rubbing band at the transom edge, so if you stern-spring the bow out from a berth you'd better be very well fendered aft - in fact very difficult as fenders move around under pressure. Funnily enough I had to do this stern springing this morning getting off a berth with F6-7 blowing me on. Glad I did have a rubber transom bumper.

Also most now just have glossy gelcoat at the side deck edge, so most spring lines and every fender line will be rubbing on gelcoat. Curiously the one mass production boat that did have a rubber stern bumper and alloy toerail was the new Bavaria 36. That and the Jeanneau 379 were the two boats I liked at sensible prices: much as I'd like an Arcona or other Swedish model I can't afford one!

More and more torpedo keels appearing, may be good for a slight performance edge but perfect weed and rope catchers.

More and more "flap-down" stern platforms appearing, good for boarding from dinghies and Med moorings, but makes deploying a swimming ladder a bit of a fiddle.
 
jwilson said:
More and more "flap-down" stern platforms appearing, good for boarding from dinghies and Med moorings, but makes deploying a swimming ladder a bit of a fiddle.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily as good for the Med as you imagine. Dangerous to moor stern to with them down and restrictive with them up. Good for swimming at anchor tho'. Main reason for popularity is allows bigger accommodation for a given hull length while still keeping a roomy cockpit. Still prefer a "traditional" sugar scoop with platform.
 
Did my boat buying at SIBS 7 years ago and I still love it. I thought there was a lot less variety and genuine innovation in boat design there this year.
All the niche builders have either folded or just not bothered with the expense of exhibiting so as you put it mainly AWBs there and one or two high end builders. Shame really, There seemed to be lots more choice if you were in the market for a mobo includin a rather large one with a pop-out breakfast balcony at the bow!!!

Not so many equipment and chandlery types there either, but there did seem an increase in holiday/charter stands.

Possibly a few less sailmakers there as well but don't get me started on them. They seemed spread all over the show ground as well, rather than down sailmakers row where they used to be. Perhaps they now achieve critical mass if located too close to each other :)

The show definitely seemed to be a barometer for the economy with the presence of certain types of stand and the abscense of others.
 
I liked the Jeanneau 509 and the one that is growing on me more and more is the Moody 45DS. That was after a brief look on preview day, as most of it was spent working, but I shall have a proper look tomorrow.

Preview day was busier than I expected in terms of numbers there.

The bar was full of the IPC team for most of the afternoon, so long queues to get a drink :D
 
Last edited:
jwilson said:
Looked at the weekend forecast and went on Friday... good plan.

Looking at AWBs between 34 -38 ft, at first sight some of the twin wheel arrangements seemed a bit "posey", but the layout actually works well, genoa winches right by the each wheel and you can sit right outboard with the wheel comfortably to hand.

Almost all the AWB builders now have no rubber rubbing band at the transom edge, so if you stern-spring the bow out from a berth you'd better be very well fendered aft - in fact very difficult as fenders move around under pressure. Funnily enough I had to do this stern springing this morning getting off a berth with F6-7 blowing me on. Glad I did have a rubber transom bumper.

Also most now just have glossy gelcoat at the side deck edge, so most spring lines and every fender line will be rubbing on gelcoat. Curiously the one mass production boat that did have a rubber stern bumper and alloy toerail was the new Bavaria 36. That and the Jeanneau 379 were the two boats I liked at sensible prices: much as I'd like an Arcona or other Swedish model I can't afford one!

More and more torpedo keels appearing, may be good for a slight performance edge but perfect weed and rope catchers.

More and more "flap-down" stern platforms appearing, good for boarding from dinghies and Med moorings, but makes deploying a swimming ladder a bit of a fiddle.
Click to expand...

I love the nordhavn motor sailer. Not for trips to the folly obviously, but as a live aboard wonderful. Look up at all the swaying masts, it is the one that is still.....

I too like the arconas - on my lottery win list.

And I like drop down bathing platforms.
 
There seem to be more votes for the new Arcona 41 than the new Dehler 41. Anyone disagree?

I gather the new Dufour 335 was there with twin wheels. Did this work in a boat of this size giving easy access through the stern and perhaps a big-boat feel or are they trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot? I look forward to the YM review.
 
jwilson said:
Looking at AWBs between 34 -38 ft, at first sight some of the twin wheel arrangements seemed a bit "posey", but the layout actually works well, genoa winches right by the each wheel and you can sit right outboard with the wheel comfortably to hand.
Click to expand...

But if you prefer to use the uphill windward wheel for best view, balance and so forth, the active genoa winch is some way away. Still, the helmsman can potentially assist with with tacking, with a bit of preparation.

Mike.
 
Is it just me that finds this move to put twin wheels on relatively small boats inconvenient?

The wife and I spend a lot of time in our boat laying down in the cockpit - reading, listening to radio, sipping a nice chilled white wine etc. etc. We really liked the Jeanneau 379 when we first saw it, but further research showed that the cockpit benches are only about 1.5m long - hopeless... We ended up going for the Jeanneau 33i - three foot shorter, but a much more roomy cockpit.

We spent this Boat Show looking at options for the next upgrade in a few years time - the choice is going to be limited - not many passed the Bradford Cockpit Test - at least six foot of uninterrupted lounging space on both sides... Looks likely to be Jeanneau 509 or possibly the 44DS - back to the grindstone! :-(
 
Duffer said:
There seem to be more votes for the new Arcona 41 than the new Dehler 41. Anyone disagree?
Click to expand...

A Scandiwegian sailing mag was there on Saturday trying to set up a post-boat show back-to-back test between these two. Dehler declined.

As a confirmed Arcona fan, though, I found the new 410 had excessive headroom - at least 6'6". I'd have preferred to see a few inches saved, and lower topsides as a result.

OTOH you might just conclude that I have dodgy knees and don't relish the thought of jumping down onto pontoons from a great height.:rolleyes:
 
Elessar said:
???
Click to expand...

Just think of the damage you can do if you hit a concrete wall with it down! Access out of the transom is useful as it allows a crew to step ashore with the stern lines rather than jump from the top of the transom or rely on there being somebody on the shore.

I can successfully moor stern too singlehanded with my old style Bavaria with a radio remote to drop the anchor and lines ready to step ashore at the right time. Good rubber bumper on the sugar scoop so won't do any damage if I get it a bit wrong.

Charter companies give strict instructions never to leave the transom down when mooring for obvious reasons.
 
mjcoon said:
But if you prefer to use the uphill windward wheel for best view, balance and so forth, the active genoa winch is some way away. Still, the helmsman can potentially assist with with tacking, with a bit of preparation.

Mike.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what we do, helm about and then release the sheet. Simples.
 
Twister_Ken said:
I found the new 410 had excessive headroom - at least 6'6". I'd have preferred to see a few inches saved, and lower topsides as a result.
Click to expand...

At 6'6" myself I wish more boats were like this. They also need to make berths longer as well. I really don't fit in the majority of boats these days and ironically the smaller the boat the larger the berths. An Elan 210 has about 8 inches to spare on it's quarter berths - now that is a berth (and in a 21 footer).
 
rb_stretch said:
At 6'6" myself I wish more boats were like this. They also need to make berths longer as well. I really don't fit in the majority of boats these days and ironically the smaller the boat the larger the berths. An Elan 210 has about 8 inches to spare on it's quarter berths - now that is a berth (and in a 21 footer).
Click to expand...

I was taller than the Twister by an inch or two, but never found it a problem. The times when you're standing perfectly upright onboard seem few. Agree about bunk length, though. Having to sleep bent is a pain in the back.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top