Thoughts on SIBS

Very impressed

Had a good nose around Jonic's dreamboat on Friday. Clear a very great deal of experience and thought had gone into her. Particularly impressed with the galley arrangements and layout, the mast and organisation of running gear; and the after deck for lounging.
Some evidence that there had been a bit of a rush to get her ready for the show (e.g. jib furling line just led through fairleads screwed to the toe rail) but no doubt these details will be rectified. Not sure about the staunchion bases either.
I believed the Sales Director when he said she had sailed like a dream on the delivery passage from Ipswich. Apparently she is fast, but very light and steady on the helm. I agree with Sailorman that you feel a bit high up at the wheel, but no doubt you would get used to that. Despite a nasty cross sea from Dover to Owers the Sales Director said she proved very dry and quick.
A state of the art modern yacht, beautifully built-very impressive-deserves to do well.
 
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jonic said:
Today at SIBS I fell hopelessly head over heels in love with the ultimate cruising boat.

I have to have one.
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I wanted very much to like Richard Matthews' latest creation. Especially since his Holman & Pye designed Oyster 485 of the 1990's was my very favoritest boat -- floating sex.

But the Gunfleet 43 -- does anyone else notice an uncanny resemblance to the MacGregor 26?? The disproportionately high freeboard, the graceless doghouse, the totally flat sheer -- it looks kind of like a floating block of styrofoam, somehow, doesn't it? Doesn't do anything for me at all; hard to credit that it comes from Mr. Oyster. I confess, however, that I have not seen it in person.
 
Dockhead said:
I wanted very much to like Richard Matthews' latest creation. Especially since his Holman & Pye designed Oyster 485 of the 1990's was my very favoritest boat -- floating sex.

But the Gunfleet 43 -- does anyone else notice an uncanny resemblance to the MacGregor 26?? The disproportionately high freeboard, the graceless doghouse, the totally flat sheer -- it looks kind of like a floating block of styrofoam, somehow, doesn't it? Doesn't do anything for me at all; hard to credit that it comes from Mr. Oyster. I confess, however, that I have not seen it in person.
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Just a little different down below though!
 
Kurrawong_Kid said:
...I believed the Sales Director when he said she had sailed like a dream on the delivery passage from Ipswich. Apparently she is fast, but very light and steady on the helm... ... Despite a nasty cross sea from Dover to Owers the Sales Director said she proved very dry and quick.
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But he's the sales director. He's hardly gonna say she sails like a dog, is he?
 
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It's interesting, when I saw the pre-launch photos and press releases she barely registered on my radar. But in the flesh, oh boy.

The attention to detail and the years of knowledge that have been distilled into producing her are evident. Bearing in mind she is modern, she has a lot of thoughtful and seaman like touches. As a modern long term liveaboard, trade wind cruising yacht I could not fault her on first impressions.

Think oyster with the bling removed and crossed with a Hallberg Rassy.

Very very nicely done.

But you have to see her in the flesh to get it.
 
Twister_Ken said:
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.
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Agreed, from practical experience an inch or two is OK. Usually resort to standing under a hatch to have stretch....
 
jonic said:
Today at SIBS I fell hopelessly head over heels in love with the ultimate cruising boat.

I have to have one.
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Did you see the price though?:eek::eek:

And only 1 sink in the galley:rolleyes:

But the details are great, I had a good look around her on her launch night.

It had a great amount of stowage down below, the nice deep fiddles around the galley (though if you're chopping with a knife they could be a bit too high). Lots of big windows, a word of warning about those deck hatches, don't lie on the aft bunk when a woman with a skirt comes aboard! The coachroof does seem a little high, and I would have liked to be able to look out of those big saloon windows from the saloon, although the hull ports work well. The aft cabin is big and would be fantastic for a living aboard.

One final detail, I like the way the cove line was the path of the cannon balls from the cannon on her aft quarter.
 
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Sailfree said:
What is the headline price then please? How does the price compare to a Southerly 43 - are they in the same feild for quality etc?
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£538,000 But it does have quite a full inventory inc instruments, lee cloths, lecky windlass, sprayhood

£538,000 would get you a Southerly 47 without instruments, lee cloths, lecky windlass, sprayhood;)

You'd have to go for a Southerly 42, or the new 420, but the 420 doesn't have the raised saloon which is something I'd personally with big saloon windows.
 
Tranona said:
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.
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Yup I get it with charter boats, insist it's up or triple the excess.
But on your own boat the vis is so good with it down you won't hit it. If you had vane steering it would be more costly to hit but people don't say dont fit that as you might damage it. (which of course you couldn't fit with a moving platform, but the target market is different methinks.)
 
snooks said:
£538,000 But it does have quite a full inventory inc instruments, lee cloths, lecky windlass, sprayhood

£538,000 would get you a Southerly 47 without instruments, lee cloths, lecky windlass, sprayhood;)

You'd have to go for a Southerly 42, or the new 420, but the 420 doesn't have the raised saloon which is something I'd personally with big saloon windows.
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Glad you posted that - amazing how satisfied you can suddenly become with your own 6yr old Jeanneau 43DS!!
 
snooks said:
£538,000 But it does have quite a full inventory inc instruments, lee cloths, lecky windlass, sprayhood
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...and with the added bonus that Snooks pointed out earlier who cares about the price :D

I was given a price of £435,000 but that may have been a base price.
 
It looks to me that the Gunfleet has a very similar layout to the Beneteau 40CC. Large aft double cabin, galley on the port side and coachroof a bit on the high side due to being a Centre Cockpit. Hopefully she'll sail a bit better, though!
 
RobF said:
It looks to me that the Gunfleet has a very similar layout to the Beneteau 40CC. Large aft double cabin, galley on the port side and coachroof a bit on the high side due to being a Centre Cockpit. Hopefully she'll sail a bit better, though!
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Saw her 'in the flesh' at Fox's a few weeks ago.
Somehow, I found the looks very 'unflattering' - the boat looked either too short or too high to me. Not to mention too 'plastic-y'.
But then again, what do I know?
 
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