Tradewind 35 - equivalents?

[Old Bumbulum]

I agree with jimi that the T35 is 'a bit" (!) wilful inreverse - you can usually instigate a turn in the direction required but once it's started a turn nothng will change its directon.It is impossible, as far as I have discovered, to actually make progress astern - backing out of a berth with a turn one way or another (sometimes not the way you'd intended or hoped) is the limit. Any turn in reverse rapisly tightens into a hook-turn unless you motor ahead out of it.

I am astonished at the remark about the T35 on her ear, it is one of the stiffest boats I've sailed and I thought far more so than a Benny. It is also one of the driest boats I've sailed. As stated the motion is much easier and more comfortable and given enough wind will give a benny 31/2 a run for its money in anything of a sea with no slamming and punching through heading seas instead of being stopped but that's 10 tons at work for you! Below F3 the benny will win. She's in her element in a F5. Last season I sailed extensively in company with a benny 32 and a nic 32 and generally was able to outrun both though tbh there's little in it. T35 only has a w/l length of 27ft so it can't be fast.

I am also surprised that some find the interior dated or claustrophobic, but like Biscays presonal internal fitouts were common.
Roomier? OK, the cockpit is small - four is enough, six definitely a crowd (there is an extended cockpit version with a much curtailed lazarette) but I can readily fit 12 around the saloon table...prob 14 at a pinch.

The Rustler is undoubtably faster and more easily handled as it is an altogether more modern hydrodynamic design.

I wonder where a SHE 36 would feature in this discussion? I've always admired them since reading Webb Chiles but never been lucky enpugh to sail in one.

 

[Minchsailor]

.............Manouvring in harbour the T35 was a bit wilful partic in reverse where it always seemed a bit of a lottery as to which direction she'd end up choosing. Lovely boat, though for day sailing something lighter, faster, roomier might be more fun.

To be fair, I'm not sure that somebody who is in the market for Tradewind 35 (or equivalent) is buying it to go Solent marina hopping.

 

[robmcg]

I am astonished at the remark about the T35 on her ear, it is one of the stiffest boats I've sailed and I thought far more so than a Benny.

I had the same reaction on reading the post. I sailed from Cornwall to Scotland almost exclusively close hauled (sadly) but never ended up on my ear. You would have to go some to put the rail in the water in anything but the strongest gusts.

Reversing in tight spaces is, to be fair, a bit of a journey into the unknown but this is generally a function of strong prop walk if you have a fixed 3 blader and the lack of wash over the rudder. Still looking for a solution to that one.
In modern terms, the TW35 is not that fast, if you are looking for 7kt+ average passage times that are more achievable in a more modern boat. However, in general, I would not describe them as slow, or certainly not as slow as some folk believe them to be. It's always a trade off of speed/comfort and as a Cruiser and someone who has never raced, I would take the comfort every time. That said, there are plenty of comfortable sea boats out there and a long keel is not a prerequisite in achieving that.

Another boat I would list as an alternative is the HR352. Flush deck forward but with a less traditional underwater profile.

 

[jimi]

My experience of the t35 hard on the wind is that it rapidly heels then stays there no matter the wind strength or lack of reefs ? the Bennie on the other hand needs much more active management and sailed flatter to achieve pointing and speed. Be interested in views of others who have sailed both boats extensively. As other have said it needs a good F4 top end to get going. It wins on keeping going through waves rather than getting stopped. Recall once going from Cowes to Haslar in a F7 we arrived 30 mins before the T35 simply because sea state was negligible .

 

[jimi]

And we’d normally take the Bennie to Cherbourg rather than the T35 simply co the journey was a couple of hours quicker. There’s a lot of wetted area on the T35

 

[Saltram31]

Which end is the front though?

Depends on which direction you are heading.

 

[jonic]

I agree with jimi that the T35 is 'a bit" (!) wilful inreverse - you can usually instigate a turn in the direction required but once it's started a turn nothng will change its directon.It is impossible, as far as I have discovered, to actually make progress astern - backing out of a berth with a turn one way or another (sometimes not the way you'd intended or hoped) is the limit. Any turn in reverse rapisly tightens into a hook-turn unless you motor ahead out of it.

I am astonished at the remark about the T35 on her ear, it is one of the stiffest boats I've sailed and I thought far more so than a Benny. It is also one of the driest boats I've sailed. As stated the motion is much easier and more comfortable and given enough wind will give a benny 31/2 a run for its money in anything of a sea with no slamming and punching through heading seas instead of being stopped but that's 10 tons at work for you! Below F3 the benny will win. She's in her element in a F5. Last season I sailed extensively in company with a benny 32 and a nic 32 and generally was able to outrun both though tbh there's little in it. T35 only has a w/l length of 27ft so it can't be fast.

I am also surprised that some find the interior dated or claustrophobic, but like Biscays presonal internal fitouts were common.
Roomier? OK, the cockpit is small - four is enough, six definitely a crowd (there is an extended cockpit version with a much curtailed lazarette) but I can readily fit 12 around the saloon table...prob 14 at a pinch.

The Rustler is undoubtably faster and more easily handled as it is an altogether more modern hydrodynamic design.

I wonder where a SHE 36 would feature in this discussion? I've always admired them since reading Webb Chiles but never been lucky enpugh to sail in one.

View attachment 83937

Thought I recognised those pics, as I took them when I sold that TW 35 last year. Here are the rest and some video Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

Is she yours Bumbulum?

As others have said the Rustler 36 is a good alternative Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

But I also liked my own Contest 36 Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

The Vancouver 36 is good (but rare) Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

And the Malo 34 although smaller is a very underrated boat - surprisingly quick. Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

 

[scotty123]

Thought I recognised those pics, as I took them when I sold that TW 35 last year. Here are the rest and some video Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

Is she yours Bumblebum?

As others have said the Rustler 36 is a good alternative Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

But I also liked my own Contest 36 Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

The Vancouver 36 is good (but rare) Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

And the Malo 34 although smaller is a very underrated boat - surprisingly quick. Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

What are the pros/cons of your Contest 'winged keel', how efficient are they as keels (some reports say they are good anchors if you touch a soft bottom).

 

[jonic]

What are the pros/cons of your Contest 'winged keel', how efficient are they as keels (some reports say they are good anchors if you touch a soft bottom).

I don't have her anymore, but that winged keel was a treat. She sailed fast, went well upwind and had a comfortable motion in a choppy sea. I was impressed. (But was careful not to find any shallow muddy spots!)

 

[Birdseye]

How does it fair against rust being corten? The "J" class velshedas old corten mast has been laying in a car park for the past 25 years and still has virtually no rust !

that comment surprises me. The idea behind Corten as a steel was that it would surface rust but the rust was very adherent and after the initial rusting it would go no further or do so only very slowly indeed. It was for use in buildings

 

[scotty123]

I don't have her anymore, but that winged keel was a treat. She sailed fast, went well upwind and had a comfortable motion in a choppy sea. I was impressed. (But was careful not to find any shallow muddy spots!)

View attachment 84120

Not a boat for the Solent then.

 

[jonic]

Not a boat for the Solent then.

That's where she lived!

 

[Old Bumbulum]

Thought I recognised those pics, as I took them when I sold that TW 35 last year. Here are the rest and some video Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

Is she yours Bumbulum?

She is, and what a beauty!

 

[scotty123]

That's where she lived!

Lots of "shallow muddy spots" then, what made you get rid?

 

[jonic]

Lots of "shallow muddy spots" then, what made you get rid?

Growing teenagers who now refuse to share a cabin, so we have switched to this (with lifting keel)

 

[jonic]

She is, and what a beauty!

I thought as much will PM you.

 

[scotty123]

Growing teenagers who now refuse to share a cabin, so we have switched to this (with lifting keel)

View attachment 84138

Bloody hell, must have a big car to tow that to/from home.

 

[jonic]

Bloody hell, must have a big car to tow that to/from home.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

In my opinion, Tradewind 35 has the same problem as Contessa 32 and Centaur; successful designs but well overpriced. Although, the price for a Contessa and Centaur has dropped a lot in the last couple of years.

 

[Minchsailor]

As others have said the Rustler 36 is a good alternative Boat Details - John Rodriguez Yachts

John, that R36 is interesting, as the interior looks much more like a Rival - never seen one like that before.

My own R36 is much more open (brokers pic):