Unknown boat

[Jimmaccall]

Hello, selling our Wayfarer having done competent Crew via BOSS in Hamble as bashing shins and knees and dodging low booms is not such fun anymore. Anyway, have spotted a boat for sail but the seller doesn't know the make or any other info. Wasn't sure if it looks like a Van De Stadt design. Have attached a picture, anyone got any suggestions. Its bilge keeled, has an outboard well and is approx 18' x 6' beam (according to seller) all suggestions gratefully received. New member Jim

 

[Talbot]

welcome to the forums. Sorry but I dont have a clue what boat that is.

 

[MonniotC]

Hi TrailerJim,

That boat is either an Alacrity or a Vivacity. They are identical other than size & displacement etc. If it's 18'6" LOD it's an alacrity. If it's 20' LOD it's a Vivacity. They were built by Russel Marine (which became Jaguar Yachts). The early ones were built by Hurley. They are an excellent starter boat. I had mine for seven years, but eventually got a bigger boat (and bigger bills). Thousands of them were built in the UK, US & Australia. Jens Kuhn runs a website http://www.geocities.com/jenku/alacrity.html
Mine was Mistral II, sail number 609.
Where is this one, and how much are they asking?

Chris Monniot

 

[Jimmaccall]

Hello Chris, its at £360 at the moment, really after a trailer sailer at the moment but I am sure I can sort a suitable trailer if needed. Its in Kent and I am in Bristol so just around the corner! Thanks for your excellent reply, will no doubt end up leaning on the forum for support if I do get her! Failing that I have the opportunity to get a Proctor Pirate or if I can raise the money there is a nice Swift 18 coming on the market soon in the midlands. All good stuff. Cheers, Jim

 

[jeanne]

From the angle it´s difficult to say. Could also be a Caprice, Robert Tucker design. Very nice little sea boats.

 

[Pasarell]

Welcome to the forum. Loads of advice and help here but you occasionally need a thick skin too!
If it was built by Hurley you could talk to Nick Vass who is the guru of all boats built by them. He might well know it if not by Hurley. His e-mail address is Nick@omega-yachtservices.co.uk
Also have a look at www.hurleyownersassociation.co.uk

 

[jenku]

It's a Vivacity. The clue is the cabin top vents. The Alacrity has only one of them right in the middle.

 

[MonniotC]

Jens has pointed out that it's a Vivacity (20ft). £360 is seriously cheap. They normally go for £1200 - £1700 depending on overall condition, age of sails, outboard motor etc. Even in quite run down condition you wouldn't expect to pay much less than £1000. Unless there's something seriously wrong with it, that's a steal.
Coincidentally, I used to have a Pirate once as well. They were made by Rydgeway Marine Ltd., and designed by Ian Proctor. There were bilge keel, fin, and lifting keel versions. I can personally vouch for the fact that the bilge keeled Pirate is probably the best small sailing bilge keeler there is. Also look out for the Prelude, which is a slightly larger (19ft) clone of the Pirate.

cheers,

Chris

 

[sailorman]

[Also look out for the Prelude, which is a slightly larger (19ft) clone of the Pirate.]

Twas the other way round.
we had a M/H Prelude very exciting with the spinnaker /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[pheonix]

certainly not van de stadt
it is to angular like boxes stuck together
vds designed more rounded streamlined craft as the pandora and the pioneer or the dehler bearing his mark
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[kds]

I had 4 good years in a Vivacity - even their twin keels worked well, which was unusual at the time. The lower shrouds went aft to chainplates and there were no forward lowers. This put an aft bend in the mast when it blew hard, which is exactly the opposite of what you want. Worth fitting a forward pair too. Check the beam under the deck which supports the mast. Many of us put a broom handle (cut to length) vertically under it to support the mast when beating, or the shrouds slacken.
BUT - get the hull around the keels carefully checked - if some wally has been in the habit of beaching her in a swell on hard sand or shingle - there could be problems around the keels.
Good luck.
Ken

 

[jenku]

Also the boat in the picture has an odd looking mast step (where the tabernacle sits on). I think it is not original as it looks like being wood while the original is glassed in. Does not need to be a bad thing, but worth checking.

 

[Jimmaccall]

Hello all,
It is a Vivacity 20 and is now mine for under £500 which is probably a fair price for a boat I have never seen with no trailer, outboard or electrics.
Anyway, chuffed and looking forward to fitting a seacock on the sink and in the meantime I need to sort a trailer. Does anyone have a drawing of the hull dimensions / is it similar to the Alacrity? Failing that, does anyone have or know of a Vivacity anywhere near Bristol that I can go and measure up ready for the epic road journey with her in tow from Kent to Leicestershire (she will be at Rutland initially) e.g. south wales, wiltshire somerset etc. As before, all advice and help very gratefully received.

Thanks, Jim

 

[ex-Gladys]

...Would suggest you look at other trailer sailer threads here. A vivacity may be a bit big for regular trailer sailing.....

 

[jenku]

There is an article about making a trailer for a Vivacity in Twin-Keeler 2/2005. Have a look here
T-K 2/2005 It's on page 12.

The author has a website here with a lot of specs for the Viv. It has his email as well so you can contact him if you have more questions. He will have all the dimensions you need having built his own trailer.

EDIT: if you just need a trailer to move here to her new home, you could rent a car transport trailer. It may very well be the cheapest option for moving a bilge keeler. However you then need a crane at both ends as you cannot launch or retrieve the boat with it.