Vancouver 27 (28) made of gold? Halcyon 27 made of....?

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Flizzaff

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I sit here close into the northpole and wonder why the Vancouver 27 are such expensive?
Boats here in that size costs maybe around 7,692 pounds to 11,538 pounds. (For example my Allegro 27, a very seaworthy long distans boat).
I am curious about the Halcyon 27. Much sheaper boat.
Please tell me about them!
I have allready read a site wich describes the boats, but if you own/owned one of this boats then I want to know more.
In this country they showed how they restoted a Vancouver 27 in a magazine. I like the model and wonder how is the hight in the cabin? I am 1,88 metres high.
 
In my youth I was a joint services coxswain-instructor. We used Halcyon 27 for comp crew and day skipper courses. Being coxswain meant one was also responsible for all maintainance on two Halcyons.

The ones JSSC has were made with an extra pilot berth but were a bit crowded with five on board for a week. Fine for three or four, though, at least by the standards of the day. By todays standards they would seem a bit cramped and gloomy, being deep with a narrow space between the main saloon bunks.

They were very solidly built, derivative of a Folkboat, very stiff in a blow and were drier than the Contessa 32s that we had. it was rumoured that the JSSC boats were better built than standard though I don't know if that's true. The JSSC ones were all red with white decks and had military names (Cannonade, Rampart, etc)The biggest blow I had one out in was a force nine. The seas were frightening but the boats rode them with ease. I would have no hestitation in sailing a well found one anywhere in the world and would be on my list of sailaway boats if SWMBO would agree to something lacking modern standards of accomodation (she won't!)

There is at least one owner who has a very tidy looking example on this forum.

Have a look at the archive on www.yachtsnet.co.uk for a full description and pics.
 
Can't comment directly on the Halcyon 27 but I had a Halcyon 23 for 3 years and loved her to bits. She was dead cheap because unfashionable (which relates to the other thread on here about trying to sell boats of that age and style.) Or she was cheap until I had to put a new engine in because keeping an elderly petrol one running was waaaaay beyond my capabilities. But with what I know now, I'd've factored that into the bargaining at the beginning!

She was very solid and forgiving. We had some very exciting times due to inexperience and stupidity but despite general dufferness she looked after us. Sailed all over the Thames Estuary and the Channel to Falmouth in her. Only sold her to get the liveaboard sailaway boat and the 23' certainly isn't big enough for that!

What everyone said was that despite being titchy she was a proper little boat - with lines and sailing ability of something more sizeable. So I don't kow why Halcyons don't get rated (maybe not enough coverage in the mags?) but I think that subject to the usual caveats about any boat (state of hull, equipment, sails etc) you get a good boat for your money.
 
The Vancouver is a result of supply and demand. The market is willing to pay that price and so they keep a high value. If you look at the US where there are several available, they go for a much lower sum.
 
I had a Halcyon 27...

Quite possibly the best boat, of the many boats, that I have owned.

Lovely looks, and very powerful performance. As has been said, very capable of taking heavy weather in their stride.

In my view, a definite classic from the board of the great Alan Buchanan.

I remember being somewhat pissed off, about ten years ago, when a certain James Jermain rang me to say that she didn't qualify for a Yachting Monthly anniversary 'Classics' event at Cowes!

(If you're reading this James, I don't hold a grudge, it's all water under the bridge: you're momentary lapse in taste and judgement has been forgiven!).

I often regret selling her, particularly having spent a fortune on refit.

I don't know much about the Vancouvers, but aren't they a more modern boat, albeit still of a heavy, traditional style. Would that explain the difference in prices?

Personally, I think the Halcyon wins on looks by a good margin.
 
As you are in Swden - Vega

As you live in Sweden then a comparable boat ito the Vancouver 27 in my opinion (obviouslly biased!) is the Albin Vega. Many have circumnavigated, hordes have crossed The Atlantic, in fact the Vega 27 held the record for crossing the Atlantic (Under 32 feet) for many years.

Me, biassed - Of course I am!
 
I too sailed Halcyon 27's out of Joint Services at Gosport so when I was looking to trade up from my 22' boat I went and looked at a couple as I recall they were practical boats.

Sadly if you are over 6' and without the benefits of youth on the boats I viewed there is not a berth long enough to lie flat!

Not been on a Vancouver 27 other than for drinks when visiting another Blue Ensign wearer but I do recall very good Pink Gin!
 
Re: HALCYON 27

JSSC boats WERE beefed up and much stronger construction.
They were skimpily built by Offshore Yachts in Royston (where?). Alan Buchanan was an East Coast man, hence 4ft draft and compared with a Conti 26 or Invicta the boat was tender - I lowered the sail plan by 12" in an attempt to improve this. BUT she did have more headroom which is why I owned one a 'normal' one for several years.

Having made this input almost annually there is a wealth of info in the archives. I always advise digging out Portsmouth Yardsticks of the time - am sure someone will post a link here if you ask nicely!
PM me if you want more.
 
I disagree!

1) The H27's were most definitely not skimpily built. Far from it.

2) I've not sailed a C26, but I used to sail on, and in company with, an Invicta quite a bit. The Halcyon seemed a more powerful boat than the Invicta in strong winds to windward.
 
Re: HALCYON 27

I have owned one now for over 5 years, and have still to find your skimpy building. The previous owners did two trans-Atlantic crossing with her, and were refitting for another when we bought her. With regard to it being tender, I have given up looking for this fault, in fact this is the first boat that the wife is happy to steer under canvas, as she handles so well.
They are based on Alan Buchanan's Diamond class, a wooden design, that the mould was taken from for the Halcyon hull. She is based more on the East Anglian range of Aan's, rather than a Folkboat. The draft is 4 foot, but is a wide keel, so she carries the centre of gravity low down in the keel.
Thay are a nice boat, but as with all boats, get aboard and see for your self. We were buying a SCOD, but it failed it's survey, came across the Halcyon 27, went aboard and it just felt right. Even to-day it still has that something, it just looks right, and on board it has that warm feeling that you get from a wooden yacht, but not the work.

If you find one go and look and try, you will either love it, or go and look for something else. But if you do buy, sign up with the owner association.

Good sailing

Brian
 
Well as no V27 owners or sailors have responded here goes. I owned one for several years, a 274 the four berth layout and the last or penultimate Pheon built boat but moulded by Northshore in 1986. I think the 27 gave way to the 28 in 1987 and had about nine inches added at the stern. They are very solidly built some say overly so and have a cutter rig to match I have heard of no rig losses many have circumnavigated and the boat is more at home offshore than coast hopping although if you are happy to put up with her stately ways coastal cruising is no problem, but don't expect to race her round the cans. She has a very kindly motion at sea and does not tire you out after extended passages and will certainly look after you in a blow. They are not particularly close winded and in light airs you will need a gennaker or cruising chute.
You will have head room though and the interior fit out is superior to most boats of their vintage with a preponderance of teak as opposed to laminate or GRP the deck and other hardware again will be of decent quality, although many will have many miles under their keels and may reflect this. I have seen UK boats priced between 20K and 35K GBP wit 28s a little higer dependant upon age. A few of the earlier 1970s boats have suffered minor osmossis I know of one although most had an epoxy paint system applied at build. Without wishing to enter into an endless argument they are boats that appeal to a few and should anyone consider buying one a test sail or two in dfferent conditions would be advisable. Yer pays yer money and takes yer choice.
 
Not so many Halcyon 27s for sale these days, but some 3-4 years ago there were quite a number on the market in very tired condition, and owner modified for various purposes. This to some extent set the market "price" for the design lower than it should have been in my opinion. If you can find a really good one, it'll probably be the best "bargain" you've ever had in a yacht. Someone mentioned lack of 6ft berths...in its standard form that's not true. All four berths give minimum 6ft and the two saloon berths have trotter boxes that extend this to 7ft+. Headroom is 6ft+ under the hatch, and that must have been a major selling point vs. its competitors at the time. One of the best balanced, easy motion boats I've ever sailed. Like all narrow beam Folkboat inspired designs, they heel initially then stiffen-up significantly with virtually no weight on the helm when going to windward. Many have made long blue water passages, although I have to say that packing months of stores into a such a narrow hull must have been a nightmare!! No experience of the Vancouver 27, but I imagine it must have all the same attributes as the Halcyon.
 
Google OYCOA - that's the owners Association for useful information on the 27

In their time they were considered fast crusier racers. I've got a 23 and friends with 27s are delighted with them
 
Slow_boat said:
In my youth I was a joint services coxswain-instructor. We used Halcyon 27 for comp crew and day skipper courses. Being coxswain meant one was also responsible for all maintainance on two Halcyons.

The ones JSSC has were made with an extra pilot berth but were a bit crowded with five on board for a week. Fine for three or four, though, at least by the standards of the day. By todays standards they would seem a bit cramped and gloomy, being deep with a narrow space between the main saloon bunks.

They were very solidly built, derivative of a Folkboat, very stiff in a blow and were drier than the Contessa 32s that we had. it was rumoured that the JSSC boats were better built than standard though I don't know if that's true. The JSSC ones were all red with white decks and had military names (Cannonade, Rampart, etc)The biggest blow I had one out in was a force nine. The seas were frightening but the boats rode them with ease. I would have no hestitation in sailing a well found one anywhere in the world and would be on my list of sailaway boats if SWMBO would agree to something lacking modern standards of accomodation (she won't!)

There is at least one owner who has a very tidy looking example on this forum.

Have a look at the archive on www.yachtsnet.co.uk for a full description and pics.
Click to expand...
Morning SlowBoat,
I realise ths is a very old tread now and you may not even use the forum anymore but I'm wondering if i could pick your brain about the JSSC H27s. I've just bought an H27 which turns out to be called Cannonade and was wondering if you has ever sailed on her and if you have any info or photos of her in her glory days?
Kind regards
 
I have a Vancouver 274 built 1985 and still in very good nick. I agree with all FJH said in #14. Mine is also a Phoen built boat with Northshore moldings. The 28 had two main differences to the 27, The 27 Transom is vertical with a vertical rudder with fixed skeg supported on an extension to the base of the keel, On the 28 the raked the transom aft as in a Folkboat and modified the support at the base of the keel. The rudder is semi balanced with no skeg. It was supposed to make the helm lighter but the 27 helm is not heavy. The main reason for that mod I suspect was to reduce the cost of the hull molding, it does also make removing the prop shaft without moving the engine easier. The second mod was to lift the gunwale line a bit to give more headroom in the forward cabin. A quality boat and very easy to single hand not fast. It was designed from scratch by Canadian Robert Harris to take a couple safely across the pacific from Canada to New Zealand. Don't know what Charles Reed means by a retro design?
David MH
 
I don't know the Allegro 27 but are you thinking of changing from this to another boat of similar size so that you can stand up inside?
 
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