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

[AntarcticPilot]

+1 for all the positive comments about the Halcyon 27. Excellent sea boat; heels until the Lee gunwhale is under but no further. Very solidly built. Sleeps 4 easily; 5 at a pinch. The original engine was a Sabb 8hp; this is a very sturdy engine used in Norwegian fishing boats, and has very little to go wrong!

As an aside, my mother and I watched the first moon landing on a portable TV in my dad's Halcyon 27 in Dunbar harbour!

 

[Timshel]

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.

I own a Halcyon 27, with a red hull and white deck. I've always wondered if she was JSSC owned, as I bought her from Gosport. Her name is Batchelor Girl, which I think the name has never changed. Perhaps it is a military name. Any idea?

 

[dansaskip]

The Vancouver is almost a foot wider, which could make a lot of difference to the feeling of space down below and to stowage plus, as has been said, a more modern feel below.

As the owner of a Vancouver 28 I would find it a bit constraining that a Halcyon is a that much narrower - The Halcyon beam is 7' 8" and a Vancouver 27 /28 is 8' 7" though I must confess to never having been aboard a Halcyon so can't speak from personal knowledge.
The Vancouver certainly feels quite snug below and I feel that the Vancouver could do with a couple of extra inches of beam and indeed the designer once expressed a slight regret in an interview that he did not make it a couple of inches beamier. It would make it easier to move around below but of course the advantage of a narrow boat is there is less risk of getting thrown around when conditions are boisterous.
There is certainly enough headroom in a Vancouver for all but giants.
I can confirm that they are solidly built and handle well in any sort of a sea.
One advantage of course is the cutter rig which gives a nicely balance and easily handleable sail plan.
I sailed mine mostly singlehanded from UK to New Zealand and around the South Pacific islands and was never concerned that she could not handle whatever the weather threw at us.
As to whether they are worth the extra money? well you pays your money and makes your choice.

 

[chockswahay]

I know this thread is old but now (as a V28 owner) I feel compelled to comment.......

We looked at the Halcyon as well as the Vancouver before buying ours. They are quite different vessels. Whilst anything can be used for weekend sailing the Vancouver really is a proper 'go anywhere for a long time' kind of boat. There is a truckload of storage. plenty of headroom, good quality fittings and build, and berths long enough for 6ft plus (me!). I think they are a little unfairly thought of as old fashioned and slow....... yes they are traditional and no they won't win a race around the cans....... but if you want something well built, sea kindly and suitable for extended voyaging they are eminently suitable. Are they worth the money? that is a personal matter...... certainly worth the money to us! (although prices are much better now that a few years ago, on the other hand they are rare as hens teeth so probably a better investment)

 

[halcyon]

I know this thread is old but now (as a V28 owner) I feel compelled to comment.......

We looked at the Halcyon as well as the Vancouver before buying ours. They are quite different vessels. Whilst anything can be used for weekend sailing the Vancouver really is a proper 'go anywhere for a long time' kind of boat. There is a truckload of storage. plenty of headroom, good quality fittings and build, and berths long enough for 6ft plus (me!). I think they are a little unfairly thought of as old fashioned and slow....... yes they are traditional and no they won't win a race around the cans....... but if you want something well built, sea kindly and suitable for extended voyaging they are eminently suitable. Are they worth the money? that is a personal matter...... certainly worth the money to us! (although prices are much better now that a few years ago, on the other hand they are rare as hens teeth so probably a better investment)

Not sure the H27 is just a weekend boat, ours has been to the USA, Caribbean, Azors, Med and back home with previous owner, took around 3 years

Brian

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I know this thread is old but now (as a V28 owner) I feel compelled to comment.......

We looked at the Halcyon as well as the Vancouver before buying ours. They are quite different vessels. Whilst anything can be used for weekend sailing the Vancouver really is a proper 'go anywhere for a long time' kind of boat. There is a truckload of storage. plenty of headroom, good quality fittings and build, and berths long enough for 6ft plus (me!). I think they are a little unfairly thought of as old fashioned and slow....... yes they are traditional and no they won't win a race around the cans....... but if you want something well built, sea kindly and suitable for extended voyaging they are eminently suitable. Are they worth the money? that is a personal matter...... certainly worth the money to us! (although prices are much better now that a few years ago, on the other hand they are rare as hens teeth so probably a better investment)

O tempora! O mores! When my Dad bought the Halcyon in the mid 60s, it was a LARGE family boat! A 31 footer (like my own Moody) was at the luxury end of the market. People went around the world in boats like the Halcyon - or even smaller! And probably a 23-24 footer would have been an average family boat in those days; the boat we had before the Halcyon was a 21' Trotter (Pandora), and we all fitted in quite happily.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

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.

But importing a boat from the US into Europe poses massive taxation problems.

 

[chockswahay]

Not sure the H27 is just a weekend boat, ours has been to the USA, Caribbean, Azors, Med and back home with previous owner, took around 3 years

Brian

O tempora! O mores! When my Dad bought the Halcyon in the mid 60s, it was a LARGE family boat! A 31 footer (like my own Moody) was at the luxury end of the market. People went around the world in boats like the Halcyon - or even smaller! And probably a 23-24 footer would have been an average family boat in those days; the boat we had before the Halcyon was a 21' Trotter (Pandora), and we all fitted in quite happily.

Hey chaps?
I wasn’t knocking the Halcyon and meant no offence, I was just pointing out the difference in practicalities. Something that gets easily overlooked on the Vancouvers is that the 2/3 berth versions have considerably more space and storage for extended cruising. As for sailing ability I’d be happy to sail both the Halcyon or the Vancouver?

I’m writing this on an old IPod with a really small screen so I can’t easily look back through the original questions and answers........ I was of course defending the Vancouver against a few (unjust?) remarks.

As often said, no right or wrong, just what suits you and your needs?

 

[superheat6k]

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 did my Competent crew, then Dayskipper on the JSSC Halcyon 27s during the 1980's. Cracking heavy weather boats. Not as wet I recall as the Contessa 32 I graduated to for my Coastal and Offshore tickets. They were very heavily used and equally heavilly maintained. But I expect they would be quite tired now.

 

[halcyon]

Hey chaps?
I wasn’t knocking the Halcyon and meant no offence, I was just pointing out the difference in practicalities. Something that gets easily overlooked on the Vancouvers is that the 2/3 berth versions have considerably more space and storage for extended cruising. As for sailing ability I’d be happy to sail both the Halcyon or the Vancouver?

I’m writing this on an old IPod with a really small screen so I can’t easily look back through the original questions and answers........ I was of course defending the Vancouver against a few (unjust?) remarks.

As often said, no right or wrong, just what suits you and your needs?

Always liked the Vancouver, friend had a 27, the problem is all boats are not the same. My Halcyon 27 is a 2 birth + pilot layout now, storage has been totally reworked for long range cruising, every cubic inch of boat.

Bottom line is what boat do you walk up to and say that's it, I was looking for a SCOD, saw the Halcyon, looked it over and fell in love.

Brian

 

[ip485]

I went to buy a water colour painting some years ago. As it so happened I was invited to the artists home. We got chatting, as you do, yachting came into the discussion, and he produced all the original engineering plans for the Vancouvers. So it was I met Andrew Danbridge without realising other people I knew at the Newhaven yard. What beautiful yachts, built to do a job, that is not seen today.

Should every Vancouver have a small Danbridge on a panel on board?