Vertue, Vertue 2, or Vancouver 27?

[jollysailor17]

If you had to choose between a Vertue 25, Vertue 26, or a Vancouver 27, for long distance short handed sailing, which would you go for and why?

 

[E39mad]

V27 for me. Designed to be cutter rigged from the outset and can be superbly balanced under sail thus easing pressure on self steering gear or pilots. Can take a lot of provisions without upsetting the trim. For single handed go for the 3 berth layout.

 

[Babylon]

I can't speak for Vertues, never having sailed one. But, before buying my V27 (original 3 berth), I was seriously considering going for one. I gather they sail extremely well, in a traditional sort of way as all long-keelers tend to.

As I understand it, the Vertue 1 hull was of traditional wooden construction, the 2 hull of modern GRP. Aside from that and presumably a more modern fitout (?), I don't imagine there'd be much difference in sailing characteristics or motion through the water.

The essence of the V27 however is its cutter-rig. A little more string to deal with perhaps (including running-backstays which need setting up from F4/5 upwards) but with the beauty that the sail area can be progressively reduced without having to furl heads'ls, and all the time the centre of effort moves inwards to equal the centre of lateral resistance of the hull.

Why do you ask? Thinking of going somewhere?

 

[armchairsailor]

I can vouch for the balance of the V27 - turns slowly, but an easily handled boat weith plenty of room. About 6' of headroom makes it a pleasant place to be. Probably easier to get hold of too.

 

[jwilson]

If you had to choose between a Vertue 25, Vertue 26, or a Vancouver 27, for long distance short handed sailing, which would you go for and why?

All are tough little boats, but little and hence both relatively slow and low volume for carrying stores and gear. All are also generally very expensive for their length. The Vancouver 27/28 has a good reputation for being a bit faster than you would expect to look at her, but a decent 1970s/early 80s 30-34 ft fin and skeg cruiser-racer before the designers did too much rule-beating tweaks will be far faster, not really any harder to sail, and much the same price.

Or, if you won't give up long-keels, you can pick a very good Nicholson 32 for the same money as any of your choices. Or for half the money a battered but still sound one that already knows the way round the world.

Size matters ....

 

[chinita]

I have owned a GRP Vertue II and now have an all teak Vertue. Not sailed a vancouver 27 but have been aboard the three berth variant.

If you are singlehanded I think you would be hard pushed to beat an original Vertue. Problem is that all the best ones (IMO) are knocking on for 50 years old.

Slightly more beam in a Vertue II and better stowage. Both are 'Slutters' (horrible word) but the Vertue II does not have running backstays.

Two up and things can become crowded (although mine has crossed the Atlantic twice with two on board). For permanent liveaboard cruising i think I would have a look at a good Nic 32 or Rustler 31.

Although quite a lot more money, I believe that these:

http://www.voyagingyachts.com/

are the consumate sensible long term cruisers which will take you from Oxford to Tahiti.

Fabulous boats.

 

[Seajet]

All are tough little boats, but little and hence both relatively slow and low volume for carrying stores and gear. All are also generally very expensive for their length. The Vancouver 27/28 has a good reputation for being a bit faster than you would expect to look at her, but a decent 1970s/early 80s 30-34 ft fin and skeg cruiser-racer before the designers did too much rule-beating tweaks will be far faster, not really any harder to sail, and much the same price.

Or, if you won't give up long-keels, you can pick a very good Nicholson 32 for the same money as any of your choices. Or for half the money a battered but still sound one that already knows the way round the world.

Size matters ....

Both boats are heavy and slow; the old school thinking was ' build it like a brick outhouse, then let the boat sit there and get clobbered by the weather '

The obvious advantage of old heavy boats is that they can be loaded to the gunwhales with food & spares without it making much difference, but modern technology with light spars, watermakers & dried food has rather eroded this point, though a Plan B store of tins if the watermaker packs up seems a reasonable idea !

I'd go for a modern light boat, maybe an Ovni if funds stretch that far; 'light' doesn't necessarily spell 'fragile', and modern autopilots seem to serve people braver than me planing around Cape Horn, though I'd have a couple of Autohelms in reserve !

Re. Vertues, have you read the book ' The Restless Wind ?...