Victoria30

[biscuit]

My wife and I used to have one. Very classy build, lots of "pluses". On the minus side the Gas stowage in the lazarette needed a major rebuild job to be both safe and accessible. The pull out sink worked OK, but was frankly a nuisance. More seriously the wine glass hull/ long keel configuration meant that she was heavy to steer, especially off the wind, but even under engine. This is nothing to do with weather helm, the design seemed simply too directionally stable. Very easy when beating, very tough off wind in a breeze (when sailing should be most enjoyable) especially for my wife. In fairness, I have spoken to other V30/ 26 owners who don't think its a problem, but it's the main reason we sold ours. If you get the opportunity give it a test, even if it's just under power.
Good hunting!

 

[Denek]

Appreciate all this. Really looking forward to Friday to go aboard some of these boats. Unfortunately the Moody I wanted to look at has been sold but I am trying to find another to view. I understand that feeling yachts are spacious but to the detriment of stowage ( can’t I have both) anyway I will return to this and give you my thoughts on the boats we get to see and once again seek your advice an opinions.

 

[Denek]

So we looked at a couple of boats on a Friday. Sadly missed out on the Feeling because we were running late so I am none the wiser on that but some conclusions I have made are that the Victoria is a little too small although I still loved it but the wife was adamant and even I can see it’s too small for us. Not so much the saloon or even the cockpit but definitely the v berth.
We also looked at a rival 36 which was great but out of our budget currently. But the surprise of the day for me was that the westerly fulmar was really nice and ticked all of our boxes. Re engined, standing rigging replaced.
Needs updating electronics, holding tank and hot water but otherwise good for us and surprisingly spacious and very well built.
So can anyone tell me why I should not buy it?

 

[Seajet]

None bar anything obvious with that particular boat; The Fulmar is the best thing Westerlys ever made, even the twin keeler sails very well indeed - a sailor's boat but practical and roomy enough for any normal humans.

If the deal suits, grab her with both hands, quick !

 

[Concerto]

The surprise of the day for me was that the westerly fulmar was really nice and ticked all of our boxes. Re engined, standing rigging replaced.
Needs updating electronics, holding tank and hot water but otherwise good for us and surprisingly spacious and very well built.
So can anyone tell me why I should not buy it?

Well being a Fulmar owner, I am very biased, but they are brilliant boats. Here are some links that you should read.
https://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/boatRange.php?class=12
https://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/westerlywiki/index.php?title=Fulmar

This link is for what I have been doing to my Fulmar and the photo files starting when I bought Concerto and illustrate many things in the thread.
https://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/woaforum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2748
http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/ConcertoFulmar32/library/?sort=3&page=9

Also I am a BoatLine member of the Westerly Owners Association for the Fulmar. If it is of any help, send me by PM a link to the details and if you have any additional photos. I will pass my comment back privately, which you may find very helpful. This I last did in the autumn for a gentleman in France looking at several Fulmars and he followed my advice on which one to buy and he has been very pleased. So if I can be of assistance just ask.

If you do decide on a Fulmar I would also recommend you join the WOA as it is a bargain and gives you access to a discounted group insurance policy with many extras and the discount is greater than the membership fee.

 

[Seajet]

Thanks, you're welcome.

 

[jonic]

None bar anything obvious with that particular boat; The Fulmar is the best thing Westerlys ever made, even the twin keeler sails very well indeed - a sailor's boat but practical and roomy enough for any normal humans.

If the deal suits, grab her with both hands, quick !

+1 Sounds great. Go for it.

 

[Denek]

Thanks everyone.
We have made an offer so we shall see.
This boat looks to be in very good condition and from what you have said and what I have read elsewhere I am convinced.obviously if the offer is excepted we will be arranging a survey and sea trial.
We will not be able sail much this season sadly because we are working flat out on the house but at least we can get her ready for next year. But I am jumping the gun since we don’t have her yet..
thanks again and yes the westerly owners group will be a must I think.

 

[Seajet]

Good Luck Denek ! :encouragement:

From what I hear the Westerly owners association is very good.

IF the boat has the infamous Westerly headlining droop I wouldn't let that put me off a good boat for a second, it doesn't exactly mean the thing is going to explode !

Various ways round that, ranging from hand in pocket £ to doing it an alternative way.

There's a Fulmar at my club a friend and I were admiring the other day, she's in ' better than new ' condition - and I used to know one years ago ( both twin keelers ) which I saw sailing on various occasions and thought ' now that is a Good Boat to take note of '

 

[JumbleDuck]

Thanks everyone.
We have made an offer so we shall see.

Good luck. I hear nothing but good things about Fulmars.

 

[Seajet]

Personally if for some reason I wanted to drastically change from my A22 again, as the Fulmar is a great boat but would just go on my same mooring, it would be very hard to decide between the Victoria 26 /30 or a Contessa 32, all would require silly expensive marinas or nasty out of the way deep water moorings around here - and trust me, I've given a few years and £ megabucks trying all those !

As I tend to sail with just 1-2 chums or ideally girlfriend, I think it would be the Victoria 30 for me.

However in the real world meanwhile for places like my lovely sheltered mooring, Denek is spot on with the Fulmar.

Please note lardarse designs with aft cabins requiring twin rudders ( which would make any engineer wince and / or cry ) need not apply.

 

[Denek]

This one does not have the westerly droop as the headlining has been replaced. I think it’s a good boat so fingers crossed. Not heard yet but I suppose everyone is enjoying the good weather whilst I am working trying to get the house ready to go on the market. Fortunately I have some outside work��

 

[Concerto]

Hope every thing goes well on the survey and you become the owner of a Fulmar. You will not be disappointed, they are great boats.

 

[doug748]

Sounds just the ticket. Is it fin or twin keel?

No reason, just nosey )

 

[Denek]

Fin keel.
Will probably look at some others this coming weekend though. East coast this time though. TBH the only thing that puts me off this boat is the trip down to the south coast and back from Bedfordshire. I know it was bank holiday Friday but took us 4 hours to get home.

 

[Seajet]

You can't have it all ways and the South Coast is lovely !

My boat is late lauching this season but I've been glad to work on boaty bits at home and avoid the traffic - one of the huge advantages of being self employed.

I know most of the options for keeping a fin keeler that size either on a mooring or marina berth anywhere west of Selsey, the economy or premium options - the backroads avoiding the traffic snarls too ! Feel free to PM me.

 

[Denek]

If this goes ahead sea jet I will contact you. thank you.

 

[Daydream believer]

There is a bilge keel Fulmar about to come up for sale on the river Blackwater at Stone Sc It also has a launching trailer.
Owner has had it for many years, but unfortunately just had bad news about health & needs to sell. If you want to have contact details PM me ASAP & i will pass them on . It would be a negotiated sale as he - just wants it to go without too much hassle

 

[Denek]

If this one falls through I will definitely contact you. I still have not heard but it seems the broker is struggling to get hold of the vendor. Probably on his boat making the most of this weather.

 

[Concerto]

Fin keel.
Will probably look at some others this coming weekend though. East coast this time though. TBH the only thing that puts me off this boat is the trip down to the south coast and back from Bedfordshire. I know it was bank holiday Friday but took us 4 hours to get home.

Well, move it to the East Coast as the sailing is great.

You may not know that next weekend, the East Coast Group of the Westerly Owners Association are having their 50th Anniversary of the first meeting. It is being held at the Royal Harwich YC, and I will be berthed in Woolverston Marina if you want to chat face to face on Concerto about Fulmars. Just PM if you would like to meet and I will let you have my mobile.