viewed 4 boats, best layout was the smallest!

[GrahamM376]

Westerly Centaur.
The Ford Escort of the boating world.

Does that make the Longbow the Mondeo then? We had a Berwick after the Centaur, same hull as the Longbow but twin keeler. far better performer, more comfortable motion and more interior space. The Longbow should sail even better.

 

[Bobc]

My first bit boat was a Jag 25. Super little ship for kicking around the Solent and south coast.

We had quite a few weekends and holidays with the kids on her.

 

[NickRobinson]

Take a look at the Mirage 28, you might be surprised.

Ditto Mirage 2700. After my Macwester 26' a huge leap forward. eg (not mine) http://www.boatersresources.com/bfs_detail.php?adid=47746

 

[steve yates]

Liking the look of the mirage 28, and the jag 27 doesn't seem to be vastly more than the 25 sometimes

 

[Bobc]

the jag 27 doesn't seem to be vastly more than the 25 sometimes

May not look very different but it is. The berths on the 25 aren't very big. It's all "scaled down" a bit from the 27.

 

[steve yates]

That's good, cos I meant the price

 

[[70521]]

Indeed, something of a Tardis if I remember correctly - are they all to the same layout?

As far as I know they are. Some were home finished so there might be a few differences.

 

[V1701]

Jag 25 in its various forms is the best selling sailing boat of all time.

I didn't know that, thought it might be the Albin Vega, of which they built around 3,500. They (Vegas) sail very well, lots around the world so worth the OP considering if longer trips are planned, less so if not and marina based - they have no steerage in reverse...

 

[steve yates]

Definitely some longer trips and less marina based.

 

[Kelpie]

My first yacht was a Vega. Great boats! Sailed a heck of a lot more miles with her than the current one...

 

[Seajet]

Steve,

did you try laying down on all the bunks in each boat?

I found out the hard way that this is a crucial test, one cannot rely on just looking; my Carter 30 had a great looking interior, but when the time came with extra people onboard so the saloon berths were used, the starboard settee berth was so narrow it didn't cover my shoulders - like laying on a plank - and the ' dinnette double ' opposite proved 1.3 people wide and .75 of a person long !

The berths were all actually a lot shorter and narrower than my Anderson...which I gladly returned to.

Since then if evaluating boats at shows etc I always lay on the bunks, this has also led me to find things like ' aft cabins ' where one's feet are higher than head, with a ' passion killer ' rudder tube between occupants.

Re the Jag 25 I always thought they look undercanvassed and short on the waterline.

If I were looking anywhere around that size I'd seriously consider a Trapper 501; twin keel, sails well, looks good, very good interior - downside being like all mentioned they will need re-engining and there may not be much room in the eng bay.

 

[BrianH]

If I were looking anywhere around that size I'd seriously consider a Trapper 501; twin keel, sails well, looks good, very good interior - downside being like all mentioned they will need re-engining and there may not be much room in the eng bay.

I re-engined my Trapper 500 (same hull and coachroof, mine had the 501 interior) with an 18HP Yanmar 2GM20, it fitted quite well.

I agree, good boats if you can find a well-maintained one, I kept mine for 24 years so must have been satisfied. It sailed well but was a fin-keel version, no idea about the twin-keel ones but they shouldn't be much different.

 

[steve yates]

good point Andy, we were testing (not literally) the forepeak v berths, never thought of checking the single berths too.

Bill, trapper 500's are on my list, is the 501 just a newer version?

 

[BrianH]

Bill, trapper 500's are on my list, is the 501 just a newer version?

Basically yes, the changeover occurred during 1980 when mine was produced, which incorporated most of the changes. But not the most important one, which was to re-design the original scimiter-shaped rudder that had a propensity to stall with excessive angle to the water flow such as trying to counter weather helm when overly heeled. No real problem though, the solution was to reef appropriately.

Read all about it HERE.

 

[Seajet]

We test sailed a twin keel 501 from the yard at Bursledon ( M & D were seriously considering a new one ) in the Solent into a good F5-6; she sailed very well. Of course one gets the odd clonk from the windward keel but that's just a fact of life with twin keelers.

Dad eventually went for a good late Centaur partly for financial reasons, and it fell into his lap - but he / we always regretted not going for the Trapper or a part complete Sadler 29.

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge admirer of the Centaur, a chum has a superb example I crew on.

Re the Trapper I was seriously impressed by the standard of the teak interior and the boat in general, the 500 / 501 would be my first choice to look for at this size twin keeler, she has always seemed a sort of well kept secret to me !

 

[SteveTibbetts]

Just thought i'd add my thoughts as a Longbow owner..

Sails well, possibly better with only the one keel but maybe cos ive got decent sails.
Single keel removes possibility of parking on the beach
Lots of these have been live-abords. Maintenance on sailing equipment can suffer in deference to the new tv.
I'm 6' tall and sometimes sleep in the forepeak. Wouldnt want to share though.
Solid and forgiving. Mine had looked after me in some proper stroppy weather
Can be easily single handed
Personal preference is for the early layout with the galley mid-ships to limit movement when galleying. Mrs T would prefer the later model with rear galley


S

 

[Fimacca]

Love my Jag for coastal hopping - fairly light in a blow though - does make her quite fast - but I head for port before that swell picks up !

cheap to run as well if you have a twin keel.........

Sleeps my 3 kids and wife just fine as a weekender. Very dry. You can jog around inside if you are 5 feet 10........

 

[PetiteFleur]

Sorry to be pedantic, but it is the Catalina/ jag 27 that was the biggest seller.

Agree - I had a Jaguar 27 and it was an excellent boat - if you can go and have a look at one, there is one ebay at the moment, 6 days to run and £2100 but reserve not met yet. Looks good. Excellent seaboat and fast, we always outsailed my friends Contessa 28!

 

[niccapotamus]

Liking the look of the mirage 28, and the jag 27 doesn't seem to be vastly more than the 25 sometimes

we had a jag 27 back in the dark ages (late 80's). We were young and the sails were shite so my recollection of a very heavy helm may be down to the sails rather than anything else or perhaps an issue with the rudder balance. On all other counts the Jag was great. However it taught us that we like relaxing in a saloon and the dinette made that difficult (but did give a great galley) so we have subsequently always gone for more traditional layouts where me and the boss could have a settee each!

 

[Rustyknight]

My partner and I had a Jaguar 25, which we kept for about 18 years. Along the South Coast we managed to do most places between Brighton and Salcombe, and cross Channel between Caen and St Malo.

The forward V berth was usually jam packed with spare sails, the dinghy bagged up, folding bikes, and other sundry bits and bobs...... so we never managed to bunk down there.

I always bagged the quarter berth for myself, with my partner using the port bunk. On the Jag 25, the saloon table can be folded down to widen the bunk, and there was a spare cushion that was made to fit over the table, but it was a bit restricted for anyone of average height.

The starboard saloon bunk was a non starter for sleeping due to being quite narrow, although longer.