Vindo 45 experience

[CharlieH1989]

Does anyone have experience of sailing a Vindo 45? Especially keen to know what they're like in heavy weather and what people think of them as a capable offshore cruiser under the 34ft bracket.

 

[robmcg]

No direct experience but if you haven't already, you should check out Thula Sailing on YouTube as they did some extensive cruising in a Vindo. Great looking boats btw.

 

[V1701]

And also Sailing Magic Carpet - their first boat was a 32ft (I think) Vindo, not sure if that's the 45? I know somebody who bought a mid 30's foot Vindo with the intention of sailing it RTW, didn't get far but that's another story and wasn't anything to do with the boat...

Oops just checked, Magic Carpet's was a 28ft Vindo 32 it's confusing...

 

[Tranona]

It is what it is - older style long keel heavy displacement and was popular for long distance cruising in the past - and still capable. However the wooden top does not take kindly to long exposure to the sun and humidity (remember these boats are Scandinavian and at home they spend 8 months or so of the year locked up under cover).

 

[BabaYaga]

And also Sailing Magic Carpet - their first boat was a 32ft (I think)

Oops just checked, Magic Carpet's was a 28ft Vindo 32 it's confusing...

The Vindö 32 is well over 29 foot at 8.95 m LOA. The Vindö 45 is just short of 34 foot at 10.28 m. Designations are from sail area in sqm (main+fore triangle, i believe).

 

[earlybird]

I made a 3 day trip in a Vindo32 some time ago. Nice looking boat, safe and steady but not really a sparkling performer in the moderate conditions. This particular one had the main traveller across the middle of the cockpit, a PITA. Some years later I heard that it had suffered a major failure of the joint between the deck and the coachroof due to long-term ingress of water.

 

[BabaYaga]

I made a 3 day trip in a Vindo32 some time ago. Nice looking boat, safe and steady but not really a sparkling performer in the moderate conditions.

After owning and sailing one of these boats for 41 years, I can attest that your observation is correct, especially upwind.
However, a feathering prop and decent sails compensate a fair bit.

This particular one had the main traveller across the middle of the cockpit, a PITA.

That's how they all were made. After ten years you get used to it and after twenty you find the arrangement quite convenient.
This bridge across the cockpit is also where the compass in located. Handy storage space underneath.

Some years later I heard that it had suffered a major failure of the joint between the deck and the coachroof due to long-term ingress of water.

Not typically a weak spot on this model or other Vindö boats, as far as I know. There are others, though.
Was the boat in question by any chance the one that has figured in British boating press, a boat from which the teak deck has been removed?
If so, I am not very surprised that something like that could happen.

 

[earlybird]

Not typically a weak spot on this model or other Vindö boats, as far as I know. There are others, though.
Was the boat in question by any chance the one that has figured in British boating press, a boat from which the teak deck has been removed?
If so, I am not very surprised that something like that could happen.

No, I'm fairly sure that the teak decking hadn't been interfered with. All I heard was that a split had occured between the wooden coachroof moulding and the sidedeck when the boat was being lifted by the yard. The lift might have put some extra stress on this joint of course but the prime reason was said to be deterioration of the wood along this joint. This was in the mid / late'90's.

 

[BabaYaga]

No, I'm fairly sure that the teak decking hadn't been interfered with. All I heard was that a split had occured between the wooden coachroof moulding and the sidedeck when the boat was being lifted by the yard. The lift might have put some extra stress on this joint of course but the prime reason was said to be deterioration of the wood along this joint. This was in the mid / late'90's.

Sounds odd. Water ingress would most likely have been easily detectable, as in darkening of the wood and/or varnish lifting. Such signs must not be left unattended for too long on this type of boat. An annual coat of varnish, or two, is also essential to renew UV protection and seal any small cracks invisible to the eye. Spending the winter months under cover does help.

 

[earlybird]

I take your point, On my trip, I remember noticing 2 or 3 fairly small dark patches where water had obviously got under the varnish, but I thought of these more as cosmetic.
For the next season onwards, the boat was permanently based in NW Scotland, a long way from the owner's home, so maybe suffered from harsh winters and low closed-season maintenance.