What can you tell me about the shallow draft MG 335?

[NealB]

We've been thinking of changing boats for a while now, and have looked at quite a few over the winter.

I like the look of the Castro designed, Northshore built, MG 335, with wing keel. There's not a lot of information about them, and I would be interested in any views.

Most of our sailing is just Joscelyn and I. East coast pottering with further trips on summer hols. Maybe the odd Wednesday evening cruiser race at the Crouch YC.

Jos likes the Moody 346 (particularly the stern cabin), whereas the MG's promise of a much more exciting sail appeals to me.

Is there anything to watch out for? How do they sail? Is the wing keel a good option (we like creek crawling)? What's the panels views as to her suitability for short-handed, cross channel type cruising?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Laundryman]

I had an unfortunate experience trying to buy one of these. I wouldn't want to tar them all with the same brush. So If you have found the boat you are looking for and if you would like to pm me the name, I will be happy to share the reasons the sale didn't proceed. If it's not the one I looked at I will be happy to tell you what I know. Thanks. Alan

 

[NealB]

I had an unfortunate experience trying to buy one of these. I wouldn't want to tar them all with the same brush. So If you have found the boat you are looking for and if you would like to pm me the name, I will be happy to share the reasons the sale didn't proceed. If it's not the one I looked at I will be happy to tell you what I know. Thanks. Alan

Oooh...intriguing....thanks!!

pm sent

 

[Tranona]

We've been thinking of changing boats for a while now, and have looked at quite a few over the winter.

I like the look of the Castro designed, Northshore built, MG 335, with wing keel. There's not a lot of information about them, and I would be interested in any views.

Most of our sailing is just Joscelyn and I. East coast pottering with further trips on summer hols. Maybe the odd Wednesday evening cruiser race at the Crouch YC.

Jos likes the Moody 346 (particularly the stern cabin), whereas the MG's promise of a much more exciting sail appeals to me.

Is there anything to watch out for? How do they sail? Is the wing keel a good option (we like creek crawling)? What's the panels views as to her suitability for short-handed, cross channel type cruising?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Leaving aside the possible problems with one particular boat. Tony Castro was at the top of the tree when wing keels were in vogue so no reason to suspect it is not well executed. Equally it would be a surprise if a 33 foot cruiser racer from a top designer was not capable of cross channel type cruising. The short handed bit would depend on how it was set up rather than the basic design. Rather different boat from a Moody 346, though!

 

[NealB]

Only very!! It has crossed my mind that, maybe, we need both: his and hers.

 

[jwilson]

We've been thinking of changing boats for a while now, and have looked at quite a few over the winter.

I like the look of the Castro designed, Northshore built, MG 335, with wing keel. There's not a lot of information about them, and I would be interested in any views.

Most of our sailing is just Joscelyn and I. East coast pottering with further trips on summer hols. Maybe the odd Wednesday evening cruiser race at the Crouch YC.

Jos likes the Moody 346 (particularly the stern cabin), whereas the MG's promise of a much more exciting sail appeals to me.

Is there anything to watch out for? How do they sail? Is the wing keel a good option (we like creek crawling)? What's the panels views as to her suitability for short-handed, cross channel type cruising?

Thanks for your thoughts.

I've been on board both deep keel and wing-keel MG335s, and the thing that stood out was distinctly less static stability on the wing-keeler. The owner of the wing keeler wanted to switch to a fin-keel version of the same boat: he raced and said that although fast offwind, it just did not give enough pointing ability. Interestingly the owner of the fin keeler bought the boat new with a wing keel, and had the keel changed 12 months later for a fin.

 

[E39mad]

As above the wing has a trade off in performance over the deep fin. Having stated that the wing version still sails very well although it may need reefing sooner up wind than the fin. Inevitable when the wing draws 4.0ft over 6'3"

The 335 had an upgraded version towards the end of its life, called the MG346 it had more wood down below and a few other changes