wully1
Well-known member
Yes they are close! But like I said in my last post I’ve ruled out Amel because too big (over 50ft), too expensive and mostly only 2 cabins whereas I want 3.
Sharky.....
Yes they are close! But like I said in my last post I’ve ruled out Amel because too big (over 50ft), too expensive and mostly only 2 cabins whereas I want 3.
Sharky.....
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You called?
you should buy an Amel Sharky - or are you lucky enough to already own one?
Have you looked at a jongert ? When the waves roll down the deck and the large Mercedes diesel ploughs on you stay cozy under the hard top and even when on night passage in the med under mizzen and headsail the hardtop and wheel with comfy chair means it's not too arduous standing the early morning watch and keeping an eye on radar up top. . Plenty of older smaller versions out there - they did do them in smaller versions than 23 m which might be a bit OTT .
...................... what I’m looking for is a centre-cockpit protected sailing boat. You could take many of today’s modern centre cockpit boats and if you simply made the dodger solid and moved the wheel forward (and slightly to one side probably) then you would have it.
Or put another way, a smaller, more affordable version of an Amel above decks ...............
... a variable pitch prop. Such a system is unpleasantly expensive and I'm saving my kidney for something else.
Each to their own, but for me the Amel wheel position might have been useful 30 years ago, before good autopilots, but is an anachronism and the worst possible solution today. The Amel wheel position would certainly be a deal breaker for me.
If you think about the way we tend to sail these days, I think twin wheels plus a Scandinavian windscreen and sprayhood (like modern Halberg Rassy, some X-Yachts etc) is ideal.
The only time people tend to hand steer is when manoeuvring (on off pontoons etc) and when enjoying the fun of sailing, when wind in the hair, sitting on the high side and being able to see the luff of the sails is what you want. An enclosed steering position is the worst option for these situations.
When motoring, when on passage, or when wet, most of us put the autopilot on - and on a wet night watch, sitting in the companionway looking through the windscreen with a mug of coffee is perfect. Why waste the precious dry space with a redundant steering position.
NB. I tend to sail in northern latitudes, and yet only had an oilskin jacket on about 4 days last season - and never during winter sailing.
I think you're overstating the usefulness of autopilots. Yes, many people have them (including me!), but they aren't universal by any means. And further, although I've got an autopilot, I tend to use it only when I'm under engine; under sail a) I prefer not to flatten my batteries and b) I can do a better job than the autopilot anyway - I can see the sails, wind shadows and waves and react to them; the autopilot just ploughs ahead! Its main use under sail is to liberate me from the tiller for a few minutes while I attend to something else.
Thanks, Amel Sharki is a new discovery but.... slightly too small at 39’ and 2 cabins, whereas I’m looking for 45-50ft and 3 cabins. But you guys are coming up with some interesting ideas!
I agree the definition of “Motorsailor” could be debated long and hard - and in fact it already has been by the sound of it. So I’m not intending to re-open that debate here.
In my original post and title I was using the term Motorsailor as a proxy for a style of boat that offered enclosed wheelhouse comfort with the ability to motor or sail reasonably in short sleeves in inclement weather. I don’t want to take on Cape Horn - just go family cruising without the need for wet weather gear if it starts drizzling.
I'm surprised that the Moody Eclipse hasn't been mentioned ... for me the 43 says it all ..... comfort ... sails well ... motors well .... layout is good ...
...So why isn't there a modern equivalent of this? imagine a 40-45ft modern version of the Salar with all the ergonomic, performance and space benefits of modern yacht design plus the huge benefits of wheelhouse comfort? And at an affordable, production boat price point not expensive niche market semi-custom builds....
OP was after something much newer I think....:
I would agree with the poster you disagree with. I've a very heavy long keel with wheel steering.think you're overstating the usefulness of autopilots
I'd argue that the whole point is that maintaining an exact compass course isn't what you should be doing under those circumstances; steering to the waves and wind with occasional checks of the compass will give a more comfortable journey. If I were habitually doing long passages, I'd look for windvane steering systems, which do react to changes in wind. It's also my habit to work up to windward of the compass course, other things being equal; it's much easier to drop down to leeward when necessary than it is to have to make up to windward But obviously it's horses for courses; what suits me, my boat and my type of sailing may not suit another.I would agree with the poster you disagree with. I've a very heavy long keel with wheel steering.
Was out in a F7 with 4m seas and wind on the beam. I was struggling to maintain direction as no visible reference point other than the compass whilst the boat laboured then surged over each wave.
The hydraulic auto pilot was vastly superior keeping heading. With solar and wind generation powering it is no problem.
Yes it's nice to "sail the boat" but it can also become tiresome over a longer distance
I think you're overstating the usefulness of autopilots. Yes, many people have them (including me!), but they aren't universal by any means. And further, although I've got an autopilot, I tend to use it only when I'm under engine; under sail a) I prefer not to flatten my batteries and b) I can do a better job than the autopilot anyway - I can see the sails, wind shadows and waves and react to them; the autopilot just ploughs ahead! Its main use under sail is to liberate me from the tiller for a few minutes while I attend to something else. Under engine, it does a better job than I do; it doesn't get bored! But even under engine, I can make life easier for everyone by adapting to the waves to make the motion easier; the autopilot can do that to a limited extent as long as the wave pattern is consistent, but it is of limited effect in most UK coastal waters.