Allan
regular
Reged: 17/03/2004
Posts: 1296
Loc: Bristol
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I will be buying a boat in the near futere. I have been looking at Westerlys and Moodys, although I am open to suggestion of other makes. After sailing other peoples boats in recent weeks, (Moody 32 bilge, Sadler 32 fin and Gibsea 31 shoal fin) I have decided I would like to hear opions of which are the best sailers. I'm looking at 28-33 feet boats.
Allan
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I now have my dream yacht.
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DJE
regular
Reged: 21/06/2004
Posts: 2128
Loc: Fareham
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Sadler 29. But then I would say that wouldn't I!
About 60% of them were built with twin keels, not so many of the Sadlers 32s got twin keels for some reason. The twin keels are reasonably deep (1.2m draft) they are also angled so that the leeward keel becomes nearly vertical when heeled, and the ballast ratio is high at about 40% so she has pretty good performance to windward.
The Sadler is no light wind flyer but given 15 knots of wind and decent sails you'll be doing 5 to 5.5 knots close hauled and 6 to (occasionally) 7 knots on the reaches. You'll also get excellent seakeeping and a sensible, practical accomodation layout. Downsides are that the windward keel breaks the surface every now and then when pressed so you get the occaisional slam; and the galley is a bit small and basic. They are also expensive but so far seem to hold their value well.
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whipper_snapper
regular
Reged: 09/08/2006
Posts: 1588
Loc: Kenya
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Arguable British Hunters are the best bilge keelers around. I believe that they are among the quickest - anyone got the numbers to hand ?
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Rosbif
regular
Reged: 04/06/2007
Posts: 182
Loc: Guernsey CI
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RMs, but again I would say that wouldn't I! They are seriously fast. I am only just getting to grips with the performance charachteristics of my 1050 (and learning how to sail her properly!), but on a reach in 12-15 knots true we have regularly touched 9 knots. And the cutter rig offers all sorts of options for when short handed/stiff breeze etc. And she turns on a sixpence under power. And SWMBO is seriously pleased with domestic arrangements and general comfort (and that is saying something!) But not cheap though, particularly with the demise of the pound against the euro
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Age and treachery will triumph over youth and skill
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DJE
regular
Reged: 21/06/2004
Posts: 2128
Loc: Fareham
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Very different concept from the Sadler but I have to admit that if were in the market for a new boat I'd be looking hard at the RMs. Have you tried drying her out yet?
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whipper_snapper
regular
Reged: 09/08/2006
Posts: 1588
Loc: Kenya
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Nice looking boat! But all those twiddly bits look vulnerable for drying out. Seems to have no skeg at all? And what happens when you wrap an anchor warp or mooring line between the keels and over those go-faster bulbs?! For me, there is little point in a bilge keeler that can't take a bit of hammering as it settles or lifts off. I may be wrong, but it all looks a bit too 'thoroughbred' for my tastes.
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Flipper_K6354
regular
Reged: 20/09/2001
Posts: 1783
Loc: Boat in Brightlingsea, Essex. ...
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Does it have to be a bilge keeler?
My boat has a long shallower fin with legs for use when I want to dry out. With a draft of 4' 6" she can point and make better speed to windward than an equivalent bilge keeler.
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Jonny_H
regular
Reged: 15/08/2006
Posts: 1514
Loc: Liveaboard - following the sun...
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I was always very fond of our Westerly Tempest bilge keeler - sailed very well indeed, a touch heavy on the helm when pressed hard, but thats the way it is with bilge keelers.
The Tempest in general was, in my opinion, a super boat! Also, I think they did the Storm in a bilge keel, they are very very nice boats to sail although I've only had first hand experience of a fin keeler, but have heard good reports.
Jonny
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www.freewebs.com/jksailing
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pessimist
regular
Reged: 07/05/2003
Posts: 1770
Loc: ked out
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Another vote for the Sadler 29. Had one for several years. Not the fastest but not slow either. They dry out with no problems. Only downside is the slightly reduced accommodation due to the double skin. You'll love the double skin in winter though - much less condensation than a single skin.
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Q: What's the proper plural of a 'Net-connected Windows machine?
A: A Botnet
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Rosbif
regular
Reged: 04/06/2007
Posts: 182
Loc: Guernsey CI
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drying out is on the timetable for this weekend coming. need to adjust the kiwiprop. The rudder has a plate at the bottom for drying out and is reinforced etc etc. There is a very active (French) owners association, most of the RM owners seem to delight in drying out wherever they can and no specific problems have been reported. Note comments about tangling warps etc around the bulbs. But cannot that happen to any boat? I have certainly witnessed many similar episodes on a variety of fin keelers
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Age and treachery will triumph over youth and skill
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