SC31 "Mischief"

[dnice]

A very interesting story about a Southern Cross 31 that sailed itself to bermuda!


From the article:

"Mystery transformation to Mischief– SC31 –104
Editors Note. If a Southern Cross could talk.... Thanks to Vern here are some photos of Mystery which broke her mooring off of Connecticut and sailed to Bermuda on her own She was drifting for six (6) months, lost her mast, lost her rudder and the mast rubbed against the hull as shown in the photos.
From Vern "Apparently she had been at sea alone for 6 mos. when she was found and I may say in remarkably good shape for that ordeal! Also attached are some photos of how she looked when she was rechristened and launched in 1994 here in Bermuda as Mischief."


photo's and article in pdf format at http://www.southerncross-boats.org/issue72.pdf
page 6/48

(sorry, I tried to cut/paste from pdf to no avail...)

[chris2998]

I'd like to hear more on the southern cross boats how well or easy are they to sail by one person are there other boats that are designed alot like the southern cross.  What problems have people had with them are they prone to have alot of blisters? like i have read some boats have?

Chris

[Frank]

Pat Henry, a 56 year old women when she left, that is 5ft nothing and about 105lbs, sailed one around the world.The hulls are cored,but there have not been delamination problems as of yet.I met her in Miami about 4 yrs ago.She's well into her 60's now.Judy took a cruising coarse with her and sailed on that boat.She said it sailed well and had great motion.They sail faster/point higher than a westsail 32.A westsail32 has a 2pc hull...the SC31 is one pc. There IS a knock off of the SC31 that I was on a couple of years ago...but the name escapes me.    PS..she helped finance her cruise by painting and selling her art. (Laura...there you go  ;D)

[dnice]

Just to note: the hull is cored with airex (I have heard just below the waterline up, and I've also heard its the entire hull), but as far as I can tell the decks are still cored with balsa or plywood.
The airex core rarely has any problems, and I hear good things about its insulating properties. keeps the condensation out, and has the sound dampening affect of a wood hull.

It looks like the majority of SC31's were owner finished, so the interior quality varies (usually pretty darn good though) but I think most of the SC28's where factory built.

Dona Lang is also a female singlehander who was the first American woman to sail solo around the world via both capes, in her SC28.

[chris2998]

ahh it's made with plywood?? I don't like hearing that I had a friend who had a bay boat made with plywood it was junk so are there alot of boats older ones with plywood and then layerd with fiberglass on the outside?? Can you all give me names of other good crusiers I can read up on?? Seems like this is the hardest thing to figure out what boat is good now i have heard some of you talk about a alberg or Cape Dory and I sure do like the layout of that boat interior wise very nice. looks like a very nice liveaboard to and I do like the interios of a C&C but are they good boats?

Chris

[CharlieJ]

 :D no not made with plywood- CORED with plywood. VASTLY different animal..

In addition, there are many many epoxy/wood boats out there that are a far cry from the old "build from ply and slap some glass on the outside" boats. The modern wood/epoxy boats have about the same maintainace as a GRP hull would have. and are often lighter boats to boot

I've built 12 wood/epoxy boats since 1982, from a 35 foot trimaran down to a 6'6" dinghy, ten of those since 2001 and ALL of them are still going strong.

Might I suggest you get your hands on a book called "Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere" by John Vigor. That book will go a long way towards answering your questions.

And while many love Alberg designs ( including myself) there are others out there, such as the designer of our boat - Phillip Rhodes. Personally I think he has an edge on Alberg in sheer line grace and style.

[chris2998]

Thanks I'll see if I can buy that book from amazon.com and I'll also check out phillip rhodes to.  he also has this book which I may buy for sure.   
Twenty Affordable Sailboats To Take You Anywhere  I know this is more a small boat forum but I really don't want anything smaller then 30ft for sure but no bigger then 36ft to

Chris

[Captain Smollett]

I really don't want anything smaller then 30ft for sure but no bigger then 36ft

Hi Chris,

One very important thing to consider is that all 30 footers (just to pick an example LOA) are not created equal.  There are plenty of boats smaller than 30 ft that sail much larger than 30 feet.

For example, Chalie's Meridian, at 26 ft, sails like a MUCH larger boat.  There are 30 footers that don't handle seas so well.  Another is the Alberg 30...some 40 footers are less comfortable in a seaway.

Each of these boats have an important trade-off, however.  They are not "roomy" with lots of interior "livable" space compared to the larger boats I am comparing them to.

So when you say you don't want a boat smaller than 30 ft, I might ask the follwing questions: What are your priorities?  Handling under sail?  Seaworthiness?  Cabin volume?

My point:  your answers to these questions will determine what boats to look at based on performance or other criteria..and LOA may not be the best indicator what best suits your needs.

For me personally, by way of example, I wanted a boat that had demonstrated seaworthiness in real, ocean going conditions while still "easy" to singlehand.  The A-30 fit that bill perfectly...but it was not because it was 30 ft long.  In fact, the boat is rather cramped for four to live aboard...but we accept that trade-off for the added (perhaps perceived) margins of safety the boat design provides.

Offered only as food for thought....good luck with your search.

[chris2998]

I really don't want anything smaller then 30ft for sure but no bigger then 36ft

Hi Chris,

One very important thing to consider is that all 30 footers (just to pick an example LOA) are not created equal.  There are plenty of boats smaller than 30 ft that sail much larger than 30 feet.

For example, Chalie's Meridian, at 26 ft, sails like a MUCH larger boat.  There are 30 footers that don't handle seas so well.  Another is the Alberg 30...some 40 footers are less comfortable in a seaway.

Each of these boats have an important trade-off, however.  They are not "roomy" with lots of interior "livable" space compared to the larger boats I am comparing them to.

So when you say you don't want a boat smaller than 30 ft, I might ask the follwing questions: What are your priorities?  Handling under sail?  Seaworthiness?  Cabin volume?

My point:  your answers to these questions will determine what boats to look at based on performance or other criteria..and LOA may not be the best indicator what best suits your needs.

For me personally, by way of example, I wanted a boat that had demonstrated seaworthiness in real, ocean going conditions while still "easy" to singlehand.  The A-30 fit that bill perfectly...but it was not because it was 30 ft long.  In fact, the boat is rather cramped for four to live aboard...but we accept that trade-off for the added (perhaps perceived) margins of safety the boat design provides.

Offered only as food for thought....good luck with your search.

My Priorities would be all three of those questions but really want something with a fare amount of room for living aboard and deffinitly want to be able to singlehand it for sure. I'll see what happens in a year or so when I buy and who knows i may come back and say yeah you were right. I see what you're saying I got alot of research till then.

Thanks
Chris

[Captain Smollett]

want something with a fare amount of room for living aboard

How many people?

And what kind of "living aboard?"  How do you define "living" aboard (more below)?

I think what you'll find for the most part on this site is that what many (elsewhere) define as "living aboard" here is viewed as "too complicated."

More food for thought:  The Martin's, before the birth of their third child, lived four aboard a 25 footer.  That's lived and cruised.  We are in the process of 'moving aboard' (as a family of four) a 30 footer that has a small interior by modern standards.

We are finding that the key to this, for us (and YMMV), is to simplify down - WAAY down.  We don't need a WHOLE walk-in closet full of clothes, we don't need 12 toy boxes full of toys, etc, etc.  We don't need hot/cold running water and a walk-in shower (everyday), and there are many more examples.

I know this is more a small boat forum but

This may just be me, but I think this site is more about an attitude than LOA.

If a 21, 35 or 45 footer (or whatever) is right for you, that's cool.   :)  I'm just trying to clarify why this site differs so much from most other sailing sites and why Vigor's book comes highly recommended.  It's a good starting point for a SAMPLE list of boats that break the conventional wisdom mold that one "needs" x feet on deck to live and cruise comfortably...depending on how you define comfort.

Finally, I'll end with this thought: With a small boat, one that does NOT have all the "trappings" of a home in modern western society, you might find you don't want to just "lazy" around the boat...you'll want to get off the thing more often.  This opens the possibilities to "live" in the community a little more, rather than "live" on the boat.  That's the theory I'm operating on, anyway.

[Frank]

The reality of 'living' on a boat is that most waking hours in port are spent exploring ashore or visiting other boats.Your vessel becomes a 'base' that you work out of.My thoughts...remembering we are all different...is that the best boat to cruise is the smallest that works for you.Priorities are 1st a seaworthy design...of which there are many 27ft or much less ..after that the benifits of 'small' take over.Less draft=more anchorages,smaller sails =easier to handle and cheaper to replace,less initial cost for a boat of equal quality,less cost of upkeep-haulout-storage-bottom paint, smaller ground tackle etc etc. There are a ton of boats that would make great cruisers...most are covered here somewhere.

[chris2998]

How many people?
"just me"

And what kind of "living aboard?"  How do you define "living" aboard (more below)?

"living aboard means I don't have a home the boat is my home I can't say hmm I'm tired of this rocking boat I want to go stay a week at my house on land no I don't have a house or a apartment the boat will truely be my home. The first time I ever slept on a boat was when I was about 7 on my aunt and uncles deep sea fishing boat about a 38ft boat I slept so good and don't think I will sleep that good again on land"

I think what you'll find for the most part on this site is that what many (elsewhere) define as "living aboard" here is viewed as "too complicated."

More food for thought:  The Martin's, before the birth of their third child, lived four aboard a 25 footer.  That's lived and cruised.  We are in the process of 'moving aboard' (as a family of four) a 30 footer that has a small interior by modern standards.

"All I can say is WOW 25 foot"

We are finding that the key to this, for us (and YMMV), is to simplify down - WAAY down.  We don't need a WHOLE walk-in closet full of clothes, we don't need 12 toy boxes full of toys, etc, etc.  We don't need hot/cold running water and a walk-in shower (everyday), and there are many more examples.

I know this is more a small boat forum but

This may just be me, but I think this site is more about an attitude than LOA.

"I'm sorry for soundling like a D*ck I didn't mean for it to sound that way"

If a 21, 35 or 45 footer (or whatever) is right for you, that's cool.   :)  I'm just trying to clarify why this site differs so much from most other sailing sites and why Vigor's book comes highly recommended.  It's a good starting point for a SAMPLE list of boats that break the conventional wisdom mold that one "needs" x feet on deck to live and cruise comfortably...depending on how you define comfort.

Finally, I'll end with this thought: With a small boat, one that does NOT have all the "trappings" of a home in modern western society, you might find you don't want to just "lazy" around the boat...you'll want to get off the thing more often.  This opens the possibilities to "live" in the community a little more, rather than "live" on the boat.  That's the theory I'm operating on, anyway.
[/quote]

I don't know how it is in the carribean because i have never gone but here in Covington Louisiana it is very FREAKING humid and HOT I would really want a a/c system on the boat I have looked into these and there really very small units they could be hidden anywhere plus looked into a water filtrations system again there pretty small and I think that would maybe be a good investment if I were to cruise but seriously just the a/c system because it is so hot and humid. I am seeing you're point though a 35ft boat probally would be to much boat to handle for me by myself. I know you are just trying to help and I do deeply appreciate it.  I have lots of reading on here and learning about everything.

Thank you all very much

Chris

[chris2998]

I ended up ordering the book 20 sailboats from 30-38ft for crusing dam what a good book tells you so much info about boats that I had no idea about, sure has made me think alot. I'm gonna order the one and read about the smaller boats for cruiseing. I'm sure I'll enjoy it as much as the first one I bought.
Thanks alot guys and I gotta say I sure do like the pacific seacraft boat in 31ft sounds like a good boat and really like the layout and the beautiful wood trim.
Thanks a bunch,

Chris