The "perfect boat", does one exist?

[Dougcan]

So I've been looking at boats, trying to decide on one.

Looked at boats such as the wetsnail... oops I meant Westsail 32 and the likes, nice boats. problem with them is that they cannot sail upwind very well.

Looked at all the smaller boats, nice boats, but a bit to small for me.

Closest to ideal would be the Pearson 33 shoal draft.

A sailing friend bragged about his Scanmar 33 and invited us to his web page to check it out.

I like the interior layout! I especially liked how the designer placed the head right by the companionway.  Which to me is a much more sensible location seeing how the person on watch need can use it without tracking salt allover the cabin.  a plus is the large hanging lockers in there, ideal place to hang up your foulies and so on, reducing salt intrusions into the rest of the boat.

Drawback is the deep fin keel and the skeg mounted rudder.  I kind of prefer the "modified full keel" (a full keel with the forward part cut out)

And another plus is the aft compartment with bed.  I am one of those guys why prefer sleeping aft rather than the V compartment.  I would either leave the "V" for guest, or turn it into a "garage".

So is there a boat with something like the following interior:

http://home.nycap.rr.com/bifurcated/Layout%20Labeled.html]

And a full keel with forefoot cutaway?

Changed hull type to a better hull reference

[AdriftAtSea]

There is no such thing as a perfect boat... in the idea of the Platonic ideal any ways. There will be a boat that is perfect for you, but will not suit the needs of any one else as well as it does yours. 

The perfect boat for anyone is one that they can:

a) Sail in the waters they want to sail in safety and comfort
b) afford to own and maintain
c) enjoy sailing and owning

For some, this is a 50' ketch with full bluewater capabilities, for others it is a 15' sharpie micro cruiser sailboat.  Most people lie somewhere in between.  For me, it is a boat named Pretty Gee, a 28' Telstar trimaran.  :D 

[CapnK]

Doug, regarding the Scanmars -

There is one in my marina, a 31. I've sailed her, sailed against her, and had occasion to check out her systems and how she is built. Overall, a nice boat. One thing I didn't really like was the hull liner, though. It is put in in such a way that some of the plumbing and wiring runs between the liner and the hull, making things difficult to get at and/or inspect. Since water from outside the boat runs through this plumbing, that gets a big "no no" in my book.

The owner of that boat recently had a naval architect (designer of the Cape fear 38) come down and look the boat over with regard to beefing her up for offshore work. The NA said afterwards that in his opinion, she didn't really need any, since she had been built strongly enough from the outset that after 20-some years, she was still in fine shape.

Oh, and BTW, the perfect boat exists. It is an Ariel, and perhaps a Cape Dory 30 Cutter.  ;) :D

You should look for a Pearson Vanguard - 32' LOA, Rhodes designed, very nice looking vessels.

[AdriftAtSea]

Hmm... CapnK, I think your boat bias is showing again.... ;) 

[Frank]

Bias.....nope...Kurt simply has great taste in recognizing beauty AND seaworthiness !  Even Carl's lil electra ,at 22ft has 2 1-1/2 in drains,a proper bridge deck,straight drop boards,1000lbs of lead in her full keel(cutaway forfoot) and sails beautifully!!  Did I mention 'pretty'....show me a nicer 22??? The ole Swede would simply NOT compromise

[Dougcan]

I found one that I liked, it's a Pearson 33.

Centerboard keel and all that

There's the newer P33-2 with an aft cabin and just about the ideal layout!



If you look closely, you can see the faint outline that marks out where the centerboard model keel goes.  the rudder is also a bit shorter but a bit wider as well.

I got the about from the http://pearsoninfo.net website.  This cover all the Pearson boats, including yours Kurt!

Hmm gottta find me one I can afford, that or win the lottery...

A bigger image of the above is at: http://pearsoninfo.net/33-2/brochure/33-2-1.jpg

[AdriftAtSea]

I guess she's a size up from the Alberg 30... ;) 

[Oldrig]

Obviously, since I've also got an Alberg design, I've got to agree with Frank and Kurt that the ol' Swede knew his stuff.

But that Pearson looks like a lot of boat. However, if you're looking to buy a used one, be sure to have an expert (surveyor?) check out the centerboard pivot joint. That's a weak spot with most of these keel-centerboard boats.

Just a thought from another Alberg fan, who's spending more time online now that his own boat is stripped and waiting to get hauled.

--Joe

[Joe Pyrat]

Oh, and BTW, the perfect boat exists. It is an Ariel, and perhaps a Cape Dory 30 Cutter.  ;) :D

Sorry Cap, the perfect boat is the Pearson Triton.    ;D



Truthfully, no boat is ideal under all conditions and circumstances.  They all entail compromises for various reasons.  The Triton works great for me because she is stable, tough, easy to sail, and inexpensive to maintain.  Of course you can say this about any Alberg design so it kind of comes down to how much space you can live with and how hard you are willing to work.  I heard once that the sail handling effort doubled between a 30 footer and a 35, and since I ain't gettin' any younger...   ;D

The other interesting thing I've found "for me" about the Triton is that every time I sail on a different boat I always seem to appreciate the handling of the Triton just a bit more.  If there is a perfect boat for me, I do believe I've found her.   :)

[Frank]

I'm surprised there were no comments or takers on the 'show me a nicer 22fter' pic of an Electra a few posts back.These lil boats sail VERY well and have been taken offshore.One very experienced sailor even was attempting a cape horn passage in one. He knew what he was doing...had done it once already in a similar small craft...but went missing (presumed sunk) when he sailed right into a hurricane off the coast of south america. They are a real pretty lil boat..typical of Alberg's earlier designs (lower freeboard than later ones) and quite fast. I've rescued one from the crusher with a 2sq. ft. hole in the keel and hope to have her restored/sailing by mid 07. I can't back out now as the new sails are made.

[AdriftAtSea]

I hope your restoration goes well. :D

[Frank]

Was just reading a bit on Carl Alberg and with recent mention of IOR boats...I had to copy/paste this    "Carl's own assessment agrees:

"Contrasted to the modern IOR boats where you have six gorillas sitting on the weather rail with their feet hanging outside trying to keep the boat upright, my boats are strictly family-cruising boats. In all my designs I go for comfortable accomodations and a boat you can sail upright without scaring the life out of your family or friends. I gave them a good long keel, plenty of displacement and beam, and a fair amount of sail area so they can move."
In 1979, while those modern boats were capsizing and sinking, an Alberg 35 on it's way to England comfortably lay a-hull.

"It was really blowing and though they shortened sails and did everything else they could in order to keep going, they eventually took everything off, went below, battened down the hatches and just ate, drank and played cards. When it had blown over they hoisted sail and continued to England, where they were told they had just sailed through the same gale that had taken 16 lives in the Fastnet race. They had ridden out the storm by just sitting in the cabin while everyone else was capsizing."

"There are still some designers around who whare my ideas about glass boat design. Everyone else is trying to conform to the new rules. My boats are more designed to follow the waves and stay relatively dry and stable."
Carl passed away on August 31, 1986 at his home in Marblehead Massachusetts. His 56 designs resulted in over 10,000 boats."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[AdriftAtSea]

Yes, Carl alberg is definitely one of my favorite monohull designers... :D  and there is no argument from me that his boats are most seaworthy, especially considering that many are smaller designs, and can outsail many larger designs.

[CapnK]

Frank - do you *really* need to see/hear ***me*** saying

"Yes, those Electra's are fine looking boats! Beeyootyful lines!!!"  ;D


(My bias had already been noted...  :D ;))

I bet that when you launch her next year, as with Revival/Journey, she'll be one of the finest of her kind.  8)

[s/v Faith]

Bias?

  What bias? 

[Frank]

Capt K...I'll have my hands full !! Here's another shot of pick-up day.....standing water,rotten wood,cracked companionway hatch and boards,soft decks,no sails,no cushions and a 2ft hole in the keel...but heh.....WHAT"S NOT TO LOVE !!   

[AdriftAtSea]

Capt K...I'll have my hands full !! Here's another shot of pick-up day.....standing water,rotten wood,cracked companionway hatch and boards,soft decks,no sails,no cushions and a 2ft hole in the keel...but heh.....WHAT"S NOT TO LOVE !!   

Frank, I think you've got your work cut out for you...and there will be a lot of cutting, grind and scraping...  :D

[CharlieJ]

Uh Frank- does it look anything like this??

This is the main cabin of Tehani before we started on her-



and the same basic area of the boat now-



Cheer up- it all comes together in the end, and it's sure worth it.

:)

[Frank]

The main reason I took this boat on was all interior ply wood was rock solid.The bulkheads,bunks and floor are exellent.No ripping out and rebonding.Only stripping paint,a few mods,wiring,plumbing and re-paint inside.Not too bad. This lil guy even has a deep bilge with a built-in water tank!!......ps..guess what saved the interior from rot etc from standing water....come on guess...........that 2ft hole in the keel !!!!

[AdriftAtSea]

CharlieJ-

darn nice job, I'm impressed. 

Frank,

Looks like you've got a bit less work cut out for you than Charlie had...