Southern Cross 31

Captain Smollett · July 27, 2006, 01:30:03 AM

Just wondering if anyone here has experience with the Southern Cross 31. It's a very heavy boat for it's size, cutter rig and canoe stern with stern hung rudder. The ones I've seen listed for sale are a bit pricey.

I know it breaks the 30 ft sailfar "limit," but I'm just curious about it. ;)

AdriftAtSea · July 27, 2006, 06:36:25 AM

no personal experience with one, but believe one was the subject of Pat Henry's book on her circumnavigation. Might want to check the book out.

oded kishony · July 27, 2006, 08:04:41 AM

This is one of the boats included in John Vigor's "20small boatsto take you anywhere" book.
He lists a number of 'known weaknesses' to check for: including water intrusion in the balsa cored deck, possible punctures in the outer skin of the Airex cored hull. The boat was offered in an unfinished state so many were finished by their first owners including the engines. He also mentions that only 32% of the 13,600lbs of the weight is in the keel cavity but that stowing heavy gear as low as possible will help. The hull has a full keel with no cutway forefoot which, along with her weight, makes her more difficult to steer in close quarters.
Nice boat, with beautiful lines and very seaworty.

Oded Kishony

Frank · July 27, 2006, 12:33:22 PM

If Pat Henry can single hand it.....it's gotta be OK. She is a real 'lil gal'...I'd guess 5ft 2..110lbs. My better half sailed with Pat in mexico...loved the boat.She said it sailed great with very good motion.

oded kishony · July 27, 2006, 01:38:48 PM

I hope I didn't give the impression that this isn't a worthy boat. Like every boat it has it's strenghts and weaknesses. John Vigor lists it as #7 of the 20 boats in his book for 'safety at sea factor'

Oded Kishony

Frank · July 27, 2006, 02:27:32 PM

No...not at all. I personally don't like the sound of a cored hull...don't care what the 'experts' say.The thought of coring and potential delamination is bad enough on a deck...but a hull???

oded kishony · July 27, 2006, 03:47:41 PM

I agree, it's one of the less attractive aspects of this particular boat. Owner finishig of a bare hull is also a great unknown.

I've been looking at the Cape Dory 28. Carl Alberg Design. Don't know much about her but she seems to be a nearly ideal small cruiser. Anyone?

Oded Kishony

Frank · July 27, 2006, 07:41:01 PM

I have nothing but respect for Carl Alberg. He steadfastly REFUSED to compromise his ideals to suit a 'market' or a builders requests.Basically ...you got it his way , or get another designer.All seaworthy...all beautiful..from the lil typhoon right on up.I am not familiar with Cape Dory...never many in Canada,but they do have an above average reputation.Gotta be a fine boat if it is in good shape.A 28 is a great size...still lots of room (relatively speaking)and offshore capable, but small enough to be easy to handle and gunkhole around with.

Captain Smollett · July 27, 2006, 07:49:15 PM

Quote from: Frank on July 27, 2006, 07:41:01 PM
...all beautiful..from the lil typhoon right on up.

A Cape Dory Typhoon was the first boat I ever sailed and will remain the 'standard' against which I judge all other smaller boats. If it was easier to trailer (more specifically, launch and retrieve), that'd be the under 20 ft-er I would have.

I like the larger CD's also, btw. ;)

CharlieJ · July 27, 2006, 09:10:22 PM

You can add Philip Rhodes in there with Alberg. Same basic time period, same basic boats. I think the Rhodes boats have a little pretier sheer than Alberg drew. My Meridian is much springier than the Ariel or Triton

Frank · July 27, 2006, 09:33:06 PM

Yep...another pioneer in designing fiberglass boats.That was a great era wasn't it ! I wasn't sailing in the early sixties , but can only imagine the beauty of the wooden boats you would have seen out there along with designers like Rhodes and Alberg switching over to glass. I'd be happy just lookin and druling

Adam · July 27, 2006, 09:33:37 PM

Quote from: CharlieJ on July 27, 2006, 09:10:22 PM
You can add Philip Rhodes in there with Alberg. Same basic time period, same basic boats. I think the Rhodes boats have a little pretier sheer than Alberg drew. My Meridian is much springier than the Ariel or Triton

uh... was that *thud* a gauntlet being thrown down??? Be vewy caweful here :) When I figure out what "springier" means, I'll have to say "No, mine's springier!"

What's it mean? :D

Adam

Frank · July 27, 2006, 09:43:13 PM

Adam...quote "When I figure out what "springier" means, I'll have to say "No, mine's springier!".. >:(.that means he sails a Rhodes design.Us Alberg lovers think ours is spingier !! Besides that...tell him 'pretier' has 2 t's ;D

Frank · July 27, 2006, 09:47:52 PM

Qoute "A Cape Dory Typhoon was the first boat I ever sailed and will remain the 'standard' against which I judge all other smaller boats. " I think it was small craft advisor magazine that had a lil blurb on a gent about to sail his typhoon over to Bermuda. Couldn't imagine a better 19 to do it in. Only fault I would remody would be a better/higher bridgedeck and bigger scuppers

Frank · July 27, 2006, 09:52:54 PM

Quote from: CharlieJ on July 27, 2006, 09:10:22 PM
You can add Philip Rhodes in there with Alberg. Same basic time period, same basic boats. I think the Rhodes boats have a little pretier sheer than Alberg drew. My Meridian is much springier than the Ariel or Triton

OK OK OK ...he was known as 'king of the sheer line :o

Captain Smollett · July 27, 2006, 09:56:13 PM

Quote from: CharlieJ on July 27, 2006, 09:10:22 PM
You can add Philip Rhodes in there with Alberg.

Yep, I was reading about Rhodes (the man) just the other night. I'll be keeping my eyeballs open for a Ranger for the right price.

Captain Smollett · July 27, 2006, 10:01:39 PM

Just saw this:

Quote
Meridian for sale:
In North Kingstown RI, asking $2,000. (July 16, 2006)
Contact <wayne-mary@cox.net>

oded kishony · July 27, 2006, 10:49:38 PM

I learned to sail on a Rhodes 19 and also on a small Chesapeake skipjack. The gaff rigged , not usual for skipjacks) canvas sails with wooden hoops wher so heavy it took two you men to raise the sails, big centerboard,barn door rudder/tiller she was a very forgiving boat to learn on. On the St. Mary's river Maryland.

Oded

CapnK · July 28, 2006, 01:02:27 PM

AFA the SC31, I always have considered them to be about the same as a Westsail 32 - similar shape and build of hull, stout boats.

Airex is a closed-cell foam, so if you are going to have core in the hull, I guess thats about the best you can expect.

I came real close to buying one a few years back - stripped hull, w/new diesel, used vane, spars and various additional equipment, for $10K. Deal breaker was that it had to be shipped up from Miami, and I didn't have those additional funds at the time.

In their own way, they are a pretty good looking boat, but they sure don't have lines like an Alberg or a Rhodes... :)

AdriftAtSea · July 30, 2006, 06:21:28 PM

Cored hulls are fine provided the people doing work on the boat are respectful of the core when doing any work below the waterline. Any throughhulls should be done in areas where the core has been removed and the hull reinforced with solid glass. If this is not the case, then you may have a serious risk of the hull delaminating. Although Airex is a closed-cell foam and essentially rot resistant..it can allow water migration and allow the hull to delaminate. Airex does not resist water migration as well as a good end-grain balsa. All core materials have their plusses and minusses.

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Southern Cross 31