The search for a seaworthy, seakindly little boat continues. For the purposes of singlehanded coastal cruising.

Anyone with any thoughts on the Pacific 27??

Thanks

I think the Pacific 27 was more of a lake/harbour type of boat.
I would imagine it would be a bit slow and very uncomfortable in the short chop we experience in Queensland waters.
From your profile it says Queensland. If you are in Brisbane or down south of the reef areas the short seas wont be a problem. If however you are in the north a bit you will find the swell a whole lot different to souther waters.
I have never owned or sailed on one. Just strikes me as that sort of boat.
Others on the forum might have a better opinion.

Thanks for your words of help.

Still hoping for the Contessa in Sydney....ggrrrr....owner who can't be contacted.

theselkie said..
Thanks for your words of help.

Still hoping for the Contessa in Sydney....ggrrrr....owner who can't be contacted.

Owner could be in hospital or something, reading between the lines I would say he is elderly. There are Tophats too but I would hold out for a diesel. Outboards on small yachts are a pain.



http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Top-Hat-25-Cheap-Sailing-or-project-NO-RESERVE-/151627639818?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item234db62c0a

Listen to cisco, he has good eye for this sort of a thing.
Believe me, you do not want an outboard motor!
Have you ever sailed single handed in a gale when you needed your engine? Or crossing a bar? The outboards propeller would be bobbing in and out of the water like jack-in-the-box reviving up then catching water again destroying itself in the process. Seen it happen.
A good reliable diesel with folding prop is my recommendation.
The keel is the other thing. A folkboat or similar with full keel is nice and classic but slow, very hard to manoeuvre in closed marinas and very bouncy in rough seas.
The first thing l look at on sea boat is the size of the scuppers compared to the size of the cockpit. Small scupper drain v e r y slowly.
Whatever you end up buying you going to spend on it ten grand plus easy. Just think of the safety gear sails
and comforts.
You must have quality harness-life west and plb, jack lines, new lifelines, e-epirb the best available, set of spare sails, storm sails specially on a slow yacht! This is only scratching the surface...and the list goes on and on and...
I bet my yacht on it, those advertised tubs do not gave anything near the required gear.
Most ads come with old old photos too. They were like it ten or twenty years ago!

sirgallivant said..
Listen to cisco, he has good eye for this sort of a thing.
Believe me, you do not want an outboard motor!
Have you ever sailed single handed in a gale when you needed your engine? Or crossing a bar? The outboards propeller would be bobbing in and out of the water like jack-in-the-box reviving up then catching water again destroying itself in the process. Seen it happen.
A good reliable diesel with folding prop is my recommendation.

The keel is the other thing. A folkboat or similar with full keel is nice and classic but slow, very hard to manoeuvre in closed marinas and very bouncy in rough seas.

Yes, I have been using an outboard on my H28 till I get around to putting the inboard back. This is exactly what happens if you put it on a mount at the very back of the yacht. However, in smaller boats with a dedicated outboard well, there is not much difference to having a inboard except maybe the lack of a large alternator to charge the batteries? The other big advantages with the inboard is the much better fuel economy and the fact you don't have to carry volitile petrol.

A long keel is easier and safer for singlehanded cruising. It is a LOT easier to get the boat in trim and happily sailing along by herself. Then, if you go aground they will tend to run up instead of hitting with a bang.

The warmth created by the onboard diesel on a cold night after a long days sail, the hot shower, then a good night sleep is not just nice it keeps me sailing forever.
As far as the self draining cockpit goes, this is what l see as necessity. You can not see the scupper, two 80mm ones draining the cockpit in seconds what did not drain thorough the low transom. Could get swamped in a running sea because the low transom - never happened to me - still drains faster for the suction effect.
(The jerries hold diesel despite the colour!)