Self Sufficient Sailor – Reviewed

links below at bottom of post

 

Book Captain Cat just finished snoozing on: 
Self Sufficient Sailor, by Lin and Larry Pardey 

A big thumbs up (metaphorically speaking) on yet another Pardey classic. The key themes in this must-have for the sea library are: 

Keeping costs down 
The Pardeys are famous for economical cruising and once again they do not disappoint. For example, they discuss:

• interesting advice on how to hitchhike on boats to gain sea miles and experience. If this is for you, there is some solid advice here on how to do it
• what kind of careers/jobs are most compatible with cruising based on what they have done and what they have seen others successfully doing
• the usefulness of keeping your boat under 30 feet to get out cruising earlier and stay out there longer. Can’t remember where the Can Opener got this 30 foot and under idea, but this is probably it (he’s read it before).

They also keep costs down by… 

…being prepared 
For squalls, emergencies, fire, lightning, repairs and guests. In no particular order. 

…keeping it simple 
If you can’t repair it, maybe it shouldn’t be on board. 
–Lin and Larry Pardey 

Yep, these guys are hard-core. They cruise without an engine, electricity or flush toilet. And they probably could repair all of the above anyway. 

They also tell you about a few simpler system substitutes they have seen successfully used if this is the above is too intense for you. 

Keep it fun and safe for everyone on board 
All sensible recommendations and discussions here:

• Everyone should be able to sail the boat.
• All equipment should be designed so that the weakest member of the crew can operate/use/carry it.
• Share tasks and do not stick one crew with all the crappy jobs.

The sort of things you’d think were kind of obvious. Apparently not. 

This section is written with the assumption that the wife will be the one getting stuck with the short end of the stick. Seems a bit like a 1950s labour division, and yet it seems like this is a surprisingly common scenario. 

Jimmy Cornell’s World Cruising Survey demographics show the greatest number of cruisers are in their 50’s, 60’s and beyond. So maybe this helps explain why it happens too often. 

The Pardeys note that boats cruise longer, more safely and happily when everyone is well trained and individually confident in their own abilities to do all the tasks needed for their own boat. 

The tough stuff of cruising 
Lest you begin to think that a life of Spartan simplicity and ‘bucket and chuck it’ toilets is one big holiday, the Self Sufficient Sailor finishes with direct and sensible discussions on guns, pirates, security and worse, how to get laundry done on a boat. 

Things you need to consider and to make well informed decisions about before going cruising. 

Conclusion 
Self Sufficient Sailor? Loved it. Nuff said. 

Any other books you would recommend for cruising? I am researching for the next round of additions to our sea library…

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Other Book Reviews

Next: Maiden Voyage – Reviewed 
Previously: Capable Cruiser

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Morris Yacht Designs & Morris 34

We could only find a vid for the Morris 36. Mostly shows the boat in action sailing. 

At about 1:07~ you get some close ups of winches, fittings etc. Unfortunately, no interior views shown.

Morris Yachts – Highlights

Built very very well… 
‘Every boat built by Morris is a work of art!’ — John Neal of Mahina Expeditions. 

The shortest Ocean Series design that the Morris yard is currently offering is the Morris 34. The First Mate and I were aiming for circa 30 foot designs as he’ll be solo sailing most of the time – but these boats are so gorgeous we can’t resist taking a peek. 

The Morris 34 was Best Overall Boat of the Year for 1998 at the Annapolis Boat Show so we are not alone in our admiration it seems. 

Not that many built… 
The Morris site notes the Morris Annie 29 design was built 1980~ and only 16 were built. The Linda 28 design is meant to be similar – again only 16 were built. But for Morris, these seem to be long runs. 

‘More recently… production numbers have increased quite a bit, but I doubt Morris has yet built its 300th boat. If so, that boat would have been built fairly recently.’ – Richard Reinhart, Morris Yachts post, Sailnet 

We had the Morris Annie in our sights, but I think finding one of these on the market will be more than a little tough. 

Hard to find present/past owners’ opinions online… 
Since not so many Morris boats have been made, not so many owners (or past owners) are around. Can’t seem to find too many specific comments on specific Morris boats in sailing forums (just general comments on the Morris yard and their great production standards and after service). 

Ditto can’t find an owners’ association or any sail mag reviews on the shorter Morris designs (though reviews for the Morris 45 and 52 can be seen at Cruising World online). 

But there are some useful comments online… 
So for what it’s worth, here are the highlights of the few the bits we’ve found online, focusing mostly on the Morris 34… 

Pluses 

• cockpit is set up for either tiller or wheel steering* (tiller is the way we’re planning to go – simple systems mean fewer breakdowns and also the auto-helm will be easier to attach)
• interiors can be customized* (doesn’t mean much to us who will be buying used, but may appeal to others…)
• ‘Morris Yachts is well known for building sailboats that border on floating works of art.’ – bluewaterboats.org, Morris Linda 28 page
• ‘(Morris) don’t wait until a vessel is in the new owners hands to see if there are problems. They look for problems before the vessel is delivered.’ –JHJensen, Marine Educator/Surveyor, Morris Yachts post, Sailnet 

Minuses

• ‘Asking prices on the Morris 36s seem to have been rising pretty steadily for the last 5 or so years.’ – Richard Reinhart, Morris Yachts post, Sailnet
• (Seems to be true for Morris boats in general. Not so great if you are buying; quite nice if you are selling…)

Specs for the Morris 34* 
LOA:             33’9″ 
LWL:             26’1″ 
Beam: 10’5″ 
Draft (Scheel Keel): 4’3″ 
Displacement: 11,400 lbs 
vs 
Bavaria 34, 12 yrs old: $89,804 
Contour 34, 12 yrs old: $125,000 
Hallberg Rassy 34, 12 yrs old: $182,676 

 

Sample Pricing for the Morris 34** 
Morris 34, 7 yrs old: $345,000 
vs 
Beneteau 34, 7 yrs old: $97,530 
Jeanneau 34, 7 yrs old: $108,367 
Catalina 34, 7 yrs old: $114,900 

Morris 34, 12 yrs old: $235,000 
vs 
Bavaria 34, 12 yrs old: $89,804 
Contour 34, 12 yrs old: $125,000 
Hallberg Rassy 34, 12 yrs old: $182,676 

Criteria Match 

<span lang="EN-GB" style="font

Decision 
We’d love to have a Morris and will definitely keep our eyes open for examples to take a look at during our research (more likely to be found in the US though). We’re hoping we come across a Morris Annie 29 or a Linda 28. 

However, the Morris 34 looks awfully pricey for our first boat. We’d like to make mistakes and learn on something a little more moderate when we outfit for long distance the first time.WOW, they are pricey. Though beautiful. Ouch.

Decision 
We’d love to have a Morris and will definitely keep our eyes open for examples to take a look at during our research (more likely to be found in the US though). We’re hoping we come across a Morris Annie 29 or a Linda 28. 

However, the Morris 34 looks awfully pricey for our first boat. We’d like to make mistakes and learn on something a little more moderate when we outfit for long distance the first time. 

For now, for us, the Morris 34 doesn’t make the short list. 

But we’ll keep it on the long list for future reference. We are confident there will be more than one boat in our long term future. 

Have you ever sailed or owned one of these boats? 
What do you think? Would you buy this boat (or buy it again)? 

–Captain Cat 

(transcribed by the Can Opener) 

*  Data taken from http://www.morrisyachts.com/Morris-34 
** Sample data taken from yachtworld.com

Yacht Designs

Next: Westsail 28 & 32
Previously: What about a Catamaran?

Researching Yacht Designs Takes ForEVer…

Morris Annie 29

Can Opener: You gonna help me researching the Morris Annie 29 – or what? 

Captain Cat: Budge it, oh Opposable-Thumb-Enabled One. You’re blocking my view of Jackie Chan.

Can Opener:  Fuzzball, researching yacht designs takes forEVER. Just looking up specs and prices online, trolling yacht mag articles, sailing forums and owner forums for experienced commentary… I could use a little help and moral support, buddy. 

It’s gonna cut down on the time you spend car sick in the roadster too, cuz we’ll be doing a LOT of driving once we narrow down the list and start looking at actual boats to buy.

–And eight hours of TV is enough! On our boat you won’t have one at all!

Captain Cat: Which is why I’m getting my Jackie Chan in now.

Can Opener: Good point…. Spare a spot on the sofa for your First Mate? 

Captain Cat: My sofa is as your sofa, friend.

Can Opener:  …It is my sofa.

Captain Cat:  Ah.

–transcribed by the Can Opener 
 
 

Why Yacht Surveys Save Money

Tips on Surveying Boats 
from the 2nd half of the Cruising Association lecture 

Here are our notes from the second half of the lecture with Paul Stevens on: SurveyingYachts and Small Craft at the Cruising Association last week. 

The first half of Paul’s lecture covered a serious issue he has helped to build awareness for recently: the use of brass skin fittings below the waterline in salt water-sailed yachts – and why this is a very bad idea. 

The second half of the lecture covered some general tips on surveying. In one short hour, this is what we covered… 

Keel, Rudder and Hull 

• Look for weeping, staining on the keel
• Look for ‘tide mark’ inside the bilges from keel staining
• Look at the boat in slings to see the keel ‘in tension’. Is there light visible between the hull and the keel where it joins the hull? Yikes!
• Look at the hull surface when the sun is low in the sky. This will throw the bottom into relief and show up imperfections
• Check for crazing where the skeg is attached
• Hammer tap test over hull to find voids in laminate (ie. if delamination has occurred). If you hear a change in sound as you tap, you will notice immediately. It sounds like rotten wood
• Scrape off anti-fouling to see if there is blistering – you always have to do this, no excuses
• Test the rudder – can you move it relative to its stalk? Is it loose?
• What is the propeller made of? Very often they are made of manganese bronze – this means brass! Avoid. 

  

Inside and On the Boat 

• Look for crazing at the cockpit joins, roof joins etc.
• Tap around bulkhead. If the chainplates are leaking, then the bulkheads might be rotten
• Do hatches close properly?
• Check for corrosion at stanchion bases – it’s very common to have stainless steel stanchions in an aluminum base. Different metals together accelerate corrosion
• At rigging attachment points, sealing plates should be removed, retightened and resealed once a year!
• Take a winch handle with you to check that winches move in 2 directions and are not seized
• Does boat conform to light regulations? Are all the lights working?
• Does boat conform to bilge pump regulations? Check pump is working. MCA Code of Practice tells what number and type of bilge pump is required for each size of boat. These are sensible recommendations

Engine

• Look in ‘rocker’ box. Is the oil all creamy?
• Do a dip stick check
• Check the coolant. How clean is it?

How do you know if your yacht surveyor is qualified?
You don’t. This is an unregulated industry.

How can I tip the odds in my favour when looking for a good yacht surveyor?

• Ask friends for recommendations
• Ask people at your boat club for recommendations
• Ask your cruising association for recommendations
• Don’t use the yacht surveyor the yacht broker suggests you use
• In the UK, you can check to see if they are members of the Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA) and/or British Marine Surveyors Europe (BMSE). Neither of these memberships are required and it is not a fool proof guarantee – but it is the best there is in the UK

There’s a lot more to yacht surveying than this. But this is all the time we had in Paul’s lecture. His book apparently covers much more in excruciating detail.

The Cruising Association has this to say about Paul’s Surveying Yachts and Small Craft: ‘…the book seeks to appeal to boat owners either actual or prospective… a good prior knowledge of FRP boats, their construction and equipment is assumed by the author… this book is an excellent tool.’ 

I’ve got a long list of books on surveying for the Can Opener to read this year. Another surveyor-guy might have different tips and ideas. We want to know it all.

Any problem that comes with the boat we buy becomes our problem. For a long time. Even a short time will feel like a long time if it’s a big problem. And sometimes big problems can be life-threatening.

We don’t want to be surprised by a lemon. Our lives are worth rubies.

Are there any USA (or Canada or Oz…) equivalents to the YDSA and BMSE found in Europe? 

What has your experience been with surveyors who are registered members with this/these organisation/s?

–Captain Cat 

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Cruising Lectures

Next: Stay Alive – How to Cross Shipping Lanes
Previously: The Wrong Seacocks Can Sink Your Boat

The Wrong Seacocks Can Sink Your Boat

 

Cruising Association Lecture Notes:  

The Wrong Seacocks Can Sink Your Boat 

Another great lecture at the Cruising Association earlier this week, this time on Surveying Yachts and Small Craft with Paul Stevens, yacht surveyor, lecturer and author. Paul currently teaches at the International Boat Building Training College in Lowestoft, UK. 

Did we like him? Yup. He was passionate about his topic and it’s clear he knows his stuff. He cares about getting it right and keeping people alive on yachts that are safe. 

The first half* of Paul’s lecture covered a serious issue he has helped to build awareness for recently: the use of brass skin fittings below the waterline… in salt water-sailed yachts! 

What’s wrong with that? Apparently everything. 

So What’s Wrong With Brass Fittings? 
Brass seacocks in saltwater can corrode to failure in 5 years… or less! 

Dezincification

Brass fittings in fresh water – okay. But in salt water, brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) corrodes to failure. It’s called dezincification. If there is any current in the water (as often happens in a marina) this can happen in less than a year. 

What drives this? 
Well, it costs about a quarter of the price to make a fitting out of brass...

Is this new knowledge? 
Nope. Apparently the downside of using brass in this way has been known for about 90 years or more. 

Why did this happen? 
The new (since 1998) European Community’s Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) ISO Standard 9093-1 was rewritten to require only that fittings should be corrosion resistant for 5 years. (Though who knows why they were rewritten this way??…) 

Huh? Not required to last the life of the boat, you say? 
Nope. Not under the current EU regs. 

And if they corrode through and fail beneath the waterline my whole boat will sink?? 
Uh-huh. Pretty fast too. 

Is there a disaster waiting to happen under my waterline? 
Yacht owners need to prove to themselves that their fittings are NOT brass. 

There is currently no requirement in the EU to mark on packaging what components are made of. And the packaging of valves with and without brass are nearly identical. Even many chandleries are unaware of the difference between them due to this lack of clarity. Big problem. 

How to check 
Got written documentation of what your fittings are made of? Old packages? Documentation from the manufacturer of your boat? Can you write the manufacturer and get this in writing?  If you are buying a new boat, the builder should definitely be willing to write this down… 

You can also hammer-tap test every fitting that pierces the hull below the waterline. Even if the fittings were all put in at the same time and some of those other fittings have tested okay. Fittings may have been subsequently replaced with brass. Or some brass fittings may have gotten mixed in when the boat was first built due the unclear and very similar packaging. 

Brass corrosion shows as a grey pinkish putty colour. It showed up as splodges on the outside of valves and especially in the threads of valves that Paul had to show us. Does the fitting collapse when you hammer-tap it (not a guaranteed test) or break off? Not a good sign. 

If you can’t prove to yourself that all your fittings are not brass, then be safe. Replace them all. 

Prevention is far cheaper than calamity. 

The Right Stuff: Bronze and DZR 
We should be using bronze! Or products that are clearly labelled/confirmed as dezincified resistant brass (DZR). Plastic is a possible alternative, but shouldn’t be installed around heat sources – say in or near the engine box. 

How to be sure you’re getting bronze or DZR 
If you don’t have documented proof that it’s not brass – better to be safe and replace them all. 

How do you ensure this? Here are some ways: 

• If the package states clearly that the product is bronze or DZR, then okay. If it does not mention what material it’s made of… then it’s brass.
• If the valve shows the ‘CR’ symbol on it when you turn it over, then it’s DZR. That’s good. But you can’t necessarily see this when it’s in the package.
• Another clue – bronze fittings cost 3 to 4 times more than brass ones.
• Blake seacocks now use DZR only.
• ISIS make a range of DZR ball valves.
• New Zealand make the True Plastic Range by Lee Sanitation. Also okay.
• ASAP Supplies will supply a list of what things they sell are made of.

Here’s a link to Paul’s site and articles on seacock safety and technical metals info. Here’s info on Essential Seacock Checks. 

After Paul’s talk it looked like the vast majority of attendees would be down at their boat this weekend, checking for documentation and hammer-tap testing away to ensure the integrity of their fittings and the safety of their yachts. 

Do you know what your seacocks are made of? 
Does this situation exist in the US too? 

–Captain Cat 

(transcribed by the Can Opener) 

* The second half of Paul’s lecture covered general surveying – tips on things to watch for and check before you buy a new boat (new to you) or during your yearly review of your current boat.  Lecture notes on this coming soon in my upcoming post Cruising Association Lecture Notes: Tips on Yacht Surveying. 

Cruising Lectures 
Next: Why Yacht Surveys Save Money
Previously: Going to a Lecture On: How To Survey A Boat

Going to a Lecture On: How To Survey A Boat

Not getting a good yacht survey can cost you a bundle

 We’re off (Where’s my sceptre and cape? The wiley Can Opener has hidden them!)  to a lecture tonight on how to survey a boat before you buy it. 

It’s at the Cruising Association down at Limehouse Marina. 

We’ll learn how to conduct a thorough inspection of a yacht or small craft. Or at least whatever we can learn in a two hour lecture. (Then we’ll come home and keep reading/snoozing on Don Casey’s Sailboat Maintenance Manual!)

We need to know what to look for when we are narrowing down options to the last one or two picks.

And since small boat surveying is entirely unregulated, it’s a fine idea to know about as much as about it as we possibly can and not rely totally on the surveyor we bring in for the final pre-buy inspection of the yacht-of-our-dreams. 

We might actually find the best surveyor ever. We might not. If you don’t know much about surveying yourself, it’s hard to tell.

Even if we do find the best surveyor on earth, they’re only human and could miss something. It’s our pocketbook on the line and us that will be living with any flaws that get missed. We need to know about surveying too.

I’m packing the Can Opener’s rucksack full of notebooks, highlighters, pens and smoked oysters. He’ll be taking copious notes for me at the lecture… and directing a constant stream of mollusks toward me to ensure the delicate balance of my electrolytes.

All in all he’s a good First Mate. His recent performance has been quite satisfactory. (If he just relinquishes my cape,) I’ll consider giving him a gold star. 

–Captain Cat 

(transcribed by the Can Opener) 

Cruising Lecture Notes

Next: The Wrong Seacocks Can Sink Your Boat
Previously: Cruising in Greece: Pluses, Minuses & Quirks

Capable Cruiser – Reviewed

links below at bottom of post

 

Book the Captain just finished snoozing on: Capable Cruiser

Previously snoozed on: Cost Conscious Cruiser – and loved it

Okay. I love the Pardeys, I’m a big fan. I zipped right through another book in this ‘series’ called Cost Conscious Cruiser. I slept on the cover for a mere 3 afternoon naps and the contents filtered right up into my brain, no problemo.

Their philosophy of simplicity and downsizing spoke to my furry heart. It had large sections that could be described as ‘introduction to lifestyle’ themed. So often not so tough to get through.

CapableCruiser is dense – and that’s good

Have to admit though that I pushed myself at times to get through Capable Cruiser. It’s focus leans more towards seamanship, anchoring and repairs. All of it critical info to know, but denser to absorb.

How to buy a yacht, medical issues, life at sea, getting along with crew are discussed too (these I could get through in a single night’s delightful beauty rest).

While I will probably not buy a boat with a bowsprit, absorbing Larry’s detailed descriptions of the pros and cons and how to add one to your yacht (if you decide to) is important to get through at least once. Ditto the section on tenders, steering failures and repairs at sea.

Conclusion

So I got through it and am glad I did. A good add to the sea library.

I’m handing it over to the Can Opener as required reading and I’ll probably snooze on Capable Cruiser again some time next year.

Got a good recommendation for the sea library?

What books are a must for the cruising life?

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Book Reviews
Next: Self Sufficient Sailor  
Previously: Cost Conscious Cruiser

In the US

In the UK

What about a Catamaran?

 

Why haven’t we included a catamaran in our long (or short) list? Or a trimaran?

Multihulls are increasingly popular for cruising and multihull owners are exceptionally enthusiastic. So why are they not on our radar screen?

Here is a summary of the pluses and minuses that we’ve found:

Pluses

• ‘The cats’ large, open areas for living and entertaining guests in shaded comfort and their stability in the anchorages that tend to be a bit rolly are where the cats excel.’ — Hud3, Cruisers Forum*
• ‘If you want tons of living space, can afford the greater cost, and want shallow draft, go cat.’ — Kettlewell, Cruisers Forum*
• ‘… most of them can be beached on any nice sandy shorefront for a quick stay or an over nighter ( if the tides are right).’ — ozskipper, Cruisers Forum*
• ‘In large anchorages you will see the masts of monos swinging perpetually back and forth while the masts of cats are hardly moving at all… a significant comfort difference. And since 90% of your time is spent anchored there is a considerable enjoyment factor in cats versus monos.’ — osirissail, Cruisers Forum*
• stability**

Minuses

• Cats ‘… demand a huge premium on purchase price… unless you have $200k to spend, I would suggest a mono. The cat’s you see for $100k when you show up and check them out will most likely disappoint you. You can get a very good mono in excellent shape for the same money.’ — Palarran, Cruisers Forum*
• estimated 50% higher fees when staying at marinas* — pablothesailor, Cruisers Forum*
• and higher haul out fees… *
• ‘… manoeuvering a cat, without dual engines, they aren’t as easy as a mono. If the cat has dual engines, you have great control but you have double the maintainance. ’ — ozskipper, Cruisers Forum*
• difficult to manoeuvre in general, especially when loaded for cruising**
• flipping in a storm during an ocean crossing is a veeery small risk as they are very stable – but if it happens, well… it’s hard to recover from

Conclusion

Doesn’t sound like the boat for us (though the extra area for lounging and yoga mats does sound appealing…). But we’ll look for opportunities to crew on a catamaran and check it out just in case. It’s good to cover all the bases.

Budget constraints, finding berths in crowded marinas and the long tail risk of an irrecoverable wipe out all combine to make us stick to our monohull agenda.

Have you ever owned/cruised a catamaran? Or trimaran? Would you recommend one for blue water?  

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener) 

Yacht Designs

Next: Morris Yacht Designs & Morris 34
Previously: Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31

* from Cruisers Forum discussion ‘Multi v Mono in Carribean’

** bayacht.com/goodbad.htm

Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31

Here’s a tour of the H-R Monsun 31 posted by an enthusiast on youtube.

 
Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31: Makes the short list?

We’re looking now just at the specs, pricing et al here for the Monsun only as our overriding goal is to get cruising.
 

A long forefoot cut-away keel (as opposed to a fin and skeg design) is supposed to be better suited to cruising in that – among other things – it’s a lot more resilient to running aground*. And the Monsun has the cut-away keel.

We could expect the fin and skeg with the Hallberg-Rassy 31 MkI, MkII and H-R310, on the other hand, to produce better upwind and racing performance – but this is not our goal. So. Focusing on the goal…

Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31

Specs**

LOA: 30 ft 9 in

Beam: 9 ft 5 in

Draft: 4 ft 7 in

Tanks fuel: 120 litres/32 US gallons

Tanks water: 160 litres/43 US gallons

Displacement: 4,200kg/9,250 lbs

Pricing***

32yrs – £ 19,500 ($ 31,196)

32yrs – $ 47,585 (£ 29,750 )

33yrs – $ 30,556 (£19,104)

33yrs – $ 52,038 (£ 32,533)

35yrs – £ 33,357 ($ 53,349)

37yrs – $ 28,750 (£ 17,974)

37yrs – $ 60,484 (£ 37,812)

38yrs – $ 42,554 (£ 26,603)

Hallberg-Rassy built its 904 Monsuns during 1974 – 1982.

Criteria Match

Pluses

• meets our LOA requirement
• good beam
• the highly praised hard windscreen/dodger – keeps you warm(er) and dry(er)
• holds its value
• blue water tested – several Monsuns have circumnavigated
• tiller – simpler steering system, less to go wrong
• everybody raves about them – as they do about Swedish boats in general 
• ‘Hallmarks of good design and quality work is how well these boats hold up over time… sail incredibly well.’ — 1Vagabundo, Sailnet boat reviews 
• good value, age well – and since they are so old, they are priced attractively

Minuses

• ‘As the boat was never intended as a liveaboard, the galley is small, with a single sink, space for a two-burner stove, and an icebox.
• Tankage is limited…
• The main shortcoming… is lack of headroom, about 5’10” in the main cabin…’ — ByrSac, Sailnet boat reviews

Comment

Looks like it’s going to be tough to find 60-70 gallons of water tankage originally built into any 30 footer design… but we’ll keep looking.

Decision

Do we want such an old boat? Guess it depends on each boat individually. It looks like they age well. And the pricing is attractive. 

For now, the Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31 definitely makes the short list.

Have you ever sailed (or owned) this type of boat?

What do you think? Would you buy this boat (or buy it again)?

 

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Yacht Designs

Next: What about a Catamaran? 

Previously: Hallberg-Rassy 31 Footers – Overview

 

* Capable Cruiser, by Lin and Larry Pardey

** Data taken from Hallberg-Rassy websites 

*** Data taken from yachtworld.com and theyachtmarket.com 

Hallberg-Rassy 31 Footers: Overview

Hallberg-Rassy 31:  Makes the short list?  

The yard at Hallberg-Rassy currently produces an H-R310 but has discontinued its other 31 footers: the Monsun 31, 312, 94 Kutter, 31 Mk I and 31 Mk II. All the Hallberg-Rassy 31’s were designed by Germán Frers and built at the H-R yard in Sweden*. 

The Hallberg-Rassy website says they made 904 of the (most popular) Monsun design (which is a LOT), and 2,145 of all 31 footers – but no breakdown for how many was made of each of the other models. I can’t find owner feedback in the forums on the H-R31 Mk I or Mk II, although the Mk II was produced for 16 years*. 

This famous yard is still happily in business and providing original spare parts to all its models, always a helpful factor*.

Feedback on 31 footers in the Hallberg-Rassy series

Hmm. Once again I find mostly rave reviews about this class of boat and a few piddly negatives. Pretty solid feedback. Either we are working from a can’t-lose list of recommended blue water models or all boat owners love their boats blindly, oblivious to flaws.

‘After 35 years, she is in remarkably good shape: no blistering, no deck delamination, no gelcoat crazing…’ and ‘…excellent engine and shaft access through the cockpit sole, a foredeck anchor well, H-R’s trademark windshield, raised bulwarks, and heavy duty deck hardware’ but ‘…main shortcoming, in my opinion, is lack of headroom, about 5’10” in the main cabin’. – ByrSac, Sailnet boat reviews on HR Monsun 31****

‘Biggest downside for extended cruising is mainly that you are living in a boat designed for the cruiser’s of a simpler time… you won’t find a convenient place for that big 6,000 watt generator or any place to stuff a microwave, washing machine, or whatever else electrically dependent cruisers come up with. – 1Vagabundo, Sailnet boat reviews on HR Monsun 31****

‘…spirited but secure, comfortable… impeccably built and, because of the name, sure to hold her value’. This reviewer also points out there is no chart table. Instead you get an extra hanging locker and a roomier galley. — Cruising World mini-review September 2009 on the new H-R310**

Overall

We prefer the lines of the old H-R31 Mk II so far. Just looks sleeker somehow. Handsome teak on deck and it has an extra 17 inches of beam (vs the Monsun) – we like beamy boats for a spacious feeling and just that much better storage.

I guess most buyers would rely on GPS and not really need the chart table that is absent in the H-R310. And there’s always the main saloon table to spread out on for chart work (which we plan to do regularly) that’s bigger anyway. I don’t expect there will be too many of this model on the second-hand market yet as it hasn’t been out long.

Hope to see some examples of any of the Hallberg-Rassy series boats at the Boat Show next year, if not sooner!

Next post

We’ll cover the specs, price examples by age, the pluses and minuses versus our dream boat criteria and decide if a Hallberg-Rassy 31 makes the short list in the next post (though, hey, it’s lookin’ good…) Stay tuned.

Have you ever sailed (or owned) this type of boat?

What do you think? Would you buy this boat (or buy it again)?

 

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

* Data taken from Hallberg-Rassy websites

** Data taken from Cruising World website

*** Sailnet boat reviews
  
Yacht Designs 
Next: Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31