New boat for solo/double for inshore, Vic-Maui, Transpac and cruising

[dreamingwet]

That rig is pretty damn tough. Small section spar with thick walls. All new standing rigging. Very adjustable and tunable on the fly.

The boat is well worth a look.

Todo-Loco @ $200k+ it is not for me, too small, not enough comfort, and even though the current owner put some money in it, there are a lot of other newer and better prepared for long crossings, including a SF3300 @ $175K.
Maybe @ $130K would be an option as a temporary boat.
If I was only sailing/racing downwind in the PNW then it might be a decent option but still a lot of $$$ for a 35' 1996 boat that was neglected and sailed hard.

 

[dreamingwet]

Hi Wet,

Just stumbled onto your thread and have had similar thoughts on what my ideal boat would be. I own a J/120 but wish it was bit lighter and could plane. Since you want to do Hawaii races, I think planing ability would be high on the priority list. A used J/121 could be cool but at that price I would probably just put the money down on a JPK 11.80 and try to make it more cruisey. Or, I would also look at a used JPK FC38. I really like the design and it is relatively light yet still comfortable. I'm not sure how they do racing (don't think they are as good as the 11.80) but it is a better cruising compromise. I think they rate pretty similar to my 120 under ORC.

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Not sure if any of the ones listed on JPK's site are still available, but they are under your max by quite a bit so you could get the boat shipped to the US and buy some new racing sails and still be ok on your budget.

Good luck and keep us posted!

T-Sailor, Do you know anything about the Sydney 43? I was looking at one in Spain that just sold before I got there for work. A couple more came into market.

 

[T sailor]

T-Sailor, Do you know anything about the Sydney 43? I was looking at one in Spain that just sold before I got there for work. A couple more came into market.

I don’t. On the surface, looks a bit much to shorthand. Probably worse than the club swan 42 you referenced. Looks like a similar design envelope as that, so I think you know what you could be getting into.
On a separate note, if you want to go bigger still, a J145 just came on the market in the East coast for $299k. I see it as a longer, slightly leaner snd faster 133. They are among one of the cooler and better looking boats J boats has ever done. If I had your budget, I would seriously consider it.

 

[dreamingwet]

I don’t. On the surface, looks a bit much to shorthand. Probably worse than the club swan 42 you referenced. Looks like a similar design envelope as that, so I think you know what you could be getting into.
On a separate note, if you want to go bigger still, a J145 just came on the market in the East coast for $299k. I see it as a longer, slightly leaner snd faster 133. They are among one of the cooler and better looking boats J boats has ever done. If I had your budget, I would seriously consider it.

I saw the J145, but I do not know much about Js and the 145 is at the higher end on my size. do you know the boat that is for sale??
FYI, My original idea was a 40-45 footer with 36 being at the absolutely minimum and 48 the max.

 

[Roleur]

J/145's rate similar to a J/125, but have a cruising interior. They won't be as quick to Hawaii, but they will crush a J/125 upwind.

Having owned a J/120 and now a J/111 that we doublehand (both), I would definitely have the J/145 on my list if I wanted to cruise or race fully crewed. At 19,000 pounds it is hardly a heavy 48 footer.

 

[dreamingwet]

J/145's rate similar to a J/125, but have a cruising interior. They won't be as quick to Hawaii, but they will crush a J/125 upwind.

Having owned a J/120 and now a J/111 that we doublehand (both), I would definitely have the J/145 on my list if I wanted to cruise or race fully crewed. At 19,000 pounds it is hardly a heavy 48 footer.

thanks! I might have to go to the east coast

 

[T sailor]

I saw the J145, but I do not know much about Js and the 145 is at the higher end on my size. do you know the boat that is for sale??
FYI, My original idea was a 40-45 footer with 36 being at the absolutely minimum and 48 the max.

I don’t know that boat personally. I remember when it last sold (around 2019 for about $225k). I have always been intrigued by them because the construction is a level above the standard J’s (vinylester resin, carbon reinforcements, exotic keel fin, etc…) so they always seemed like a better value. The scary parts are that it is a big boat with high loads so the sails snd requisite hardware is really pricey. The kites are also really big. I think it would be fine for short handed cruising. Short handed racing might be a bit more challenging given the sizes of the sails but perhaps with your priorities it may work.

Tough choices!

 

[dreamingwet]

I don’t know that boat personally. I remember when it last sold (around 2019 for about $225k). I have always been intrigued by them because the construction is a level above the standard J’s (vinylester resin, carbon reinforcements, exotic keel fin, etc…) so they always seemed like a better value. The scary parts are that it is a big boat with high loads so the sails snd requisite hardware is really pricey. The kites are also really big. I think it would be fine for short handed cruising. Short handed racing might be a bit more challenging given the sizes of the sails but perhaps with your priorities it may work.

Tough choices!

I talked to someone that raced a J-145 and discouraged me from it, too big for double handed racing and needs the crew weight.
The J-120 in CA and the and the Sydney 43 in FL look interesting.
I wander if by optimizing the keel in the J120 would make her able to plane

 

[Jono]

Sydney 43 is a good boat.
Rates well IRC an aircraft carrier amount of room as quite beamy and fast enough to get away from the 40 foot bunch.
Look up OCL2 or Occasional Coarse Language 2 and you should find a couple of Hobart class podiums.

 

[Black Jack]

This thread has gone on to 9 pages. Filling many debutantes' dance cards.

We might as well bring in some style. I know there will be an OP rejection but still...

a Spirit 46 makes sense for a distinguished gentleman who seeks some speed and style in his retirement. Nice used ones go for a bit over 250k. Perfect for a partime, northern seasonal sailor and racer/cruiser with island dreams. heard it makes 18kts downwind short handed, 21 fully crewed.

 

[F18 Sailor]

I talked to someone that raced a J-145 and discouraged me from it, too big for double handed racing and needs the crew weight.
The J-120 in CA and the and the Sydney 43 in FL look interesting.
I wander if by optimizing the keel in the J120 would make her able to plane

Modifying the keel on a J-120 to enable planning? You're joking right!? Sure, you could spend $50k+ getting a new bulb keel made and fitted that was 2' longer, modify the transom so it was 2' wider and flatter, maybe modify the bow some and put a fixed pole on her...oh wait:

Webb Institute Desperado...yes, faster than a stock J/120 and can probably plane downwind but I'm guessing with a donor Farr 40 rig, you're looking at a $100k+ yard bill and at least $30k in new sails, more like $40 or $50k.

Or you could buy Blue and go sailing...or a JPK 1180 or or or. I'm starting to like Blackjacks idea more and more.

 

[dreamingwet]

I put a down payment for a JPK1180, my search is over, and in the meantime I will find something for the wait.

 

[Roleur]

How long is the wait?

 

[psycho tiller]

I put a down payment for a JPK1180, my search is over, and in the meantime I will find something for the wait.

I am without a doubt the most biased person here but I think you made an excellent choice. Congratulations!! Glad you resisted the temptation to compromise on something else that was available now even though it wasn't exactly what you wanted. Think you'll have the time and motivation to take us all along for the ride on a "Building a JPK 1180" thread? Did you order from France or Australia?

 

[dreamingwet]

How long is the wait?

at the moment a little over a year. I also put an offer for a SF3600 and if it does not go through then I will get a SF3300 or something similar as a bridge.

 

[dreamingwet]

I am without a doubt the most biased person here but I think you made an excellent choice. Congratulations!! Glad you resisted the temptation to compromise on something else that was available now even though it wasn't exactly what you wanted. Think you'll have the time and motivation to take us all along for the ride on a "Building a JPK 1180" thread? Did you order from France or Australia?

When the time comes, in the meantime, I put an offer on a SF3600 to get me there. It was a real tough choice, because of 10+ year old design.

 

[Roleur]

I think the SF3300 would be a really fun boat for a TransPac or Pacific Cup. I have no plans to do Pac Cup again on our J/111, but I'd be pretty interested to give our SF3300 a try. The boat just loves to reach and run. Neither SF3300 nor the SF3600 are very good in the light air we have around the Salish Sea though. That said, the SF3300 is a really fun boat to sail, especially doublehanded. A lot of very clever details that make it easier and in a lot of conditions it is faster than the SF3600. The SF3300s in the UK regularly finish ahead of the SF3600s boat for boat. It's an odd design that makes a lot of sense when you are actually sailing it.

 

[Black Jack]

buying the 1180 with a fall delivery means 2 lost seasons - who has time for that? the 3300/3600 makes sense considering either will take you a full year to get it to sail to its full potential.

 

[dreamingwet]

I think the SF3300 would be a really fun boat for a TransPac or Pacific Cup. I have no plans to do Pac Cup again on our J/111, but I'd be pretty interested to give our SF3300 a try. The boat just loves to reach and run. Neither SF3300 nor the SF3600 are very good in the light air we have around the Salish Sea though. That said, the SF3300 is a really fun boat to sail, especially doublehanded. A lot of very clever details that make it easier and in a lot of conditions it is faster than the SF3600. The SF3300s in the UK regularly finish ahead of the SF3600s boat for boat. It's an odd design that makes a lot of sense when you are actually sailing it.

So there is a J111 that I am looking too, would you do the j111 instead of the 3600 as a short term?

 

[Roleur]

For racing in the Salish Sea? 100% J/111. The race results are plentiful to support that. There is a reason we went from two J/111s to seven in two years in the region. Plus resale of a J/111 in the US will be 100% easier.

If you are talking about sailing in a different area in the short term then I'd have a different answer.

Some J/111 results in the Salish Sea since 2018
Round the County - First OA, twice (2018, 2019)
Southern Straits - First OA, medium course (racing DH against fully crewed boats) (2022)
Southern Straits - Second OA, long course (ORC scoring) (2022)
PNW Offshore - First OA, (racing DH against fully crewed boats) (2021)
Van Isle 360 - First OA (ORC scoring) (2019)
Race to the Straits - First OA (2021)
Anacortes Race Week - First in division (twice), overall best boat in 2021 (2021 and 2022)

There are only a small handful of 3600s in the US, right? And their results across a range of venues are... not there. The 3600 is fun to race DH against other similar boats.