Performance boat as a family daysailer

[NaptimeAgain]

The porta potty on my center console power boat works fine. Easy to use. And no boat plumbing to deal with. If it ever gets dirty just take it out and use a garden hose. As to the other comments...

On the Andrews 28 I have a 5/6 fractional, furling jib with vertical battens, rolls up easily. I made a Sunbrella cover that goes up on a spin halyard. Full length zippers so one person hoists while someone else just holds the zipper. Has a designed break between zippers for the sheets to come out. The main is a handful if you aren't quick with the flaking and sail ties. Made a Sunbrella cover for that too. It comes down quickly with the Ronstan cars/track unless you tend the halyard. But the sails can stay rigged without UV exposure. Sunbrella tarp over the boom for shade, rigged with a tension set up with 4 trigger snaps for quick attachment to existing deck fittings.  Small Yanmar diesel with a sail drive. Agree wresting with an outboard and gas cans is a pain, did that with someone else's boat. The tiller and traveler mean the aft half of the cockpit is basically unavailable underway except for the helmsman who also tends the backstay. V berth forward, quarter birth aft to port. Small kids could sleep on the cabin settees.

But we never overnighted even on the powerboat. Just never enjoyed it.

 

[Kirwan]

Let me start with the sails.

Forget furlers, Hanked jibs rock my world, especially in the 30' range.  I thought about getting a furler, I did a lot of research but it was ultimately the rigger (who could have just sold me the furler) who talked me out of it.

With hanks, I can have the jib dropped to deck, flaked, and into a bag single handed in just about any condition.  I also have a 2/3 jib with a reef point.  I've never used the reef point in anger and frankly, rarely need the 2/3 (my #1 jib will take me up to 18/20 knots).   the 3 Battens are a 1 minute job max and can be done with the sail flaked in the turtle bag.   My 2/3 I can bag and fold in half with the battens still in.  The #1 I have to take the battens out.  It would easy to have an existing or new sail cut for smaller battens you don't need to remove. I've discussed it with my sailmaker and not bothered.

* it is setup to be sailed solo.   Everything is in reach standing with the tiller between my legs.  

*

Those statements don't fit.  

Please, tell us how to drop, remove hanks, flake and bag the jib with the tiller between your legs.  Gorilla arms and super long tiller? 

 

[kinardly]

I think he means he can drop the headsail on the foredeck using the tagline while underway, it will stay more or less flaked and under control while he docks and then he goes forward, cleans up the pleats a bit and bags it without a lot of fuss. 

 

[Kirwan]

Hanks = a trip to the bow, there's just no way around it.  Switching to that storm jib in 20+ knots single handed sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.  On re-reading his post, he does say he does it in 'any condition'. 

Meanwhile, with my roller furling jib, I can set, reef and douse the jib from the tiller. 

I'm not against hanks, but let's be reasonable about the pluses and minuses.   (same for porta-potties, for that matter)

 

[Irrational 14]

You"re pretty exposed on a 30/32 performance sailboat anyway you look at it. Whether in the cockpit or on the foredeck, risk is higher than a deep cockpit cruiser.

A non overlapping jib w/hanks and battens is cake to handle. Furlers usually complicate the boat that size and can take away sail area where it's really needed.

Limp leeches are also not great. As the boats and/or head sails get bigger, furlers start to make sense.

 

[socalrider]

I hadn't really contemplated hanks but I agree it seems to make sense with a non-overlapping fractional jib.  I like the downhaul idea, though it's one extra line to get fouled.  Growing up racing in the 80's we used to laugh at furling headsails the way we now do at in-mast furling mains, but I've come around like most - certainly appropriate for our 120% masthead genoa!  

Lots to think about here - thanks everyone.  

 

[JL92S]

I can vouch for the J88 as a great option, manageable sail area and really nice to helm, a couple of boats from the UK even had full B&G pilots installed, for day sailing i’d have a roller furling jib with vertical battens (our UK boats are all running foils) and a sensible spinnaker on a top down furler, probably the most fun you can have. If money is an issue then a 92s is relevant on all the points of the 88 but just a little heavier and not quite as fast.

 

[Alex W]

In the PNW there seem to be a number of 30 footers built in the mid 80's-90's with that idea in mind. The Martin 30, Myrrh, Davidson 29 and Kennedy 30 all seem to have that general idea in mind and would probably all do well if changed to a bowsprit A-sail type setup. 

The Martin 30 mentioned here is in the classifieds: http://sailinganarchy.com/classifieds/show-ad/?id=3843

The Davidson 29s are legendary, but there are only 2 of them and I doubt either will even make it up for public sale.  The Davidson 30 "Dangerous When Wet" was recently for sale, maybe it still is.

The Martin 30 is a cool boat worth looking into.  I used to be down the dock from it and am friends with the previous owner.  It's all setup for simple short handed sailing with non-overlapping headsails (and a big fathead main), pretty low loads, minimal strings to mess with.  No sprit, but at the asking price there is a lot of budget to add one.

 

[J88 Alchemy]

Hi,

I wholeheartedly recommend the J/88.  We are actually selling ours, but it's a great boat.  It's fast, has decent cabin space, flies downwind, and is easy to sail.  We have come in second two years in a row in a double handed race and I have singlehanded the boat.  She sails like a big Laser!  The J100 is a different animal altogether.  The 92s is similar to the 88, but the 88 is a more modern design.  We do really well against the J/111 too on corrected.  You can't go wrong with the 88!

Mark

 

[J88 Alchemy]

Builder (Ivan) still has #1 in BC Canada. #2 in SD, I have #3, and #4 is in Hampton VA. When I spoke with Ivan a few mom ago, I got the impression he has no interest in building boats anymore. I would guess you might need at least 10 confirmed orders with deposits to get things moving, whether with him or a different builder.

You are correct about Ivan's lack of interest in building the Andrews 28 again.  It's too bad because it looks like a great design.  I saw one in Vancouver 4 years ago and I was really impressed.  I told Ivan I would order one but as stated, they would need 10 orders to start production.  Too bad some of the best designs never make it.

 

[Great Red Shark]

Been Island hopping with my new to me Lumbo 32. Super happy with the simplicity and performance it offers. It's no Melges 32 but that's not what I got it for.

 When they came out, SA trolls castrated the boat in usual fashion and the FT put the nails in the coffin for any future builds.

SA trolls didn't  break that rudder.

 

[Irrational 14]

You're referring to the Carbon 32 - different design.

 

[J88 Alchemy]

The 100 doesn't perform as well as the 88.  As fast as the 88 is, it's easy to sail and even in challenging conditions, inspires confidence.  I would encourage you to take a close look at both boats, but if you really want a fun, fast, easy to sail boat, go with the 88.  Contact me if you would like to take a look at ours.  

 

[Lucky Dog]

I had the same problem.  

What I finally settled on was a shoal draft First 40.7.   Great boat for what I do some racing mostly beer drinking with the wife and friends 

its a lot of boat for the money  

 

[EastCoast]

Dangerous When Wet, the Davidson 30 in Seattle is still for sale.  You can find it in the classifieds.