Cruising Boat Shortlist - Which One ?

[djneedham24]

Well my search for a cruising boat ( Bahamas and carribean is the cruising area) is reaching a shortlist stage.
48 Amel Maramu ketch
43 Wauquiez aphritrite
47 moody custom(swing keel)
44 brewer cutter (swing keel)
46 Kelly Peterson cutter
44 CSY (wo)


Any plusses/minuses/experiences, things to look out for. In terms of sailing performance any good/bad performers. All advice appreciated

john

[Livia]

There is a Wauquiez users group if you want to ask questions about the Amphitrite:
wauquiez-boats : Wauquiez Boats

[SaltyMonkey]

43 Wauquiez aphritrite

[skipmac]

You call the Moody and Brewer "swing keel" boats. Is that what we call a centerboard in Florida or centreboard in some places?

All the boats on your list are very good, just different focus of design. The CSY is very roomy but arguably the lowest performance of the group. I would probably prefer the Peterson for myself.

[djneedham24]

Sorry I am from a different continent !

Does the swing keel on a larger boat actually make any difference. Can you point higher with it down. Is it not just something else to go wrong.

John

[Bergovoy]

Originally Posted by djneedham24

Sorry I am from a different continent !

Does the swing keel on a larger boat actually make any difference. Can you point higher with it down. Is it not just something else to go wrong.

John

im thinking it is mostly for shallow waters... reef areas, intercoastal waterways, etc...

[atoll]

swing keels are great if done properly,opens up many new cruising grounds,especially if the yacht can be beached,these days with so many yachts crusing,it is becoming a bit like the rat race,when you are constrained by draught.

with a shoal draft vessel you can go up rivers,into the mangroves,dry out on the beach,anchor in shallow water,visit bays where others,apart from cats fear to go.

[skipmac]

Like almost everything on a boat, a centerboard compromise, trading a benefit here for a different benefit there.

In the case of the centerboard you are trading some performance and adding some additional gear to deal with to get a more shallow draft and upwind performance better than a shallow draft boat without a centerboard.

Well constructed and inspected and maintained a centerboard I think is perfectly safe and acceptable on a cruiser.

A centerboard boat definitely points better with the board down. Theoretically you can also pick up some speed downwind since the smaller keel of a centerboard design has a lower wetted surface area than a similar keel design.