We like the southerly 115. Do you know of any other shallow water, twin helm sailboats in the 35-40 feet range?
Ovni and Garcia (both superior to a Southerly IMO), which are both aluminumhull boats but not twin helm. Just curious, why twin helm on a boat that size?
Thanks Doodles. Twin Helms? Because they were on the
southerly and suggested the idea of sailing in the sun outdoors or sailing in rough weather indoors. The indoor helm might give a better view for canals. The idea of sailing from the lounge was appealing. So often sailing has meant me at the aft helming and my partner inside doing food and house. The indoor helm at the navigation table seems much more couple friendly. it is by no means essential, however.
Thanks Doodles. Twin Helms? Because they were on the
southerly and suggested the idea of sailing in the sun outdoors or sailing in rough weather indoors. The indoor helm might give a better view for canals. The idea of sailing from the lounge was appealing. So often sailing has meant me at the aft helming and my partner inside doing food and house. The indoor helm at the navigation table seems much more couple friendly. it is by no means essential, however.
O.K., I was thinking you meant side by side helms like some of the newer boats, which I understand from a racing standpoint but not cruising. I can see the advantages of the inside/outside setup.
Location: SF Bay Area; Former Annapolis and MA Liveaboard.
Boat: Looking and saving for my next...mid-atlantic coast
Posts: 6,197
There are plenty of twin helms out there. The sticker is the shallow draft, which is difficult to find. Of course, if you were creative, you could put another helm inside a shallow draft sailboat of your choice.
Yes, the twin helms are a racing affectation, but in a boat like the Southerly 42 they increase the amount of usable cockpit space, since each wheel is smaller.
I like the Southerlys. There is real weight in the swing keel, which makes the boat stiffer, point better and improves the righting moment. The Alubat is just a centerboarder, not a swing keel.
Perhaps I might look at sail by wire (or wireless] control inside. The most recent southerlies don't have a traditional wheel inside. It might miss the point of going sailing and it still needs to be a decksaloon so that you can see where you're going.
Can somebody illustrate to me what the lifting keel is? I know swing keel, wing keel, spade, etc. But only today am I hearing of lifting keel and in a bunch of places.
The term Swing Keel is just a trademark name for Southerly own unique type of lifting keel. It swings up just like the Ovni, Garcia and Dujardin boats, as opposed to a daggerboard that drops straight down. All are considered "centerboards", it's just a matter of how the board goes up and down.