...better late than never

[Don C L]

So have you signed up in the Hans Christian Owners Association yet? You should, you don't need a boat to join. And search Hans Christian here, there are a bunch of posts about them. When that right 33 comes along, you won't need to get a survey, you'll already know more than most surveyors!

[NorthernSeaWolf]

Originally Posted by Don C L

So have you signed up in the Hans Christian Owners Association yet?

Way ahead of you

Thanks!

[JPA Cate]

A friend of ours had an HC33, it had a serious weather helm problem. It is something to check out. Also, in case you don't know, there are some people who would not consider a Taiwan built boat, period, due to vagaries in their construction, black iron tanks made inaccessible by furniture, and other indicators. Not to denigrate your desires, but to raise your consciousness: look for boats that have had fuel and water tanks replaced on PO's dollars, no plywood decks[see the sinking of the Rebel Heart], please, and so on.

Ann

[NorthernSeaWolf]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

A friend of ours had an HC33, it had a serious weather helm problem. It is something to check out. Also, in case you don't know, there are some people who would not consider a Taiwan built boat, period, due to vagaries in their construction, black iron tanks made inaccessible by furniture, and other indicators. Not to denigrate your desires, but to raise your consciousness: look for boats that have had fuel and water tanks replaced on PO's dollars, no plywood decks[see the sinking of the Rebel Heart], please, and so on.

Ann

I'm surprised to hear you say that, considering it isn't a stated issue and nobody else I've spoken with has mentioned weather helm as an issue on the HC33. It was a big issue with the 38T, but that was largely resolved in 1984 with the Telstar by increasing the lead of the mast.

As far as construction, I have done my research and I am a little particular about the year and designer of my s/v. The HC33 and HC38s I'm looking at are of Hardwood Ives design. Robert Perry was the designer of the HC36 Rebel Heart, and he openly admitted that he was new to Taiwanese boat building industry, and that he neglected to give precise enough instructions to maintain tight quality control. There seemed to be reasonable oversight on Hardwood Ives designed s/v's for the years that I am considering. As far as materials used, tanks, etc...it's going to have to be a vessel by vessel assessment.

I'd like to think I'm not going in with rose colored glasses, blind to the complications that can arise from an older Taiwanese built vessel. I would like to think that I'm a little more savvy than some new boat owners, (especially after reading so many of the posts found on CF ).

I'm also not "set" on a Hans Christian. If I stumble across a heavy displacement, well built vessel with the same appeal, of course I'll give her a second (and third, and forth) look.


Thanks Ann, I appreciate the heads up!

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by NorthernSeaWolf

...I'd like to think I'm not going in with rose colored glasses, blind to the complications that can arise from an older Taiwanese built vessel. I would like to think that I'm a little more savvy than some new boat owners, (especially after reading so many of the posts found on CF ).

I'm also not "set" on a Hans Christian. If I stumble across a heavy displacement, well built vessel with the same appeal, of course I'll give her a second (and third, and forth) look.


Thanks Ann, I appreciate the heads up!

Ann is one of the wise ones here on CF. She definitely knows what she speaks of.

As a fellow Taiwanese boat owner I agree with your aesthetic and seaworthiness choice, but would also offer caution considering some of the negatives of our boats. My Rafiki-37 is a well built, proven ocean going craft. Her lines and her teak would make your heart go pitter-patter (as she does for me), but they are not boats for everyone.

It sounds like you know what you want, which is great. But there are a lot of similar "leaky-teakies" out there: Everything from Tayanas and Rafikis, to Babas, Tashibas, Fast Passages, and of course Westsails. Lots to choose from in this category.

[Don C L]

...so we are going to be tempted to offer up some other good choices in the solid, sea-worthy, heavy and cozy category. Do you want to consider some comparison shopping? Also, I forgot, are you planning world travel or PNW cruising (or both)? I wouldn't blame you if you were homesick for B.C.! Just curious, I suppose it doesn't change the recommendations. I haven't sailed any in that category but I do have a good old friend with a Freya 39 who has cruised all over the South Pacific with it. And it still looks like new. I have no idea how he does it. Well I actually did sail a Downeast 38 a bit in my younger days, I guess that falls in that category.

[NorthernSeaWolf]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Ann is one of the wise ones here on CF. She definitely knows what she speaks of..... there are a lot of similar "leaky-teakies" out there: Everything from Tayanas and Rafikis, to Babas, Tashibas, Fast Passages, and of course Westsails. Lots to choose from in this category.

I agree; it didn't take long for me to identify Ann as a 'go to' person.
...and I do like the leaky-teakies!

Originally Posted by Don C L

...so we are going to be tempted to offer up some other good choices in the solid, sea-worthy, heavy and cozy category. Do you want to consider some comparison shopping? Also, I forgot, are you planning world travel or PNW cruising (or both)?

I am definitely up for checking out other choices, but I would probably want direction on make/model/year, as opposed to a particular boat for sale - since I'm not ready to buy 'just yet'.

Coastal and blue water cruising...which creates other dilemmas. The big heavy broad isn't so awesome on the coast, with her deep keel and need for a decent gust, but I would definitely be toodling around the PNW. I also have definite plans to explore the South Pacific, Caribbean, and Mediterranean... hence the blue water needs.

Thanks everyone!!! I'd love to check out any sailboats you think might suit my fancy. At least 33, but not too big - I need to be able to single-hand her.

[Don C L]

Well bluewaterboats.org has a bunch of good candidates with write-ups and then look at the "boats to vote for" too, because there are a lot of good ones there too. A heavy boat in light air... yes,but if you pack a big genoa, and a fresh diesel, it's all good. But some heavy boats do surprisingly well in light air strangely enough. A lot is made of draft by folks cruising the Caribbean, but really, if you draw 4 vs 6 feet over the rest of the world, does it make that much difference? If you are in 15 feet of water, watch out, no matter what boat you are in. At least where I am, there are a few places where you could be in 20 feet of water and an 18 foot tall rock could be underneath you, showing not a ripple. Not trying to scare you, just saying you don't need shoal draft to cruise coastally safely!

[NorthernSeaWolf]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Well bluewaterboats.org has a bunch of good candidates with write-ups and then look at the "boats to vote for" too, because there are a lot of good ones there too. A heavy boat in light air... yes,but if you pack a big genoa, and a fresh diesel, it's all good. But some heavy boats do surprisingly well in light air strangely enough. A lot is made of draft by folks cruising the Caribbean, but really, if you draw 4 vs 6 feet over the rest of the world, does it make that much difference? If you are in 15 feet of water, watch out, no matter what boat you are in. At least where I am, there are a few places where you could be in 20 feet of water and an 18 foot tall rock could be underneath you, showing not a ripple. Not trying to scare you, just saying you don't need shoal draft to cruise coastally safely!

I've spent a lot of time on bluewaterboats.org, but I will check it out some more. When there's a list, such at Cruising Worlds "40 GREATEST PRODUCTION MONOHULLS OF ALL TIME", I sift through one by one... which is how I started the path to my favorite leaky-teakies!

Scared of taking a big, heavy girl into coastal waters? Nope; not even a little.... more tired of hearing everyone say how unpractical it is.


Thanks Don!

[Don C L]

I didn't think much of that "40 greatest list." I think it sold magazines; everyone wanted to see if their boat was on it. And if it wasn't they all wrote in, furious. Mine wasn't on it and it certainly should have been! (In my humble opinion.) And who is saying it is unpractical to sail a heavy boat coastwise? Seems a silly thing to say to me.

[NorthernSeaWolf]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I didn't think much of that "40 greatest list." ...And who is saying it is unpractical to sail a heavy boat coastwise? Seems a silly thing to say to me.

Some of the boats made me
...and I'm sure it did sell a LOT of copies!

I have to agree - coastal sailing can be rough! It makes sense to me to be in a solid, seaworthy vessel... and like you said - I can *(hopefully) always fall back on fresh diesel!

Even with continuing to look at other boats, I'm feeling better and better about my personal favorites; largely thanks to chatting this up. Any criticism that stuck is slowly falling overboard...so thank you!