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UNCIVILIZED · 09-01-2017, 01:31

Polux, NICE boats you've posted. As always. Time for me to permanently seduce an owner's daughter, if for naught else than always having a sweet boat to call my own

jonbuilder · 12-01-2017, 05:38

I grew up sailing a 30' flush deck wood one design class Bird boat designed to be sail and raced on the San Francisco Bay. There were 24 boats built during the 30s. The 1960s weekend race fleet was active with up to 16 boats stating. I did not find a picture of the boat but here is a link to an article of two Birds still active and a link to the boat specs. Most the boats were named after birds our boat was named Snowbird. I remember Robin reference in the article was always a top finisher.
SailBlast: BAY’S OLDEST BOATS FACE OFF FOR BAY’S OLDEST TROPHY
SailBlast: BAY’S OLDEST BOATS FACE OFF FOR BAY’S OLDEST TROPHY
I have a painting of a Bird with the San Francisco skyline in the background hanging in my office. The waterfront looks to by 1950.

jonbuilder · 12-01-2017, 05:40

Here is the link to the Bird boat specs BIRD (SF BAY) sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com

antoha · 12-01-2017, 06:37

and three more LeComte boats (two are variants of the same - much like Medalist 33 and ALC 35, if you like):
Fastnet 45 (Luders)
FASTNET 45 (LE COMPTE ) sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com
and
ALC 46 (Luders)
ALC 46 (LE COMTE) sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com
ALC 40 (S&S)
ALC 40 (LE COMTE) sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com

there's a Fastnet 45 now for sale on yachtworld, there were a few more in the states last year (not sure if they sold or taken off the market).
1972 LeComte Fastnet 45 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com
and an ALC 40
1974 Le Comte ALC 40 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

sapient sue · 12-01-2017, 16:49

Steady Hand

Thanks you for such a wonderful thread. When we looked for a boat (hubby being a naval architect had very specific criteria. The first being a flush deck, fibreglass and proven sailing characteristics for blue water cruising. Polux who believes smaller flush deck boats are not worth building - I have to strongly disagree and here is why.

Yaraandoo II is a Naut Forty (hence 40 Ft) designed by Joe Adams (for the charter Market) and built by Naut Yachts in Mona Vale, north Sydney in Australia.

She did a world circumnavigation with her previous owner who, purchased the completed Hull and Deck and then kitted her out with solid teak below decks.

We have proudly owned her for 20 years and have added nearly 90,000 nms around the Pacific. We are constantly upgrading, new engine, new sails, new instruments, new galley, new upholstery, ducted heating etc and added clears around the cockpit before we sailed to Alaska. The latest addition being flexible solar panels on the bimini so we can keep the batteries topped up and leave the boat for longer exploration forays ashore.

We could not afford the wonderful hulls Polux posted. Our 40 footer is easily handled and is comfortable to sail. We just completed a trip from Eden to Tasmania across Bass Strait (before the Sydney to Hobart Boats) and did 183 nms the first day and 187 nms the second. We had 2 reefs in the main and a stay sail and had no water on deck until be took the wind on the nose for the last 20 miles and although we were covered in salt spray and green water we did not get wet. We love our flushed deck home. Cheers Sue

Polux · 12-01-2017, 17:50

Sue, that is a very nice sailing boat as well as those LeComte posted above. I have the utmost respect by Joe Adams that was a NA well above his time. If we had lived in Europe I am quite sure is work would be much better known.

Regarding LeComte they are all great designs and very modern for their time and since they were designed by several NA the LeCompte was the motor of that modernity that he demanded to the NA he worked with.

When I said that flush decks are not a good idea for smaller yachts I was referring to the standing height that today is big in almost all boats.

Some old boats sacrificed that extra standing weight for a more beautiful boat and less windage. Not today, I would say, the owners want lots of space so much sometimes that i cannot understand why boats have such a "standing weight" that you cannot reach hatches to open them.

Anyway, 40ft is not that small, specially on old designs that were heavier or less beamy and had a lot more rocker with less "flat" hulls. That allowed to gain some extra height.

robert sailor · 13-01-2017, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by sapient sue

Steady Hand

Thanks you for such a wonderful thread. When we looked for a boat (hubby being a naval architect had very specific criteria. The first being a flush deck, fibreglass and proven sailing characteristics for blue water cruising. Polux who believes smaller flush deck boats are not worth building - I have to strongly disagree and here is why.

Yaraandoo II is a Naut Forty (hence 40 Ft) designed by Joe Adams (for the charter Market) and built by Naut Yachts in Mona Vale, north Sydney in Australia.

She did a world circumnavigation with her previous owner who, purchased the completed Hull and Deck and then kitted her out with solid teak below decks.

We have proudly owned her for 20 years and have added nearly 90,000 nms around the Pacific. We are constantly upgrading, new engine, new sails, new instruments, new galley, new upholstery, ducted heating etc and added clears around the cockpit before we sailed to Alaska. The latest addition being flexible solar panels on the bimini so we can keep the batteries topped up and leave the boat for longer exploration forays ashore.

We could not afford the wonderful hulls Polux posted. Our 40 footer is easily handled and is comfortable to sail. We just completed a trip from Eden to Tasmania across Bass Strait (before the Sydney to Hobart Boats) and did 183 nms the first day and 187 nms the second. We had 2 reefs in the main and a stay sail and had no water on deck until be took the wind on the nose for the last 20 miles and although we were covered in salt spray and green water we did not get wet. We love our flushed deck home. Cheers Sue

That's a no nonsense offshore boat, I really like it. Many years ago I sailed offshore in a Tartan 44 flush deck and it was a good boat as well. Flush decks make for very strong construction compared to raised coach roof. The decks are great to work on as well compared to some of the stylish curves you see on some boats today. Your really kicking butt doing 180 plus mile days, hats off to you guys. Excellent boat in the tropics, cooler without the large side windows. Great pictures by the way!

capitangiorg · 14-01-2017, 13:34

Steady Hands,

Thank for this thread. I love FD boats, they just look so nice to my eyes.
I got 3 boats in my life, 2 of them could fit in the FD category by your standard, at least it seems so to me!
My previous boat was a Swan 65 designed by S&S. The deck layout is very nice and practical. It has a lot of space to work and to sunbath but at the same time it is not too "flush" to make it difficult to move on deck when beating.

My actual boat is an Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein design. It is a very nice a comfortable cruising boat. We are quite new of this boat, but we are very happy.

Sorry. the images are mixed and i don't know how to put them in the right order.

Andrea

evm1024 · 15-01-2017, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by capitangiorg

Steady Hands,

Snip

My previous boat was a Swan 65 designed by S&S. The deck layout is very nice and practical. It has a lot of space to work and to sunbath but at the same time it is not too "flush" to make it difficult to move on deck when beating.

Snip!

Andrea

Hi,

I've always lusted after a Swan 65 or more currently a Swan 68. What caused you to give up your Swan? What was her name? (If you don't mind.)

capitangiorg · 16-01-2017, 04:02

Evm, we sailed and lived on Creuza de ma for more than 7 years, chartering her in the carribbean in the winter and in the med in the summer. When we got a daughter we sold her. It is still painful to think about her! We had no other option, we couldn't afford the boat without chartering her all year long, and it was a far too hectic life for a managing a baby!
Last year we got the HR to liveaboard and sail with guest but at our own pace!

You can find more picture in our website

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