Question about Fuji 32?

[Tim]

Hi All,

Anyone here ever had a Fuji 32? If so, What was the average speed with winds under 20 kts?

Thanks and Aloha,

Tim

[Jeff H]

While I have not owned a Fuji 32, the Fuji 32 is a recycling of the Alden designed Mariner 32 design. Based on the Mariner 32 you can expect reaching speeds in the neighborhood or 4 to 5 knots in winds over 15 knots and less than 20 and reaching speeds under 4 knots under 15 knots of wind. Going up wind or down wind, the speeds will vary with the rig. Neither rig is particularly weatherly or good downwind (the cutter is a little better upwind), with the high drag hull form and lack of ballasting being the primary culprits. VMG on these boats is lousy upwind and down. I would think that your VMG upwind in winds under 20 knots would be something well below 2.5 knots.

Jeff

[irwinsailor]

There is a Fuji 45' in my area that has had wonderful care. When I walked the teak decks they were soft in a few areas and it will be very costly to repair. This made me wonder about how well the boat was built. I know that you are not asking about the 45' but somehow this may help you in you decision. I did get to sail on this wonderful boat and the owner was thinking of selling.

[CSY Man]

A friend here in town owned a Fuji 35 that I sailed on a few times.
The entire foredeck was soft from rotted out coring.

A buyer that was not from the area asked my buddy to find a surveyor...He sure did, found the "easiest" surveyor in Florida and the only recommedation on the survey was a burned out light bulb in the head..

Besides the coring problem, the boat seemed and sailed okay.

[Jeff H]

I avoided the build quality issue because that was not the question, but these boats had a reputation for a really terrible build quality that included deck and deck core, poor glasswork, poor electrical and mechanical installations, undersized knock off hardware and so on......But of course that was not the question.

Jeff

[irwinsailor]

Your right , jeff. I'm sorry tim

[Tim]

That's interesting about how well it might be build! The truth is, I haven't seen it yet. Going down to Fleet on Saturday to check it out and go for a sail, maybe.

The owner has asked me to crew on it from Japan to Hawaii. He wants to go the northern route but I'm not to sure about that. The way I understand it, we want see land before Midway Island. Doesn't sound like the best or the safest idea too me.

Any imput?

Tim

[delmarrey]

What time of the year do you plan to make the tirp. The North pacific is not a fun place to be, from Oct. to May.

[Tim]

The travel time is June & July. I was out on the boat yesterday, I want be going as the owners son has desided to go and that puts me out. But that's ok, as I said, I was out on the boat and I'm not sure how safe it would be anyway.

Thanks to all that respounded to the post.

Tim

[W. Potter]

All, just to finish out the log on this thread....

Made the Yokohama to Honolulu run just fine. Route was North Pacific -- no surprises; cold, wet and rough, just as expected.

Reg. earlier posts -- yes, cored decks an issue on some Fuji's...as with any other cored deck, have to watch how/where you drill and prep. Later model Fuji's pulled the cored option...

Upwind work -- yes, did a lot. What really moved us along was an inner forestay w/jib...

As far as electrical and mechanical -- yes, per original design and Japanese standards, very basic. Other Fuji owners (32, 35, 40 and 45s) have mostly replaced and updated.

Anyhow, LILINOE completed 4111 miles in 40 days, finishing her 25th trans-pacific run...I think I'll keep her for a while longer and play in Paradise for a while!

W. Potter
SV LILINOE
Pearl Harbor, HI

[GordMay]

CONGRATULATIONS on your safe passage to Hawaii.