Which Would You Prefer ?

[Jacknast]

The Sailing I am looking at doing would be coastal cruising FL, carribean, and crossing the atlantic

Which vessel do you think would be a better live aboard, passage making cruiser?

Seidelmann 37 or an Irwin 37. I have an opportunity to purchase either or neither.

Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom and knowledge.

Jacknast

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Jacknast

The Sailing I am looking at doing would be coastal cruising FL, carribean, and crossing the atlantic

Which vessel do you think would be a better live aboard, passage making cruiser?

Seidelmann 37 or an Irwin 37. I have an opportunity to purchase either or neither.

Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom and knowledge.

Jacknast

I would not cross the ocean in an Irwin (here come some Hunter-iike comments, watch out) -- BECAUSE Irwin never intended to make a "well-built" boat. He intended to make a very tender, fast boat.

Now I'll grant you my Irwin was only 25' long, but it was EXTREMELY tender even for its size (for instance, only 8' wide). I don't know anyone who hasn't had trouble with the centerboard -- big trouble. But one of the big issues unless you get a BIG Irwin is storage. he intended it to be a racing cruiser, with emphasis on racing -- so what would you want with storage???

I would really go over an Irwin with a fine-toothed comb before buying them. Check VERY carefully for signs of leaking.

I'm not familiar with Seidelmans personally but it's been my impression that they're not very fast. They're two very different boats and you're really comparing apples and oranges there ... IMO.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Jacknast

Which vessel do you think would be a better live aboard, passage making cruiser?

The one that you ind yourself attracted to the most. Other than that get the one that best fits what you will do the most; liveaboard or passage making!

[Dhillen]

Buying a boat like a Siedelmann that isn't well known and they don't seem to have made many, means getting rid of it in the future will be difficult. Irwin is a much better known brand but they are mostly 1970s boats. For roughly the same price range you might want to look at other, possibly better built boats, for an ocean crossing, such as the Cape Dory line.

A coastal cruiser shouldn't be taken offshore but an offshore boat can always be a coastal cruiser.

Cheers.

Dhillen

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Dhillen

Buying a boat like a Siedelmann that isn't well known and they don't seem to have made many, means getting rid of it in the future will be difficult. Irwin is a much better known brand but they are mostly 1970s boats. For roughly the same price range you might want to look at other, possibly better built boats, for an ocean crossing, such as the Cape Dory line.

A coastal cruiser shouldn't be taken offshore but an offshore boat can always be a coastal cruiser.

Cheers.

Dhillen

Exactly. There are a LOT of boats out there, and if you're going to cross the Atlantic in it, it does not make sense to rush into the choice of boat.

[boatman61]

If the Irwin is the same size or maybe a 30' with similar keel Go For The Irwin...
Here's a sweet looking 33... http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/core/lis...ng_id=1420&url=

[psk125]

Your "to-do" list sounds like you're planning to go to the hardware store a couple of times and then head from Stuart FL to Burlington VT on back roads in February. The convertible sports car that would suit for the first part would not work well in places you'd need a jeep with a bumper-mounted wire winch. As already noted above, Irwins do not have jeep-like reputations. Seidelmans may not either. Find out more before you decide to spend anything.

[Jacknast]

Interesting, thank you all for your comments. I think I'll pass on these two and continue looking.

Anyone have suggestions on a good model for an offshore vessel in the 33-38 range?

[S/V Alchemy]

Niagara 35.

Gib'Sea 33 or 362.

Hughes 38.

There's loads of options. Be aware that the shorter the WL, the longer (generally) the voyage, which can create issues when it comes to tankage and provisions and fuel. Six weeks to cross the Atlantic in the favoured months, like June, is not unheard of.

[psk125]

Transatlantic took us 22 days on an Ohlson 38. Stores loaded us down about 6" on our lines when we left CT for Ireland. Space on board was tight, but sufficient. We rigged buckets to catch rainwater to extend our supplies, and carried jerrycans of extra fuel in the cockpit.

[zeehag]

i would sail a seidelmann again before i would sail an irwin again.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by zeehag

i would sail a seidelmann again before i would sail an irwin again.

Never sailed either.... but I'll bet either could come to Europe...
A Hunter did it....

[zeehag]

they may make it to europe but no one is gonna be happy in any sense. and markj sailed a bendytoy around the world.......

who'd-a thunk it........

[s/v Breakaway]

Suggestion - I've heard Tayana 37's are one of the most frequently circumnavigated boats in the world.

[sabray]

Very unclear what you want. Makes me think you are dreaming. Not bad just very different boats to meet the needs. Figure out what you are about. Then look at designs that meet those needs. After that put your budget into the mix. Otherwise your ass over tea kettle trying to make your budget fit any boat that meets any dream.