Windboats 41

[outrigger]

Yes its a ferro boat but it seens to have a good hull. I have been looking for a liveaboard that i will be comfortable in. In a few years I want to sail away and have some time to myself. Here is the information I have so far. I would like to get some thoughts on it from the experienced. i have sailed a 30 ft but found it lacking in space for a long term place to live and to carry enough supplies for up to 6 months.
She was last hauled out 3 years ago and has been sitting in a marina with a family living on it since then. She does need new sails and a fresh haul out. I am going to look at her in about 2 weeks when I get in from offshore. What do you think pros? cons?
41' Windboats Endurance Ketch
Built in 1981
Hull Material: Ferro-Cement
Engine/Fuel Type: Single Diesel
Boat ID: 59430-1972422

Built in the finest tradition of the
United Kingdom! Includes New 10' RIB Dinghy w/ New Mercury Outboard
Windboats 41’ Endurance was built in Norwich, England. Born
from a long standing tradition of sturdy seagoing boats. She is an unstayed
Junk Rig Ketch and her distinctive design attracts attention and admiration
wherever she sails. With the master stateroom aft she can accommodate eight in
comfort in three cabins. Her fit and finish are reflective British seagoing
vessels. A distinctive boat well worth a close look and priced right
Cruising or liveaboard, she provides comfortable accommodations.

BUILDER/DESIGNER
Builder: Windboats

DIMENSIONS
LOA: 41'
Beam: 12’8"
Displacement: 26.25 tons
Draft: 6’6”

ENGINES
Engine(s): Perkins
Engine Model: 4-236
Engine(s) Hours: 30
Engine HP: 80

TANKAGE
Fuel: 150
Water: 180
Holding: 30

Accommodations
Three cabins with master cabin aft with head and shower and double
berth. Main salon has 7 ft. headroom with dinette, galley and settees.


Galley

* Refrigerator and
deepfreeze
* Double sink with
water filter system
* Force 10 Mariner
three burner stove
with oven
* Water heater with
pressurized system
and manual pump as
well


Salon / Dinette

Deck

* Three anchors: 1
Danforth, 1 Bruce,
1 CQR
* Bow pulpit and
rails
* Bridge curtains
* USCG Safety Package
* Fenders and lines
* Life Jackets
* Manual dingy davits
* Single search light
* Electric windlass
* Spreader lights and
all navigation
lights
* Deck is fiberglass
and wood
* New 2008 RIB
inflatable dinghy &
new 2008 Mercury
6hp 4-stroke
outboard.


Sails and Rigging

* Cruise equipped
with fully battened
Dacron sails
* Unstayed free
standing mast
* Junk Rigged 800 sq
ft sail area
* 2 winches, one
self-tailing


Electrical

* 8 12-volt batteries
* 10 amp automatic
battery charger
* 30 amp shore power
with 110-volt AC
power
* 2 60 watt solar
panels with
regulator


Electronics & Navigation Systems

* Navico wheelpilot
* WP 4000 Autopilot
* Garmin 152 GPS
* 2 compasses
* Horizon/Eclipse VHF
* Rudder Angle
indicator
* Humminbird Depth
Sounder


Mechanical Equipment

* Karry On air
conditioning
* 2 bilge pumps, one
automatic, one
manual
* Engine controls in
cockpit and cabin
* Manual fire
extinguishers
* Perkins 4-236 with
30 hours since
March 08 overhaul
* Fresh water cooling
with dual fuel
filters
* Borg Warner velvet
drive transmission
* Manual pump oil
storage and
transfer system
* Marine head with
holding tank
* Raw water sea
strainer

[S/V_Surya]

Looks like a nice boat. Research ferro cement boats so you understand all that it entails to own one. Get a survey with an appraised value. There are many naysayers of cement boats and I personally would not get one but you are not really paying much for what looks like a nicely furnished boat.

[Sailndive345]

....couldn"t agree more with previous suggestions about survey, others feedback, etc.

You may also think about where you are likely to sail: 6'6" draft is considerably deep - with a heavy boat like that, running aground may be a serious concern.

Fair winds!

Sailndive

[outrigger]

Pictures are 3 years old

The draft is a bit much but she should have a more stable ride in open water. Those of you have cruised the Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico would that much draft be a big problem.

[FSMike]

We used to cruise the Bahamas with 5&1/2' of draft. I would not to care to do it with 6&1/2'. Our current boat draws 3&1/2' -- much better.

One thing to consider - ferrocement boats are usually available "priced right" as you said. Unfortunately this also means you aren't likely to sell it for much when the time comes.

There are some well made ferro vessels out there, but it's difficult to pick them out from the not so well made ones.

last but not least - a heavy full keel junk rigged boat is not exactly going to be a light air rocketship. If you decide to go with this boat make sure the diesel is in good condition.

[outrigger]

The average full keel boat is 4 to 6 is it not?
From the research I have done a properly, factory made ferro boat will hold up better than fiberglass in the long run. I read as many posts I could find on line and it would seem all the bad press on ferro is from all the home built mistakes. Their are many overseas that were done right and are still great boats at 50 and 60 years old.
I am a litte concerned on the draft. Must find a good anchorage when island hopping.

[clockwork orange]

Its 28yrs old,if its still in decent shape chances are its as good as any other 28yr old boat out there regardless of material,Windboats had a good reputation in the day,if you buy it cheap enough and sell it cheap its the same as paying more for a comparable boat in another material just so you can get more for it when you sell except you dont need to tie up as much up front,i love things that dont hold their value as long as im not the one buying it new.
Steve.

[JimC]

I've never owned a ferrocement boat myself but I know that well-built ones can give complete satisfaction and apparently last forever. Windboats of Wroxham was a British yard who specialised in ferrocement over quite a long period of years and I would think they had the techniques as well perfected as anyone. An acquaintance of mine has one of their smaller designs from the same era and is well pleased with it. Resale prices do tend to be lower than for other materials though.

[scook1]

The pictures look alright, it seems that you are already considering the draft issue. Since it draws 6 and 1/2 and you have the ketch rigging, I imagine it will have a very smooth motion. The age is a little concerning, but you get what you pay for. Interior looks like it has been taken care of, I would have expect then that the owners did not trash the boat. With islands in mind, it could be great, but moving from a 30 footer to a 41 foot ketch is no simple task. Let us know what you decide,
Spencer

[outrigger]

I was told it is 54000 lbs that sounds way heavy. Has 800 square ft of sail and that does not sound like much. Should I just pass this one up?

[roverhi]

I would be concerned about the sailing abilities of the boat, not the hull material. Junk rigs just don't spread much sail and have a lot of chafe issues with the multitude of battens. If you don't mind motoring most of the time, it's okay. Just read a comment by a guy who had a junk rigged Colvin that he'd built himself. after a number of years, couldn't handle the poor sailing ability and way too much motor time. He scrapped the junk rig and went with a gaff conventional rig. Said it was like night and day with the improved sailing ability. Went from a boat that he could occasionally sail to a full time sailboat.

Ferro is a problem to sell. Get it at a very good price because you'll have sell her against all the negatives perceived about sidewalk boats.

[Joli]

26 tons for a 41 footer is EXTREMELY heavy.

[Boracay]

It may be a good idea to check the weight. It's possible a number was plucked out of thin air a long time ago and it just stuck. The waterline looks about right...

Waterlines have a habit of creeping up, and keel bottoms down so if you can check the exact draft it could be a good idea.

If you're going over the boat do check for vertical cracks in the hull where the frames should be, and overall for any cracking.

Also check that the interior ferro under and around the engine and diesel tanks has been coated with tar epoxy or similar to prevent diesel or oil from permeating the cement.

Finding a surveyor experienced in ferro may not be easy.

I did find a reference that suggests that the weight may be less, but my french is not that good.

[simonEdwards]

Hi...just saw your discussion about the Endurance 40. I just bought a cutter rig e 40 built by Windboats in 1984. I had her weight checked on the last haul a couple of months ago. The lift was new and the guages were just calibrated so we were pretty confident of the reading. She weighed in at 29,700lbs not exactly a lightweight for sure but certainly not massively overweight. These figures match the info I have researched.
FYI they are a great value for money. If you get back what you paid or a little more or less that is great. I bought mine in the US where the prejudice is extreme. The price reflected that prejudice and I walked away with a BARGAIN at $ 7,500!!!
So I would be very interested if you bought her or not.
Simon

[barnakiel]

Looks heavy and may be - judging from the amount of horse power in place.

Last time I sailed a 46' with a 100hp engine we flew at 7 knots beating into 35 knots of wind and some pretty nasty chop. So here either someone had just this engine to use or the weight is as quoted.

b.