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Old 21-06-2019, 09:48   #46
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

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Originally Posted by Dolphins View Post
Hi Arthur and all,

I am the owner of my second Hans Christian 33. I am in love with the boats. I believe they are the most intelligently designed boats for living aboard, and I trust my life with them in any weather condition in any sea.

I have spent all my life sailing on most waters in the western/northern hemisphere. I am a licensed 100-ton captain, and my summer job is to drive traditional gaff-rigged sailboats for passengers. I have crewed aboard or sailed everything from Maine's windjammers to Beneteaus and Island Packets and Gib'Sea and Bristol Channel Cutter, just to name a few. (All that just to offer some credentials for my opinion on my beloved HC33's.)

I bought an HC33 named Dolphins and quickly experienced the brilliance of the naval architect who designed her. I could sail her with full sails (full main, 90-jib and staysail) in 25-30 knots of wind on Lake Champlain, on a close haul, and her center of gravity is so well balanced with her center of effort that she will sail herself without my hand on the wheel.

In 2011, I set out on a voyage across the Atlantic. We got into several low-pressure systems, and besides being comfortable due to her weight and balance, I felt absolutely bullet-proof safe in her. From the Azores to Portugal, for eight days we were in 25 to 35 knots of wind, and while any boat in such conditions is not a Sunday picnic, we were cooking full pots of goulash on her gimballed stove.

As for the pullman berth, I LOVE it, especially in those conditions. Why are we still designing boats with the main sleeping quarters in the bounciest part of the boat? The pullman berth, being close to the center of gravity, provides a quieter sleep. Plus, no playing footsies with your partner unless you want to. Also: why would you want to crawl across your fresh, pristine berth to access your muddy anchor chain locker?

Alas, she burned shortly after arriving in the Med. (An alternator or starter wire worked its nut lose, and the continuous sparking dripped melting wire onto her fiberglass oil catch pan, and the fire ran away from there.)

Afterwards, I looked at hundreds of boats online. I visited dozens. None of them offered what the HC33 offers. Not even the other Hans Christians did. In fact, I read several reviews by owners of 33's who (suffering from three-foot-itis) moved up to 38's and they reported that they could not fit everything from their 33 onto their 38. The super smart interior design allows for more storage than any other boat of her size (and even those larger.)

For a liveaboard, there simply is no better or safer boat.

No other 33-foot boat has (she is 33 on deck) all these amenities packed into one:
- Shower separate from head. (No getting your toilet paper and everything else wet while you shower)
- Pullman berth with queen-size mattress
- Quaterberth with double mattress
- Semi-U-shaped galley
- Fixed sea-water and fresh water faucets
- Standing salon table. (Due to the old fashioned idea of running the aisle down the middle, most tables have to be folded and unfolded.)
- A salon in which I have entertained 8 comfortably. (12 on a squeeze)
- A top AND side access icebox.
- A motor that is at sole level and accessible from all sides.
- Built in, ELEGANT, (teak and copper mesh) bug screens for both hatches and companionway.
- Hidden handrails lining the cabin for rough weather. (They line the sides to look like trim.)
- A nav desk. (Perhaps the only item which I sometimes wish were bigger, but I've gotten used to doing all my work on the salon table.)


- As for up on deck:
- The high bulwarks provide for unparalleled safety while at sea.
- I appreciate that the teak on deck is cosmetic only. I don't have to keep up with the failing caulking if I don't want to. No owner I know of has ever reported the from-the-bottom-up fastening of the teak to leak.
- Oversized standing rigging to handle any condition.
- And I disagree on prior comment on battery access. I always joke that I can hide 3 or 4 refugees in my cockpit lazerette. I love my roomy lazerette.
- A foredeck large enough to stow my 10-foot Avon for passages.
- A anchor chain locker that will handle enough chain to encase the Statue of Liberty.
- Also: TWO water tanks for a total of 80 gal. and a cruising fuel tank size of 80 gal. AND: I love that they are buried in the keel, adding all that weight to below the waterline giving additional stability to the ship.

I could go on. And gladly will if anyone wants to send me an email at mr.dubilieratgmaildotcom.

In the end, I bought another Hans Christian 33. Her name is Phoenix (for obvious reasons.) I love her.

On both Dolphins and Phoenix, the teak is untreated and grey. And she still turns heads wherever we are. I have varnished details, like the boomgallows and hatches, and a few other details.

-Mathias


Mathias,
That Sir is a fantastic review. Great detail. It would appear the pendulum swings back towards the HC33.
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Old 21-06-2019, 09:53   #47
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

I have friends who own a HC 33 and a HC 38, I have owned a HC 34 for many years. They are a beautiful, well founded and heavily built boat, dry and comfortable in heavy weather and sail well. They are not fast. If you are lazy as stated, don't buy one. A lot of wood means a lot of wood work. Now, what have I done to my boat to make it better? I removed the teak deck and replaced it with a glass non-skid. I put a lazerette behind the wheel. I rebuilt the chaiplates and moved them outboard on bridges and moved the stanchions from the deck to the top of the gunnels. I also had a new traveler built and placed it forward of the cockpit. Sure I could have simply bought a lighter weight, newer boat that may or may not be as sea kindly or as solidly built, but I like my boat and to the gentleman that said you couldn't take the 33 anywhere, it can safely go anyplace on this blue planet. Just my take on the Hans Christian.
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Old 21-06-2019, 10:02   #48
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

I have friends who own a HC 33 and a HC 38, I have owned a HC 34 for many years. They are a beautiful, well founded and heavily boat, dry and comfortable in heavy weather and sail well. They are not fast. If you are lazy as stated, don't buy one. A lot of wood means a lot of wood work. Now, what have I done to my boat to make it better? I removed the teak deck and replaced it with a glass non-skid. I put a lazerette behind the wheel. I rebuilt the chaiplates and moved them outboard on bridges and moved the stanchions from the deck to the top of the gunnels. I also had a nw traveler built and placed it forward of the cockpit. Sure I could have simply bought a lighter weight, newer boat that may or may not be as sea kindly or as solidly built, but i like my boat and to the gentleman that said you couldn't take the 33 anywhere, it can safely go anyplace on this bike planet. Just my take on the Hans Christian.
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Old 21-06-2019, 10:35   #49
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

Why not?... The boat you choose is as much the boat that chooses you. If its love at first sight then it is the right one.... All boats are work and all sailing is skill and time in the saddle. I almost bought a Tayana 37 in cherry condition, but took one look at my F46 and was smitten.... 14 years and a full refit with teak deck removal, I am still in love.
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Old 21-06-2019, 10:55   #50
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

Had my heart set on getting one when I first went boat shopping. So glad I didn't. Boat upkeep and maintanence is a full time job even on my all glass Amel with almost no bright work. All all the exterior wood on the Hans Christian and I doubt I'd ever go sailing! They are beautiful to look at, and if you are seriously considering purchasing one, make sure you will love to spend your time (or pay someone) to do the exterior woodwork.
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Old 21-06-2019, 11:15   #51
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

[QUOTE=Dolphins;2913590]Hi Arthur and all,

I am the owner of my second Hans Christian 33. I am in love with the boats. I believe they are the most intelligently designed boats for living aboard, and I trust my life with them in any weather condition in any sea.


Wow! Thanks so much for that Mathias. You've stated my feelings and observations exactly. This will be my fifth boat, and I'm happy to finally figure out exactly what I need. If I want to get somewhere fast I'll take a plane. It would be nice to find one w/o a teak deck, but those seem to be few and far between. So what the hell...
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Old 21-06-2019, 16:37   #52
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

Easy question for us to answer. We have owned hull #60, 1984 HC 33T for 25 years, 16 years as livaboards, cruised from the US East Coast to Venezuela, Bermuda, Windwards, etc., across the Atlantic to above the Arctic Circle, UK, Spain, France, etc.

So, we prefer pretty boats that can cross an ocean safely. Pretty boats require maintenance. If you don’t like maintenance of a boat, a condo is a safe alternative.
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Old 21-06-2019, 17:29   #53
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

"So, we prefer pretty boats that can cross an ocean safely. Pretty boats require maintenance. "

Cross out the word pretty and it makes sense. I often wished while owning my Hans that they offered a more common sense design without so much teak, no teak decks, no teak deck boxes built with cheap non marine plywood under the teak strips, Aluminum hatches that weren't so heavy thick teak. etc. What a boat that would be!

Not to mention things like a 125# solid bronze traveler and traveler support system. At 7 ft above the CG that alone requires 875# of ballast (and weight) to counteract the heeling lever arm. Change those hatches, traveler, deck boxes and 1.25 thick pulpits over to something reasonable also and I have no doubt you could take 1500 lbs of ballast and weight out of the boat! Then you would have a truly amazing boat.
Those teak decks probably weigh in at .. 200Lb? 5 ft above CG? There's another 1000 lbs of ballast you can remove.
All of a sudden you have removed 2500# or more from the boat.
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Old 21-06-2019, 17:48   #54
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

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Originally Posted by Arthurwg View Post
I want an HC33. Love the looks, long waterline, short overhangs, heavy displacement and Pullman birth. Also like the shower stall and the head forward. I hate V-births. But I also hate all that exterior wood trim and teak decks. I'm lazy and don't want a maintenance nightmare or waterlogged decks. They can also get rot in the bow sprit and the Samson posts , and I would much prefer external chainplates. Yes, I know they are slow in light airs but good sails can help that. So would you buy one?
You seem to hate ( rather a strong word) a lot about the HC 33....
Cheer up and look for some other design.
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Old 21-06-2019, 18:28   #55
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

[QUOTE=Cheechako;2913971]"So, we prefer pretty boats that can cross an ocean safely. Pretty boats require maintenance. "

Cross out the word pretty and it makes sense. I often wished while owning my Hans that they offered a more common sense design without so much teak, no teak decks, no teak deck boxes built with cheap non marine plywood under the teak strips, Aluminum hatches that weren't so heavy thick teak. etc. What a boat that would be!

Not to mention things like a 125# solid bronze traveler and traveler support system. At 7 ft above the CG that alone requires 875# of ballast (and weight) to counteract the heeling lever arm. Change those hatches, traveler, deck boxes and 1.25 thick pulpits over to something reasonable also and I have no doubt you could take 1500 lbs of ballast and weight out of the boat! Then you would have a truly amazing boat.
Those teak decks probably weigh in at .. 200Lb? 5 ft above CG? There's another 1000 lbs of ballast you can remove.
All of a sudden you have removed 2500# or more from the boat [QUOTE]

Not sure what your point is. In my humble opinion, there isn’t that “one perfect boat for all people,” otherwise we’d all be driving the same thing. Every boat has its own pros and cons that we have to work through before picking this one or that. There must have been something you liked about your Hans, since you had one.

We’ve got a Baba 40, which won’t turn on a dime, which I wish it could about 10% of the time (but I’ve compensated by adding a bow thruster because I’m of an age that I pretty much deserve it and can live with the downside). The other 90% I’m happy to have that weight and stability, like today when we crossed the Albermarle Sound in 30+ knots. I love the wood interior, but my buddy with a Beneteau sent me a video of himself cleaning the head with a pressure washer (really!). We have to do ours by hand <sigh>.

The perfect boat is the center of the Venn diagram - aesthetics, purpose, and ability. The last two are objective that everyone can agree on; the first, well...
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Old 21-06-2019, 18:36   #56
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

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Easy question for us to answer. We have owned hull #60, 1984 HC 33T for 25 years, 16 years as livaboards, cruised from the US East Coast to Venezuela, Bermuda, Windwards, etc., across the Atlantic to above the Arctic Circle, UK, Spain, France, etc.

So, we prefer pretty boats that can cross an ocean safely. Pretty boats require maintenance. If you don’t like maintenance of a boat, a condo is a safe alternative.
This will be my fifth boat, so I know something about maintenance. But I'll probably pay someone to re-caulk the decks as necessary. I'll let the teak go grey. But I'm glad to hear about your travels. I hope do do something quite like that. BTW, did you use a wind vane?
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Old 21-06-2019, 18:42   #57
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

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You seem to hate ( rather a strong word) a lot about the HC 33....
Cheer up and look for some other design.
I love the boat but don't want a maintenance nightmare. You can probably understand that.
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Old 21-06-2019, 19:07   #58
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

As a long time former owner of a Lord Nelson 41 built in the same yard (and from many of the same molds by the same workers) I’ll try to add my .02.....

Maintained and finished to yacht standards you will receive more compliments in a marina on her appearance then any other boat of similar size.

As mentioned previously, built like a tank with comparable maneuverability.

You gotta love wood finishing.

Designed for crossing oceans, not lakes.

Docking one is, err, exciting.

Going offshores? Good boat. Going costal? Give it some thought.

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Old 22-06-2019, 03:25   #59
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Kudos, Iamme, and hcfirstlight.
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Old 22-06-2019, 14:09   #60
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Re: Would You Buy a Hans Christian 33?

I have had my HC33t and absolutely love her. This is my very first sailboat, and some might say that I lack experience, but I have been on many sailboats in the past. I've never stepped onto another medium sized sailboat and said to myself, "This all makes sense". Everything is laid out with both style and function in mind. Even the nav table. I don't want a huge nav table, the salon table is where I lay out the large maps. A nav table that large would be a waste of space on a boat this size.

Big enough to handle the weather, small enough to sail solo. In the San Juans I ran my 1985 HC33t by myself sailing, motoring, mooring on a ball, anchoring, going into and out of crowded marinas like Friday Harbor and fueling by myself. And the pullman berth? AMAZING!!

I've let the outside teak go to grey and once in a while put a little cetol on the wood on the inside which is easy to keep up. Very little work.

Mine is screwed through from the bottom and I've never seen a leak or heard of a boat like this leaking. And I live in Astoria, Oregon - so I know rain.

I'll keep this boat until I die.

Get one if you want to, I still feel giddy when I walk into the companionway or take her on a sail.
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