Hello
We routinely costal
cruise our
Corsair 31. It is an aft
cabin boat which I think is the best possible layout. Very similar to the setup on a 27, but with a bit more space.
Previous to the Corsair we had a
Catalina 30 and the
new boat has changed the dynamics. While the
Catalina was kind of like an RV, I consider the Corsair to be more like a popup camper. Some things that are interesting about the transition.
First, space. We no longer are pack rats. We minimize what we carry, all in an effort to keep the weight down. The Corsairs do not like weight so anything you can do to decrease weight is good.
Power - with an
outboard as your only means of generating
power, you need to carefully evaluate your
battery scenario. We use two house
batteries and a starting
battery. We supplement the
outboard alternator with a
solar panel, but honestly could use two large
panels to really be effective for long term. For carrying
fuel, there are some
fuel containers that fit under the crossbeam covers near the
mast, good use of wasted space.
We have an engel refrig which is our big power hog. The logic was that the power requirements actually decreased the amount of ice and coolers we kept on board. So far it has been an awesome piece of
equipment, and well worth the investment. We keep a small cooler for ice for boat drinks, otherwise everything is kept in the refrig. In an pinch we can actually make ice with the engel, but the power needs jump.
Cooking is typically done on a
grill outside. The typical alcohol
stove is good for
heating water, etc, but we have found that a small camping version does a better job. One thing we do use is a gridle, that covers both burners. This has allowed us to cook some things that most people do not believe we can make on the
origo. Also you can use your
grill as an
oven if you want by adding a temp gauge.
We have a sailing
bimini which is awesome, if you want to see some pictures let me know. Highly recommend some way to get out of the elements on these
boats, since the high speed and expansive
deck area start to wear on your ability to function. Also highly recommend a tiller
autopilot. The corsairs/farrier feature a very balanced
helm, and therefore a minimal power draw. Also we found we had to upgrade all our
weather gear">foul
weather gear. While most boats can get away with something less than the top of the line stuff, the constant assult of the
wind and
water force us into our
gear earlier, and we keep it on longer. Doing 17 to 20 knots for hours on end even on a sunny summer day can chill the body.
Lifevests - while we typically did not wear ours on the
Catalina except in bad weather, we have made it a habit to always wear them now. Also all of ours are
inflatable with harnesses, and we make a habit to clip in when on
deck solo. The fact that the boat is so balanced means that it will not round up without a person on the
helm, and it is a scary proposition to watch your boat sail away at the typical speeds.
Anchoring - we use a
delta 22 with chain/nylon combo. As a backup we have a
fortress 16. The
delta has been incredible in the area we cruise, but your own conditions will vary. Also it is very easy to rig a
bridle, and we typically set the boat about 5 degrees of center. This actually seems to minimize sailing about on the
anchor.
Range - all I can say is that the best feature is the speed. While not a speed junky, the idea that I can sail all day at over 10 knots opens up a whole new set of crusing grounds for us. Also lets be honest not many boats can go upwind at 55 miles an hour on the highway, and that is a unique feature of these boats. You can change your whole latitude rather quickly.
Trash - we struggeled to keep control of the trash situation on the old boat. The fact that we can now store trash in the wings far away from the living space is a godsend.
Dinghy - we keep an
inflatable dink on the nets when we cruise, and also have a sitontop
kayak. We use a old wire
halyard as a painter, and lock it to the crossbeam when we are concerned about theft, and also it is a great benefit at certain docks.
Lack of heeling - while I love the feeling of being hard over just as much as any sailor, I have found that the overall
experience of being flat(er) is actually more rewarding. You arrive at your destinations less tired, and you have less chance of hurting yourself when underway.
Reefing - we reef early and often. The boats seem to be just as fast reefed, and it is easier to shake a reef out than put one in. Also while we do not sail in the dark often, I recommend you reef before the sun goes down regardless of the expected conditions. It can be a bear in the dark.
more to follow . . .
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