F-24/C-760 for Cruising

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by tbodine88

The F25 I was on had very small hatches in the Amas so it wasn't readily accessible as a dry living space.

You do realize that I referred to the F27 not the F25.
I did never suggest the amas as living spaces. Even not as storage, even you can store some light (!) stuff in there.
There is a version of the F27 which has a small aft cabin which is what I was referring to.

[kedge]

I second Adelie's advice above, focus on weight. I think Ian Farrier said the F-24 can carry 800 extra pounds (don't have manual handy). I've done 1-2 week coastal cruising in an F-24 MkI. It was fine but I'd liken it to tent camping versus an RV-like experience you might get on a different boat. Loaded down it won't easily plane of course and in heavier winds I was quick to reef down and find a port. On the plus side the available anchor spots were numerous with such shallow draft. When I finally had the time to do a multi-week cruise with the wife I decided the F-24 was not going to work for that and went with a small Kelsall-design catamaran - a slug compared to the F-24 but it was perfect for carrying all the extra weight and overall comfort both sailing and at anchor (the RV).

[ptards]

I'm also scouring the web for f-24,27s and all the sites that come up on google, like: Yachtworld,C-list,Boatrader. Anyone out there who knows some off the beaten path sites, I'm sure we'd be interested. The sites show boats, but most listings are really old. Maybe someone knows where these tend to be more popular. I'm in Charleston, SC and haven't seen any around here.

PS: Did not mean to jack thread, I figure the more interest, the better. Only other thought is maybe there will be more for sale in the fall.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Comparing a Wharram to an F-24 is pointless. The Wharram is a slug by comparison, slower and not nearly as weatherly. Safe, of course.



I have an F-24 and have taken it over night a few times. I used to have a PDQ cruising cat. IMO, the F-24 could do the job, if you separate wants from needs and pack smart. The V-berth is comfortable for one and storage can be stretched with dry bags on the wing decks and in the amas. I cruised my Stiletto 27 for weeks at a time 20 years ago. I'm just not interested in cruising anymore, which is part of why I down sized to the F_24. I wanted a small, agile boat. But single handed coastal cruising would be fine. They are fast, weatherly, and quite seaworthy when reefed down, being much wider than either the Stiletto or Wharram. You might put a 3rd reef in the main for cruising use.



Then if you like it, you might move up to a cruising cat. Or not. Everyone dreams about moving up and all the stuff they can carry. Instead, spend some nights in a motel. Everyone has different goals.


My blog has stuff about the Delmarva cruises and the Stiletto 27:
Sail Delmarva: Introduction to the New Sail Delmarva

I would not say the Tiki 26 is a slug.. overtook a cargo ship when I hit 17kts travelling back to Poole from Cherbourg, the bridge crew came out to watch me as I skimmed on by.
Mind I was on a broad reach in a F7 with full sails.
That's when I found out GRP Tiki's hatches let in a lot of water.. as I neared Poole she was surging as the water in the hulls moved aft as I went up the back of a wave then shot forwards when I'd crested.. had me worried as I thought the lashings were failing so swung to port as I passed Old Harry and anchored in Studland Bay to check.
Lashing were sound and it was only when I went below to brew a coffee I discovered how much water had come under those hatches as I'd cut through the seas, it was near shin deep over the floorboards.
First job the next weekend was waterproofing all the hatches.

[Training Wheels]

F-27 is a darn good boat. Very versatile.

[purvisgs]

Wharram smaller cats have a history of impressive passages for over 60 years, and to some degree are designed to be able to handle extra weight, but the 'old school' 'deep v' hull shape is certainly not as efficient as a round hull for carrying weight.

In Europe the availability of 'smaller' cats is pretty decent, Kelsall as already mentioned, Richard woods (open bridgedeck certainly makes a lot of sense in this size range), and many others. Even the older British type bridgedeck cats, and the still very sensitive to weight but same "price range" iroquios 32 could all be considered somewhat comparable and better suited than a f24 if trailering isn't your primary focus.

While cats will always be better than tris for payload (2 hulls to distribute weight instead of one) some other smaller tri's in this size range were certainly designed to handle much more payload than f-boats, examples cross & horstman etc.

As for f-boats the groups.io farrier corsair list is one major place to watch/search for boats for sale. As well as the finish line in fl who always have at least a couple used ones on the market.

[ptards]

I've sent several emails to the finish line and haven't had a response yet. Also I get emails from f-boats.io, let me clarify, I'm looking for a 27 under 30k, that has good bones but needs some tlc. Hopefully its not a Unicorn although I raced one of those in the '70s
talk about fragile. Also vowed never to own another "A class" cat.

[Buzzman]

Or, for the cost of a few sheets of ply, and some epoxy and glass, you could find an even cheaper TT720 (the original ply-built, epoxy/glass coated Farrier) and extedn it by a cuppla feet.
Paul in Nhulunbuy has one so modified, and while the curved roof on his is not as attractive, the interior volume is vastly improved.
Another guy has cut down and widened the side berths to give more headroom and width. Several have dded a sugar scoop.
Several guys have remodelled the forrard beam bulkhead to make a proper pass through to the forepeak, to access an area for the composting toilet or V-berth. There are online pics showing how this is done. Actually a relatively simple modification which also includes shortening the (too long anyway) main folding beams to enable a full height walk thru.
And anyone with a tape measure and a handsaw can modify a TT720.
Although, a battery powered circular saw, drill, driver and sander will also come in handy....
Proper little DIY boat the TT720. Google it.