September 28, 2011

Vagabond 42 Review: Elegant Pirate Ship

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: , , — Richard Jordan @ 12:00 am

Vagabond 42 PDF Specifications (Click to Download)

We have a beautiful Vagabond 42 for sale, so I am posting back my brokerage research. And in the case of Vagabonds, information online is pretty slim, so I feel good that I am positively contributing back to the Internet knowledge base. Jack N. Chen founded the shipyard Bluewater Yacht Builders in Taiwan and produced Vagabond sailing yachts during the 1970′s and 1980′s. The earliest sold Vagabond listed in the brokerage records is a 1974 Vagabond 47. The next earliest is a 1976 Vagabond 39 that we, Jordan Yachts, sold in ’06 I can proudly say. The subject of this review, the George Stadel designed 42-footer, was produced from 1978 until at least 1991. Hull #1 was delivered in late 1978 and was a cutter rigged version. She and her sisters, the 47, 39, and 52, share the classic charms of pirate ship inspired detailing from their clipper, trailboarded bows to square windowed sterns. An exuberant use of teak makes these stout under sail (the 42 is rated at 32,000 pounds displacement) and elegant down below. Let’s take a look at what is known about these yachts. Continue reading “Vagabond 42 Review: Elegant Pirate Ship” »

August 10, 2011

Brewer 44 Review: Second Generation Whitby

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: , , , , — Richard Jordan @ 12:00 am

Brewer 12.8 Original PDF Brochure (Click to Download)

I seem to see Whitby and Brewers everywhere these days and have been fine tuning my identification skills to pick between the three versions: 42′s, 12.8′s, and 44′s. I was kayaking the Fruit Isles in Fort Lauderdale the other day and passed by the nice 12.8 in the featured photo below. I like her dark green hull color. The easiest one to differentiate is the Brewer 44 ostensibly the subject of this review. But you cannot talk about one without touching on the others, so if you are in the market for a 42 or 12.8, this article should include useful information too. Kurt and Doris Hansen of Whitby Boatworks in Ontario, Canada were the first to build these sailboats. They commissioned Edward S. Brewer & Associates to design her in 1972. The first Whitby 42 splashed out of their yard in 1973. The Hansens went on to build 200 hulls from 1973 to 1983. Previous to this, Whitby Boat Works had built the Alberg 30 and Alberg 37. Production shifted south to Fort Myers Yacht and Shipbuilding Inc on the west coast of Florida in 1983 where they built the Brewer 12.8. In 1987 the company introduced a swim platform extended Brewer 44 which they produced until 1990. For the 12.8, a group of experienced racing and cruising yachtsmen led by Harold Oldak from the Manhasset Bay area of Long Island, New York went back to Ted Brewer and had him update the design (Yachting, 1983). The most important change to the new mold was the “Brewer bite” keel to improve her light air performance. There was a variance in build quality over these Myers years causing confusion to exactly what a Brewer 12.8 is – the general name given to Brewers of this era. While I admire most of his comments on Sailnet, Jeff_h has muddled the 12.8 confusion with his this SN thread. I will try to clarify later on. The end result was the Brewer 44 which has all the high quality hardware along with a swim platform which increases the aft stateroom’s accommodations. Continue reading “Brewer 44 Review: Second Generation Whitby” »

May 26, 2011

Gulfstar 39 Sailmaster Review: Cruising Couple Dreamboat

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: , , , — Richard Jordan @ 2:54 pm

Gulfstar 39 PDF Brochure (Click to Download)

When introduced in 1981, the Gulfstar 39 Sailmaster was a controversial design because of her single stateroom interior layout. Most aft cockpit sailboats of her day featured a quarter berth. These days you often see twin berths aft as manufacturers maximize sleeping accommodations. From a sailor’s perspective the G39′s accommodations make a good deal of sense. Quarterberths tend to turn into garages packed with all sorts of useless cruising junk. The elimination of that area forces you to keep a tidy ship. And as everyone finds out the best sleeping berths are at the center of yaw, pitch, and roll — the salon settees. In 1982, Gulfstar introduced a Mark II version with a portside quarter berth instead of the office area and deep cockpit locker. According to the Gulfstar Owner’s Club, all told they produced around 60 hulls (some cite 57 hulls) of the Sailmaster 39 over the two year production run. Then using the same hull as the 39SM but with a center cockpit arrangement, Gulfstar made a dozen Moorings charter boats and branded them Gulfstar 40 Sailmasters. Let’s take a look at the features of this well respected model. Continue reading “Gulfstar 39 Sailmaster Review: Cruising Couple Dreamboat” »

March 16, 2011

Lagoon 440 Review: Charter Catamaran

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: , , , — Richard Jordan @ 2:12 pm

I wish I could take delivery of every yacht I review here, but I am usually restricted to a short seatrial at best. Hearing from owners the qualities of a vessel is one thing, but experiencing them yourself makes the unique qualities more vivid and altogether leads to a superior review. I hope that is the case here as I am still yearning to be offshore after my 12 day delivery of a Lagoon 440 catamaran from Venice Isle, Fort Lauderdale to Gibson Island, Annapolis.

Lagoon was established in 1984 as a development of the legendary Jeanneau Advanced Technologies racing division. Lagoon went on to achieve fame for building the trimarans for the blockbuster movie Waterworld starring actor and inventor Kevin Costner. Lagoon’s first era of production ran from 1987 to 1996 and included production of 55, 47, 57 and 67 models meant as bluewater cruising catamarans for private purchase along with 37 and 42 models suited for the charter service. The charter side became dominate post-1996 and continues to today. The designs by Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prévost use the latest in cost saving techniques. Lagoons populate the Caribbean charter fleets in the Leeward and Windward Islands. Today the builder is CNB, a division of Group Beneteau whose other brands include the monohull lines of Jeanneau, Wauquiez, and Beneteau. Continue reading “Lagoon 440 Review: Charter Catamaran” »

February 11, 2011

Catalina 390 Review: Coastal Cruiser

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: , , , , , — Richard Jordan @ 3:08 pm

Catalina 390

The Catalina 390 traces its lineage back to the Morgan 381, the first Gerry Douglas designed Morgan introduced in 1993. The Morgan 381 evolved into the Catalina 380, 387, and 390. The 390 hull, deck, and rig is in fact identical to the C380 with the only change being a two cabin layout aft. Catalina has impeccable reputation for producing perfect coastal cruisers in the yachting community. The 390 fits this mold and would be an excellent value driven choice for a family looking to explore the coastline and island chains. There are better choices for long term, offshore cruising though there is certainly precedent for serious voyages in a Catalina. The main competition from a brokerage perspective are Beneteaus, late model Bavarias, Hunters, and Jeanneaus.

Catalina Yachts was formed by Frank Butler in 1970 in North Hollywood, California. He like so many new boat buyers was duped into lending money to a broke boat builder. To compensate for his loss, Butler took ownership of the tooling and eventually the production facility for an unexpected career as a sailboat manufacturer. He expanded to Largo, Florida in 1984 by acquiring the assets of the bankrupt Morgan Yachts. Butler is known as one of the foremost innovators of so-called molded liner mass production. In writing about the Catalina 390 I have the opportunity to write about a design which was previously reviewed in Sailing Magazine. If you have not noticed, I use their same format in admiration of their many excellent reviews. Please see their online Catalina 390 review for a professionally published article. Continue reading “Catalina 390 Review: Coastal Cruiser” »

February 10, 2011

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40DS Review: Panoramic View

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: , , , , , — Richard Jordan @ 3:42 pm

Jeanneau 40 DS PDF Brochure (Click to Download)

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40DS introduced in 1998 is an excellent example of the deck salon idea that has revolutionized yacht design. Despite traditionalist tastes, it is pretty clear that most future sailboats will feature – if not full out deck salons – at least large portholes along their trunk cabins. The panoramic view below and well protected helm above out weigh any preconceived stylistic standards. Like the evolution from long CCA overhands to sharply raked bows, the sensibility of these yachts is lending them to become the dominant style of sailboat seen off our shores.

Chantiers Jeanneau was originally founded as a powerboat manufacturer in 1957 by Henri Jeanneau and made their grand entry into the sailboat market in 1970 with the Sangria of which they produced 2,000 hulls. Their sprawling 145 acre yard in Les Herbiers, France is reportedly the largest production facility in the world with 1,425,700 square feet of building space and employing 1,900 people. It was at Les Herbiers where they started production of the 40DS by Daniel Andrieu in 1998 and produced her until 2004 along with a 40-foot flush decked version with twin helm stations. The 40DS was meant as a couple’s performance cruising vessel with offshore rated quality. When the company entered bankruptcy in 2005, Madame Beneteau jumped on the opportunity to purchase their assets, cut costs by sharing technology with her other brands, and steered Jeanneau back into prominence. Jeanneau’s rebirth is connected to their skill in producing handsome, functional, and performance oriented DS designs. Today in 2011 they feature 39, 42, 45, and 50 foot versions. Continue reading “Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40DS Review: Panoramic View” »

January 27, 2011

Hans Christian 4750 Explorer Review: Hylas 49 Comparable

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: , , , , , , — Richard Jordan @ 11:35 am

Hans Christian Offshore Explorer 4750 PDF Brochure (Click to Download)

Subsequent to Tony Seifert’s consultation on the Hylas 49, Tony launched in association with Hans Christian Yachts the Explorer series which includes this 4750. The model was introduced at the Oakland Show in 2000 and then trucked to the east coast for the 2001 show season. He contracted legendary designer Chuck Paine and famed sailor Nigel Calder to engineer them to meet specific design objectives for serious offshore sailing. The result was a breed of offshore vessels that took the marker to a new height in quality and construction. The more one looks the more one sees the countless hours of design from a true sailors viewpoint that went into these vessels. Continue reading “Hans Christian 4750 Explorer Review: Hylas 49 Comparable” »

January 12, 2011

Bristol 45.5 Review: Ted Hood Classic

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: , , , , — Richard Jordan @ 2:53 pm

Bristol 45.5 PDF Brochure (Click to Download)

The Bristol 45.5 is one of the second generation designs by New England’s Bristol Yachts, a continuation of the popular 35.5 Hood design. Clinton Pearson founded the company in 1966 after being ousted from Pearson Yachts which he co-founded with his brother Everett in 1959. Clinton purchased the troubled manufacturer “Sailstar” and renamed it Bristol Yachts after the production facility located on Popasquash Road, in Bristol, Rhode Island. After a successful decade of mostly Carl Alberg, full keeled designs, the company started producing high performance cruisers by Ted Hood’s design office such as this 45.5. Dieter Empacher was the lead naval architect and deserves much of the credit for these fantastic yachts. Launched in 1979 and produced until 1990, the 45.5 is a good subject to study the features of Bristol’s second generation which include centerboard keels, fine entries, and beefy aft sections. After focusing on custom projects during the 1990′s, the manufacturer went bankrupt in 1997 and permanently closed shop. Continue reading “Bristol 45.5 Review: Ted Hood Classic” »

December 31, 2010

Tayana 52 Review: Perry’s Sweetest Sheer

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: — Richard Jordan @ 2:17 pm

Tayana 52 PDF Brochure (Click to Download)

The Tayana 52 is one of Robert Perry’s favorite designs – self-proclaimed “sweetest sheer I ever drew.” Her history is in many ways a snapshot of the evolution of the sailboat industry over the past 30 years. Her changes (less teak, the addition of a sugar scoop stern, switch from Perkins to Yanmar diesel, etcetera) mirror those of other manufacturers. The design debuted in 1983 and is ostensibly still in production like most of Ta Yang’s yachts including the 42 and 55. They still have the tooling and will make one if someone wants. The newest hull seen on brokerage market is from 2001. She is a bluewater machine and one of the most charming Taiwanese yachts ever built. If you are looking for an aft cockpit, three stateroom sailing machine for a fair price, I highly recommend you consider this design. Continue reading “Tayana 52 Review: Perry’s Sweetest Sheer” »

December 20, 2010

Southern Ocean 60 Review: Modern Schooner

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: , , , — Richard Jordan @ 3:26 pm

Southern Ocean Shipyards 60 Under Sail

On paper the Ocean 60 sounds like an antiquated schooner character boat from the 1970′s and early 1980′s. But closer inspection reveals what can be aptly called a modern, racing schooner, eminently suitable for long-distance cruising with her sea kindly qualities and simple rig. The legendary British manufacturer Southern Ocean Shipyards – with the unfortunate acronym SOS – opened shop at their Poole, England yard (near Southhampton on the south coast) in the mid 1960′s. The first production boat off the line was a 53-foot Van De Stadt design in 1967. In the 1970′s, they produced about 25 hulls of the Ocean 71 which was lofted directly from Van De Stadt’s famous Stormvogel yacht, the first ocean maxi. In the late 1970′s, Southern Ocean produced smaller racers including a 36-footer by J. de Ridder and the 30 Contention by Doug Peterson. According to brokerage records the Ocean 60′s were built between 1980 and 1982. After which, the yard produced 62-foot Van De Stadt and 80-foot Peterson designs until around 1985. Continue reading “Southern Ocean 60 Review: Modern Schooner” »

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