Does anyony know anything or have any opinions about Seafarers? I have a chance to buy a 31' yawl rigged (they may all be yawls) boat with a slip near Baltimore.
The boat does have nice lines and (ta-daa!) a newer diesel. So, I am tempted.
However, I am unfamiliar with the Seafarer (and yawls in general) and would love to solicit some advice from my favorite grouip of old boat nuts. (The boats being old, not necessarily the nuts)
Thanks in advance!
31' Seafarer
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Tim
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The only Seafarer 31 I have been on was a fairly decent-looking boat, but nothing special in terms of construction or quality. It had a very annoying molded interior liner and odd, narrow, awkward dinette layout--not a great use of space. On this particular boat, there was little option since most components were molded integrally with the hull liner. This photo, stolen from the website http://www.sndi.net/seafarer31/fohn.htm, shows the extent of the molded components very well. The passageway forward to the v-berth is narrow with an angled sole.
The boats have nice overhangs and looks good with a yawl rig. It's not my favorite design, but is pretty OK looking. The long overhang aft makes for a cockpit that extends well forward, so the interior space is smaller than on other 31s.
You can't beat a yawl for classic looks. (Well, maybe a schooner, but that's a whole 'nother ball of wax!)
The boats have nice overhangs and looks good with a yawl rig. It's not my favorite design, but is pretty OK looking. The long overhang aft makes for a cockpit that extends well forward, so the interior space is smaller than on other 31s.
You can't beat a yawl for classic looks. (Well, maybe a schooner, but that's a whole 'nother ball of wax!)
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FloatingMoneyPit
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wait for something better?
I can only pass along the brief comments from someone who did own a 31 yawl. Wasn't very satisfied with it, said it was a squirrelly sailing boat that wouldn't track for beans. He is a very experienced sailor with several Bermuda races to his credit (not in the Irwin). On the plus side, he said he did a lot of cosmetic work on the boat and she drew many compliments.
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Jason K
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Thanks for the input, but I was really looking for something along the lines of "The Seafarer - a wonderful boat! Roomy, comfortable, and amazingly fast! Such a classic - you should defintely spend the last of your dwindling funds on her!"
The truth can be so rude.
Apparently she lost the mizzen mast during our emails, because she was a sloop when I got the photos. Oh well.... the hunt continues.
The truth can be so rude.
Apparently she lost the mizzen mast during our emails, because she was a sloop when I got the photos. Oh well.... the hunt continues.
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Ric in Richmond
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Jason,
What are you looking for? I'm always on the prowl...even though I am done buying for a while...be happy to give a shout if something appears in the richmond paper or ???
What parameters?
Price?
Must haves (or not haves?)
What are you looking for? I'm always on the prowl...even though I am done buying for a while...be happy to give a shout if something appears in the richmond paper or ???
What parameters?
Price?
Must haves (or not haves?)
Ric Bergstrom
http://andiamoadventures.blogspot.com/
Archived old blog:
http://andiamo35.blogspot.com/
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http://andiamoadventures.blogspot.com/
Archived old blog:
http://andiamo35.blogspot.com/
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Jason K
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Hey Ric,
I appreciate it. I was looking for a boat in the Baltimore area. However, it looks like I'll be staying in New Orleans for awhile.
So, the question has become - do I simply repair the Triton or get something new. I'm leading towards a combination. I love the Triton, but the storm damage is a real setback. I just want to go sailing.
I'll be looking for a deal, first and foremost. I am definitely one for good old boats, so I'm looking at anything from Tritons to A30s or 35s, a Rhodes design but bigger than the Meridian (no offense Rachel) etc. Any boat with some character to it that is priced right but ready to sail. I don't mind varnishing and upgrading the running rigging, but I'm not in a position to do any real repainting or, god forbid, a recore.
In terms of price...cheap would be great. The repair costs of the Triton will be steep and that isn't going to leave much left in the pile under the matress I have set aside for sailing. A few grand, maybe a hair more.
That definitely won't leave enough for a truck transport, so I'll need something within a few days from New Orleans by sail - say from the Florida panhandle to the eastern Texas coast.
I'd really appreciate any leads.
I appreciate it. I was looking for a boat in the Baltimore area. However, it looks like I'll be staying in New Orleans for awhile.
So, the question has become - do I simply repair the Triton or get something new. I'm leading towards a combination. I love the Triton, but the storm damage is a real setback. I just want to go sailing.
I'll be looking for a deal, first and foremost. I am definitely one for good old boats, so I'm looking at anything from Tritons to A30s or 35s, a Rhodes design but bigger than the Meridian (no offense Rachel) etc. Any boat with some character to it that is priced right but ready to sail. I don't mind varnishing and upgrading the running rigging, but I'm not in a position to do any real repainting or, god forbid, a recore.
In terms of price...cheap would be great. The repair costs of the Triton will be steep and that isn't going to leave much left in the pile under the matress I have set aside for sailing. A few grand, maybe a hair more.
That definitely won't leave enough for a truck transport, so I'll need something within a few days from New Orleans by sail - say from the Florida panhandle to the eastern Texas coast.
I'd really appreciate any leads.
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CharlieJ
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Our Meridian 25 is a Seafarer. We love it. Sails very well and has no bad habits that we've found as yet.
There is a Seafarer bulletin board where you may find more info on the boat-
http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/seafarer/index.cgi
Not at all familiar with the yawl rig but it should sail as well as any other. I wouldn't pass up a boat just because it was a yawl- Don Street thinks they are wonderful*grin*
After saying all that, remember they ARE boats from the old CCA era, like the Tritons, etc. They DON'T have the interior volume that new designs do, but I feel they tend to be more seakindly.
There is a Seafarer bulletin board where you may find more info on the boat-
http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/seafarer/index.cgi
Not at all familiar with the yawl rig but it should sail as well as any other. I wouldn't pass up a boat just because it was a yawl- Don Street thinks they are wonderful*grin*
After saying all that, remember they ARE boats from the old CCA era, like the Tritons, etc. They DON'T have the interior volume that new designs do, but I feel they tend to be more seakindly.
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Shark
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Seafarer Meridian
Rachel & Charlie
I found this Meridian site http://people.hws.edu/cicciarelli/moonrise.html
Just thought I'd pass it along.
Lyman
I found this Meridian site http://people.hws.edu/cicciarelli/moonrise.html
Just thought I'd pass it along.
Lyman
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jhenson
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Jason,
I was down in Deltaville, Va last month to help splash my brothers boat that had been in the yard for 9 months for a professional refit. While I was waiting for the riggers to finish some work, I strolled through the yard looking at boats.
There was a Triton there that looked like it needed some attention, but was for sale. It was, I think, an early model like mine. I,m pretty sure I have a picture of it somewhere (with the phone number) if you are at all interested. It was surely not a boat in bristol condition.
Also, one of the co-pilots I fly with regularly is the owner of a Seafarer Yawl. He loves the boat, and praises its sailing qualities. One of his few distastes of the boat is of its nearly 100% plastic interior (like the picture posted above). He lives on the Maryland side of the Potamac. I could probably contact him if you needed any additional info.
Joe
I was down in Deltaville, Va last month to help splash my brothers boat that had been in the yard for 9 months for a professional refit. While I was waiting for the riggers to finish some work, I strolled through the yard looking at boats.
There was a Triton there that looked like it needed some attention, but was for sale. It was, I think, an early model like mine. I,m pretty sure I have a picture of it somewhere (with the phone number) if you are at all interested. It was surely not a boat in bristol condition.
Also, one of the co-pilots I fly with regularly is the owner of a Seafarer Yawl. He loves the boat, and praises its sailing qualities. One of his few distastes of the boat is of its nearly 100% plastic interior (like the picture posted above). He lives on the Maryland side of the Potamac. I could probably contact him if you needed any additional info.
Joe
