Howdy guys,
Im new to this forum but it looks to have a good deal of advice, opinions and some pretty knowledgable old salts.
okay so Im back on the market after 8 years land locked and raising my 2 squirts. My previous keel boat was a Compass 28 'Charley Mudlark'. At the moment Im sailing about on a fun little Explorer 16. She is a great boat, but given she does sail more like a large dingy Im a little hesitant to take out the family, since we don't have any nice sheltered bays, its all great southern ocean sailing.
Ive got about 30k all up to purchase a good solid cruiser and get her home, probably up to 30', setup for single handed, that can accommodate 4, a dinette is a plus. For now just day sails with the occasional weekend and hopefully one or two longer coastal cruises a year. The distance between ports or even good anchorages is lengthy.
With what is on the market at the moment and within reach of me sailing back home are these two.https://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/currawong-30/227359
I see this boat has changed hand a few time in the past 10 years, maybe because of the custom flush deck, which creates a small dodger over companion way and subtracts the high coamings of the original Currawongs. I could imagine it getting pretty wet and cold in our winter months down south with no where to shelter when working to windward, there are custom spray covers that when fitted completely encompass the cockpit but would mean climbing around and over them if a quick trip to mast or foredecks was required.
Otherwise she presents pretty well, gel coat is good, engine regularly serviced, good set of sail, electronics and windvane, even an 8 man life raft is included though it is out of date, looks like she needs a little cleaning up down stairs but it seems to be only cosmetic.
derwentboats.com.au/derwent/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/compass-29-excellent-condition-great-value/229801/
Next step up from my former boat, but knowing that they over built these yachts gives me a lot of peace of mind.
Exceptional condition though out, just been surveyed and got the nod. the Yanmar doesnt have an hour meter installed so no one can tell me exact hours but its been serviced yearly and looks to be pretty clean, it couldn't be over 10, good set of sails, main is standard cruising with 2 reef, Good electronics. But i will need to purchase a furler, windlass and Solar panels (mostly solo or short handed sailing). She is a good base to build off of.
I heard the 29 was an almost subdued sail, very stiff boat and slow? can anyone give me there account of sailing a C29 in light and heavy conditions. Its mostly blowing its socks off down in Warrnambool and ive heard from a few accounts that cold air is far denser and thus more loads on the rigging for comparative wind strength in the north and south, so maybe a good stiff boat is what is in order. If she is slow that is another matter, considering the length of passage between safe water. But i wouldn't really expect anything over 5 knots.
This is all just my own observations so please inform me otherwise, as Im always learning.
Please offer me your opinions and guidance.
Thanks.
Nath
Mr Baker died about 1979 I think. My Currawong was built in 1979 by Lloyd Northam who took over the moulds from Geoff Baker after his death so I have no idea who built this one. I have seen this one for sale a couple of times over the years. Certainly has had some money spent on it.
I hate the idea of the outhouse over the cockpit and the wheel steering would be a serious handicap and limit the usable space in the cockpit. If the cockpit is the same as the stock Currawong cockpit then it would be a very comfortable safe and dry spot to steer the vessel in a seated position from. Interior is OK but I'm not sure where the head is.
The Monitor windvane is not shown in the photos but that adds about 3 grand to the value.
Isn't the head behind the slatted door to port, aft? Perhaps not the greatest spot for a family boat but not all women die with embarrassment about such things, thank god.
The Dunco looks interesting - I wonder if she was a prototype with a 29 cabin chucked on the 35 hull? I wonder why the tiller and the pedestal are both still in place; perhaps the owner just likes tillers. Good for the dollars!
Hey thank you all for the feed back.
Its just me and my two boys so we don't mind too much about ****ting near each other, that said i was down at the marina today looking over my new birth and apparently the new harbour master is squeezing everyone along a little to make some more space, so what was potentially a 9m birth is now an 8m birth.
Guess I'm squeezing down to a Top Hat.
If anyones knows of a good one on the market please let me know. Im new to these pocket cruisers but there reputation is very sound.
Also is land transport a worthy option when it comes to less expensive keel boats? has anyone had any experience with the process?
I looked at that currawong a few years back. It was in a marina at the top end of Phillip island back then. Nice boat but I dithered for another couple of years before getting something else (Swanson 31). Sounds like you've moved on to looking a size down now. Road transport is very expensive unless it's an actual trailer/sailer. Assuming from port Phillip i wouldn't think it would be difficult to find someone to sail across for you, providing the boats in sound condition. Nice spot port fairy. Visited once back when i was crewing in orcv races.
Nath, if be checking withthe marina manager, as a 8m berth might take a longer boat, for example Gladstone marina will happily put a 9.75m boat into a 8m berth.