Deck saloon yachts
hello there, does anyone have experience with or knowledge of any of the following yachts please
Dudley Dix 40
Huon 36
Sailfar 40
in particular, sailing ability and quality
rust issues re the Dix yacht
thanks
phil
Australia

With no answers yet on this question, in a genuine attempt to assist I respond in good faith as below. I see you posted on SA also and it is a Dix PH 38 and you got some answers. I won't ask what you want to do with the yacht as assume you have decided this.

forums.sailinganarchy.com/threads/deck-house-cruising-yachts.244218/

I have not owned or sailed on any of these, but am aware of the first two and their designers.

Dudley Dix is an excellent and prolific designer. But if the DPH38 has rust issues it is suggested that you be extremely cautious. Is it this one? maybe not as rust is not mentioned albeit adverts accentuate the +ves not the -ves. www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/dudley-dix-38-pilot-house/296977

"Rust issues" can mean a lot of things obviously - where, what is the area extent over the hull, what is the loss of parent material thickness over these areas, etc etc. This site includes prior discussion of extremely experienced owners having to walk away from 34ft yachts as it rusted away under them - of course obviously individual circumstances have an impact. Many steel yachts are still going strong decades after build. Many have needed extensive repairs. There are many good articles on line eg www.safe-skipper.com/steel-hull-maintenance/ and c-tow.ca/read-this-before-buying-a-steel-boat/#:~:text=Steel%20boats%20will%20often%20rot,end%20up%20sinking%20your%20boat.

Huon 36 is it this one? www.adelaideboatsales.com.au/boat/291404/huon-36-motorsailer/ HankK was a very good designer and
Rod Goode a similar capability builder and did some designs www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Boats-of-Port-Huon?page=1
See page 10 he co-built Intrigue which I wasn't aware of but should have been - Intrigue the beyond legendary Tas yacht
ryct.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/TAS-YACHTSMAN-issue-10-2020-WEB.pdf
This H36 would be my pick of the 3 by a fair way but if the above is the one the advert text is in parts woeful - hull and deck timber and epoxy grp exact configurations and scantlings need to be sorted. Don't believe ply/ply should be in hull material. Maybe they mean 2 layers of diagonal cold moulded ply with celery top pine strip planked outer layer then epoxy glass sheathed. Assume deck is ply epoxy sheathed. Best to find out. Does it have any more fore sails than the furler?

Sailfar 40 - this one? mansfieldmarine.com.au/mansfieldmarine/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/sailfar-yachts-deck-saloon-40/290468/ Never heard of them sorry but my bad. Just found a good summary of the boat here which you have probably seen; abba.org.au/pdf/nov_dec_2009.pdf Appears "composite" hull and deck means ply glass sheathed. Experienced designer and builder obviously. What has been its history since launching 2010? Nice looking boat but a tad angular at pilot hoise fwd end and stern. Tiny wheel. Seems like a one-off? Re-sale issues?

All the best with your search, let us know the result is you want to.

Select to expand quote

r13 said..
With no answers yet on this question, in a genuine attempt to assist I respond in good faith as below. I see you posted on SA also and it is a Dix PH 38 and you got some answers. I won't ask what you want to do with the yacht as assume you have decided this.

forums.sailinganarchy.com/threads/deck-house-cruising-yachts.244218/

I have not owned or sailed on any of these, but am aware of the first two and their designers.

Dudley Dix is an excellent and prolific designer. But if the DPH38 has rust issues it is suggested that you be extremely cautious. Is it this one? maybe not as rust is not mentioned albeit adverts accentuate the +ves not the -ves. www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/dudley-dix-38-pilot-house/296977

"Rust issues" can mean a lot of things obviously - where, what is the area extent over the hull, what is the loss of parent material thickness over these areas, etc etc. This site includes prior discussion of extremely experienced owners having to walk away from 34ft yachts as it rusted away under them - of course obviously individual circumstances have an impact. Many steel yachts are still going strong decades after build. Many have needed extensive repairs. There are many good articles on line eg www.safe-skipper.com/steel-hull-maintenance/ and c-tow.ca/read-this-before-buying-a-steel-boat/#:~:text=Steel%20boats%20will%20often%20rot,end%20up%20sinking%20your%20boat.

Huon 36 is it this one? www.adelaideboatsales.com.au/boat/291404/huon-36-motorsailer/ HankK was a very good designer and
Rod Goode a similar capability builder and did some designs www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Boats-of-Port-Huon?page=1
See page 10 he co-built Intrigue which I wasn't aware of but should have been - Intrigue the beyond legendary Tas yacht
ryct.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/TAS-YACHTSMAN-issue-10-2020-WEB.pdf
This H36 would be my pick of the 3 by a fair way but if the above is the one the advert text is in parts woeful - hull and deck timber and epoxy grp exact configurations and scantlings need to be sorted. Don't believe ply/ply should be in hull material. Maybe they mean 2 layers of diagonal cold moulded ply with celery top pine strip planked outer layer then epoxy glass sheathed. Assume deck is ply epoxy sheathed. Best to find out. Does it have any more fore sails than the furler?

Sailfar 40 - this one? mansfieldmarine.com.au/mansfieldmarine/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/sailfar-yachts-deck-saloon-40/290468/ Never heard of them sorry but my bad. Just found a good summary of the boat here which you have probably seen; abba.org.au/pdf/nov_dec_2009.pdf Appears "composite" hull and deck means ply glass sheathed. Experienced designer and builder obviously. What has been its history since launching 2010? Nice looking boat but a tad angular at pilot hoise fwd end and stern. Tiny wheel. Seems like a one-off? Re-sale issues?

All the best with your search, let us know the result is you want to.

Replies like this keep this site alive. Great response R13

R13, thanks very much for your time and input
I am struggling to determine how the Huon 36 would sail, might have to cadge a sail on one!!
again Thanks
phil

Select to expand quote

philthesailor said..
R13, thanks very much for your time and input
I am struggling to determine how the Huon 36 would sail, might have to cadge a sail on one!!
again Thanks
phil

We sailed against a couple of the Huon 30, from memory they weren't quite as quick to windward, but with a bit of sheet they would certainly hold their own with a lot of 1/2 tonners.

Select to expand quote

0llie said..

r13 said..
With no answers yet on this question, in a genuine attempt to assist I respond in good faith as below. I see you posted on SA also and it is a Dix PH 38 and you got some answers. I won't ask what you want to do with the yacht as assume you have decided this.

forums.sailinganarchy.com/threads/deck-house-cruising-yachts.244218/

I have not owned or sailed on any of these, but am aware of the first two and their designers.

Dudley Dix is an excellent and prolific designer. But if the DPH38 has rust issues it is suggested that you be extremely cautious. Is it this one? maybe not as rust is not mentioned albeit adverts accentuate the +ves not the -ves. www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/dudley-dix-38-pilot-house/296977

"Rust issues" can mean a lot of things obviously - where, what is the area extent over the hull, what is the loss of parent material thickness over these areas, etc etc. This site includes prior discussion of extremely experienced owners having to walk away from 34ft yachts as it rusted away under them - of course obviously individual circumstances have an impact. Many steel yachts are still going strong decades after build. Many have needed extensive repairs. There are many good articles on line eg www.safe-skipper.com/steel-hull-maintenance/ and c-tow.ca/read-this-before-buying-a-steel-boat/#:~:text=Steel%20boats%20will%20often%20rot,end%20up%20sinking%20your%20boat.

Huon 36 is it this one? www.adelaideboatsales.com.au/boat/291404/huon-36-motorsailer/ HankK was a very good designer and
Rod Goode a similar capability builder and did some designs www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Boats-of-Port-Huon?page=1
See page 10 he co-built Intrigue which I wasn't aware of but should have been - Intrigue the beyond legendary Tas yacht
ryct.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/TAS-YACHTSMAN-issue-10-2020-WEB.pdf
This H36 would be my pick of the 3 by a fair way but if the above is the one the advert text is in parts woeful - hull and deck timber and epoxy grp exact configurations and scantlings need to be sorted. Don't believe ply/ply should be in hull material. Maybe they mean 2 layers of diagonal cold moulded ply with celery top pine strip planked outer layer then epoxy glass sheathed. Assume deck is ply epoxy sheathed. Best to find out. Does it have any more fore sails than the furler?

Sailfar 40 - this one? mansfieldmarine.com.au/mansfieldmarine/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/sailfar-yachts-deck-saloon-40/290468/ Never heard of them sorry but my bad. Just found a good summary of the boat here which you have probably seen; abba.org.au/pdf/nov_dec_2009.pdf Appears "composite" hull and deck means ply glass sheathed. Experienced designer and builder obviously. What has been its history since launching 2010? Nice looking boat but a tad angular at pilot hoise fwd end and stern. Tiny wheel. Seems like a one-off? Re-sale issues?

All the best with your search, let us know the result is you want to.

Replies like this keep this site alive. Great response R13

Yes I second that he is a great asset to this forum. His research skills are unparalleled. Thank you R13.

Beware some of the Huons used craftwood for bulkheads and decks etc.
have also seen one with a big blister in the transome so guessing that was craftwood too. Many had this replaced with marine ply though.

Select to expand quote

philthesailor said..
R13, thanks very much for your time and input
I am struggling to determine how the Huon 36 would sail, might have to cadge a sail on one!!
again Thanks
phil

Thanks. If you are genuinely interested in purchasing the Huon 36 then the normal procedure is that a trial sail would be granted free of charge. Of course this is very dependent on seller and broker.

Select to expand quote

julesmoto said..

0llie said..

r13 said..
With no answers yet on this question, in a genuine attempt to assist I respond in good faith as below. I see you posted on SA also and it is a Dix PH 38 and you got some answers. I won't ask what you want to do with the yacht as assume you have decided this.

forums.sailinganarchy.com/threads/deck-house-cruising-yachts.244218/

I have not owned or sailed on any of these, but am aware of the first two and their designers.

Dudley Dix is an excellent and prolific designer. But if the DPH38 has rust issues it is suggested that you be extremely cautious. Is it this one? maybe not as rust is not mentioned albeit adverts accentuate the +ves not the -ves. www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/dudley-dix-38-pilot-house/296977

"Rust issues" can mean a lot of things obviously - where, what is the area extent over the hull, what is the loss of parent material thickness over these areas, etc etc. This site includes prior discussion of extremely experienced owners having to walk away from 34ft yachts as it rusted away under them - of course obviously individual circumstances have an impact. Many steel yachts are still going strong decades after build. Many have needed extensive repairs. There are many good articles on line eg www.safe-skipper.com/steel-hull-maintenance/ and c-tow.ca/read-this-before-buying-a-steel-boat/#:~:text=Steel%20boats%20will%20often%20rot,end%20up%20sinking%20your%20boat.

Huon 36 is it this one? www.adelaideboatsales.com.au/boat/291404/huon-36-motorsailer/ HankK was a very good designer and
Rod Goode a similar capability builder and did some designs www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Boats-of-Port-Huon?page=1
See page 10 he co-built Intrigue which I wasn't aware of but should have been - Intrigue the beyond legendary Tas yacht
ryct.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/TAS-YACHTSMAN-issue-10-2020-WEB.pdf
This H36 would be my pick of the 3 by a fair way but if the above is the one the advert text is in parts woeful - hull and deck timber and epoxy grp exact configurations and scantlings need to be sorted. Don't believe ply/ply should be in hull material. Maybe they mean 2 layers of diagonal cold moulded ply with celery top pine strip planked outer layer then epoxy glass sheathed. Assume deck is ply epoxy sheathed. Best to find out. Does it have any more fore sails than the furler?

Sailfar 40 - this one? mansfieldmarine.com.au/mansfieldmarine/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/sailfar-yachts-deck-saloon-40/290468/ Never heard of them sorry but my bad. Just found a good summary of the boat here which you have probably seen; abba.org.au/pdf/nov_dec_2009.pdf Appears "composite" hull and deck means ply glass sheathed. Experienced designer and builder obviously. What has been its history since launching 2010? Nice looking boat but a tad angular at pilot hoise fwd end and stern. Tiny wheel. Seems like a one-off? Re-sale issues?

All the best with your search, let us know the result is you want to.

Replies like this keep this site alive. Great response R13

Yes I second that he is a great asset to this forum. His research skills are unparalleled. Thank you R13.

thanks again Jules.

Select to expand quote

riverider said..

philthesailor said..
R13, thanks very much for your time and input
I am struggling to determine how the Huon 36 would sail, might have to cadge a sail on one!!
again Thanks
phil

We sailed against a couple of the Huon 30, from memory they weren't quite as quick to windward, but with a bit of sheet they would certainly hold their own with a lot of 1/2 tonners.

Hello Riverider - the yacht is a Huon 36 not a Huon 30. It is not a 1/2 tonner rather a serious coastal cruiser.

Select to expand quote

stray said..
Beware some of the Huons used craftwood for bulkheads and decks etc.
have also seen one with a big blister in the transome so guessing that was craftwood too. Many had this replaced with marine ply though.

Hello Stray. What is meant by "some of the Huons". This Huon 36 in question designed by HankK and built by Rod Goode as above would not be built with anything except absolutely top shelf marine grade timber and ply and epoxy adhesives and sheathing. Please let us know of the craftwood material in the "bulheads and decks etc" and big blister in the transom which you guessed at so that we can be very well and factually aware. And the marine ply replacement done to "many". Great thanks in advance.

Thanks to all
i have heard the MDF story previously and would assume that boat built by Rod Goode, Houn Boats would not have been subject to that sort of rubbish
anyway, I appreciate the comments from everyone
yes, I would get a survey done and a trial sail if i decide to go further
thanks
phil

Additional questions
Would the Huon 36 be suitable to sail from Australia to say, Noumea or NZ?
I know this is a bit of a subjective question where the reality possibly lays more on the experience of the crew BUT, would any of you sail it in that manner, --- well offshore

What about the Dudley Dix
Or the Sailfar ( although that seems to be a bit of a loner and not much known about it )

What sort of issues are there with steel yachts of this size - apart from potential rust issues
Are they noisy - does every little rattle echo throughout the vessel ?

Select to expand quote

r13 said..

stray said..
Beware some of the Huons used craftwood for bulkheads and decks etc.
have also seen one with a big blister in the transome so guessing that was craftwood too. Many had this replaced with marine ply though.

Hello Stray. What is meant by "some of the Huons". This Huon 36 in question designed by HankK and built by Rod Goode as above would not be built with anything except absolutely top shelf marine grade timber and ply and epoxy adhesives and sheathing. Please let us know of the craftwood material in the "bulheads and decks etc" and big blister in the transom which you guessed at so that we can be very well and factually aware. And the marine ply replacement done to "many". Great thanks in advance.

Was pretty well known around the boating comunity that some componants were craftwood (mdf) when i lived in Tassie. I was working beside one that was having decks replaced with ply and the one with the blister in the transome i'll admit was an educated guess. Maybe do some research yourself. All i know is that what I heard and at the time thought highly unlikely, aligned with what I have seen.

Have found something better ( and more expensive ) a Moody 43 Eclipse which will be suitable for our intended cruising. Will need to find a competent and experienced skipper to assit in sailing from west australia to melbourne in due course
phil

Very nice, gratz : )

Thx
should be good
phil

should be great

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philthesailor said..
Have found something better ( and more expensive ) a Moody 43 Eclipse which will be suitable for our intended cruising. Will need to find a competent and experienced skipper to assit in sailing from west australia to melbourne in due course
phil

Need to factor that into the cost which will be significant. Looks comfy and competent though :-)

I have a Deck Saloon model yacht, not the particular design you have posted but happy to answer any questions regarding this type of configuration.

Thanks for the post. I notice that many so called deck saloon yachts are not truly as named. The essence of such yacht is really to be able to sit below and to be able to see out the saloon windows. Your yacht is very attractive but the windows only let light in and dont allow people to see out when sitting at the saloon table etc
thanks
phil