Hello sailing community brains trust and happy new year.

I'm a newby in the market for a yacht and was wondering, is 2.6m draft too limiting?...mainly for island anchorages. Vessel I am looking at is a Farr 40. I am situated around Whitsunday Island area and once having better experience and confidence...would love to venture further afield...ie Fiji, top of Oz and perhaps Tasmania.

Thank you.

If I was looking for a Farr as a cruiser I would buy a well fitted out Farr 37.

IMHO 2.6m is excessive, ok for ocean crossings but when you get to your destination it means anchoring out and would prohibit access to many spots, but that's just my opinion

2.6 is really deep. What type of Farr 40? Either type is not really a cruising boat. If you are truly a newby then I would not recommend a Farr 40. You want a Phantom 33 or Challenger 39 or Sayer or Radford or Adams or something, but not an ex racing yacht. The Binks Farr design was a cruiser made for the charter market, is that the design? But it should not be so deep. More details are needed for some better feedback.

Farr 40, 2.6mtr draft?, careful your not buying a race boat to go cruising. It would be like buying a sports car to go camping.

Checkout this website, so much info, good info for a wanna be cruiser like me. The subscription fee is minimal and the amount of information is massive, it will save you thousands of dollars and hopefully prevent many mistakes.

www.morganscloud.com/

The below list of topics is just from one of the ebooks on the site, the one abut buying a boat

The Right Way to Buy a Boat.And The Wrong Way
Is It a Need or a Want?
Buying a Boat-A Different Way To Think About Price
Buying a Cruising Boat-Five Tips for The Half-Assed Option
Are Refits Worth It?
Buying a Boat-Never Say Never
Five Ways That Bad Boats Happen
The Two Biggest Lies Yacht Brokers Tell
Learn From The Designers
You May Need a Bigger Boat Than You Think
Sail Area: Overlap, Multihulls, And Racing Rules
8 Tips For a Great Cruising Boat Interior Arrangement
How Weight Affects Boat Performance and Motion Comfort
Easily Driven Boats Are Better
12 Tips To Avoid Ruining Our Easily Driven Sailboat
Of Cockpits, Wheelhouses And Engine Rooms
Offshore Sailboat Keel Types
Cockpits-Part 1, Safe and Seamanlike
Cockpits-Part 2, Visibility and Ergonomics
Offshore Sailboat Winches, Selection and Positioning
Choosing a Cruising Boat-Shelter
Choosing A Cruising Boat-Shade and Ventilation
Pitfalls to Avoid When Buying a New Voyaging Boat
Cyclical Loading: Why Offshore Sailing Is So Hard On A Boat
Cycle Loading-8 Tips for Boat and Gear Purchases
Characteristics of Boat Building Materials
Impact Resistance-How Hull Materials Respond to Impacts
Impact Resistance-Two Collision Scenarios
Hull Materials, Which Is Best?
The Five Things We Need to Check When Buying a Boat
Six Warnings About Buying Fibreglass Boats
Buying a Fibreglass Boat-Hiring a Surveyor and Managing the Survey
What We Need to Know About Moisture Meters and Wet Fibreglass Laminate
US$30,000 Starter Cruiser-Part 1, How We Shopped For Our First Cruising Sailboat
US$30,000 Starter Cruiser-Part 2, The Boat We Bought
US$30,000 Starter Cruiser-How It's Working Out
Q&A, What's the Maximum Sailboat Size For a Couple?
At What Age should You Stop Sailing And Buy a Motorboat?
A Motorsailer For Offshore Voyaging?

Get Navionics on your phone and look at the depths around the Whitsundays. I think that draft would be excessive in that area and very limiting.
It would also require extra care in lots of other areas too including the entrance to Pittwater at low tide.

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Kankama said..
2.6 is really deep. What type of Farr 40? Either type is not really a cruising boat. If you are truly a newby then I would not recommend a Farr 40. You want a Phantom 33 or Challenger 39 or Sayer or Radford or Adams or something, but not an ex racing yacht. The Binks Farr design was a cruiser made for the charter market, is that the design? But it should not be so deep. More details are needed for some better feedback.

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/farr-40-legendary-boat-beautiful-cruising-fit-out/302851

My main attraction to the Farr 40 is they are strong with a composit hull, headroom (I am 6.2ft tall), displacement for relative quickness, all lines lead aft, sloop design, keel stepped mast and vessels in the mid 80s are well within my budget. I do recognise some work is required for cruiser life ie bow anchor roller, anchor well, windlass, helm station install, bimni, dodger ect. I estimate to be able to accommodate these things at a price of under 40k in total. I do however suspect the draft is too excessive. Advert says 2.5m draft, however 1986 Farr 40 specs say 2.6m.

Gday Wazzor

I reckon an experienced sailor may love to sail that Farr 40, but she isn't for a beginner. Gybing with a full main up and playing around with everyone screaming "RUNNERS!" is something I remember vividly about IOR fractional rigs and not something I think many newbies would understand. Get on board a few different boats. Find some cruising sailors around who will let you check their boats out, choosing this design for your first cruiser is way left field. The Farr would be a great beer can race boat, with the ability to sail around for a week or two in summer, but she is not a cruiser. I think that you choosing this style of boat shows you need to a learn a lot more about boats before choosing another one.

This Adams 40 is near you. She looks a bit ratty but could be spruced up if the steel is in good nick, and you can run her into things with no dramas. Solid cruising boat at the same price

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/adams-40-adams-40-centre-cockpit-in-very-good-condition/303381

But you may have to check for headroom - Joe Adams was pretty short.

I've got 2.5m in Queensland and there are lots of places I would like to go, but can't.

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Wazzor said..

Kankama said..
2.6 is really deep. What type of Farr 40? Either type is not really a cruising boat. If you are truly a newby then I would not recommend a Farr 40. You want a Phantom 33 or Challenger 39 or Sayer or Radford or Adams or something, but not an ex racing yacht. The Binks Farr design was a cruiser made for the charter market, is that the design? But it should not be so deep. More details are needed for some better feedback.

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/farr-40-legendary-boat-beautiful-cruising-fit-out/302851

My main attraction to the Farr 40 is they are strong with a composit hull, headroom (I am 6.2ft tall), displacement for relative quickness, all lines lead aft, sloop design, keel stepped mast and vessels in the mid 80s are well within my budget. I do recognise some work is required for cruiser life ie bow anchor roller, anchor well, windlass, helm station install, bimni, dodger ect. I estimate to be able to accommodate these things at a price of under 40k in total. I do however suspect the draft is too excessive. Advert says 2.5m draft, however 1986 Farr 40 specs say 2.6m.

The main problem with that sort of draft is slipping the boat for anti-fouling. Very few slipways can handle that draft and the few that can only on a few occasions a year! All the other silly deep draft yachts want the same booking!
The Farr 37 that is close to me in the mooring field has a much nicer interior than that one too. They are delightful boats to sail. The keel is much more moderate shape than the 40's high aspect ratio that might need more care with the steering!

Select to expand quote

Wazzor said..

Kankama said..
2.6 is really deep. What type of Farr 40? Either type is not really a cruising boat. If you are truly a newby then I would not recommend a Farr 40. You want a Phantom 33 or Challenger 39 or Sayer or Radford or Adams or something, but not an ex racing yacht. The Binks Farr design was a cruiser made for the charter market, is that the design? But it should not be so deep. More details are needed for some better feedback.

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/farr-40-legendary-boat-beautiful-cruising-fit-out/302851

My main attraction to the Farr 40 is they are strong with a composit hull, headroom (I am 6.2ft tall), displacement for relative quickness, all lines lead aft, sloop design, keel stepped mast and vessels in the mid 80s are well within my budget. I do recognise some work is required for cruiser life ie bow anchor roller, anchor well, windlass, helm station install, bimni, dodger ect. I estimate to be able to accommodate these things at a price of under 40k in total. I do however suspect the draft is too excessive. Advert says 2.5m draft, however 1986 Farr 40 specs say 2.6m.

You've just described my boat. It had a draft of 2.4 which I found excessive (it was extended for righting capacity for Sydney to Hobart races) so I brought it back to original design of 2.1m and it's a happy medium. Excellent uphill and still shallow enough to cruise east coast very comfortably. S&S 39. So in reply, yes 2.6 is too deep to achieve access to many places, marinas and lifts for servicing. It does sound more of a racing boat being a Farr with such a keel so could be worth giving a miss.

It actually is similar to mine but I don't use wind instruments and the S&S is probably a bit more comfy. Selling it now unfortunately as my cruising days are over

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Kankama said..
Gday Wazzor

I reckon an experienced sailor may love to sail that Farr 40, but she isn't for a beginner. Gybing with a full main up and playing around with everyone screaming "RUNNERS!" is something I remember vividly about IOR fractional rigs and not something I think many newbies would understand. Get on board a few different boats. Find some cruising sailors around who will let you check their boats out, choosing this design for your first cruiser is way left field. The Farr would be a great beer can race boat, with the ability to sail around for a week or two in summer, but she is not a cruiser. I think that you choosing this style of boat shows you need to a learn a lot more about boats before choosing another one.

This Adams 40 is near you. She looks a bit ratty but could be spruced up if the steel is in good nick, and you can run her into things with no dramas. Solid cruising boat at the same price

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/adams-40-adams-40-centre-cockpit-in-very-good-condition/303381

But you may have to check for headroom - Joe Adams was pretty short.

Hi Kankama,

Cheers for the feedback. Furthermore to the vessel I am chasing...I prefer fibreglass only and also not centre cockpit or pilot houses.

Getting onboard other vessels is easier said than done although having said that...I am thinking of joining the Whitsunday Yacht club to better familiarise myself with other vessels and the art of sailing. Living in Mackay will require a bit of travel but I dont have many options unfortunately.

I am however not completely green and have completed a certified IYT crewmans course last year and went out on the same vessel for a secondary trip (Sydney 60 with 4m draft) ??.

Cheers again for your valued feedback

Assume you have seen this S111 just posted on the forum. $18.5K.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Interesting-boats-for-sale-2?page=96

No runners. Draft supposedly 2.1m as per this old advert.

www.dbyboatsales.com.au/listing/swarbrick-s111/

I've done a few trips around Whitsunday on Farr37 ex racing , custom keel 1.6 m.As you know the most places have colour coded buoys. There are always plenty of water. My guess, you talking about ax racer with custom keel. Those keels are probably ideal for racing but stresses the structure, watch for loose bolts, personally I would get independent survey structure and rigging.