http://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/atkinson-45-centre-cockpit-imaculate-blue-water-cruiser-live-aboard/205786

That's one nice looking boat, are you in the market?

Maybe,although I like internet shopping just can't afford two yachts at the same time!

What do you think of the hull.... glass over timber.?

Here's their blog

svthedoctor.blogspot.com/2011/06/cruising-abrolhosor-ducking-from-one.html

Glass both sides of timber is fantastic, very strong.
like the boat a lot except the rig looks like it came off a race yacht? Looks quite small section for this size/style of boat plus top diamonds?? You really need to fly masthead spinnakers when cruising??

Lot of boat for the money. Fairly shallow draft and a lot of windage but cruisers only sail off the wind anyway. Composite hull would be my build of choice. Epoxy with a timber core might make it sound more attractive. That Sayer 37 in Queensland and the well known 35 foot racer in Hobart with cedar cores seem to be hanging around on the market longer than they should.

I just love the accent of the lady that introduces the boat from Nautilus Yacht Management. Could listen to her all day.


A

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rumblefish said..
Glass both sides of timber is fantastic, very strong.
like the boat a lot except the rig looks like it came off a race yacht? Looks quite small section for this size/style of boat plus top diamonds?? You really need to fly masthead spinnakers when cruising??

I agree similar rig to mine. I haven't found much wrong so far having this rig on a heavy cruising boat but haven't really tested it in real cruising yet so time will tell!

looks like a good yacht ! so does the one you have Now !!

Don't you require running back stays with this rig? Seen many like rigging, most of them with runners.

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Jlobel said..
Don't you require running back stays with this rig? Seen many like rigging, most of them with runners.

Only need running backstays if the spreaders are inline. Spreaders raked aft and chainplates behind the mast do the same job as running backstays.

Thanks for that, can it be changed from one to other?

Once apon a time this mast did have runners I would suspect used when reefing. I'm not going to worry about it as I have become a fair weather sailor!

I'm new to runners, how important are they to deploy, having mast top backstay riged.

^^^^

Got any pics Jlobel?

You either need them or you don't I think?

I think a fractional rig might get to a point in height when it may need runners for reefing points. At 50 foot I can get away with it it only just.

36 feet, any thoughts?

If the mast pumps in heavy seas or correct forestay tension is hard to achieve, then you need runners or checkstays.
I think that any fractional rigged boat or any boat with an inner staysail (cutter) that is going blue water cruising should have them. They are cheap and effective and can be easy to remove when not necessary

My favourite yacht with running backstays. I wish I was brave enough to buy it!

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Jolene said..
If the mast pumps in heavy seas or correct forestay tension is hard to achieve, then you need runners or checkstays.
I think that any fractional rigged boat or any boat with an inner staysail (cutter) that is going blue water cruising should have them. They are cheap and effective and can be easy to remove when not necessary

Sounds reasonable, a bit cumbersome in restricted waters short handed. This is why the question of necessity.eg Sydney harbour.

Jolene, changing to aft swept spreaders normally requires new structure to support the new chainplates and is therefore expensive. I've sailed on two boats with the mods and when allied with the corresponding shift to short overlap headsails, it did make sailing a lot more fun than dealing with *&^%$ runners and a 150% overlap.

Jumper or diamond struts as in the very nice Atkinson work in a similar fashion to runners, in that they keep the topmast straight and therefore the pull of the backstay is transferred to the forestay. A lot of boats that have runners could possibly fit jumpers and a hydraulic backstay and use that instead of the runners or changing to a swept spreader rig. Our boat has jumpers and swept spreaders. There is extra weight and windage up there but it seems to work pretty damn well.

I remember the Atkinson from her time in Sydney. She was a boat to dream of then and she appears to be in fantastic condition. Luckily we are absolutely stoked with our own boat and don't want anything bigger!

Sounds like it will be diamond struts and an additional mast head forestry and bring in current forestay in cutter format use the runners only with inner headsail. Any taughts?