I am an experienced offshore sailor, but older now and looking to purchase a smaller vessel such as the two above to cruise the east coast. Any suggestions?

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misty2010 said..
I am an experienced offshore sailor, but older now and looking to purchase a smaller vessel such as the two above to cruise the east coast. Any suggestions?

Compass 28 sails quite well, far better than a Compass 29. I haven't sailed a Swanson 28 but believe they sail like they look, short and stubby.
However, the Swanson 28 has a lot of room down below making it very comfortable for the size boat.

The Swanson is more a motor sailor. To cruise the East coast where you are going to be in harbour 98% of the time, 1% of the time motoring at sea and 1% of the time actually sailing off the wind then the Swanson would be more comfortable.

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Ramona said..
The Swanson is more a motor sailor. To cruise the East coast where you are going to be in harbour 98% of the time, 1% of the time motoring at sea and 1% of the time actually sailing off the wind then the Swanson would be more comfortable.

come on Ramona put some buy a boat links up one of your bargains
I have heard there a S&S 36 for sale around the $28,000 could find out more

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/macgregor/sail-boats/32-ft-sailing-boat/1132281996

this below has been on the market for a long time
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/geelong/sail-boats/h28-sailing-ketch/1112550047

www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/manly/sail-boats/rl-34-sailing-yacht-for-liveaboard-or-cruising/1126706127

http://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/cavalier-32/194506

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/duncanson-34/191951

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/adams-sloop/164638

What I've found it when and if you need a marina at some time there is no 10 meter births available only 12 meter
so your 28 foot turns into a 12 meter
The 32 foot boats to me makes a bit more sense it's hard to fit a bathroom in a 28 footer

http://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/swanson-28/195854


I always felt Tassy boats are in better condition than the rest of Oz with there weather

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/compass-28-with-22hp-diesel/195772

An interesting read Misty 2010

www.tophatyachts.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=909&start=10

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HG02 said..
the best to last
http://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/nicholson-32-classic-seaworthy-sloop/193614
wish that was around when I was looking

Excellent boat. Why anyone would consider Compass 28's and 29s while there are still a few Nicholsons about beats me.

I nearly bought one of these in NZ a few years ago. They are coming down in price now and getting even more attractive. yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/ohlson-35/193647 Still the perfect gentleman's yacht.

That SS36 Cisco was looking after has been sold!!!! If you have sighted an SS36 for 28 grand I'm keen to see it.

The Compass 28 is popular and retains its value, (compared to other boats), although the actual price for all boats is drifting downwards.
As others have said, the C28 sails well, and points well for a long keeler.

The Swanson 28 is a unique boat. High freeboard, small cockpit. The saloon seating is a nice feature. However for me it is a bit claustrophobic, as you cannot see out unless you are standing. A few examples have added low level portholes, and I think this would make a difference.

The foredeck is vast and flat. Great if you are into sunbaking, or having parties on deck. For me it is just a long way to the bow without handholds.

A plus is that access to the engine and sterngear is usually pretty good. The volume under the cockpit can be a waste of space unless you organise some method of stowage racks, compartments, nets or similar.

With a small cockpit, most examples are fitted with wheel steering, if you like that. Forward visibility is rather poor, but no doubt huddled under the overhang at the front part of the cockpit, you would be nicely sheltered.

With all that freeboard, it is a bit of a climb to board the boat. The freeboard adds windage, add a generous beam, and you cannot expect a windward flyer.

Which brings us to the engine. Sadly, the nice example recently on the market with a 10hp engine does not cut the mustard, unless all you are doing is sailing in sheltered waters. A bulky boat needs a decent engine, and IMHO 20hp would be the minimum if you want to sail offshore. The Compass 28 has far less windage, and hence would probably be just OK with a 10hp, but better with 15hp.

As always, the $64,000 question is: what do you want to do with the boat?

Weekend cruises, or several months at a time? Solo or crewed? Cock-pit parties? Wet-arse hairy-chested or gentlemanly downwind sailing?

And so on. Of course, things will change and the boat you buy will change what you do, but you have to start somewhere, and as you are experienced, I suggest you add a few more criteria to really get the most from the formidable Seabreeze brains trust.

Otherwise, you'll just get opinions based on individual preference. Like I could wax lyrical about my Compass 28, but it might be totally irelevant to your style of cruising.

One thing I will say though about my C28 is that I'd give a limb for a settee rather than dinette layout. That's because my late 60's frame craves rest when cruising, and the dinettte does not offer great comfort when the boat is inclined. However a settee layout would allow one to slouch on whatever side supported your aged frame best. Fatigue management is huge issue for we more decrepid mariners.

The comment about engineis very apt. I find I spend something like 30 - 40% of the time motoring, and from what I gather this is fairly typical. If my boat still had the original 8hp Yanmar, this would be horrible. But the 13hp 2GM does reasonably well - of course a few more horses would be perfect but so would a bigger flasher boat......

Cheers, Graeme

Wongaga is spot on there in what do you want to do with the boat.
if its longer term cruising Id be adding things like water capacity and fuel capacity
to my list when looking to buy .
My boat was more of a weekender so Id added a few things .
There wasn't many boats in Vic for sale when I bought mine it was just before the prices dropped.
My way of thinking back then was buy local as I was not prepared to sail some thing back down here after just buying it and gamble my life.
I love my settees and my 6.2 ft head room and I've enjoyed making it how I want.
Depending on your price range my choice would still be the Nicky if it was me 28 foots a bit tight for long term sailing
http://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/nicholson-32-classic-seaworthy-sloop/193614

The neighbouring yacht has just been sold and is leaving the area. Northerner28 [Compass 28 but with timber furniture]. The previous owner only owned her for a short period and bought her off my mate who owned her for many years. I got to sail her in the 1970's. The previous owner is a young live aboard who decided she was far to limited in accommodation. They are very small internally and if I step off her and onto my Currawong it feels enormous in comparison. The Currawong is actually a small 30 footer. The Nicholsons are also narrow and fairly low freeboard but being 32 feet are a much more suitable boat. There are mark 1's and 2's also and the mark two may have more freeboard.

For coastal cruising I would keep the fuel tank capacity down to 40 litres or so. Better having fresh fuel.

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MorningBird said..

misty2010 said..
I am an experienced offshore sailor, but older now and looking to purchase a smaller vessel such as the two above to cruise the east coast. Any suggestions?

Compass 28 sails quite well, far better than a Compass 29. I haven't sailed a Swanson 28 but believe they sail like they look, short and stubby.
However, the Swanson 28 has a lot of room down below making it very comfortable for the size boat.

http://www.yachtdomain.com/yachtdomain/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/sigma-33/193553
I know this Sigma 33 and it would be a good boat if you are an experienced sailor. You could find the Compass or Swanson a bit slow and not that nice to sail, depending on what you have been sailing on. I stepped back from a fast, nice boat to sail to a slower cruising boat (Catalina 445) and did not like it, so I sold it a bought the Hanse 575, though a lot of people think the Catalina is a great boat to sail, so it really depends what you have been sailing. This Sigma social races twice a week in our club and is in tip top condition. It always amazes me how well it goes. The owner is only selling to upgrade to a larger boat.

Nice boat Jode 5

Never known a "dog " Swanson . Horses for courses ! Great seaboats and very forgiving . The 28 is no round the buoy racer but sail well in a moderate plus winds . Swansons weren't amateurs , Ron was a mathematician and Jim a craftsman don't forget Ken . between them their designed and built some of the most successful ocean racers and round the buoy yachts in Australia .And their yachts still compete well 40 years on .
The problem with most if not all full keel yachts the skippers try to sail them to tight to the wind and then try to compare them to the modern day "Tupperware yachts " in performance .Full keels are design to be sailed slightly off wind and this gives them the power and drive .

Getting a little sidetracked . the Swanson 28 for cruising I believe is ideal for one or a couple . They don't carry large sail area ,(actually no true Swanson's have big rigs),are easily rigged sailed and reefed Don't draw much are solid in construction and are reasonably priced.And best off all ,they seem to hold their value in this trying times. People say the have weather helm but it's how you sail them. Canoe stern and they are quite a dry yacht.
I have a Swanson 38 and in wind 15kts I put in one reef and the cutter set up and this heavy yacht does go.
I have a mate with a Compass 29 ,his first yacht and he loves it .He looked at a Top Hat to small ,then a Swanson 28 to dumpy but very roomy .
When he started looking it was a bit like Goldilocks and the Three Bears he wanted something suitable for the wife and 2 teenage children and something he could handle and feel safe in.I guess the perfect yacht doesn't exist ?

PS People say the Compass 29 sails slightly better than the 28 ? I've only sailed a 29

Cheers Bear

I've always had a soft spot for the swanny 38

built a 32 with my late Father back in 79







. Jia had a 36 coachouse and cockpit

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HG02 said..
I've always had a soft spot for the swanny 38

Why?? Because they are so slow??

It seems that there are two aspects to boat recommendation. The first is purely technical, and the second is emotional. On the technical aspect I think Bear's opinion is based on his experience with the larger vessels in the range. The Swanny 28 is basically a squashed version of the bigger boats, and I don't think it worked out for the best.

On the emotional side Bear has shown you his link to his family experience with the Swanson designs, and this is to be respected and valid.

I have seen a similar strong emotional attachment to a Compass 28, where a daughter was fiercely defending the value of her Dad's boat, even though it had sat on the mooring for years, and was in a poor state. This to me illustrates the powerful family bonding and experiences that can be generated by owning a sail boat.

Yara like your theory? Have a passion for Top Hats built one and owned one but that is another story?. The Swanson 28 was built when somebody asked Swansons to design a pocket cruising yacht easily handled by a couple or single person . The point I'm trying to make is ,There is no perfect yacht some preform better than others in different conditions . Sailed 16ft Skiffs for many years and raced IOR 1 tonners and must say the skiff behaviours better off the wind . Yet we still see old IOR yachts converted to cruising yachts .At the end of the day some yachts are designed for harbour pleasure others for offshore .I'm yet to see a good cruiser / racer , fast comfortable and dry


Cheers Bear

Fast comfortable and dry up to 30 kn is easy. You only have to sell your firstborn to achieve it. Look at Jode5, you won't get much better example than that
Edit: Jode5 is probably still dry at >30kn, but that's where we start getting wet feet at least!

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shaggybaxter said...
Fast comfortable and dry up to 30 kn is easy. You only have to sell your firstborn to achieve it. Look at Jode5, you won't get much better example than that
Edit: Jode5 is probably still dry at >30kn, but that's where we start getting wet feet at least!

Even so it all depends what want to use the boat for
I do Like the way a Catalina is set down below
But us rather sail a long keeler as a live aboard
Still happy with my choice the extra room in the cockpit with out the mizzen gives lots more room for my purpose and the two settees in the main cabin gives lots of room and the floor space between will be my bed
For 15 minutes while sailing
And the cockpit a great sleeping place in rhe tropics with or with outage bug net

A mate bought a Swanson 32 some years back and I helped sail it down to Sydney and back to Pittwater. Sailed beautifully. But the ply deck was soft and mushy. I was subsequently told lots of Swanson 32s suffer from water saturation in the deck ply.
Someone above thought the Compass 29 sailed better than the 28. It is the reverse, the 28 sails better than the 29. The 28 points a lot higher and is also faster. I've sailed in both a fair bit.