HC vs other cruising sailboats. Which ones are the best?
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HCs vs. Other Sailboats:
HC vs other cruising sailboats. Which ones are the best?
     By Guest on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 11:05 am: Edit |
If you could select from the 5-10 best cruising type sailboats in the 30-40 foot range, which ones would they be and why?
I am new to this area and am trying to get some info from experienced people.
Guest,
Depends on what type of cruising you will do and where most of it would be done.
For instance: if I were going to stay on the Chesapeake Bay or hop the Atlantic coast I would choose a boat with more speed and a bit less draft than the one I have. If the open ocean were planned to take up a good bit of the time I would be happy with my heavy HC drawing 6'.
The parameters must be nailed down first.
LW
| By Guest on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 03:32 pm: Edit |
Lewis,
I don't think I have enough $$$ to buy multiple versions of cruising sailboats so I was hoping to nail it down to just one.
I understand what you are saying about choices, there always is a compromise...
When you talk of speed, what would you consider more speed compared to your HC?
Could you expand a bit upon this idea?
Thanks.
| By Danny on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 03:38 pm: Edit |
A Hans Christian, Why? Because they are the BEST! 
They look like a boat, not like a Clorox bottle with a mast.
Danny
I am not certain what you are asking.
The HC line are heavy but, like some other heavies, they are not necessarily slow. They like a brisk reach and then move (and sound!) like a freight train. They are not the best in light airs nor do they point terribly well. They do ride more comfortably in choppy seas than the average clorox bottle.
So I am not talking about a raw speed comparison, I am referring to an all-condition speed comparison and for coastal or inland short-hopping a higher performance boat would be personally preferred. Reduced draft will open up some inlets and gunkhole areas that I wouldn't attempt with a 6 footer.
As for offshore, the HC line and other heavy full keel boats can often carry more sail giving greater stability and speed, will heave to much better and will give a smoother ride. A smoother ride is a safer one. I appreciate the stoutness of the hull and the rigging. Look at a group of distance cruisers and notice the number of boats that look as if Bob Perry designed them. Won't find many Hunters there. There's a reason for that. Look on the Chesapeake and there are tons of Hunters and Catalinas and they are fine for those waters.
There's a lot in between.
Have I answered your question?
Then there is the element of style and personally my HC fills that bill to the T.
Go Danny Go!
(Message edited by lewis on September 15, 2004)
| By Guest on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 10:12 am: Edit |
Thanks for the responses.
I'm trying to get an idea of the 5-10 best cruising type boats in the 30-40 foot range are besides HC and why are they the best?
Or could anyone recommend a the best books that discusses this concept in simple terms?
Thanks.
I think Lewis is spot on. You have got to nail down where you are going to use it. There are not may compromises. If you are going to spend a lot of time entering and leaving marinas don't buy a HC. If you want to go ohh and ahh every time you see your boat or have others do the same buy an HC. and as the guys say in the big blows just hope you bought a Hans.
| By Danny on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 04:02 pm: Edit |
Your right Doug you have to know what you want. I think maybe a good book on the subject is "The Ocean Sailing Yacht - Volume I" By Donald Street. He seems to cover some good ground in his book, not to say that there aren't a multitude of other great books, but this has always been one of my favorites, kind of a nuts and bolts approach to the whole thing.
Danny
You guys are all on target. But I think I can offer a simple list just to make the conversation more interesting. Here is the list of top 10 cruising boats under $200.000. They are in no order.
Hans Christian *
Morgan OI 40
Westsail 32, 42 & 43
Valiant 40
Gozzard 36
Tyana 37
Whitby 42
Island Packet 38
Beneteau 40
Lagoon 38
| By Guest on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 08:34 pm: Edit |
Thanks for the book and list men.
What if I only had $100K and less?
Would they be the same builders but smaller or would I go to other builders and what if you increased the list so the boat would be easier to find.
Do you know of a place on the net that could help me locate list? Books, mags, sites...?
Thanks for your help.
| By guest on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 08:39 pm: Edit |
One other question about these boats, what makes them better?
John,
Interesting choices. Whose top ten are those? A couple of those give me cause for pause. On the Lagoon 38, are you refering to the Lagoon 380 crusing catamaran? I think I would like to see a KP44 on that list as well.
Dear Guest:
I think that you kind find a very nice HC33 for 100K or less.
Don't forget the Baba 35 and 40s as well. The will, however, probabl be more than 100K, especially the 40.
R-
Lots of Tayana 37's out there too.
I remember some article in Cruising World less than a year ago which covered a group of recommended pre-owned cruisers for under 100K. I flipped through a pile but think that one is gone. A search might work.
Lewis
Jamie,
Yes on the Lagoon. It is a great crusing boat. However that is based on a certain type of cruising. As are all the other boats listed. The KP would be a fine choice too but then that would be more than 10 on the list. It is no one's "real top ten". But it is representative list of the most popular boats actually out there cruising. We all know the list is really much longer but then it would not be a top ten. And like I said ... got to make the conversation interesting.
As for under $100k or even under $50k boats the Tyana and the Baba are excellent choices. As too would be some older Mariners, Formosas, CTs, etc, etc.
:-)
If you really want a perspective of good inexpensive cruising boats I suggest reading Good Old Boat/ or Living Aboard Magazine/. Both are extraordinary reads for real, people with real boats really doing the crusing thing and much more. I love reading these as they are informative and offer more true to life perspective and thoughful information than any of the "glossy" fantasy rags like Crusing World.
When you look at older Taiwan boats (CT, Formosa, etc...) be wary of wooden masts and bowsprits. Many surveyors will not do a rigging inspection and that is absolutely essential with wooden spars, IMO.
My dock neighbor has a CT 42 that snapped the end off it's sprit in light air. The wood underneath was rotten, and he was told this is a common problem on CTs.
| By Danny on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 11:24 am: Edit |
I guess my question is will the boat be used for off-shore or for coastal; this is the first and foremost question that must be answered. For off-shore a 100k is a low, for coastal you might be able to get an ok boat. Then another thing is sailing experience, a large boat can certainly be a hand full when the weather goes down the tube. Will the boat be single handed or will there we crew on board this is where the type of rig comes into consideration, cutter, ketch, sloop, schooner, yawl. Is living aboard a consideration? And do you like Buick's or Corvette’s? The only way to find out what boats will work for a person is to go to a broker and take them out for a test sail. Everything on a boat is a compromise. Another thing to consider is will you be doing your own work on the boat. The cost and frustration of having a yard do the work will make you go completely and utterly insane. Our fine new friend Charles would be a good fellow to speak with; he has just joined our merry little band of lunatics that are addicted to the deep blue sea. My own preferences are boats that sit in the water not on top of it. Again everything is a compromise directly related to the pocket book. If you are on the west coast 48 North is a wonderful little rag that has good information and a lot of boat listings from 8' to 100'. They also have a web site www.48north.com You just have to go out and look at different boats, and make sure you take the wife along, this is of critical importance (-; Best of luck in you endeavor to find that perfect boat.
Danny
| By Guest on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 11:10 am: Edit |
I found this link on the web which reviews about 100 sailboats.
Hope this helps.
http://old.cruisingworld.com/ssbk/ssboandx.htm
| By Guest on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 11:25 am: Edit |
Here are a few more from a different site.
http://www.sailmag.com/boatreviews/
I noticed that niether of those sites had Hans Christian reviews. 
Hi, I have had my HC for nine years. Have cruised up and down the whole of the east coast of Australia, and rounded Tasmania. I wouldn't swop my boat for any other. If I go in and out of marinas, I have no problems, maybe because I have a Christina 43 !!!! I don't see many comments on the Christinas, they are good safe, reasonably speedy, have basically the same interior as a Traditional and look as good as one, too. I think the Traditionals are great boats, but I don't think enough folk appreciate, just what Fine vessel the HC Christina is.................
Dennis,
There have been numerous accolades concerning the Christinas over the years posted on this site.
I guess we don't talk about them as much because not too many of us have them.
Perhaps you could help spearhead some more involvement here by the Christina clan.
Sounds like you have made great use of yours!
Best,
Lewis
The Christinas are fantastic boats. I'm only sorry that the 40 was so short lived. ImHO it out shines the 43 and is a wonderful option for those looking for something about the same LOA and displacement as the HC33T.
- Steve
| By M. Salvaneschi on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 12:21 pm: Edit |
I've owned MIKA an HC 38 since 1978. She has become part of me. I recently completed a 7 year solo circumnavigation and although I felt fearful on a number of occassions this great sea boat brought me home safe and sound. I finally finished a book on my adventure and am looking foreward to serious cruising once again.
In John's post he names several boats that made our short list, however we kept coming back to the HC 43 Ketch.
One that I didn't see on the list was the Mason we really liked the 44's but in the end the HC best suited out needs.
Now for the bias view, I think the HC's look GREAT, feel GREAT and just plain are GREAT!
Then again what did you expect asking this question on the HCOA site 
Good luck in your search!!
BTW- one recommendation I can make is look at as many boats as you can and when you thought you've seen them all, go look at a few more. Once you decide on a particular design then go look at as many of those as you can....when the right one comes along you'll just feel it!!
(Message edited by dino on October 18, 2005)
