Conference unifix::sailing

    Last year my wife and I attended a Boston boat show (name not known)
    at the trade center indoors, and the in-water boat shows at Boston,
    Newport, and Stamford.
    
    The indoors show was mostly small (of course), mostly power, and
    in the winter, good for a mid winter fix but not great.  The in-water 
    Boston show was in the spring and much more interesting as we are
    interested in c 40', although it was still mostly power there were
    a fair number of good sized sailboats and it was a very pleasant
    day.  The Newport and Stamford shows were all sail and completely
    incredible.  Hundreds (really!) of boats in the water and all
    imaginable gear.  The locale was distinctly nicer at Newport, but
    the Stamford show seemed a bit larger.  Neither of these shows could
    be absorbed in one day.  We did not make the Anapolis show, which
    I understand is even bigger.
                          
    Rick,

I went to the Boston boat show last night. One of the boats I looked at
was the J-37C. I was curious to see if J-Boats' definition of a proper
cruising boat was anything like my definition. 

The salesman (from the factory, I think) in the cabin asked what boat I
currently own, and, after I told him a Valiant 32, he began telling me
about how much better an offshore cruising boat the J-37C is. If he'd
told me about how the J-37C is a different concept of an offshore
cruising boat than my Valiant, I wouldn't have been offended and I might
have listened more politely. 

When the salesman began telling me that Frances Stokes, in an article in 
the 1989 Ocean Voyager (published by the Ocean Navigator folks) thinks
that light boats (such as the J-37C) are the way to go, he began to lose
credibility. What Stokes actually said: 

   "..... I sailed a 10,000 pound J-35 in the Carlsberg Singlehanded 
   TransAtlantic race the past summer. Sailing a light boat, one has to be 
   conscious of the quicker motion. One hand for yourself becomes the rule 
   on deck and below, and you are reminded that careless peronal injury is 
   one of voyaging's hazards. This boat proved perfectly seaworthy and fast 
   in general ocean conditions, although admittedly I worried a bit about 
   being caught out in a real storm in such a light boat.

   The Valiant 40 is a good example of moderate to light displacement. I 
   crossed the Atlantic a couple of times and completed two Bermuda One-Two 
   races in my Valiant 40 Moonshine. I experienced relatively easy motion 
   with this boat along with good performance ....."

The displacement-length ratio of the Valiant 40 is around 280, a good 
bit more than the J-37C. The Valiant 40 is usually spoken of as a 
moderate to moderately heavy boat. For Stokes to put it into the light 
to moderate category says something about Stokes' viewpoint. Based on
what I have read about Stokes and on the all too brief afternoon I spent
sailing with him, Stokes is a man of some modesty and understatement.
For him to say that he "worried a bit" is, I think, an expression of
considerable concern. I do not interpret Stokes' comments as the ringing
endorsement of the concept of light boats offshore that the J salesman 
was implying.

The salesman went on to totally destroy his credibility by claiming that 
the J-37C is safe offshore because it can be sailed at the speed of the 
waves. Oh? If I recall correctly, the speed of storm waves is well over 
20 knots. More importantly, the boat faster a boat sails, the lower its 
speed relative to the wave. As the speed relative to the wave decreases, 
the amount of steering force the rudder generates decreases also. Loss of 
steering control in a storm is a good way to have the last exciting time 
of your life. The salesman was saying that it is safer to actively 
manage and sail the boat in bad conditions than to go below and let the 
boat fend for itself. Perhaps, perhaps not. But this totally ignores the 
fact that, with a small crew, it is likely to be physically impossible
to actively sail the boat thoughout a prolonged gale or storm. Better,
in my view, a boat that requires little or no attention to keep sailing
and one that can be managed by a good windvane or autopilot. 

One more item of J-37C interest. John Spencer, who was with me,
commented on the flimsy construction of the large opening ports. With
just finger pressure John was able to flex the portlight enough to quite
noticeably increase the gap between the portlight and the frame of the
port. Our conclusion was that a solid wave against the side of the hull
would, at best, result in a significant amount of water coming in around
the portlights. At worst, the port would fail. The boat had no provision
for port storm shutters. 

Actually, the J-37C is a nice boat, and I wouldn't mind coastal cruising 
aboard one in reasonable weather. But an offshore boat it ain't, at 
least in my opinion.

The moral of this tale, if there is one, is that the opinions of boat 
salesmen should be approached with considerable caution, especially by 
less than knowledgeable and experienced buyers. Yes, the J guy was
trying to sell me a J-Boat, and I have no idea whether or not he really
believed what he was saying. But a more balanced picture seems ethically 
required. 

Along similar lines, a recent Crealock advertisement told the
heartwarming tale of a family that made a happy and uneventful passage
from California to Tahiti on their Crealock 37. The ad mentioned that,
before they departed, they'd never made an overnight sail. The
implication is that this is a perfectly acceptable thing to do. It
strikes me as being a perfectly dumb thing to do. It is unfortunate that
so much advertising and so many salepeople say 'sailing is easy' when to
uncritically believe that can lead the innocent to unknowingly
seriously risk their lives. The gods as a matter of routine watch over
the foolish, but even the gods sometimes fall asleep. 

Speaking of more balanced pictures ..... The fellow at the Rig-Rite 
booth was very knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. The Rig-Rite folks 
win the contract to repaint my mast and fabricate new, stronger 
spreaders. (Don't ask how much the painting is -- you don't want to 
know.) The Melonseed built by Crawford Boats is beautifully done, and 
Crawford takes justified pride in his work. After glancing at the 
enormous wings on the keel of O'Day 322, I can see how burying the wings 
in a muddy bottom might pull the keel off the boat. The root chord of 
the keel is very, very short. You could have a barbeque for many friends 
on the sugar scoop stern of the Freedom 42. Not how I would choose to 
use two feet of hull length. The Freedom 36 is $90 000. For that price 
you get only a single short handrail in the center of the cabin 
overhead. The interior of the new C&C 37 isn't very good (but the head
is big enough for two and the shower has a chest-high clear door). Lots
of sailboards. And do pause for a look at the Bentley Turbo S 
(beautiful, classic elegance at 140+ mph). All-in-all worth the discount
price of admission ($5), but not by much. 

    RE: .9
    	You are absolutely correct in your opinion of some sales people.
    You think they would learn that to be straight forward is the best
    approach, but then how would they sell the "not so perfect" items!
    	The Freedom 45's sales people were stuffy to say the least. (I was
    there last night too)  I had more fun talking to the Hobbie Cat's sales
    people. All in all I did enjoy it, there are still lots of good people
    involved in sailing.
    
    RE: .8
    	Take the Pike to the Expressway North. Stay to the right and take
    the Atlantic and Northern Ave Exit, after you bear right onto Atlantic
    you take a right turn onto Northern and go over a bridge. 1/2 mile and
    the World Trade Center is on your left. Parking is directly across from
    the center.
    
    Don
    

RE: .10,

>>>    RE: .8
>>>    	Take the Pike to the Expressway North. Stay to the right and take
>>>    the Atlantic and Northern Ave Exit, after you bear right onto Atlantic
>>>    you take a right turn onto Northern and go over a bridge. 1/2 mile and
>>>    the World Trade Center is on your left. Parking is directly across from
>>>    the center.
    
Good directions.  One potentially useful additional bit of info is that 
there are three roads running across Fort Point Channel from Atlantic St.
If perchance you get onto Atlantic further south, this will help.

The first (southernmost; right after South Station) is Summer St, the next 
one is Congress St, and the third (and last) is Northern Ave.  You can
tell it from the others by the archaic overhead girder structure, through
which you must drive. 

J.

    I went to the show Saturday.  It was just the winter break I needed.
    Did anyone notice the Whitehalls on display?  I spent some time
    at that display talking with the gentleman that designed (well,
    copied the design) and builds them.  The 22' had to be the largest
    completely open sailboat I've seen in years.  Do any readers own
    a Whitehall?  Just curious.
    
    Have a GREAT day!
    Pete
    
    P.S.  If anyone out there (besides me) owns a Sirocca, the word
    from the factory is that they're trying to set up organized one-
    design racing this season and there will be a new 'geniker' kit
    available for about $450.
    

    RE: .12
    
    Yes I did notice the Whitehalls. A fun looking boat, of course you dont
    want to sail them on bad days. I really liked the floor boards that
    double as the platform. He even has a tent that he takes sailing, when
    they reach their destination, they pick up the floor boards and make
    the platform (now the seats are gone), roll out the sleeping bags,
    hoist the tent and your camping. A great family, party boat if you have
    and extra $12,000 too spend.  :^)  
    

    RE: .13
    
>>>  ...the Whitehalls.  A fun looking boat, of course you dont want to sail 
>>>  them on bad days. 

Your determination should be based on the fittings and rig chosen by the 
builder, and maybe the specific hull characteristics, not on the fact
she's an open boat. 

I've sailed a 30' open pulling boat (*no* decking) thousands of miles when
I worked for Outward Bound, including skippering a staff training "cruise"
from the Florida Keys to Maine, March-May.  We had plenty of rough stuff,
including 150+ offshore miles between Jacksonville and Charleston in 25-30
kts with 6+ ft seas.  It was quite exhilarating picking up the offshore
buoys 20-30+ miles out every few hours, not to mention quite an exercise
in compass navigation and helmspersonship.  The crew of 7 was certainly
capable (three of us specifically as long-term sailors), but the ability
was mostly in the boat, open or not. 

Now whether I'd choose to do the same thing in that Whitehall, that'd take 
some serious sailing in it to find out.  

Mostly, she's pretty ugly, don't you think?  I thought she looked like a 
Cape Dory 10 on steroids -- not at all the better for losing her scale. 

J.

    I don't know that I'd call her ugly.  She's certainly not a 'modern'
    sailboat design.  The design is at least 300 years old.  I've always
    been drawn towards the 'classic' boat designs: cat boats, dories,
    etc (although I own a Sirocca with a completely modern shape). 
   
    As far as price goes, I was impossible to shock after seeing that
    12 foot cat boat (the one with lots of teak) for only $15,500 not
    including seats!
    
    The prettiest boat there (at least to my classic tastes) had to
    be that Herreshoff 14.
    
    Have a GREAT day!
    Pete
    

    I saw her myself.  I looked at many boats that evening and admired
    the various sizes, appointments, and could see myself sailing quite
    a few of them, but my wife really couldn't figure out how or where
    I was going to put the full shower and head.......???????
    
    ctd

    Prettiest in the show has to go to the DANA 24!!
    
    For strength, headroom, room below, quality of detailing, bronze
    and teak - it is just beautiful.  Speed?  Has to be another story.
    
    The sales rep said there were none around New England.  He has sold
    a couple to "fed-up software engineers" who book out to the Caribbean
    to get their heads back together.  Putting down $65k for a 24' boat,
    they must be pretty well fed...
    
    Ron
    
    

    
    My Alzheimers is acting up again...  that pretty little Noank
    Whitehall rowing boat was rowed into Menemsha Pond from Vinyard
    Sound against the current, not through Woods Hole.  Sorry for
    the misinformation.  It is quite attractive, though, I remembered
    that part correctly!