Y
ou only have to
browse internet
threads set up by
sailors wondering
which used cruiser
to buy to get an
idea of how tricky this process can
be. And as time flies by and older
GRP yachts keep soldiering on,
the choice gets ever wider
(indeed, there are too many to
mention them all here).
These threads and forums do a
great job. They enable cruising
newcomers to plug into the
knowledge of those who have
been at it for decades. Many such
discussions do more than just
indicate the merits of different
types and models; they also major
on assessing the cost of replacing
items such as engines, sails,
rigging etc as set against the
lower purchase price of an elderly
boat. It’s a delicate budget-
balancing act that occasionally
results in a total outlay amounting
to more than the resale value of
the two elements combined.
Bordering, as my granny used to
say, on ‘good money after bad.’
If you are attracted by a cruiser
with a long keel, traditional lines
and easy motion in a seaway,
and are not put off by a narrow
accommodation with amidships
heads and no stern cabin, you
have little choice but to go for an
oldie. Modern wide-beamed and
shallow-hulled fin-keelers have
effectively banished such boats
from the new-build scene.Classic style
One internet thread initiator
flushed out a flurry of interesting
comments, posting: ‘I am looking
at the possibility of a first yacht
purchase and would appreciate
some thoughts on the variations
between a Victoria 30, a Halmatic
30 or a Nicholson 31. I am keener
on the more classic style of yacht
than on newer boats and want a
long keel, with a view to longer or
ocean trips in the future.’
The selection of these fine old
long-keelers shows he has done
his homework: anyone looking for
a boat of this character should
have them on his list. The John
Sharp-designed Halmatic 30
(and similar Barbican 30) is 22ft
10in on the waterline with a 9ft 6in
beam, draws 4ft 6in, displaces
10,080lb with a 50% ballast ratio,
and has a 378 DLR and 14.8
SA/displacement ratio. The Chuck
Paine-designed Victoria 30
has a canoe stern and similar
dimensions but is appreciably
lighter at 8,867lb with a 31%
ballast ratio and DLR of 311.Raymond Wall’s classy Nicholson
31 (30ft 6in OA), on the other
hand, is a little longer, wider (10ft
3in) and heavier (13,005lb) with a
ballast ratio of 37% and DLR of- Like the Halmatic 30, it has a
transom-hung rudder, giving the
look of an elegant overgrown
Folkboat or Twister.
Helpful responses rolled in.
One experienced sailor posted:
‘I owned a Victoria 30, mistakenly
sold for an unsatisfying AWB
(Average White Blob), and now
have a Mk2 Halmatic 30. I really
like this style of boat for short-
handed sailing, mainly with my
wife, and mostly for coastal
passages on the West Coast of
Scotland. The Victoria 30 is a
class act; beautifully made and
comfortable. Under power, it was
easier to control in reverse than
the Halmatic 30, which is
unpredictable – a significant
consideration in a tight marina
berth. Once sailing, I prefer the
handling qualities of the Halmatic,
which sails beautifully. All
long-keelers are directionally
The British legions
Peter K Poland examines a rich variety of British-built
28 to 30ft cruisers built from the late ’ 7 0s onwards
Moody 31: available
second-hand from £23,000
Boats
ABOUT THE AUTHORPeter K Poland crossed the Atlantic in a 7 .6m
(25ft) Wind Elf in 1968 and later spent 30
years as co-owner of Hunter Boats. He is
now a freelance journalist.Sailing Scenes