Info on Seawind 31' (extended to 35')

[SeismicJoe]

Hi Everyone

Great forum - a lot of interesting stuff being discussed, especially in the multihull section.

An as a recent convert to twin hulls I was wondering if anyone has experience of the Seawind 31 1991 era. I've recently bought one and was wondering if any members have comment, criticism, advice or plans on the boat.
I intend to use it to cruise the Philippines and SE Asia, some sea passages next year but mostly pottering along the coastlines with kids.

The boat has been extended to 35' during construction (additional 4' behind the cockpits).

Looking forward to your feedback.

Cheers

Joe

[Nordic Cat]

If it is the Australian built boats, you can see all you would ever nned to know here:

http://www.katiekat.net/

Great site in general.

regards

Alan

[SeismicJoe]

Cheers Alan - you are right - it is a great site!

[Bruce Woods]

Seismicjoe, they seem like a solid seaworthy boat. I've never sailed one, and understand not many 31's were built but they have always struck me as a good candidate for transom extensions and a bridge-deck cabin, with their generous free-board. Sounds like yours already has the extension.

Was speaking to the owner of an unmodified one a couple of days ago, on his way from the east coast to the Kimberly. He seemed happy with it.

Regards

[SeismicJoe]

Cheers Bruce - I'll be using the boat in the tropics so a bridgehouse doesn't suit, especially with kids, dogs and BBQs in action - the open-deck concept is much more appealing. Would consider a large frame for a bimini or shade though. The boat does have sun tarps but they are pretty low.
Regards

Joe

[jaydh]

Hey Joe,

Going to cruise the PI? If you haven't been outta the cities yet there you'll think every local stranger already knows you. You're famous! - Hey Joe! That is if you a whitie....

Anyway, I think you bought our old boat..from HK? I know the thing inside and out. Cruised it up and down Oz east coast a few times, s/n Pacific, micronesia and the se Asia area over 5/6 years No dramas.

PM me if you want to chat about anything. There are a few handy tricks with her...

Best,
Jason in QLD

[neville2006]

Hi Joe, that was a stroke of luck catching up with Jason the previous owner!!!
I remember having a look at that boat when it was for sale in Qld some years ago.
Later I ended up with an unmodified Seawind 31 and wished I could have afforded the price asked for Shiralee with two motors and extra waterline length etc.
Just in case you're interested, I have a couple of original articles from Cruising Helmsman from the mid '80s when the first one was launched, before it went over to NZ and up to the islands and back.
You can see them on a website I set up to sell my boat last year here...if I'm allowed to post links on this forum...

http://www.geocities.com/wheytofreedom

Good luck, and have fun up there!
Regards, Neville

[jaydh]

Maybe joe is already off in the PI sucking down cheap San Miguels & near free ciggies....

(Neville, thanks for that link...interesting and never saw it before)

But, in case not, thought I'd post this history of Shiralee as I know it in case he checks in.

(last names omitted on purpose)

According to Richard ??/CEO of current Seawind Catamarans Australia as of 2001-ish....

Shiralee was built by Brett C. when they were operating as Mariglass. I was told he was a manager of some dept. and purposely built Shiralee on the side as his own boat. He did a nice job and the time and effort he took show in lots of little details. If you look on the alum tiller I think you'll see his initials inscribed. Launched sometime in 1991 and outfitted more on the water. Not sure when they extended the transom, but it needed it far as I can tell for how she sat.

Brett put in little custom things that I believe were not standard on the Seawinds overall at the time. Nicer pods for the engines, hard dodger, heavy-duty rudder frame, hard timber deck, massive alum work on front beam for anchors, built in solar panels on the extension, etc.

Rumor is after all the hard work was done the wife wanted a house......in comes John and Sarah H....

John and Sarah bought Shiralee for coastal cruising in Australia. Added the eutectic fridge (compressor kaput now?), Autohelm AP with custom linear drive (very strong considering horrible angle of the pushy bit on the rudder), and maybe a fishfinder over the sounder. Not sure where all they went, but don't think offshore. Enter fertility.....kiddies...more room needed....Crowther 40....

John and Sarah sold to me in 2000-2001 or so? Put in new Trojan batteries, Rutland 913 air-gen & reg, Spectra Watermaker, new rode, anchors, blocks, lines, ground out bottom blisters/re-epoxied/faired, etc, etc. Cruised up and down Oz east coast few times then n/s Pacific, SE Asia areas. Main/Genny were new few months before Peter & Cat bought it....from Martin & Ian at Hyde Sails, Cebu, PI. Screecher from Quantum Sails around 2002? Btw, that sail pushing too big for Shiralee...will buy it and the furler off you for our next boat. ;-)

So she's been around the block, but none the worse for wear. Sailed much faster before all the crap crept on. 20's surfing east Oz, 13.7 flat and level in Port Stephens. Don't do that now if you're loaded as we were.

All the stays have been replaced at least by me over the time owning it. Keep an eye on the mast-bottom compression stays. Get lots of saltwater. Rinse after trips nice....same for winches. Oh yeah, added those Barlows....wimpy-assed single speeds there are a joke! Good to tie the dink off on only when at anchor. Bunch of other little things to keep an eye on...if you email or make contact i'll let ya know.

best guys - Jason

[neville2006]

Hope Joe got a contact with you Jason, the previous owner a valuable resource!
FWIW Jim from multihulls.net.au told me that Brett had the molds extended for Shiralee's layup.
I looked at the boat built previous which had been built to 10m giving nice balanced looking transoms, I guess Brett decided to go even longer to cope with the two motors and cutter rig as well as the solid dodgers and wooden decking!
Saw some of your old posts floating around...did you ever get the rudder balance sorted?
No probs on the standard boat with swing rudders, but they were built pretty heavy with the solid glass bottoms and lo tech layup so were down on their lines...I know with mine the transoms were well dug in at speed...at 13kn upwind there was some pretty impressive ditches and roostertails out back, and what a racket!
I often wonder what happened to the molds for those boats...probably lost in one of the more recent bushfires down Sth NSW...but with modern layup and stiffer beams and with the longer waterline would be a great small cruiser...plenty of room inside...who needs a bridgedeck, plenty of people still cruise in monos...!
Neville

[SeismicJoe]

Hi Jay/Neville Thanks for the great feedback - just what I needed.
I'm hoping to get down to Peter in HK and take over the boat in October. Then a trip over to PI if the weather is right and all other things come together.
What a stroke of luck to find the previous owner!
Will certainly let you know how things work out.
Thanks again for all the help and support.
Best Regards
Joe

[Greg T]

Hi Joe
I built my Seawind 31, Pumpkin 3 adjacent to your catamaran, built by Brett Castle in Wyong, NSW on a vacant industrial block. There were 3 Seawind 31s and an aluminium cat built on this block at the same time. We all enjoyed the camaraderie and sharing of ideas. This was during the late eighties and early 90's. I think Brett launched his boat earlier in 1991 than mine. We all had varying modifications to our boats. Brett won the transom extension trophy, I extended my 31 to 33 feet. We all have varying amounts of elaborate aluminium fabricated parts because of Dave who made the aluminium cat and he was obliging when we wanted a fitting made.My sailing years were curtailed in the 31 because I got married and had kids. I,ve previously owned a Seawind 24 ( to PNG and Solomons and a Mottle 33 ( South Pacific); all my boats were called Pumpkin.
It was great hearing about where some of those boats from that yard in Wyong ended up We jokingly referred to ourselves as the Wyong Yacht squadron - inland division for a number of years.

[boat fan]

http://www.katiekat.net/
Great site Alan !

[neville2006]

Originally Posted by Greg T

Hi Joe
I built my Seawind 31, Pumpkin 3 adjacent to your catamaran, built by Brett Castle in Wyong, NSW on a vacant industrial block.

Hi Greg, yes it was your boat I was referring to in my post...looked at it when you had it up for sale some years ago. I ended up with a local one a few years later...yours had a few build/design improvements over mine I remember.
Glad to hear you didn't have to sell? hope you've managed to do some sailing in the intervening years.

Regards, Neville

[SeismicJoe]

Hi Jay / Nev

Yeah, never did buy Shiralee. Went down to HK to look at her over a couple of days but she was a little neglected and it would have taken some work to get her out of the country and over the water. I think a chap from NZ did actually buy her but can't confirm that. However I did buy a Seawind 24 in Thailand and sailed her from Pattaya to Samui...still keep her there and sail a couple of times a year so all worked out in the end. Trust all is going well with you guys and you are both still sailing. Jay, you were building a 36ft alloy the last time we spoke - how did that work out?

[neville2006]

Hi again, no sailing for me...sold my boat about 4 yrs ago when I became a dad.
New owner unfortunately has not been able to use use the boat in all that time and it is now for sale on a mooring in St Kilda if anyone is interested...
Will need some elbow grease to get her up to scratch again but still salvageable at this stage...I would suggest offers were invited.
It is for sale thru Seawind Cats in NSW

http://www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-fo...spx?R=10108649


Regards, Neville