anyone know about this boat?

[hertfordnc]

This boat is for sale near me. I am very interested. The boatyard has very little info. It's listed as a 1976 Skipper Marine 30-footer. They think it was home built.

No luck googling skipper marine as that name is too common and used by so many in the boat business.

I'd be grateful for any knowledge or opinions or wild guesses on the boat.

www.davesilva.com/red_boat


Thanks

Dave

[Chris Ostlind]

Dave,

Post the same question and info over at the Wooden Boat Forum. There are lots and lots of guys over there who know boat models, etc.

http://www.woodenboatvb.com/vbulletin/upload/

Chris

[USCGRET/E8]

Originally Posted by hertfordnc

This boat is for sale near me. I am very interested. The boatyard has very little info. It's listed as a 1976 Skipper Marine 30-footer. They think it was home built.

No luck googling skipper marine as that name is too common and used by so many in the boat business.

I'd be grateful for any knowledge or opinions or wild guesses on the boat.

www.davesilva.com/red_boat


Thanks

Dave

Post some pics if you can.

[hertfordnc]

Hey Senior Chief,

The pictures are in the link I posted:

http://www.davesilva.com/red_boat

I've learned a bit more since I posted earlier but that just leads to more confusion.

What can ya'll tell me about htis boat from the pictures? How might the flat bottom affect handling?


I've never seen a sailboat shaped like this one.

One friend thought the prop was too close to the hull, suggesting it had been repowered.

Any insight provided would be great.

thanks

dave

[alan white]

I noticed the very flat bottom and hard bilges. The clipper bow speaks of an attempt at classic style rather than an appeal to racing enthusiasts (who would demand a straight-angled business-like bow, and yet the boat must weigh in at 3-3 1/2 tons maximum judging by the photos, meaning the light weight was an attempt to produce the boat inexpensively.
There are a few amenitities indicating it was raced--- backstay tensioner, spinnaker track and pole, and a beefy jib halyard winch.
The hull-form is unusual, and such boats are often experiments gone bad. I'm not saying the boat is poorly built or badly designed. It just that in lieu of any solid information (like a test in a magazine of that model), there is no way to know what was achieved or comprimised by that hull shape.

If I had to guess, I'd say the boat hasn't enough ballast to stand up to the sails, and the flat bottom is a means to get that stability back (at the cost of final stability and greater wetted surface).
The rig is probably mostly foretriangle and a small main (judging by the backstay tensioner position and the mast location). Maybe 350 sq ft, with a full 200 in the foretriangle alone, much in the seventies IOR style. Certainly not a relaxing helm. With so little underbody and a short keel, wide stern and narrow bow, the boat will be twitchy offwind and while fast on the wind, quick to reef, as heeling beyond a certain point is going to produce a strong weather helm.
Not a boat I'd want to own. I like a deeper-bellied hull, longer keel, and more displacement. Are there any specifications with the info sheet?

Alan

[Southpaw]

Dave,

The Boat you are looking at is possibly a Clipper Marine 30 designed William Crealock.

Take a look at http://www.clipper-sailor.net/ they have the owners manual and pictures posted.

You could also ask on the Trailer Sailer ~ Clipper Marine forum. They can probably tell you if the boat is indeed a Clipper Marine.

[alan white]

Good researching, Southpaw. I think you nailed it. This appears to be an early FG ultrlight, built to sell cheap, by a very well known designer, Bill Crealock. Along the lines of a MacGregor, it was a boat built for the guy who thought he couldn't afford a cruising boat.
Not for offshore, to be certain! Rather, it's a boat made for near-shore overnighting.
My guess is it's a commonsense design for what it is. Crealock was going for the "bang for the buck" crowd, and it might just be a reasonable, if limited sailer.
It all depends on intended use.

Alan

[hertfordnc]

THanks so much. I foumd several listings on ebay and craigs and the boat is definitly a Clipper 30 that may have had a hard life.

The cabinetry on the left is not original. no sink, no stove.

What about the prop size? Someone said it was too close to the hull and therefore not original.

So, how would it sail? any actual reviews? I couldn't find much.

Too bad for the seller- it's been listed as a Skipper 30 for months.

Thanks

[Southpaw]

I really do not know about the prop. I personally would try an outboard and remove the inboard altogether. I just prefer outboards.

I found three reviews on Sailnet.com.

One review stated that:
“She skims along beautifully, with wonderful agility. Her maneuverability is excellent. She's responsive and SO easy to handle. On that first day, we had her out in 15-20 mph winds and 6' swells on the San Francisco Bay. She handled it all beautifully.
”She is a true joy to sail, goes upwind easily (we have the larger keel option) and we can step her mast quickly and easily with four people assisting.


As a side note I picked up a Clipper Marine 26 this summer and it sails great on the lakes around here and beaches nicely, Sorry, I do not know about offshore performance.

Shane