Northshore Southerly
RichT
curves, versatile swing-keel, and internal pilot position are all
attractive. Can anybody shed any light on their badpoints (apart from
cost!)? Does the swing-keel housing not run the risk of getting fouled by
marine growth?
Graham Frankland
"RichT" <Ri...@biscuits.com> wrote in message
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couple of used ones at Northshore's. Didn't take long to cross them off.
Graham.
Brian Mitchell
news:UNZe9.412170$Aw4.17...@bin2.nnrp.aus1.giganews.com...
the Northshore yard where they're built to look over several used brokerage
examples - because I'd arrived by sea I was dressed fairly tattily though
reasonably presentably. The brokerage sales office had the snottiest bunch
of people I've encountered in the sailing fraternity. I just couldn't
stomach it so walked out of the yard and they almost certainly lost a sale.
Sorry this is off the subject regarding advice on the Southerly range but
mention of Northshore prompted me to air that view which really annoyed me
at the time!
Cheers, Brian
RichT
> couple of used ones at Northshore's. Didn't take long to cross them off.
Could you elaborate? I haven't yet seen one in the flesh, but reviews I have
read suggest that they are quite well built.
RichT
"Brian Mitchell" <br...@mitchellworld.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dg_e9.4245$571.407868@wards...
> >
> A couple of years ago I was considering buying a used Vancouver so visited
> the Northshore yard where they're built to look over several used
brokerage
> examples - because I'd arrived by sea I was dressed fairly tattily
Well if that is their attitude they will are going to be really shocked when
they see me! There is no way I am going to brush my hair and wear long
trousers just to be taken seriously....
mike
> cost!)? Does the swing-keel housing not run the risk of getting fouled by
> marine growth?
>
see if you are happy with the sailing performance.
I had problem with the coating on the keel and bad rust. I had to get the
yacht chocked up high enough for the keel to be accessible then shot blasted
to bare metal and coating system applied. Dodgy job, used a lot of railway
sleepers. Big expensive job which also (despite precautions) resulted in
grit entering the cabin and the hydraulics - lucky no permanent damage.
Wouldn't have thought fouling to be a problem if you wash off the keel
annually; and lift keel up regularly?
Sailed like a dog but great comfort in harbour and impressive when dried out
on a beach - endless sight seers. Well made, good gear.
Hope this helps. Mike
Brian Walsh
Practical Boat Owner had a review of the Southerly 110 in the March
2002 issue. Review by a David Harding.
Nice Rob Humphrey's hull with the Southerly swing keel system. I like
the idea of a draught that goes from 2'4" to 7'2" - and a swing keel
rather than a lifting one.
PBO opined that you'd need the optional extra 4' of mast to get
performance out of the hull. Not great to winward. 5.5 knots in a 16
knot wind and tacked through 90 degrees. They didn't like the standard
underpitched prop.
Shallow cockpit to allow more room in the aft cabin. Looks difficult
to climb around the wheel to get at the winches / jib-sheets. You'd
have to step up on the seats or maybe sit down on the seats and slide
a good bit to get your legs past the wheel and pedastal. Don't ask
about getting to the mainsheet.
Apparently a bow-thruster is now standard because the geometry of twin
rudders made it a pig in a marina.
Looks nice inside, but the tiny round sink must have been designed by
a 'designer' who never actually uses one.
Sounds sort of good for cruising about in nice weather with a few
crew. :)
Brian
Graham Frankland
Brian Mitchell wrote in message ...
>A couple of years ago I was considering buying a used Vancouver so visited
>the Northshore yard where they're built to look over several used brokerage
>examples - because I'd arrived by sea I was dressed fairly tattily though
>reasonably presentably. The brokerage sales office had the snottiest bunch
>of people I've encountered in the sailing fraternity. I just couldn't
>stomach it so walked out of the yard and they almost certainly lost a sale.
>
the market for a new boat, attention faded.
We were handed the keys for a couple of 115's they had on brokerage but no
offer to accompany us. The boats were parked under the trees and filthy,
one had leaves blocking the cockpit drains and the water had flooded the
main cabin.
Although substantially built, we didn't like the layout - too much open
space and different levels. On handing the keys back, one salesman said he
wouldn't buy one for offshore use as too flat bottomed and also under
ruddered when heeled. I think the newer models may be better though.
There's one based in Conwy and having seen the way it skates around out of
control on the wind when the keels retracted, you can forget sailing or even
motoring if there's a cross wind, at minimum draft setting.
Graham.
RichT
"Graham Frankland" <gdf...@globalnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Rmbf9.423890> Although substantially built, we didn't like the layout -
too much open
> space and different levels. On handing the keys back, one salesman said
he
> wouldn't buy one for offshore use as too flat bottomed and also under
> ruddered when heeled. I think the newer models may be better though.
>
rudders. That of course compromises the close quarter handling under power,
so they've fitted a bow thruster.
James
years ago had NO Access to the water pump impeller without the aid of a
jigsaw to cut an access hole with!
To put it another way, The engine was fitted before the deck and no thought
whatsoever seemed to be given to the maintainance of the unit.
The swing keel system however works very well and overall is the most
reliable.
It is also a very good fit to the grp moulding
Paul Brant
my neighbour owns a 105 and my uncle has owned a 105. We live just outside
Southend and keep them on drying moorings.
Some things to be aware of.
The early Southerly's swing keel had a pivot that was cast. The pivot broke
easily if struck/grounded leaving the keel hanging on ropes. A keel
modification was made to later models and many owners had keels upgraded. If
you look down the central walk way on any older Southerly and see a
fibreglass bulb sticking out an inch or 2 its been upgraded. This is a good
thing.
On the keel again many owners have fitted electric hydraulic pumps to make
the raising of the keel easier. Make sure you see the keel lowered and
raised on the hand pump. If the owner needs medical attention post the
raising the keel by hand walk away.
Get a Southerly with a bow thruster or keep cash back to have one fitted.
There is so much out of the water that on windy days they can be a pig to
manoeuvre if short handed.
As for the your points regarding the keel housing I have never had a
problem. I think the key is to keep the keel moving. I do know of a chap who
left his keel down for an entire season. At the end he tried to raise it, it
wouldn't move an inch.
Finding a good Southerly is very hard. I saw one 95 and at least 6 105's.
Some good things.
The accommodation is fantastic. My wife's requirements were that we all (
kids and us) go to bed and not mess with the living area. A Southerly gives
you great accommodation.
I can leave my mooring in under a metre of water and I can dry out safely.
Not bad for a yacht of its size.
I have sailed both my fathers and my own Southerly in severe weather
conditions and always found them to be very capable craft.
The internal pilot position provides great vis beneath a full Genoa.
The centre cockpit ( on the 105 ) provides a safe environment for my family.
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Paul
"Graham Frankland" <gdfltd@nospam@globalnet.co.uk> wrote in message
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RichT
"Paul Brant" <pbr...@pcbsys.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1031690922.25172....@oldnews.demon.co.uk...
> What model and age were you looking at ?
The new 110. I think most of the disadvantages you highlight have been dealt
with - keel is now hydraulic, bow thruster is standard, and so it can be
fitted with twin rudders (which otherwise would make manouvrability even
worse) which makes sailing nicer.
>
>
> Finding a good Southerly is very hard. I saw one 95 and at least 6 105's.
Is the interior fairly durable? A five year old Moody looks like new - a
five year old Beneteau looks like a pile of scrapwood. Where do Southerly's
fit in the spectrum?
>
> Some good things.
> I have sailed both my fathers and my own Southerly in severe weather
> conditions and always found them to be very capable craft.
They have fantastic stability curves at high angles of lean (I don't think I
have seen a boat with a better curve) which is one of the reasons I am
interested in them. But at low angles are they not a bit tender (ie easy to
roll at low lean angles)? They have a lot of weight below the centre of
gravity, but it is not deep like on a conventional keel and this would tend
to make them a bit tender. In light winds, I would imagine that they are a
bit of a heavy rolling pig. Am I right?
>
> The internal pilot position provides great vis beneath a full Genoa.
>
This is the other principal reason I am interested in them. I single-hand
almost exclusively so ability to look out when at the nav table or galley is
a major advantage.
Paul Brant
>
> "Paul Brant" <pbr...@pcbsys.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1031690922.25172....@oldnews.demon.co.uk...
> > What model and age were you looking at ?
>
> The new 110. I think most of the disadvantages you highlight have been
dealt
> with - keel is now hydraulic, bow thruster is standard, and so it can be
> fitted with twin rudders (which otherwise would make manouvrability even
> worse) which makes sailing nicer.
> >
> >
I know that the new twin rudder system has a very substantial skeg but
having looked at it it is not something I would keep on my mooring. Come mid
October with increased winds and seas I can will imagine the thing landing
on its bum form time to time. Anything with a fixed rudder east of Southend
pier ultimately needs its rudder mending.
> > Finding a good Southerly is very hard. I saw one 95 and at least 6
105's.
>
> Is the interior fairly durable? A five year old Moody looks like new - a
> five year old Beneteau looks like a pile of scrapwood. Where do
Southerly's
> fit in the spectrum?
> >
It wasn't so much the durability more the type of owner that was attracted
to them. Some of the DIY projects I saw were truly offensive to the eye.
Those that have been left as designed with maybe a seating cover upgrade
still look quite respectable. Examples of DIY disasters included custom
blinds for the pilot house windows and another head in the aft cabin -
lovely !
> > Some good things.
>
> > I have sailed both my fathers and my own Southerly in severe weather
> > conditions and always found them to be very capable craft.
>
> They have fantastic stability curves at high angles of lean (I don't think
I
> have seen a boat with a better curve) which is one of the reasons I am
> interested in them. But at low angles are they not a bit tender (ie easy
to
> roll at low lean angles)? They have a lot of weight below the centre of
> gravity, but it is not deep like on a conventional keel and this would
tend
> to make them a bit tender. In light winds, I would imagine that they are a
> bit of a heavy rolling pig. Am I right?
> >
The sea motion of a southerly is very different to most. I have had people
tell me how they are never sick, sail on a Southerly and proceed to throw
up. It could be my cooking but.. the motion is different. As you point out
the bulk of the weight of the keel is actually in the grounding plate and
not the keel itself. That and the flat bottom mean you reef before everyone
else and get used to a different sea motion.
> > The internal pilot position provides great vis beneath a full Genoa.
> >
> This is the other principal reason I am interested in them. I single-hand
> almost exclusively so ability to look out when at the nav table or galley
is
> a major advantage.
>
They are very practical boats for the east coast. They are very comfortable
cruising yachts. There's plenty of space underneath the floors for a hot
water system/tank and extra batteries. They are a good family boat
Regards,
Paul
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