Nonsuch- Blue water?

[serenity4u2]

After reviewing Mahina's website on blue water cruisers, I observed many boats are left out. I hear many people praise the Nonsuch 30, 33 and 36 as very big boats for there size. Most reviews I have read state they are a very solid boat.. Never seen one or sailed on one... Asearch on yatchworld seems that most are back east and not out here (PNW)... Although I have no interest in the boat for personal usage- I was looking at the CAT RIG as a plus for ease of single handed sailing. I am wondering if such a rig would make this boat a poor off shore cruiser.. Thanks for any input...

[mikehoyt]

These were manufactured by Hinterhoeller Yachts in Ontario, Canada in the 1980s. They are nice boats but I am not certain that a single large sail would provide the flexibility required for bluewater sailing.

That being said - they are great boats for coastal cruising and have loads of room inside. our friends have a 26 and the interior is huge! (as is the price, the dispacement, etc... for a26 foot boat)

Mike

[Maine Sail]

It's been tried a few times and the results were not good. The sail is HUGE making it very tough to handle in high winds or breaking seas and the hulls are relatively flat like a Laser and they will pound fairly hard in big seas.

While they are built to a very high standard, the design, notably the rig and single sail, don't make them the best choice for a extended blue water sailing. I'm sure the hull could survive just about anything but you may not trying to man handle that sail in 50+...

[Vasco]

A guy from Toronto tried to circumnavigate with one. Unfortunately he lost the main (and only) halyard and drifted towards Antartica. He was finally rescued but the boat stayed afloat and ended up in South America. It was a borrowed boat and I think the owner eventually got it back. There was a book written about it but I can't remember the title. These boat's are strong but the rig is a bit much. By the way, they are not as easy to sail as they claim - the "only one line bit". There is also a choker line. Also when you reef the bunt in the "cradle" catches a lot of wind.

[anchorsaweigh]

Originally Posted by Vasco

By the way, they are not as easy to sail as they claim - the "only one line bit". There is also a choker line. Also when you reef the bunt in the "cradle" catches a lot of wind.

The lines for a Nonsuch:

1 Halyard
1 Sheet
2 First reef
2 Second reef
1 Choker
1 Topping lift

You have one sheet to tend. You may have to adjust the choker (outhaul for you sloop-riggers) occasionally. Reefing is simple and I, nor anyone else I know who owns one, have never had a problem with the reefed sail in the lazyjacks.

Some folks have an electric halyard winch to raise the sail. I don't, and I don't have a problem hauling it up by hand.

I raise the sail, release the topping lift, adjust the choker, kick back and trim when necessary. When tacking, simply turn the wheel and shift your butt a little bit.

When sailing a Nonsuch you can be as busy or lazy as you like. But you'd be hard-pressed to be really busy. It's the easiest boat I'VE ever sailed.

As far as blue-water cruising? It has been done; sometimes successfully, sometimes not. The PO of my boat sailed it back and forth between Ft Myers and Cape Cod preferring to travel offshore. He did this every year for twenty-four years without a problem.

I have had mine out in 50+ (not intentionally) and it handled just a tad tough, but fine double-reefed. The same day was steady at 40 - 45.

Many people totally misunderstand the boat, most with no experience with them whatsoever.

I wouldn't give mine up for love nor money.

Cheers,

Bob

[johnshasteen]

Originally Posted by anchorsaweigh

As far as blue-water cruising? It has been done; sometimes successfully, sometimes not. The PO of my boat sailed it back and forth between Ft Myers and Cape Cod preferring to travel offshore. He did this every year for twenty-four years without a problem.
I have had mine out in 50+ (not intentionally) and it handled just a tad tough, but fine double-reefed. The same day was steady at 40 - 45.
I wouldn't give mine up for love nor money.
Bob

And Thor Hydall (sp?) crossed the ocean on a raft. Nonsuch are great boats as are a number of sail configuration boats and each config has it's proponents and detractors. But, for the average sailor who truely wants to sail offshore extensively and is therefore likely to encounter some very bad weather from time to time, a sturdy full or cut away forefoot/skeg hung rudder underbody cutter is the most flexible sail plan, followed by ketches/yawls and sloops, then by single sail craft.

[anchorsaweigh]

My point was that there ARE better choices. But the Nonsuch is an extremely capable boat that does indeed sail easily.

Cheers,

Bob

[JohnRPollard]

Being a catboat, it wouldn't be my choice for an ocean crossing. But it would be a fine boat for U.S./Canada east coast cruising (ICW and coastal), and I wouldn't hesitate to take one from Florida across to the Bahamas. They are fairly popular here on the Chesapeake, among cruisers (not too many race).

Beyond the simplified rig, I'm not sure if there'd be a great advantage to having one in the PNW -- the relatively shallow draft that makes them handy on the East Coast isn't much of a requirement out there.

[Gary M]

Originally Posted by Vasco

A guy from Toronto tried to circumnavigate with one. Unfortunately he lost the main (and only) halyard and drifted towards Antartica. He was finally rescued but the boat stayed afloat and ended up in South America. It was a borrowed boat and I think the owner eventually got it back. There was a book written about it but I can't remember the title. These boat's are strong but the rig is a bit much. By the way, they are not as easy to sail as they claim - the "only one line bit". There is also a choker line. Also when you reef the bunt in the "cradle" catches a lot of wind.

Actually if it is the guy I that I know of from TO I read the book and probably still have it. He lost the mast but it turned out the riggers screwed up and put all the exit holes for the halyards etc in a line across one section of mast.

He got a new mast with staggered exit holes and carried on if I remember right.
Might be a different guy/boat. This guys name was Philpot I think, I remember he built the very first enclosed mall in London Ontario.
Gary

[anchorsaweigh]

Originally Posted by JohnRPollard

the relatively shallow draft that makes them handy on the East Coast isn't much of a requirement out there.

There are a few up in the PNW, not many, and I think they are all 30's; I'll have to take a look in the registry.

They come in 5' and 3' 11" draft. The shallow draft doesn't point as well and you sacrifice some speed. Within the class, I have to give up 19 seconds to my shallow draft cousins. Part of that 19 seconds is also due to my saildrive; They came with shaft or saildrive. I've sailed both and prefer the saildrive with folding prop.

Also, there's one 33', Kitty Hawk, that has competed in several Marion to Bermuda races and is a class winner.

Cheers,

Bob