Standfast 36 anyone have any advice

[Vandrews]

Hi,
I am looking to purchase a Standfast 36, but I can't find any helpful info anywhere. Has anyone any advice at all?
Thanks, Victoria

[puddinlegs]

Victoria,
The boat was designed by Frans Maas and built by Palmer Johnson. They're only building super yachts and the like these days, but I'd still call PJ and ask for information. The Maas office is in Holland. So this is what I know about the boat... flush deck, built by PJ around 1973-74 as an IOR One Tonner. The interior was well finished more inline with the early S&S swans that PJ was importing and finishing out at the time. Light below is provided by deck prisms, but will be dark by todays standards. The boat proved uncompetitive, and though very well built, never made much of a mark on the racing scene. Hull form is IOR Mark I all the way... tumblehome, small stern, the works.. Nice skeg rudder... the bottom looks like the Swans of the era as well. I'm sure the boat is very seaworthy if it's been well maintained, but not particularly fast in lighter wind ranges. Should go to windward very well though, but might not be all that fun downhill in a breeze. All that said, they are pretty cool looking boats. For the right price in the right condition in the right venue, it could make a very nice cruising boat.

STANDFAST 36 Sailboat details on sailboatdata.com

PALMER JOHNSON 36 Sailboat details on sailboatdata.com (this is the PJ build)

[Vandrews]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply and info. The boat I am looking at seems like a good deal the seller is very motivated and has lowered the price significantly. I thought to give it a shot here and see if someone has owned one or has experience sailing her, before I go and check her out.
Victoria
1974 Palmer Johnson Standfast Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

[puddinlegs]

Victoria,
Even though the boat has a new engine, etc... do get a survey. Any repairs to the spar, rigging, deck, etc... will be in today's dollars. Again, it's a pretty cool old boat, but you can easily sink a lot of money into it, but hopefully you've already thought that through. A survey including a haulout for inspection will probably cost you around $700 all told. It might seem like a lot, but bear in mind that a new main and genoa for a boat like this will cost at least 10k. Again, apologies if you already know this. If you have the expense calculus worked out, it looks like a fun project boat. You could simplify the deck layout and sail handling hardware a great deal more... bring halyards back to the cockpit, get rid of all but 2 primary, 2 secondary, and a couple of halyard winches with clutches, set up a rigid boom vang, etc...

Cheers, and good luck!

[Vandrews]

Thank you for your input. I am fairly new to hunting down a good sailing vessel, I am of course going to get a survey done before committing. So I do appreciate any input on things I should consider before going to investigate further. ( like sail pricing for example ) I have asked the broker for more info like last survey and sail inventory shape and so forth. Still waiting for a
response but the broker much rather would sell me a brand new Beneteau.
Appreciate your feedback, thank you,
Victoria

[puddinlegs]

Your broker should know that with the budget you're looking at, a new Beneteau is way out of the question!

Let us know how the deal unfolds. Oh, and take the last insurance survey with a grain of salt. Boats aren't usually hauled for them. Also have a look at Sailing Dog's list of stuff to look at when buying a used boat.

[olson34]

Those PJ Standfast boats have a good reputation for strength. There are two of the 40's in my area, both very updated over the years. Owners say that the basic boat is better built than all but the top high end stuff nowadays.

In the photos the 36 shows a cockpit set for sailing with the traveler in the right place. Nice!
From the small wheel, I wonder if it was delivered with a tiller and later converted. (?)

Anyhow, it looks like a good boat for the minimal bucks. Like all boats on the market, only the survey will tell the real story...

L

[puddinlegs]

Indeed, they were originally tiller boats.