sandy claws Posted January 29, 2008 Posted January 29, 2008 I have just been looking at the NOAA site and it says the winds will be from 10 to 20knots and the seas will be from 2 to 5 foot all week. That got me to thinking what would be the average and the worst wind and seas that you would consider sailing the Belhaven? (I am a non-sailor now but I have a friend that is an instructor. After perusing all boat plans the Belhaven seems to have the most advantages.) We have a lot of these type of weather conditions and I was just wondering what wind and waves would be a comfortable and enjoyable day on the water? Thanks Rog... Quote
fatehunter1972 Posted January 29, 2008 Posted January 29, 2008 Sandy, I am in love with the Belhaven. Right now there is a Potter 15 and a Potter 19 for sale in my immediate area but I just can't get around the long rigging time or the fact that there needs to be rigging at all! Here on the West Coast of Canada I think the Belhaven would be ideal. I have no problem taking my open 13 foot dinghy into 2 foot seas (max) under oars. It is slow but very seaworthy. With a scrap of sail it is a blast but I find it easier to row it upwind than to sail it. Looking at the Belhaven's freeboard and shape (hard chine) the belhaven would have no problems with seaworthiness. However the fact that it has a hard chine will tend to make it want to be parallel to the water's surface so in a beam sea you would definitely want some canvas up. That said, roaring downwind up Alberni Inlet with a brisk NW'ly after the Broken Islands off the West Coast is what I want to do. The Potter 15 is $C 7,000, the 19 a little less (older) but I think I want a Belhaven. I've been given a time of 800 hrs over 30 months as an actual build time. Now I am talking to builders to get some quotes. Michael Quote
Scott Dunsworth Posted January 30, 2008 Posted January 30, 2008 Sandy I have had my Belhaven out twice in 25 to 30 mph wind. Once intentionally. I had much more trouble getting her off the trailer and to the dock so I could park the truck. I motored into a sheltered cove double reefed the sails and went out and had one of the best sails I have had. It was an inland lake of about 10,000 acres and the waves where 2 to 3 feet and very short in length. When she was on the top of a wave you could see half of the rudder. She was doing nearly 10 mph reefed down. She was very well mannered. As for 15 to 20 that is just plan fun. My son went out with me once in 20 mph winds and higher gusts. Just for the excitement of it flew all of the sail. With the two of us on board it was sailing at it's best. Except going to the weather we got a few good sprays over the cabin and it was only 45 degrees that day. I have never had her on a beam reach with large waves on the beam. I have often wondered how she will do. What I like the best about the Belhaven rigged cat ketch is she is so forgiving of my blunders. Scott Quote
sandy claws Posted January 31, 2008 Author Posted January 31, 2008 Thanks everybody! That's what I was lookin' for! Scott, How is that Belhaven for sleeping? Noisey? Would you cruise in it for 2-3 weeks? I appreciate your help and experience. I've been reading books on microcruising and the Belhaven just looks better and better. Thanks again! Rog... Quote
Scott Dunsworth Posted February 1, 2008 Posted February 1, 2008 I would start the big circle cruise tomorrow if time and family would permit. The longest I have spent in the boat was a week by myself. There is plenty of storage and room for one and never feeling cramped. When two of us are cruising together its about the same except you have to be mindful of the other. If one is cooking you can't just bounce out the companion way. Our recent Florida trip was getting pretty cramped with all the stuff that goes with three on board. She sleeps good. I have spent 40 to 50 nights onboard with only two bad nights. Once tied to a floating dock with the bow facing the shore and the tow traffic beat us to death. The other was in florida I had such an easy time setting the anchor that I didn't pay enought attention and the anchor dragged on rock. Both times my fault. As for noise as long as she is tugging on her anchor line where the waves are hitting her on the nose she doesn't slap. But if your tied to a dock with the waves coming in on the transom she will slap under the back of the boat. I will get some cabin interior pictures posted this weekend for you. Scott Quote
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