Hello all,
I am looking between two of these boats. My plan is to cruise around the east coast and down to Tasmania every now and then, but mostly sailing around Lake Mac and the Hawkesbury. I am not in to racing and want enough room for my kids and I neither are over 10. I plan is to eventually live aboard (shhh...don't tell government). I would be single handed much of the time till my kids get older.
The clansman is in much better shape but is a bit more. $12k more. The Cav32 could be had much lower than asking price as it looks like the engine is need of work (may need an overhaul) and the interior is in need of a refresh. The rigging on both are coming up for replacement in the next few years and the Cav needs anti fouling and a new coat of paint on her hull. The electronics on both are original and I would eventually replace them with modern equipment. Electrical is not a big deal for me as I have had to rewire military aircraft in the past. I am very handy with tools so not doubt I could handle 80% of what is required for both boats.
The beam on the cav32 is almost a half a meter wider (which would help with room down below) but the draft is almost a foot more,
Eventually I wouldn't mind getting some blue water miles under her.
Any one have experience with either one of these and its sailing capabilities? I know the Cav can handle blue water and the Clansman has travlled between NSW and Tasmania a few times, so i believe these boats are both capable sailors.
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers
Select to expand quotefretbrner said..
Hello all,
I am looking between two of these boats. My plan is to cruise around the east coast and down to Tasmania every now and then, but mostly sailing around Lake Mac and the Hawkesbury. I am not in to racing and want enough room for my kids and I neither are over 10. I plan is to eventually live aboard (shhh...don't tell government). I would be single handed much of the time till my kids get older.
The clansman is in much better shape but is a bit more. $12k more. The Cav32 could be had much lower than asking price as it looks like the engine is need of work (may need an overhaul) and the interior is in need of a refresh. The rigging on both are coming up for replacement in the next few years and the Cav needs anti fouling and a new coat of paint on her hull. The electronics on both are original and I would eventually replace them with modern equipment. Electrical is not a big deal for me as I have had to rewire military aircraft in the past. I am very handy with tools so not doubt I could handle 80% of what is required for both boats.
The beam on the cav32 is almost a half a meter wider (which would help with room down below) but the draft is almost a foot more,
Eventually I wouldn't mind getting some blue water miles under her.
Any one have experience with either one of these and its sailing capabilities? I know the Cav can handle blue water and the Clansman has travlled between NSW and Tasmania a few times, so i believe these boats are both capable sailors.
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers
A good Clansman with new rigging would be worth about $18k. The Cav 32 is a lot more boat. Check the keel bolts.
I believe the Cav32 has an encapsulated Keel, so no keel bolts to worry about. Though I could be wrong.
nz built cavalier 32`s are balsa sandwich hull construction as i understand it. worth looking in to condition of hull as balsa does not like moisture.
it would be worth checking out "free range sailing" on youtube they sail a clansman around the top end
Not a good comparison really. The Cavalier 32 is a much larger and modern boat compared to a Clansman. I would suggest spending some more time looking at other vessels in your price range and talking to owners of various boats to get some idea what you really need. Mate has a Cav 32 and has had several knockdowns on the way to Lord Howe but that does not mean the boat is not capable. Of those two choices I would take the Cav 32. Reality is I would be looking at something like this and living with the green Laminex!https://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/brolga-33-unreserved-online-auction/212836
Personally I would forget the clansman.
Very old design not a lot of room. Also 12 grand is a fare bit both need similar work put the 12 into extra work or better equipment.
Now in that 32- 35 ft mark there are a lot of boats for sail. A lot on here have blinkers and will only suggest the make of boat they have. But there are so many different boats for sail and they will give you a lot more room for the kids. They are only going to get older and require more room. Plus if you are going to live aboard things like showers become necessary. Keep looking.
Hi Fretbro The Clansman has a reputation of being very wet offshore and I have seen really shocking osmosis on one. Might not be a problem on others, but worth a close check. For mine the Cav is one of the best boats of their size out there and apparently very capable in heavy weather. Kiwi built ones have a reputation for being well put together and extremely durable despite the balsa core.
My mate has a cav 32 and i have a manitou32 this would be a similar comparison. ( dont start on my choice of boat lol) the cav is huge compared to mine, you can swing two cats in it. Boat speed surprisingly similar although the manitou is a stiff boat so i tend not to reef to often. The main diference we found was that i live ON mine, as in outside in the cockpit due to the small international volume. My mate lives IN his staying down below with more room. But we both agree my manitou was better as i have a bbq and coffee maker lol. But i do like the cav32 was just out of my price range at the time. Like everything a cheap boat might not be cheap,a new engine and rerigg and youve done 15 k.
Probably better re-sale on the Cav32 also, & as mentioned above 12k will get a lot of improvements & maintenance done.
I have raced on both in Sydney Harbour. The Clansman is solid, sails well but everybody gets soaked when the wind is above 12kts or so. It is small for its length.
The Cav was roomy and sailed well. Ramona's comment about one getting knocked down is something I have heard happen to them as well. Even Kay Cottee in a Cav 37 got knocked down a few times in her round the world effort. My view is they are too tender for anything but coastal offshore work.
Why not look at the S&S34 as well, or a Mottle 33. They can both go anywhere.
If you are in Sydney I can take you for a sail on my S&S34.
Cav 32/975 has a bolt on keel. They are fast, sail high to wind very well.
I suspect that they suffer from the odd knockdown because they inspire confidence and skippers therefore may be late to reduce sail plan, which really requires people on deck to change down jibs. The main is comparatively small and well controlled with the traveller at the bridgedeck.
Select to expand quoteSailMark said..
Cav 32/975 has a bolt on keel. They are fast, sail high to wind very well.
I suspect that they suffer from the odd knockdown because they inspire confidence and skippers therefore may be late to reduce sail plan, which really requires people on deck to change down jibs. The main is comparatively small and well controlled with the traveller at the bridgedeck.
In my experience most blue water knock downs are wave induced with the wind contributing. I believe the Cavs lack inherent stability for those sort of conditions. They rely more on form stability than on the heavy keel. I believe a steep wave overwhelms them.
OK
Odd dimensions for form stability.
A steep wave will always do it for you.
I stand corrected.
Again.
Love to learn so much from this site.
Select to expand quoteSailMark said..
OK
Odd dimensions for form stability.
A steep wave will always do it for you.
I stand corrected.
Again.
Love to learn so much from this site.
I have surfed a Cav 975 on really steep short waves and never had an issue with stability, form or otherwise. At the time I admit that I thought a bit more rudder in the water might help.
No experience with a Clansman at all.
I don't think the Cav is short on inherent stability; in fact when new it was renowned as a superb high-wind half tonner. With a 50% ballast ratio and moderate beam (9ft 9in) compared to later IOR boats, it's very similar in style to the S&S 34 with a slightly wider stern which should give greater form stability. Personally I'd dislike the ones with the little wheel instead of a tiller.
There's a huge number of the various tough old half tonners that have done lots of miles around our coasts and I don't think any of them have ever really got into trouble, apart from one in WA and one that had a shaft issue in NT. Both issues were 30 years ago. They are pretty much as tough as steel capped boots.
The Clansman is basically in a different category of speed and size. I sailed the state champion Clansman for years as a kid. Very wet, quite small down below and rolly when pressed hard under kite.
I'd take either across the Strait, no problems.
My completly unbiased opinion is that if you want the best 30 footer or 35 footer the only choice is a Lotus 9.2 or a Lotus 10.6 respectively. 
Hard to find in Australia and those that own them are very reluctant to part with them. There are a few for sale in Kiwiland. Sorry, I retract that.
I can only find two Lotus yachts for sale, both being 10.6s. One in Qld and the other in Vic.
yachthub.com/list/search.html?action=search&keywords=Lotus+10.6
These guys are doing some great sailing on a Lotus 9.2 and have a heap of vids on the chube.
Hi guys
I Sail a Cav32 in Newcastle.
They are a great boat. Solid, stiff and dry. I love it.
I singlehand mostly
They have circumnavigated, raced the Sydney to Hobart and drifted around Pittwater.
Sounds pretty good to me
cheers
Have a look at brolga 33 jessie. Its well fitted and unbreakable. Google brolga 33 for sale
