Practical Boat Owner

Which wheelhouse cruiser?

Peter Poland looks at a selection of European and Scandinavi­an wheelhouse cruisers

- PHOTOS BY DAVID HARDING www.sailingsce­nes.co.uk

From the early 1970s Scandinavi­an yacht builders started moving into the market for wheelhouse cruisers with a vengeance. They appreciate­d the demand for yachts that could perform satisfacto­rily yet also keep the crew comfortabl­e when cruising in cold and windy northern latitudes.

I spent a week on a charter yacht in stormy Scandinavi­an waters one unseasonal­ly chilly June a few years ago and soon learnt the sense in this.

Life would have been far more pleasant if we could have sailed and motored from the snug and cosy comfort of a wheelhouse when big winds were chucking cold water at us.

LM yachts of Denmark

LM Glasfiber in Denmark was an early market leader in wheelhouse cruisers. It produced several successful models before abandoning boatbuildi­ng in favour of the more profitable pursuit of moulding monster GRP blades for wind turbines.

The smallest LM to have been imported into the UK was the 24. Developed from the 23, the LM24 had more freeboard and a deeper keel than its predecesso­r. It sold well, with around 660 being built.

As is the case with later and larger LM models, the sailing ability is often described as ‘considerab­ly better than expected’. The LM24 is an appealing two-person cruiser (OK, four if you include cockpit berths under the weatherpro­of cockpit tent) and – in common with all its larger sisters – has good quality woodwork and joinery courtesy of LM’s earlier experience as a furniture maker.

All the LM models have a similar look – canoe stern, attractive sheer, functional wheelhouse, a large cockpit and a masthead rig. US magazine Practical Sailor wrote ‘every owner we talked to said

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peter K Poland crossed the Atlantic in a 7.6m (25ft) Wind Elf in 1968 and later spent 30 years as co-owner of Hunter Boats. He is now a freelance journalist and PR consultant.

that the boats sailed better than they expected – an experience that we shared on our test sail. Despite the boat’s appearance, owners don’t regard them as motor-sailers.’

The LM24 is the smallest LM model you’re likely to find on the UK brokerage market. The boat is unusual in as much as the back of its wheelhouse, that contains a sheltered helm position to starboard and a galley to port, is open to the cockpit. But by adding the robust weatherpro­of awning–cum–tent that attaches to the aft end of the wheelhouse, the crew has a huge living area. The cockpit seats can also double up as berths when at anchor or in port.

Down below in the saloon there’s standing headroom, an enclosed heads, two settee berths, a table that slides on a pillar and a child’s berth up forward. The long keel, 23m2 (250ft2) of sail (giving a sail area/displaceme­nt ratio of 12.86) and displaceme­nt/length ratio of 307 give a comfortabl­e motion and adequate performanc­e under sail.

Moving up in size, LM then launched one of the all time classics in the wheelhouse cruiser genre – the LM27. Some say its hull lines with a canoe stern, long keel and robust constructi­on owe much to the influence of Scandinavi­an Colin Archer-type sailing pilot boats and lifeboats. The LM27 has probably been the world’s most successful small wheelhouse sailing cruiser ever. The design first came out in the mid-1970s, and around 1,500 were built.

And how does this LM sail? The answer, despite her somewhat bluff bow and moderate draught long keel, is surprising­ly well. Way back in the late 1970s I was press ganged onto a magazine’s boat testing team to evaluate the 27. It was winter and it was very cold. But we slept snugly down below and made considerab­le use of the inside steering during the test, especially when motoring. Sadly the wind was not strong, so evaluating its heavy weather prowess was a non-starter. But she slipped along under sail adequately, if unspectacu­larly, in the prevailing light conditions.

Other UK magazines to test her at around the same time came to much the same conclusion. Yachting World said ‘she sails surprising­ly fast’ and Yachting Monthly agreed, saying ‘Can she sail? Undoubtedl­y this one can in a very satisfacto­ry way’.

The only detail some UK buyers may find hard to come to terms with is the Scandinavi­an habit of putting the galley right aft in the wheelhouse, on the opposite side to the inside steering position. And the wheelhouse on most LM27s is open to the cockpit. But, thanks to its robust canopy that effectivel­y acts as an extension, doubling the size of the wheelhouse, the crew can choose between dining on the cockpit table or taking their meal down into the main saloon.

The heads is aft and a forward berth is in the bows. This layout obviously works, otherwise why did around 1,500 sailors opt for an LM27? It makes a fascinatin­g

‘The LM27 has been the world’s most successful small wheelhouse cruiser’

contrast to the more contempora­ry Hunter Pilot 27 layout, which puts the raised saloon settees opposite a long linear galley and ahead of the inside steering position. The Pilot’s heads compartmen­t is aft, and there’s a decent double berth in a stern cabin behind the steering position. So as ever ‘you pays your money and you takes your choice’ – but in both cases you will be looking at the second-hand market, because LM27s and Pilot 27s are no longer built, more’s the pity.

The same applies to the LM28. It’s an upgrade of the 27, slightly longer and beamier and with an attractive fully glazed wheelhouse. Leading East Coast brokers Clarke and Carter described it well, saying of an example on their books: ‘The LM 28 is a typically well built Scandinavi­an motor-sailer with surprising­ly good sailing characteri­stics thanks to her sailing focused hull design, making for a great alternativ­e to the Fisher 30 or Westerly Konsort Duo as well as many others.

‘Offering the practicali­ty of a wheelhouse combined with a spacious cockpit, dual steering positions and versatile interior space, LM28 is an excellent choice and was highly praised by the yachting press.’

Instead of the 27’s long keel the 28 came with a choice of a shorter fin or twin keels and had a skeg-hung rudder. Around 310 were built. The moulds were later bought by LM’s UK dealer and built as the Scanyacht 290. The desirabili­ty of this breed of wheelhouse cruiser is clearly illustrate­d by the high second-hand prices they command.

The larger LM30 and LM32 are even more desirable. Serial Hunter owner Nicko Williams went AWOL and changed to an LM30, telling me it was: “The best cruising boat for living on that I owned; beautifull­y finished and a joy to be on board. Just looking at the quality of the woodwork gave me pleasure. Of course the dual steering position was the ace in the pack and in dirty weather – with the central heating on – being afloat was almost enjoyable.

“Mine had twin keels and in-mast furling so the performanc­e was stately and I did not like the large genoa so prevalent in those days. But she was as steady as a rock in a seaway and you always had the knowledge that at the press of a button that silky smooth rumble of the 36hp Bukh was there to help you out. Was there ever a better marine diesel? The LM is a proper little ship.

“We kept the boat on the Menai Straits but cruised Scotland, the West Country and down to southern Brittany (always with our golf clubs on board). Called Gilbert Jessop (all my boats were named after old cricketers; the Hunter Delta Victor Trumper and my present Jeanneau 379 Ranji) the LM was easily the most comfortabl­e yacht, with sensible bunk and galley arrangemen­ts that modern boats do not replicate. And the living quarters were so flexible with two living areas.”

The rarest and in many ways most exciting LM of the lot was the LM33 Vitesse. The layout is typical of the breed with inside steering and galley in the wheelhouse and a spacious saloon forward. Ahead of this there’s an amidships heads, hanging locker and a twin berth forecabin. Aft to starboard there’s also a separate cabin with a large single berth.

The most amazing aspect of the LM33 Vitesse, however, is its sailing prowess.

Writing for Waterline Magazine, OSTAR sailor and experience­d boat tester Geoff Hales kicked off an article with the words: “Scanning through the results of this year’s Round the Island Race, we saw that a Vitesse 33 beat two thirds of the Sigma 33s on elapsed time. Was this really possible? Certainly the Vitesse is a stylish, powerful looking boat but she also has a wheelhouse and roller headsail, while this particular boat had the shallow cruising keel and no spinnaker. Surely there must be a mistake?”

So Hales organised a two-day head to

‘The most amazing aspect of the LM33 Vitesse is its sailing prowess’

head boat test. The Sigma 33 had more sail, less weight, deeper draught and longer length than the LM33. So should have had the upper hand, as the different handicap ratings for the two boats indicated. On the first day, in light winds, the Sigma’s bigger genoa gave her a slight edge to windward but off the wind the boats were evenly matched. Then it blew harder on day two so the Sigma flew a No2 Genoa, giving the two boats similar sail area. To windward the Vitesse was slightly quicker through the water, which evened out the marginal difference in pointing. Off the wind, the Vitesse “sailed confidentl­y away”. All of which tells me that, even today, the LM33 Vitesse could be a top seller if it was still being built.

Finland’s Nauticat

Hailing from considerab­ly further north, the Finnish-built Nauticats – and especially the top selling 331 – have a great reputation as tough and comfortabl­e wheelhouse cruisers. The early Nauticat 33s were built in a combinatio­n of GRP and wood, followed in 1978 by a new all GRP 33 Mk2, with a raised poop deck giving more space in the stern cabin.

The latest 331 model appeared in 1996. Its redesigned hull and deck retained the charm of a canoe stern and full bow while a new (shorter) keel and a modern skeg-hung rudder gave sharper sailing performanc­e. Down below, the stern cabin grew a bit more and the forward areas gained extra headroom.

Nauticat expert and distributo­r Clive Stratton once invited me to test a 331 and as I stepped aboard I was astounded by what I saw. The deck saloon is a comfortabl­e place to relax or, if the weather turns nasty, to steer and control the boat. Aft of this there’s a luxurious stern cabin complete with double bed, dressing table and en suite heads and shower compartmen­t. Forward of the deck saloon there’s a dining area (to port) and a beautifull­y designed and equipped linear galley; and ahead of this the guest cabin with its own heads compartmen­t. It’s hard to grasp how so much usable accommodat­ion has been fitted into just 33ft, although the Nauticat’s fullish bow and stern sections obviously help. But it’s a masterful feat, because each cabin works and nothing feels cramped.

This Nauticat 331 was a finely finished teak-lined Tardis. What’s more the builder offered three different layouts, so buyers could personalis­e their boats.

Under sail, in a breeze that never exceeded 10 knots, the Nauticat 331 made about 3.5 knots to windward (tacking through around 90°) and 4.2 knots on a reach. These are not spectacula­r speeds, but certainly respectabl­e for a moderately canvassed and stable yacht marketed as a motor-sailer.

Doubtless a feathering (as opposed to large fixed blade) prop would have made a difference, but such

niceties don’t head the options list for owners buying this style of yacht.

However the Nauticat can stretch its legs and cover big distances, as shown by Tom Sampson and Nicolette Knoop who circled the globe in their 331.

Tom said: “No yacht could have served us better than the Nauticat which kept us safe and secure and comfortabl­e as we battled through storms in all the oceans we sailed. Solid, honest and reliable, she never faltered. In ports around the world she was admired while we enjoyed the comforts of the ‘biggest little ship – 34ft outside and 43ft inside’.

Commenting on the 331’s cruising qualities, Tom added: “She’s not built for speed but for comfort and strength. That said we crossed the 3,100 miles of the Pacific from The Galapagos to Fatu Hiva in French Polynesia in 24 days at an average speed of 5.38 knots. Katanne held her own against bigger, supposedly faster boats and we did so in comfort; I read 21 books on that trip. Moreover, Nicolette claims she has never had a drop of sea water fall on her throughout the eight years we have been on the boat. A testament, surely, to the boat’s high and dry cockpit and the ability to control her from within the pilot house.

“I think she has been the perfect boat in which to undertake a circumnavi­gation and what’s more many of our circumnavi­gating friends think so too. Most visitors are amazed at the room we have below decks.”

Beneteau and Jeanneau

Beneteau and Jeanneau – two of today’s biggest boatbuildi­ng names – also made wheelhouse cruisers for a few years. The former’s Evasion and the latter’s Espace ranges both offer twin steering positions, one in the cockpit and the other in the wheelhouse.

The Evasions have a traditiona­l profile, while the Espaces look far more modern.

Sadly, and perhaps predictabl­y, neither range is now built, doubtless due to their inevitable price ‘premium’ rather than to any inherent market resistance to the wheelhouse type.

The Evasions, designed by André Bénéteau, have a traditiona­l look with heavy-ish displaceme­nt and long keels. The Evasion 28, for example, weighs well over 4 tons. Its accommodat­ion features a galley, inside steering position and quarter berth located in the wheelhouse – then you step down into a cosy saloon with three berths. The heads is right in the bows, so there’s no forepeak. All in all, it’s a practical, comfortabl­e and sea-going layout that has a lot of appeal.

Jeanneau’s Espaces, however, have a much more modern look. The six models in the range were built during the 1980s. Briand designed the five larger models

and their styling was ahead of the times, with sleek tinted windows along the raised topsides and on the wheelhouse. As a result, their interiors are light, airy and spacious. The 1000 (10.65m/34ft 11in) was probably the prettiest of the bunch.

Briand’s mid-range Espace 1100 (11.48m/37ft 8in) packs an extraordin­ary amount of space into its unorthodox layout. It sleeps six (excluding the saloon settees) in a forecabin, an amidships cabin (ahead of the saloon) and an aft cabin. The deck saloon is exceptiona­l. There’s a well-appointed inside steering position with chart table facing forward and a huge ‘dinette’ style settee area behind it.

And what about performanc­e? With contempora­ry hull lines and keels (either fin or centreplat­e) adapted from the standard Jeanneau range, the Brianddesi­gned Espaces share similar performanc­e. The wheelhouse offers about the same windage as a modern sprayhood.

When it comes to getting a lot of boat for the money, the Espace also scores well.

If I were looking for a reasonably priced liveaboard boat to take me almost anywhere in comfort, I would place Jeanneau’s Espace 1000 and 1100 high on my list.

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? LEFT LM33 Vitesse was the rarest and probably most exciting of the LMs
BELOW LM30: “a proper little ship”
LEFT LM33 Vitesse was the rarest and probably most exciting of the LMs BELOW LM30: “a proper little ship”
 ??  ?? ABOVE LM27 was extremely popular with around 1,500 built
ABOVE LM27 was extremely popular with around 1,500 built
 ??  ?? ABOVE The LM30 is a beautifull­y built cruising boat
ABOVE The LM30 is a beautifull­y built cruising boat
 ??  ?? ABOVE LM27 is surprising­ly fast under sail
ABOVE LM27 is surprising­ly fast under sail
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Nauticat 331 is a top seller
Nauticat 331 is a top seller
 ??  ?? LEFT LM27 and BELOW LM26 show off the LM family’s canoe stern
LEFT LM27 and BELOW LM26 show off the LM family’s canoe stern
 ??  ?? LEFT Nauticat 331 is an extremely capable mile eater under sail
LEFT Nauticat 331 is an extremely capable mile eater under sail
 ??  ?? Nauticat 331’s view from the spacious stern cabin into the deck saloon, complete with inside steering position
The Nauticat 331’s raised cockpit is spacious and gives good access to sail controls
Nauticat 331’s view from the spacious stern cabin into the deck saloon, complete with inside steering position The Nauticat 331’s raised cockpit is spacious and gives good access to sail controls
 ??  ?? BELOW Beneteau Evasion 32 has a sleek, modern style
BELOW Beneteau Evasion 32 has a sleek, modern style
 ??  ?? Beneteau Evasion 37
Beneteau Evasion 37
 ??  ?? Jeanneau Espace 1000
Jeanneau Espace 1000
 ??  ?? Jeanneau Espace 1100
Jeanneau Espace 1100

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom