Spirit 46

[John Gearing]

WB did a story on these folks a few years ago...
They're still building lovely strip-composite boats!
http://www.spirit-yachts.co.uk/images/gal-14.gif

[JimConlin]

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Yes! More!

[shadow99]

Damn, That's all I need, BOAT PORN!!! Anybody know "how many cookies :eek: ," one of those is?

Rick

[Noah]

They are pretty nice looking boats. I have had my eye on one for quite some time now.

You can go take a look at:
http://www.spirityachts.com/

They have some pictures, but they are all crappy looking .gif's with half the colors yanked out.

I believe that they also have the price listed. They aren't cheap. Not at all...

[Noah]

They used to have a 36 footer as well that was a bit cheaper, and looked really nice. Too bad that they discontinued it. Maybe you could still get one built...

[John B]

Tremendous performance too,I understand.

[John Gearing]

Yep, the Spirit folks claim 16 knots is not unreasonable, and bear in mind that the smaller versions are not meant for downwind surfing in the ocean, but for more sheltered waters. Turns out that if you do a little sleuthing on their website, the 37 is in fact still listed (at the bargain price of L113,000). Once upon a time they made a 32 as well, and an old "Best Designs" article in WB showed their design for a 50 footer designed for cruising and featuring a gaff rig! In the past, the partners have indicated a certain degree of flexibility--if you wanted a boat for cruising, or ocean racing, they'd be happy to draw one up for you. In fact, it looks like they introduced the 58 for ocean sailing. The thing about these boats is that their long overhangs and narrow beam mean less room below. For daysailing or weekends this may not be a problem, but for the person looking for a liveaboard you might find that you are driven to the larger boats in order to get the accommodations you want/need. I note that it is the 70 that is marketed as a "racer/cruiser", i.e.. Still and all, beautiful boats. I don't imagine they sell plans alone....but if one wanted to build their own take on this type of boat, I'm sure you could commmission a good NA like our own mmd to draw up something similar. I wouldn't mind something with really spartan accommodations...maybe just a cuddy...in the 24' range!

[martin schulz]

What a great picture. Seeing it one understands what classic-yachting is about.

[John Gearing]

I should change the title of this thread, because it now looks to me from the website that this photo is of a 37, not a 46!

[fair&fair]

hate to be a party pooper, but I've been on the Spirit 46 while I was in southampton England. It was blue too, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was the one in that pic. Anyhow, the boat was built to compete with the W-class 46, and they have a 70-something footer too, just like the W's. As nice looking as they are, the fit and finish is not what you would expect for the price tag in my estimation. While I was aboard there were exposed epoxy fillets in the cockpit area, warped and cupped joinery and a list of other things that left much to be desired. The guys from macmillan yachts tried to tell me how much better the boats were than the W's, and all I could do was smile politely. I've done a bit of racing on the W-46's and they are flawless as far as their fit and finish is concerned, and head and shoulders nicer than the spirit boats, despite the claims of the Spirit people. I'm not even a W-class fan by any stretch, I just know a dog when I see one.

[ 02-15-2003, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: fair&fair ]