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"Attempts to find a 'flat
spot' in her turns on or off the wind failed; all of which
points to a well-balanced hull and sail plan which should
(and no doubt does) carry its benefits up through successive
wind forces. I believe that with a small, tired crew and on
passage in boisterous weather she would snug down to a very
small sail area and continue to sail fast and easily"
Yachting World Nov '74
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Reviews of the Varne 27, Varne 850 & Weston 8500 |
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David Harding's Practical
Boat Owner Article
of Feb 2000 (issue 398),
featuring
Pat & Alan Clifton's now famous Apopantos |
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Apopantos also shown here on the front of the PBO 2001 Almanac
(photo by David harding) |
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Yachting Monthly November 1974 article (400kb pdf)
(Only available to Members)
"... a sweet handler with the sort of directional
stability I would expect from a long keeled design ... not a fussy boat
to sail... partly due to her balance" |
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Sailing Today's May 2008 (issue 133) review ,
featuring
Rod Waldon's Silvarne in Chichester Harbour.
Cover and Editorial pages are here:
Sailing Today May 08 Cover & Editorial pages |
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A Delivery Skippers lively trip back from the 1977 Southampton Boat
Show
"A very impressive performance by a 28' boat. Her seakeeping
qualities are nothing less than superb. I would take her anywhere." |
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A Recipe to Relax With
A November 1977 submission of copy to PBO by a journalist and the
subsequent article.
"deliciously responsive, well mannered and enjoys
being sailed .. Varne's superb balance ... slides gracefully along with
a feather light tiller. Even as the wind pipes up, she remains
unperturbed... I urge you to try her" |
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November 1985 Review page
"strong, attractive, well mannered seagoer. Stiff,
beautifully balanced hull promotes good handling and easy motion"
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From the Good Boat Guide:
VARNE 27/850
27'9" * 21'9" * 4'3" (fin) 344sqft /
3-5 berths,
Volvo 7.5 hp Saildrive or Yanmar 8
Fast cruiser with excellent performance and handling and rather unusual accomodation and bearable headroom (quoted at 5'9"). Fine bows limited
the forepeak, so that a separate heads compartment to port started well
back, with a single berth opposite. The saloon has a dinette arrangement
to port, with a pilot berth above it; opposite was a good galley. Aft of
the saloon were 2 quarter berths on either side and between the port
hand quarter berth and the companionway was a separate navigators seat
and chart table. Nice looking and well-finished, but not many about and
some were home-completed.
Silhouette
(reproduced from the
Hurley Owners Association)
One of the most popular small
cruisers of all time, Bob Tucker's diminutive mini cruiser
arrived in 1959 and by 1967 had tempted over two thousand
customers. Early (Mk I) boats were plywood (hence the chines);
most Mk IIs were GRP while the Mk III was moulded by Hurley
Marine to a radically revamped design. The central ballast stub
was removed, draft increased by 5in and the ballast ratio
improved from 26 to 37%. She also carried 43% more sail. A fin
keel version was available but the vast majority had twin keels.
Her two berth accommodation was still cramped (the Mk 4,
built by Varne Marine, added two bunks) but her low cost,
good looks and predictable handling have won her many friends.
All we have on the boat at the moment it this
picture. However, the Silhouette has her own Owners'
Association, details of which are
here.
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