Stus-List Re: C&C 41 thoughts?

[Dave via CnC-List]

Thanks Glenn, the short cockpit seats/big wheel are one of the compromises on my 33 as well.   I had seen seat-fillers on other boats, along with the traveller relocation, though I do like traveller and especially mainsheet access from the helm   Need to work those things out.   Am glad to hear that the much-maligned IOR influence doesn’t seem to make the boat any less enjoyable than it does with my 33-2.   I agree completely on windward ability – here in the Toronto area we spend much of our  time sailing to windward in light air, and I would be really frustrated with a boat that didn’t perform well in those conditions.    Reinforces the point about buying the right boat for the conditions.    I am unlikely to be roaring downwind in huge seas under full spin any time soon, nor will I be rounding the horn in this boat.           It appears (circumstantially) that the ’81-84 boats were customs or semi customs, typically racing biased.   This aligns with the perception of the production boat (most evident post-’84) as a racing-oriented but cruisable model defined by the constraints of IOR in its twilight.   Seems as though the custom was somewhat repurposed to a production model under a new leader – the Wikipedia comment cited below.   This further jives with the my understanding of the evolution of the IOR  -that dual purpose boats were not as competitive as in the past, and that the racer/cruiser niche was less relevant under this rule.   The 8’ draft of many examples does not suggest cruising as a priority but the existence of the CB model and the relatively posh cabin of the production model speak to C&C remaining centred in this racer/cruiser niche.  It interesting to read all of this in the context of the marketplace at the time.   Long and the short of this appears to be that its a good fun boat depending on how one intends to use it.       Going to see the boat tomorrow.   Biggest concern I can see is ease of shorthanded/singlehanded sailing – this was probably not in scope for the design.     My baseline is a 33-2, which is manageable, due to its handy size.    Second concern is to buy at the right price - resale appeal is not as broad as it could be.   Glenn – do you single-hand the 41, and do you (or anyone else) have any wisdom you could share on this?   Thanks as always, Dave                   Sent from Mail for Windows   From: Glenn Henderson via CnC-List Sent: September 22, 2021 12:17 AM To: Stus-List Cc: Glenn Henderson Subject: Stus-List Re: C&C 41 thoughts?   I have a 1984 41 and I love it. The hull is not a tortured IOR shape. It is fairly clean. She moves through the water very cleanly. She sails well in light or heavy air. She is perfectly balanced. She will sail upwind with the wheel brake on and sail like on an auto pilot. The Dollar/Boatspeed ratio is very high. I love the interior. Granted, she doesn't have as much room as a modern 41 foot boat but it is well laid out and proportioned well. I love the Nav Station/Office. I put plywood "fillers" in the cockpit to extend the seating for cruising. I wouldn't cruise without them. I cannot cruise long distances in a slow boat or one that cannot go upwind.The 41 suits my purposes just fine.   Glenn Henderson     On Sun, Sep 19, 2021 at 11:01 PM G Donald Wagner via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Dave   I own a C&C 41 CB hull # 93, Der Baron. Bought her new in 1986, and have cruised/raced her ever since. We have enjoyed every minute aboard. Many trophies, and many fine memories. My  crew and I , mostly very senior citizens, are not able to sail very much, so, I am considering the possibility of putting her up for sale.   If you have any specific questions about C&C 41s, I can answer most of them. They are great boats, easily sailed, and sail to the PHRF  Rating here on the Chesapeake.  Feel free to call me, 443-994-5669, and We can talk about C&C 41s. I'm a dedicated C&Cer, Having previously owned a C&C 30 for 12 years prior to purchasing the 41.   Never had a Keel/ mast step issue on the 41 . I did experience it on the 30. My boat is essentially like the standard brochure:     Tall 3 spreader rig     Yanmar 3GM35 HF    Forward facing Nav Station    aft quarter berth     Full spinnaker Gear with winch upgrades.   Yes, windows have been a problem, and I have had them replaced. You need to pay attention to them. I've up graded the track hardware, traveller hardware, the spinnaker pole (carbon fiber), the electronics, etc. The rig has been unstepped, inspected, stripped, and repainted with Awl-Grip. The hatches have been stripped, and powder coated prior to replacing the acrylic lenses   Don Wagner C&C 41 CB Der Baron  West River, MD       -----Original Message----- From: Dave via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: syerd...@gmail.com Sent: Sun, Sep 19, 2021 8:41 pm Subject: Stus-List C&C 41 thoughts?       Good evening all.   Am looking to stretch out a bit, and much as I’ve enjoyed and invested in my ’85 33-2 Windstar, I’m exploring larger options.  Goal is shorthanded or singlehanded daysailing and local cruising on the great lakes and possibly Bahamas/Caribbean.  I’ll likely upgrade to a more substantial passagemaker when I retire in 5 years or so.       A centreboard C&C 41 has piqued my interest of late, and if anyone can shed some light on the evolution of the model and offer some informed commentary or critique, I would greatly appreciate it.   I cannot find any reference to how many 41s were made, and I have not seen any for sale that were made prior to ’84, though apparently it was first produced in ’81.         They were available with a variety of keels, mostly 7’ or more.   Photos of the earliest 41’s especially are very familiar to me, clearly they are big sisters to  the 33-2 and 35-3, sharing many features, hardware and materials.     I am aware too that the 41 also shares a few of the 33-2/35-3 “gotchas” – leaking windows and keel sump/mast step failures.   Is the keel sump/mast step problem limited to fin-keeled boats, or is this also a problem with centreboard boats?   Some seem to have had the handy but butt-cracking bridge deck traveller (like the 33-2) filled with teak and relocated.  Brochures show the traveller at the wheel and also on the cabin top.  Was traveller location an option, or have many owners relocated this in the interest of comfort?  Thoughts?    Some have forward-facing nav stations, with the typical smaller boat open quarter berth, some (seemingly  later models) with the bigger-boat  rear-facing  nav station and an “aft cabin”  (more like an enclosed quarter berth)   Some have with an opening tailgate through the transom, some not.   The galley cabinetry appears to have varied also.   And finally – a google search will turn up a fair bit of criticism of the model, this surprised me.  Much of it is the usual opinion-fuelled opinion (repeated ad nauseam), and some the usual sweeping generalizations regarding IOR boats.  (I don’t plan to fly a spinnaker downwind in huge seas....)  Wikipedia curiously states:    “Designed by Robert Ball at the request of C&C’s new owner Robert plaxton, who wanted [an IOR design]” Many commentators also suggest that the 41 is particularly racing-biased, and therefore makes a less than ideal choice for single or shorthanded sailing.   The brochure suggests the 41 was a production development of a custom racing model.    I will likely visit the boat this week, and can certainly form my own opinion much of this, but would very much welcome any thoughts.   Many thanks in advance!   Dave  -  33-2 (for now).          Sent from Mail for Windows   Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution --  https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution --   https://www.paypal.me/stumurray  Thanks - Stu

Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the 
costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to 
send contribution --   https://www.paypal.me/stumurray  Thanks - Stu