Boats Built for Speed With Davey and Pearl Review
By JEFF HOWLETT, photography by RAY LITTLE
The Fisher seems to have been around for ever. In fact, the story of this archetype motor-sailer began in 1969 when naval architects David Freeman and Gordon Wyatt ready out to fill up what they perceived as a gap in the market place. Their aim was to pattern a motor-sailer with equal operation under either sail or motor.
The formula was the fundamental to the Fisher'southward early success. In the Sixties many yachts were described as motor-sailers but near had big engines and minor rigs. They motored well enough simply the sailing characteristics left a neat deal to exist desired.
The rest is history. Over 1,000 Fishers have been congenital and they can be seen all over the world, tucked up in harbour subsequently a long passage or pottering along the coast.
With its traditional Colin Archer-inspired canoe stern, angular trawler style wheelhouse, and high, chunky, work-boat-derived bow the Fisher looks familiarly timeless, friendly and reassuring.
The 34 was launched in 1978 and was the quaternary of the Fisher range, slotting in betwixt the 30 and the 37, with the 25 on hand for those near to enter the market.
The lines of the Fisher haven't changed.
However, in 1988 the Mk II raised the side decks giving more room below; and the 1989 Mk III sloop has a full-length galley, improved heads and roomier forecabin.
It was to sail the Marker 3 34 that I had come up to Northshore'south chiliad on Itchenor Accomplish in Chichester Harbour, West Sussex.
Pearl Fisher, a two-year-old 34 sloop owned by Melanie and Kerry Lloyd, had recently returned from a prowl of Brittany.
The first impression is one of force. Bulwarks are sturdy and high, fittings seem over-sized and the lines muscular. It'south non superficial: the lay-up is very heavy and becomes increasingly so beneath the waterline to culminate in nearly v tons of encapsulated cast-iron ballast in the keel.
The heavy-duty mitt-laid-up hull is built in accord with Northshore'southward Nordseal organisation, which provides a resin-rich outer laminate designed to prevent any risk of wicking – the usual forerunner of osmosis.
The deck is bonded to the hull in attainable areas and bolted throughout the whole hull-to-deck joint. The bulkheads are laminated to the deck, resulting in a strong, integrated unit.
On deck
Stepping on board was easy, thanks to an upward-hinging section of the guardrail, and passage dorsum aft was comfortable by way of the wide side decks. The cockpit is roomy, comfy and enclosed by high surrounds. Storage is provided under the cockpit seats and a varnished teak tiller can be fitted to a sternpost for fresh-air helming. Ii large bollards are sited aft.
Genoa sheets pb to two Lewmar 40 self-tailing winches on the cockpit coaming. There is a Spinlock rope clutch for the genoa furling line to port.
On Pearl Fisher, the mainsheet is attached to a stainless-steel horse on the pushpit. The standard system is for the chief to be controlled from a point on the coachroof. This not only frees upward space in the cockpit but besides results in a more efficient angle of pull for the mainsheet.
Going forrad – after first negotiating the inevitable bad-mannered pull up from a deep cockpit and a swing effectually the wheelhouse corner – is a satisfying experience. Deck design is without compromise to modern fashion: sturdy teak grabrails, deep bulwarks, high guardrails, Treadmaster non-slip in profusion – including on the wheelhouse roof – and hefty deck fittings.
Two midship cleats, two large mooring cleats and a bollard on the foredeck serve warps fed over chafing plates fitted to the teak track cappings in way of fairleads.
A 35lb (fifteen.9kg) Delta anchor with 180ft (56m) of calibrated chain is controlled via a manual two-speed windlass, and is secured in a double anchor roller.
In port
Double opening doors – in the ketch these are replaced by a sliding door – lead into the wheelhouse, which serves as an internal helming position, navigation position and deck saloon. Pearl Fisher is trimmed throughout in maple, making a warm simply exceptionally airy interior. Standard trim is teak, just Northshore is happy to adjust owners' preferences.
The helm position, to port, is comfy but that high bow does limit the view somewhat. The instrument panel is large, with plenty of room for more kit, and to starboard is a large surface that acts equally a chart table. To starboard, a comfy settee, which has stowage beneath and lockers behind, runs the length of the wheelhouse.
At that place are slide-opening windows each side, a cardinal driblet-down window and a wiper fitted on the port forward screen.
The engine is accessed through the wheelhouse sole, and lifting up the floorplates reveals deep bilges and full access to all the workings back to the shaft and sterngland. Pearl Fisher is fitted with a 60hp Perkins Sabre diesel, but the standard engine is the more powerful four-cylinder Yanmar 4JH3-TE 75hp.
Going below, there is a distinct feeling of space. And from wheelhouse to forepeak in that location is at least 6ft 3in (i.9m) headroom.
At the foot of the companionway steps to port is the toilet/shower compartment. To starboard and tucked under the wheelhouse, at that place is a big quarter cabin with full-sized double berth, hanging locker with drawers under and a mirror.
The saloon has a U-shaped settee to port with lockers behind. The table is mounted on a pole so that it tin can exist raised clear or lowered to form a double berth.
Opposite the sitting expanse is a fore-and-aft galley, which has stainless-steel sink and drainer, hot and common cold water, top-opening ice box, and gimballed two-burner cooker with grill and oven.
The forecabin, with a panelled door, has two full-length single berths that catechumen, with a drop-in infill, to a double. In that location is a hanging locker and storage locker aft of the berths on each side. Access to the deck is via a Perspex hatch.
The joinery throughout is excellent and the finish faultless. Although Pearl Fisher was at the finish of two fairly hectic seasons, she looked new and will do, with good care, for many years. It is a shame the same cannot exist said for so many production-line floating examples of born expendability that today crowd our marinas.
At sea
It was August – doing a disarming impression of December. The hangover from a Caribbean hurricane made for a wet, chilly day, topped off with a southwesterly between 28 and 30 knots. All in all, perfect weather condition for an offshore cruiser.
We slipped our lines and edged away from the jetty under power and out into the channel. I was expecting her considerable weight and long keel to make her something of a handful at close-quarter manoeuvring.
I was pleasantly surprised.
Of course, she is non equally nimble every bit a fin-keeler but, provided you give her a little more room and fourth dimension, the 34 is predictable and steady, with a reassuring momentum to her progress. Many owners fit bow thrusters for extra control, just provided y'all have basic boat-handling sensation and call back alee, I wouldn't retrieve that necessary.
Her powerful engine and big, three-bladed prop provide more than enough grunt to point the bow anywhere yous desire to. And she'll cruise for twenty-four hours after day at 2,000 revs and an economic 61⁄2 knots, with a maximum of 7 knots. Her power and punching weight make calorie-free work of motoring into a head ocean.
The Fisher 34 is offered as either a ketch or a sloop, the sail expanse in each case being the same. The ketch is a versatile rig with many tricks upwardly its sleeve. For case, sailing under jib and mizzen in heavy weather makes the going easy.
Once away from the trots of moored craft, in clear water and nose to current of air, nosotros set nigh hoisting the 270sqft (25.1m2) main and unfurling the 360sqft (33.5m2) genoa. We tore off downwardly Chichester Harbour, by Bosham Channel and towards West Wittering. The Arun sails set beautifully and the 34 simply screamed forth.
Information technology was at this point I became surprised. I actually hadn't expected, given her overall pattern concept, that the 34 would exist particularly shut-winded. Notwithstanding, as we hardened on the current of air she could be pinched up to an impressive 40 degrees apparent to brand a respectable vi.two knots.
The leeway was, understandably, a little excessive on this point of canvas and so I eased off to l degrees. Leeway dropped to an acceptable level and she picked up to 7 knots. She was responsive, light and counterbalanced on the helm, tacking easily through 85 degrees or then. Coming off the current of air, she reached happily at around 71⁄ii knots.
VERDICT
Designers Wyatt and Freeman may exist best known for their Fisher range, only in the commercial market hundreds of boats of their design operate – oft in weather condition weather the average yachtsman wisely does his best to avoid – throughout the world. And y'all can see this in the Fisher: seaworthiness comes first.
This is a yacht for the individual. A long-keeled, high-bowed double-ender that will meet y'all safely beyond oceans and through rough conditions and keep you dry out while she's at it.
The Fisher 34 is not cheap, but then quality never is. The comforting thing is that the money is spent where it matters, on uncompromisingly high-standard construction and the best quality hardware and effects.
Source: https://www.classicboat.co.uk/articles/fisher-34-boat-test/