Cape Horn Yachts

(1) "What does me being out on one or out on one at sea have to do with anything? How does it have relevance to anything being discussed at all???"

Because I have successfully concluded 19 Cape Horn sales, attended survey and sea trial on 16 of them, and have been to the Cape Horn yards numerous times. I am still in contact with almost every owner and previous owner from a 20 year history. I can factually substantiate almost every opinion that I share. And that's my point. I am trying to share informed knowledge and experience to help anyone reading these posts but unfortunately the information and facts get muddled with extraneous non-CH experienced opinions.

For example:
(2)"Didn't the last owner of Cape Horn build the last/final 3 or 4 boats in Asia???"

As specified in my post #139, all Cape Horn trawlers were built at the 3 Canadian yards stated. NONE were built in China.

What I meant is if you buy a yacht from a brand that is built by that builder. They own the entire product from start to finish. For example: Viking, Hatteras, Burger, Westport. Every employee, every build process, every nut, bolt and weld is their direct responsibility. They choose every single piece that goes into that yacht, they directly control the labor from bow to stern. It is their baby. It is under their direct supervision from start to finish. Every aspect of the build, they own. It is generally built right outside of their headquarters office door. Most of these builders have had the very same employees building the same boats for years, decades, even generations. They have perfected their techniques (for the most part), they have seen what works and doesn't work via experience, and warranty work and so on. There's longevity there, heritage, consistency.

When a yacht design company or sales company who isn't a builder, sub-contracts a yacht to be built at a yard, there are plans and things that must be followed via the contract and design, but there are many things left to interpretation by the ACTUAL builder. Then you switch from this yard to that one.......then that yard to another one.......you're not going to have consistency, things are going to be done differently, joinery work will be done differently, employees will be learning the in's and out's of the design as they build the first ones....... Just like you noticed the difference between AFT and a kanter built one.....they're not identical in build.

OTOH, there's a guy at the factory I can call at one of the aforementioned builders, and ask him where the air horn solenoid (or any other part in the entire boat is) on a 12 year old 65' yacht, and right off of the top of his head, he tells me, and he knows.....and it's there, he doesn't have to look it up by hull number, because they put the air horn solenoid in the same exact spot on every boat that size that they built........same with a 1 year old new yacht they built...... or a larger one......or smaller one......same with any other equipment.......or the autopilot compass.......or anything.......there is congruency in the build, each boat is built alike, aside from options. There are plans, things are installed in the location the plan AND owner's manual says they are......why, because the same guy, installs the same piece of equipment, in every boat that size, for the past 10 years........there's a lot of value in that.

THIS IS FROM POST #101 FROM PETER SERVER HIMSELF!!!!! It reads to me that he contracted to build an 82' from Sparkman and Stevens and was built in China THEN he sold the company and the person who bought the company from him then moved production ONCE AGAIN, to the U.S then died.

"
Sparkman and Stephens studied our boats thoroughly and didn't change much below the waterline even though they had a free hand. They did a great styling job however and convinced me that roll-over was virtually impossible so went with a larger, more luxurious aluminum superstructure of similar weight to the steel one.

Unfortunately I have never been aboard the Sparkman and Stephens 82 I had contracted and started to build in a superb China yard well before selling the company. Mike who bought the brand didn't feel like flying 18 hours to China every couple months, most unfortunately, nor did his managers -- so he tripled the cost and built in USA. Big costly error. It killed him, perhaps literally. Nor have I spoken to anyone who has been aboard -- so cannot speak with any knowledge of the 2nd generation at sea. I find the photos to be very pretty however; great lines to my personal taste. But a $2 million (construction cost) boat suddenly became a $6 million construction-cost boat -- and it ended there. Most sadly.

- Peter"

Dear Peter,
I would love a copy of the Cape Horn 28th edition. I am doing research on the Cape Horn - very keen on the 55 model. Also need to look at steel versus fibreglass. Thank you in advance.

Thanks, Paolo! I have the brochure on PDF. I have some of the original hardcopy brochures that I treasure.

Thanks! You're always so willing to help.

J

Hi, as soon as I can work out how to pm you (new to the site) I will send email address. Thanks so much.

It's missing in the one I have on PDF which is March 2003. However, my brochure from May 2002 has it. I'll ping Peter and see if he has that on PDF.

The only one Peter has currently available on PDF is with the missing Appendix C. I can scan the pages from the hardcopy I have. Appendix C has 2-4 pages per model, models 65, 75, & 95. Which ones are of interest?

Julie if I read you correctly you want a copy of the book? If so no problem, I just need your email address.

Follow-up:

Julie has received the Cape Horn brochure via email.
Mapism has received the scans for the CH65.

Judy

Wow, interesting thread, read the whole thing this morning.
Looks like you have to find me a CH 55 Judy.

Wow. My broker sent me a package this morning on a 60’ CH. Looked interesting so I thought I would do some investigation since I’ve never seen one. Now, after reading this thread, I’m not sure whether to thank him or block his number.

I can't speak for every Cape Horn Whitney Irins but I can speak about mine, as I have done here. Any Ch designed and built like mine is a superb craft for cruising. I've had mine 10 years now and don't regret it. I've been in some hairy seS too on My Columbus, and that's when I really really dont regret it !
I'm not sure what kinda boat you want and it's always a personal thing... but I wanted a long range cruiser with tonnes of room, comfort, absolute safety and easy no-crew options.