I don't know anything about Norseboat but the fact that a Sea Pearl cannot be recovered from being swamped is a deal breaker for me. It has happened in the EC and the Texas200.
It doesn't, really. Or maybe I should say the factors have been considered and Dale's statement is correct. I've done it. You can make serious modifications to the Sea Pearl to keep her on her side, but there is no purchase to get her back up without a centerboard.
I would add that until she goes over the Sea Pearl is an extremely capable boat. I'm very happy with it overall, but the lack of self rescue should be respected.
I know nothing about either boat, but one has a sloop rig, lapstrake planking, and a wineglass transom, so of course that one has to be my choice. I recognize that it's likely slower and may not point as well as the skiff, but we all suffer for our art.
Primary Advantages: Carbon fiber mast & boom make for easy single handed rigging. Easy to reduce sail with roller furling jib & jiffy reefing system on the main. NB is still in production. And yes - she’s very pretty to look at.
Norseboat. I have had the pleasure of sailing in one with my neighbor. Classic design combined with top quality materials and craftsmanship. Exceptionally versatile - sailing, rowing or camping.
Our Sea Pearl was one of the loves of my life. I closed up the centerboard slot and covered it with (4) 1X12X12 steel plates giving me considerably more stability. Then installed leeboards and handrails on the hull where the leeboard chafing bar would have been.
The wife and I cruised the boat in NJ , the Outer banks and Fl Everglades. We could have slept in the boat but were always able to find a campsite. Shoal draft , easy to row, what more could we ask for?
I love the carbon mast and easy rig of the Norseboat. I can sail solo which allows me to get out on the water almost every day. And it is a beautiful boat
It's incredibly simple. The gooseneck fitting to the boom can be uncoupled, so you then twist the mast around to wrap the sail, shortening it.
The performance does suffer a small bit. On the other hand, you can learn to balance the boat by adjusting the main and mizzen reefs so that it sails very comfortably in heavy wind.
I've had a NorseBoat for 2 years. It does everything well. Love the cockpit tent. I took it sailing for a week this summer. I stowed everything out of sight with room to spare. Yes, the boat good looks gets lots of admiring compliments.
I've always been intrigued by that custom gaff on the Norseboat. It seems like a great way to get extra sail area without going up higher and without some of the hassles of a true lug rig. I suppose battened sails with extra roach are very close to this, but the Norseboat rig is inspiring. Has anyone tried something similar on another craft?
14 hrs ago·edited 14 hrs agoLiked by Joshua Colvin
I owned a Sea Pearl 21 for years. Capsized it twice with rogue winds over 50 miles per hour. I was able to right it. It did well in winds at 45mph. I was able to camp in it easily and rig it in minutes easily. What I would have changed would have been to add outriggers, the easy blow up would have made a huge difference. People couldn't believe the places I was able to navigate through especially here in Prescott on Watson Lake where there are really neat coves and quiet places to explore. Loved it on Lake Powell and really loved it running wing on wing. My nephew has the Pearl now and is in love with it as well. The other one looks great but for overall with modifications the Pearl wins. I also loved the water ballast and the leeboards, easy to use and if I needed to work on them it was easy, not like a centerboard or daggerboard. But, if i had a real choice and the bucks I would get the Sea Pearl Trimaran.
I have never had opportunity to sail or be around one but have loved them since the first time I saw them when they were introduced in Small Boat Journal.
Norseboat. Classic good looks, modern materials, great design.
Sea Pearl is next to impossible to self rescue. I hope Norseboat is. So chose Norseboat for that reason alone.
I don't know anything about Norseboat but the fact that a Sea Pearl cannot be recovered from being swamped is a deal breaker for me. It has happened in the EC and the Texas200.
that certainly depends on a lot of factors - - - (planing) !!
It doesn't, really. Or maybe I should say the factors have been considered and Dale's statement is correct. I've done it. You can make serious modifications to the Sea Pearl to keep her on her side, but there is no purchase to get her back up without a centerboard.
I would add that until she goes over the Sea Pearl is an extremely capable boat. I'm very happy with it overall, but the lack of self rescue should be respected.
I know nothing about either boat, but one has a sloop rig, lapstrake planking, and a wineglass transom, so of course that one has to be my choice. I recognize that it's likely slower and may not point as well as the skiff, but we all suffer for our art.
I have a NorseBoat 17.5, so that’s my vote.
Primary Advantages: Carbon fiber mast & boom make for easy single handed rigging. Easy to reduce sail with roller furling jib & jiffy reefing system on the main. NB is still in production. And yes - she’s very pretty to look at.
Norseboat. I have had the pleasure of sailing in one with my neighbor. Classic design combined with top quality materials and craftsmanship. Exceptionally versatile - sailing, rowing or camping.
Our Sea Pearl was one of the loves of my life. I closed up the centerboard slot and covered it with (4) 1X12X12 steel plates giving me considerably more stability. Then installed leeboards and handrails on the hull where the leeboard chafing bar would have been.
The wife and I cruised the boat in NJ , the Outer banks and Fl Everglades. We could have slept in the boat but were always able to find a campsite. Shoal draft , easy to row, what more could we ask for?
We named her "NAMASTE" and loved her.
JW
Norseboat for me. Beauty wins. Sorry for being so shallow…
I would need to see which was more comfortable to sleep in.
I love the carbon mast and easy rig of the Norseboat. I can sail solo which allows me to get out on the water almost every day. And it is a beautiful boat
It appears that the Sea Pearl has sleeved sails ala a Laser. Not sure how you reef that if the wind pipes up.
It's incredibly simple. The gooseneck fitting to the boom can be uncoupled, so you then twist the mast around to wrap the sail, shortening it.
The performance does suffer a small bit. On the other hand, you can learn to balance the boat by adjusting the main and mizzen reefs so that it sails very comfortably in heavy wind.
Norseboat, partly for appearance, mostly for length. Hand launching solo is a priority for me, over the 4’ length difference.
I've had a NorseBoat for 2 years. It does everything well. Love the cockpit tent. I took it sailing for a week this summer. I stowed everything out of sight with room to spare. Yes, the boat good looks gets lots of admiring compliments.
Sea Pearl, strictly on the basis that hull shape is nigh on perfect (for a monohull ;-))
Herreshoff was a genius.
I've always been intrigued by that custom gaff on the Norseboat. It seems like a great way to get extra sail area without going up higher and without some of the hassles of a true lug rig. I suppose battened sails with extra roach are very close to this, but the Norseboat rig is inspiring. Has anyone tried something similar on another craft?
I owned a Sea Pearl 21 for years. Capsized it twice with rogue winds over 50 miles per hour. I was able to right it. It did well in winds at 45mph. I was able to camp in it easily and rig it in minutes easily. What I would have changed would have been to add outriggers, the easy blow up would have made a huge difference. People couldn't believe the places I was able to navigate through especially here in Prescott on Watson Lake where there are really neat coves and quiet places to explore. Loved it on Lake Powell and really loved it running wing on wing. My nephew has the Pearl now and is in love with it as well. The other one looks great but for overall with modifications the Pearl wins. I also loved the water ballast and the leeboards, easy to use and if I needed to work on them it was easy, not like a centerboard or daggerboard. But, if i had a real choice and the bucks I would get the Sea Pearl Trimaran.
Sea Pearl. No rational reason.
I have never had opportunity to sail or be around one but have loved them since the first time I saw them when they were introduced in Small Boat Journal.