Poll: Navigator VS Ilur
We had a reader write suggesting we publish a side-by-side comparison of two especially popular wooden boats—the John Welsford-designed Navigator and the Francois Vivier-designed Ilur.
We’d love to do it, but until we can get the two boats side-by-side, we’d appreciate reader thoughts on which of the two designs you favor and why. We’ve sailed aboard or next to these boats many times—clearly with two such pleasing and proven designs there are no wrong answers to the poll questions below. —Eds
I built and launched my Navigator "Ellie" back in 2011 and I have sailed her thousands of miles over the last 13 years. She has appeard in several magazines, sailed the Salish-100 numerous times, and even won a trophy once. If you look closely at the second photo of the Ilur in this article, you can catch a glimpse of "Ellie" off her bow. The Ilur in this photo is "Pas Assez", built and sailed by my friend Ron Mueller. In these photos, Ron in his Ilur, and I in my Navigator, are sailing together in Fossil Bay on Sucia Island, WA.
Both of these boats are outstanding dinghy cruisers. I don't have enough first-hand experience with Ilur to tout all her virtues, but I do for Navigator.
Navigator is virtually the same size as Ilur, but is significantly lighter and has a planing hull. Navigator was originally designed as a racing sloop and later modified to also serve as a cruising dinghy. Navigator is the faster boat.
Navigator sports a self-draining anchor well that keeps the messy, stinky muddy hook out of the cockpit.
Her large watertight storage locker under the foredeck keeps sleeping bags, clothing and camping gear totally dry.
She has seating for 8 people. Her cockpit area can easily be made to comfortably sleep two. Her side decks offer space to store equipment out of the weather. Storage is also available under all the seats which also serve as flotation chambers.
She has seven different sailplans to choose from, but the gaff yawl rig is priceless IMO, for all the versatility it offers.
Ilur has an advantage when it comes to rowing. Note that "Pas Assez" has two rowing stations. Navigator was not designed with rowing in mind, although it has been done. Ilur also has a dedicated storage locker in the cockpit sole for oar storage. Her boomless rig is about as simple as rigs can get. Also, CNC kits are available for Ilur. CNC files are available for Navigator (and several other Welsford designs) on my blog.
These weight measurement must be wrong somehow. I have never seen either boat in the flesh (I would dearly love to), but I have looked quite closely at many building threads. I would suspect that they would come quite close in weight, with the Ilur being a bit heavier..
A, to the original question, and keeping in mind that I have never sailed either of them, It is my impression that the Navigator is more of a pure-bred sailor, whereas the Ilur is more of a sail and oar Boat, albeit with more emphasis on the sailing part.
I would be very happy to take either one.
Viktor