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).
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