Re: Canadian vs US BCC''s

BCC Forum
1

Ken,

That is an extremely good question!!! I’ve been looking at many BCC’s
up here in Seattle and for the most part they are Canadian completed vessels
in very different configurations as well as the quality of completion is
sometimes less than, much less than a factory completed vessel.(i.e. Sam L.
Morse factory in Ca.) I guess I’d say the factory completed vessel is the
standard to which Canadian finished vessels are to be judged. However, some
completed hulls done outside the Sam L. Morse factory are quite outstanding.
If anyone has more to add please do so, as I am not an expert on BCC’s by any
stretch of the imagination.

Mackey

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2

To anyone or all:

About six months ago, I was introduced to the BCC by way of the June
issue of BWS. Since then, I’ve read everything I can find and I’ve
talked to both Roger and Mike in California. I’ve seen two boats for
sale but I’ve sailed none. I’ve been following conversations here as
well. It seems most folks here are not “gentleman sailors” - not people
who buy services to keep there yacht going. Rather, there are many
do-it yourself owners who really know their boats, piece by piece. That
is how I’m coming to know my Sabre 30.

Now my question: In the used boat market, is there a significant
difference between Canadian built boats versus those made in California?
Are they different but equal? I assume both are built faithful to the
Hess design. I believe Canadian boats are a little less expensive. Does
that mean less of value?

thanks,

Ken

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3

Message text written by INTERNET:bcc@egroups.com

To anyone or all:

About six months ago, I was introduced to the BCC by way of the June
issue of BWS. Since then, I’ve read everything I can find and I’ve
talked to both Roger and Mike in California. I’ve seen two boats for
sale but I’ve sailed none. I’ve been following conversations here as
well. It seems most folks here are not “gentleman sailors” - not people
who buy services to keep there yacht going. Rather, there are many
do-it yourself owners who really know their boats, piece by piece. That
is how I’m coming to know my Sabre 30.

Now my question: In the used boat market, is there a significant
difference between Canadian built boats versus those made in California?
Are they different but equal? I assume both are built faithful to the
Hess design. I believe Canadian boats are a little less expensive. Does
that mean less of value?

thanks,

Ken
<

When did the Canadian company go out of business, Ken?

While I do not believe there would be any practical difference between the
two, with the exception perhaps of the boats made just before the company
folded (assuming they might have cut corners in an attempt to survive).
There HAS been an evolution of trial and error going on as the design has
matured. Examples that come to mind include getting the bow sprit up off
the deck, replacing the wooden bowsprit FID and mast step with delrin
plastic, and changes in the hull layup over the years.

When Sam L. Morse first started up selling bare hulls and kit boats, Roger
tells me there was a lot of variation in quality of some of those early
hull numbers that was unrelated to factory standards. For that reason, when
he sold me my hull, he would not sell it unless certain work was completed
by his crew to company standards so that basic safety in the design was
ensured. While it cost me more money in labor, I view it as a good thing
and applauded the idea.

So when thinking about buying a used boat, you should first go and look at
what the factory standard is so you will see it when it is missing. A quick
example is a question I posed to Roger about the structural bulkhead over
the engine. I like the idea of an open interior and asked about how much of
that bulkhead I could cut out without compromising safety. Roger said it’s
purpose was to stiffen the deck to prevent flex, and six inches left all
around would be sufficient. Being a belt and suspenders man myself, with
that knowledge in mind, if I cut the bulkhead out I will know to replace it
with a stout support beam set on hanging knees to compensate for any
strength I have removed.

regards

Donald Kircher/ Kokopelli

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4

-------------Forwarded Message-----------------

From: Tristan,
To: INTERNET:bcc@egroups.com , INTERNET:bcc@egroups.com

Date: 1/20/99 11:57 PM

RE: [bcc] Canadian vs US BCC’s

Message text written by INTERNET:bcc@egroups.com

To anyone or all:

About six months ago, I was introduced to the BCC by way of the June
issue of BWS. Since then, I’ve read everything I can find and I’ve
talked to both Roger and Mike in California. I’ve seen two boats for
sale but I’ve sailed none. I’ve been following conversations here as
well. It seems most folks here are not “gentleman sailors” - not people
who buy services to keep there yacht going. Rather, there are many
do-it yourself owners who really know their boats, piece by piece. That
is how I’m coming to know my Sabre 30.

Now my question: In the used boat market, is there a significant
difference between Canadian built boats versus those made in California?
Are they different but equal? I assume both are built faithful to the
Hess design. I believe Canadian boats are a little less expensive. Does
that mean less of value?

thanks,

Ken
<

When did the Canadian company go out of business, Ken?

While I do not believe there would be any practical difference between the
two, with the exception perhaps of the boats made just before the company
folded (assuming they might have cut corners in an attempt to survive).
There HAS been an evolution of trial and error going on as the design has
matured. Examples that come to mind include getting the bow sprit up off
the deck, replacing the wooden bowsprit FID and mast step with delrin
plastic, and changes in the hull layup over the years.

When Sam L. Morse first started up selling bare hulls and kit boats, Roger
tells me there was a lot of variation in quality of some of those early
hull numbers that was unrelated to factory standards. For that reason, when
he sold me my hull, he would not sell it unless certain work was completed
by his crew to company standards so that basic safety in the design was
ensured. While it cost me more money in labor, I view it as a good thing
and applauded the idea.

So when thinking about buying a used boat, you should first go and look at
what the factory standard is so you will see it when it is missing. A quick
example is a question I posed to Roger about the structural bulkhead over
the engine. I like the idea of an open interior and asked about how much of
that bulkhead I could cut out without compromising safety. Roger said it’s
purpose was to stiffen the deck to prevent flex, and six inches left all
around would be sufficient. Being a belt and suspenders man myself, with
that knowledge in mind, if I cut the bulkhead out I will know to replace it
with a stout support beam set on hanging knees to compensate for any
strength I have removed.

regards

Donald Kircher/ Kokopelli

Free Web-based e-mail groups by eGroups.com