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Another one followed me home - could be that perfect day sailer?
- Thread starter RussC
- Start date Aug 2, 2017
- Forums for All Owners
- Trailer Sailors
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
You need to be careful standing about in the marina. You never know what might follow you home.
smiled at the name
Cute!
waterpirate
Oh the problems we have! I am being stalked by a mac 26. Eric
Based on the rigging in the picture, the PO really knew how to SAIL that thing.
That's what happens when you feed them
jon hansen said: smiled at the name Click to expand
Jackdaw said: Based on the rigging in the picture, the PO really knew how to SAIL that thing. Click to expand
I think the Vagabond 17 is an adorable little boat. A bit boxy, but cute nonetheless. There's one in the slip across the dock from mine this year. Last year I had a Newport 17 across the dock. Not nearly as sweet looking as the Vagabond 17. Ron Holder also designed the Holder/Hobie 20. It's a bit faster than the Vagabond, but not nearly as comfortable overall.
Brian S said: I think the Vagabond 17 is an adorable little boat. A bit boxy, but cute nonetheless. There's one in the slip across the dock from mine this year. Last year I had a Newport 17 across the dock. Not nearly as sweet looking as the Vagabond 17. Ron Holder also designed the Holder/Hobie 20. It's a bit faster than the Vagabond, but not nearly as comfortable overall. Click to expand
Looking good! Love the red sails. Eric
Backstay isn't as much a problem with wind in the sails, creating some camber, which shortens the length, and twists off, so it stays out of the way of the backstay. My full length batten at the top of the sail catches on my topping lift sometimes, and rarely on the backstay.
Brian S said: It's a shit-ton faster than the Vagabond, but not nearly as comfortable overall. Click to expand
Jackdaw said: Fixed that for you. Click to expand
RussC said: You're all heart jackdaw. thanks. Click to expand
Thanks for fixing. Ha! I would love to have a Holder 20, but I've had the kind of boat where you sit ON it, as opposed to in it. I rather enjoy my cockpit now. Although... to have a boat like the Holder 20 just to campaign for racing, then it would be ok. (The side decks are the seats in the H-20.) There are a couple at our lake, and I got to go out on a decrepit H-20, with loose rigging, and a delaminating jib. The thing is still fast, and made it feel like we were short-tacking on the wide part of the lake ('cos it was so fast.) I bet it would be super fun in more wind on a bigger body of water. But, if I became independently wealthy, with unlimited boat bux and storage, I'd probably just opt for a new J/70 instead.
Jackdaw said: That vagabond looks a very cool little boat. But the Holder 20 will run absolute circles around it! Different type of boat. Click to expand
Love the red sails!
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Review of Vagabond 17
Basic specs..
The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season. And outside the sailing season, just bottom cleaning and perhaps anti-fouling painting once a year - a few hours of work, that's all.
The boat equipped with a fractional rig. A fractional rig has smaller headsails which make tacking easier, which is an advantage for cruisers and racers, of course. The downside is that having the wind from behind often requires a genaker or a spinnaker for optimal speed.
The Vagabond 17 is equipped with a swing keel. A swing keel is a pivoting lifting keel, allowing to sail both coastal and inland waters.
The boat can enter even shallow marinas as the draft is just about 0.46 - 0.56 meter (1.51 - 1.81 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.
Sailing characteristics
This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.
What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?
The capsize screening value for Vagabond 17 is 3.06, indicating that this boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races.
What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?
The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 5.2 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.
The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Vagabond 17 is about 67 kg/cm, alternatively 378 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 67 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 378 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.
Sailing statistics
This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.
What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?
What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?
What is a Ballast Ratio?
What is Displacement Length Ratio?
What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?
Maintenance
When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 12m 2 (129 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.
Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale
If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.
| Usage | Length | Diameter | ||
| Mainsail halyard | 16.6 m | (54.3 feet) | 6 mm | (1/4 inch) |
| Jib/genoa halyard | 16.6 m | (54.3 feet) | 6 mm | (1/4 inch) |
| Spinnaker halyard | 16.6 m | (54.3 feet) | 6 mm | (1/4 inch) |
| Jib sheet | 5.2 m | (17.0 feet) | 8 mm | (5/16 inch) |
| Genoa sheet | 5.2 m | (17.0 feet) | 8 mm | (5/16 inch) |
| Mainsheet | 12.9 m | (42.5 feet) | 8 mm | (5/16 inch) |
| Spinnaker sheet | 11.4 m | (37.4 feet) | 8 mm | (5/16 inch) |
| Cunningham | 2.4 m | (7.8 feet) | 6 mm | (1/4 inch) |
| Kickingstrap | 4.8 m | (15.6 feet) | 6 mm | (1/4 inch) |
| Clew-outhaul | 4.8 m | (15.6 feet) | 6 mm | (1/4 inch) |
This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.
Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.
We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Vagabond 17 it would be a great help.
If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.
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Vagabond 17
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I am about to buy a Vagabond 17 for a first boat. I chose 17'' for storage & budget purposes. I have only sailed solo in harbors on boats up to 14''. I would like to use this for sailing in the coastal waters off southern california. I have been out in a Merit 25 and felt confident, will the Vagabond 17 be a disapointment? Any input would be helpful. Thanks, Jim
Hi jim_b, I'm curious if you ever bought the Vagabond, and if you were pleased with it. I am in exactly the same position as you were (looking to buy a Vagabond 17 as my first boat) and am curious if it has served you well outside the harbour. Cheers, Maat
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IMAGES
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COMMENTS
#1. A quick set-up time was high on my priority list, and the V17 did not dissapoint. the mast is fairly beefy for a 17 footer, but still easy enough to hoist without the additional use of a jin pole or any type of winch.
Looking to buy my first daysailer and found a 1981 Vagabond 17 that seems nice. Looking for recommendations from owners or previous owners. Thanks
Is there anyone on here who has had experience sailing the Vagabond 17, also known as the Holder 17? From my (inexperienced) perspective, it seems to have many of the features we are looking for--trailerable, lightweight, option to stay on board for a night or two.
Vagabond 17, designed by Ron Holder. seems like a SO much larger boat, but only 950lb displacement with 345b swing keel. fairly flat bottom and VERY stable...
Kelsall Sailing Performance (KSP): Another measure of relative speed potential of a boat. It takes into consideration “reported” sail area, displacement and length at waterline. The higher the number the faster speed prediction for the boat.
The Vagabond 17 is a small sailboat designed by the maritime architect Ron Holder in the mid seventies. The Vagabond 17 is built by the American yard Vagabond Boats.
I basically started with a 26’ boat in this same landlocked marina (Carlyle Lake, IL) and something very important that I learned early on-that you may miss, by trailering, is how helpful sailers are to other sailers.
I am about to buy a Vagabond 17 for a first boat. I chose 17'' for storage & budget purposes. I have only sailed solo in harbors on boats up to 14''. I would like to use this for sailing in the coastal waters off southern california.
The Vagabond 17 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with teak wood trim. It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars. The hull has a raked stem, a vertical transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a locking swing keel.
I recently purchased a Vagabond 17 sailboat with the intent of learning to sail. ASA classes are in the plan as well. Trying to research the boat I am finding very little useful knowledge. So I have a few questions. What size engine would be recommended? Is a 7 horse to big? Why no boom vang?