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| Crescent Allure 19 |
| Thursday, 13 May 2010 14:17 |
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As a big fan of classic boats it came as no surprise that Simon Everett was keen to test the Crescent Allure 19 with its traditional looks, but would it tempt him to buy a modern boat?
The Allure is built in Finland, where they have more lakes than any other place on earth and the boat ownership per capita is also the highest on the planet at, amazingly, nearly four boats per family. They have a long history of boating and the lines of the Allure are very traditional and easy on the eye with her graceful curves, simulated clinker planking, rope fender and wooden accents. The double ended design adds to the illusion that she is a conventionally driven launch with a small diesel engine under a midships box. After all, there is no transom to mount an outboard upon. Oh, how she deceives. You see, this lovely, traditional boat hides a secret. She is outboard powered.
HIDDEN POWER She looks like a conventionally driven, traditional launch and that is exactly what the designer was striving for. Cleverly hidden in the stern sheets, under a hatch in the after deck, there is an outboard well housing a small, four-stroke outboard. By small, I mean less than 10hp. The test boat was rigged with a Yamaha 8hp and the recommendation is to fit the 9.9hp version, but either way you are not looking at an entire stud of Arabian horses to provide the means of motion. A very modest power plant is all that is required, and with the displacement hull there is very little to be gained by adding more power. The 8hp motor was sufficient to whisk the three of us along at a virtually silent 6.3 knots at maximum revs. Even then we could hold a normal conversation and the lady’s hair was not being blown about. By throttling back to a much less frenetic engine speed, the vibrations vanished and the already quiet running became even quieter. The loss in speed was less than 1 knot as she pottered along very happily at 5.5 knots, but using at least 25% less fuel. Like the proverbial swan, this is a boat that glides along effortlessly while all the action is taking place well out of sight or sound and that is what makes the boat so appealing. That and the very sensible and comfortable layout. The internal freeboard is extremely generous, the gunwale height is waist high or so making this a very secure boat to be seen out and about in. A PRACTICAL CRAFT The practical nature of the boat is continued with the inclusion of an old fashioned, folding dodger to provide weather protection. Like the hood of a convertible car, the dodger can be raised in the event of an approaching squall in about 30 seconds flat. Once the weather clears up again, lowering it is just as simple. For the odd shower the ends can be left open, for more determined downpours the forward end can be closed off, making a very snug canvas cuddy. When the canopy is folded down it remains out of the way, with the frames lying along the cockpit coaming. The seating arrangements are typically launch like. A wrap around seating area in the bow section provides for eating at the table. This is mirrored in the stern with seating for three around the steering position with its traditional, spoked ships wheel. The steering has the feel of conventional steering about it and to the casual observer that is how it appears from the outside too. The steering takes a little getting used to because the wheel is quite small, but after ten minutes it becomes instinctive and the spokes make steering a doddle. A wooden ship’s wheel like this is a prime candidate for the addition of a Turk’s Head embellishment to the king spoke, and it wouldn’t look out of place either. Atop the steering position there is space for the installation of a small chartplotter display and a VHF could be fitted on the port side, balancing the lever throttle to starboard. The electrical connections are all housed within the steering binnacle keeping everything tidy. Stowage is taken care of around the boat with various lockers and hatches. In the deck of the cockpit, just forward of the steering binnacle, there is a hatch that opens sideways to give access to the bilge. There is plenty of space for stowing large fenders, a deck scrubber and other items. The hatch is protected by a storm cill all the way around and is supported on a gas strut. In the forward seating boxes there are conventional lockers with more in the stern seats for the battery one side and the fuel tank the other. With such a frugal boat one 25 litre outboard tank will be plenty for most occasions, but there is room to take a smaller, spare tank. BROAD APPEAL The Allure is a nicely appointed 19-footer with such aesthetics as the teak effect deck, 4” rope rubbing strake all round a wooden mast and ships wheel. To top this off the upholstery is button backed and matches the canvas. Not only is she practical but she is also very pretty. A touch of Old World charm in a modern package that would be ideal for use on rivers, lakes and our estuary systems, such as the River Fal, the east coast rivers, Poole Harbour, the Forth of Clyde, Plymouth Sound and those other areas of extensive, sheltered water. She will appeal to anyone who doesn’t need to go anywhere in a hurry and will appeal especially to those retiring yachtsmen who are not quite ready to give up boating just yet but wish to remain friends with their sailing neighbours. FACT FILE VERDICT SPECIFICATION FOR A SIMILAR BUDGET WHO TO TALK TO Check out Boat Mart's guide to buying a new boat - click here! Plus, if you enjoy classic boats - reading about them or sailing them - take a look at our classic boat pages. |
There is something elegant about sedate progress with style, something acceptable right across the entire spectrum of water users that makes boats that move with effortless grace fit into any scene or situation, rather than detract from it. This is exactly what the Crescent Allure 19 hopes to achieve.
