Swallow Yachts Coast 250

[Rob Johnstone]

There's an advantage over a sail drive - you can lift the motor out of the slipstream when sailing!

[Nick Orchard]

Yes and perhaps even more useful - you never have to worry about catching lobster pots, mooring warps or other stray lines again, just lift the engine and clear it all off.

[Graham W]

There's a fairly new Youtube video showing the Coast 250 sailing and motoring https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vDKnBU8Djzw#fauxfullscreen.

[Graham W]

Two more videos of the 250, motoring and sailing, have been posted on the Swallow YouTube channel https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCinUCwBfitI6BqJGLIfkYqg.

[Andy Dingle]

Thanks for the link Graham.

Pleased too see that the Coast 250 has had a nomination for European Yacht of the Year for next year - I wish Matt well with that.

Anyone know how much these are selling for in the UK? I see the link on the SY website to a German magazine show it at 'from' 59k Euro's - which seems reasonable ish to me, but presumably without VAT, trailer and hoiking great engine etc.


Andy

[Peter Taylor]

Anyone know how much these are selling for in the UK?

Hi Andy,
Matt's price list at the Boat show had the basic boat at £54,950 (inc VAT). Add trailer, 70HP Yamaha, asymmetric, spray hood, mainsail lazy bag, and copper antifouling and you are talking just under £73,500. Other extras available include nav lights, fridge, sea toilet plus holding tank, fully installed gas cooker system, etc.

I do like the idea of faster (and quieter) motoring but I think I'll have to stick with Seatern!
Peter

[Andy Dingle]

Thanks Peter.

Not too bad when said quickly ... !
I'm in the market for a larger cruiser at the moment - having gone continental this year the bug has bitten.. but maybe a bit larger than the Coast.


Andy

[Graham W]

I'm in the market for a larger cruiser at the moment.

Apparently a Coast 290 (and a 210) will be coming out in due course.

[Graham W]

The most recent (November) issue of Yachting Monthly has a full review of the Coast 250 that is mostly complimentary.  They conclude with the positives:
Fast and easy to handle under sail
Smooth and efficient planing under power
Roomy and practical layout

And the negatives:
Engine could do with more sound-proofing
Foot braces on the cockpit seats would be useful
Self-tacking jib presents limitations

The first two negatives, which weren't mentioned anywhere else in the article, should be easy to fix.  The third could be improved with the use of a jib boom and perhaps a topping lift on that boom.  The price as tested was just under £78,000.

[Tony]

April edition of PBO has a very complimentary review of the Coast 250.

I would certainly trade in "Four Sisters"* for a Coast 250 if:
1/ I could live permanently in my summer cruising area in the Ionian.
2/ I could find the 50 or 60 grand needed to bridge the price difference between the two!

Once again Matt has broken the old adage that 'the smaller the boat the bigger the fun'  - but I'm happy with my CBL #1.

* "Four Sisters" is a 19' Cardigan Bay Lugger, designed and built by Matt in 2004/5. (She was the one after the Storm 19 and before the Bay Raider.)