Logan 33

Text and Photos by Andy Adams

Ninety years of enjoyment packed into 33 feet.

We know you’re looking at the pictures. You probably thought we would say, “ninety years of tradition packed into 33 feet” but this is actually a new boat. Don’t be fooled by the plum stem displacement hull, the low center of gravity, or the elegant little mast and stabilizing sail.

Then again, it would be too easy to dismiss this as a quaint reproduction. It’s much more than that. It’s a very distinctive and unique yachting choice for today’s cruisers.

The Logan 33 is from New Zealand. Since New Zealand is all by itself in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a contemporary planning powerboat might not be such a safe place to be when the weather turns and the winds pick up. New Zealanders take boating seriously.

So, here’s where we start. Eric Knight owns a boatyard in Whangarei, New Zealand. A few years ago he acquired a 1912 classic originally designed by Arch Logan, a New Zealand yacht designer, who created many successful racing yachts around the turn of the century. The boat Eric bought was then 85 years old but this 33 footer delighted Eric and after becoming thoroughly acquainted with its many virtues, he decided to create a fiberglass reproduction and offer a limited production for sale. Heritage Launch Inc., in Ontario won the right to bring this boat to Canada.

We met Northern Heritage, which is Hull #ll, in Trenton and went for a ride on the Bay of Quinte. After only a short time on board it became obvious that this is a pleasure yacht with its own unique set of virtues. Treating the Logan 33 as just an interesting or cute reproduction does it a disservice. For today’s cruising, it’s a very viable and desirable choice.

The Logan 33 is an easy handling, economical but very comfortable cruiser that has the sea-keeping qualities to safely navigate virtually any inland waters in Canada and our coastlines too. It will surprise contemporary power boaters with its comfort and effortless cruising ability and it will delight sailors with familiar surroundings and very seaman-like fit and finish.

The displacement hull design is built with 10 courses of hand-laid fiberglass and the finish is yacht quality, despite having been lifted from an 85-year-old boat! High bows and lots of buoyancy forward mean you can tackle serious weather with confidence. Like many early power boat designs, the Logan 33 has a full keel that is a fullfour inches wide at the stern. No one wants to run aground but if you ever did, this is the boat for it.

Reasonable side decks and well located handholds make it possible to get around the exterior while underway. Our test boat was trimmed with teak decking, a forward bow rail and very seaman-like hardware. On the cabin trunk, opening glass hatches provide both ventilation and light. A larger hatch over the helm station lets the captain stand with head and shoulders above the cabin roof.

An inflatable dinghy stows on the cabin roof and on our test boat, a 2.5 Hp Mercury “kicker” was mounted on a transom bracket. Use it on the dink or as auxiliary power. The 2.5 Mercury pushes the Logan 33 at about 3.5 mph! You could troll with it too, so why not drop in a line and catch dinner? Four Perko rod holders are included on the aft deck along with vented dual propane tank lockers and a hot and cold shower.

From the aft deck, it’s an easy step into the cockpit. There is seating for four, storage under the seats, more under the Iazarette and behold; the galley is located aft and right in the middle of the party! Cooking orders blow right overboard. To starboard is counter space with a small stainless-steel sink, hot and cold pressure water, provisions locker and a refrigerator with freezer.

To port is a very effective propane stove with two burners and a small oven that even has a grill. Canadian Logan distributor, Fred Blair says the stove is such a clever device that you can even make toast in the morning. We found sea rails and fiddles everywhere they were needed, more storage and everything on the test boat was in beautiful Kauri wood with outstanding joinery work.

Up the companionway into the main salon, there’s a very useful adjustable table for meals or charting and the helm is located on the starboard side at the cabin bulkhead. A raised seat is available. You can sit low, high or stand through the hatch. At Logan 33 speeds though, you let the Autopilot do the main work. The captain just supervises.

Other cabin features include a nice chart table, louvered locker doors, a CD radio with four speakers (classical seems most appropriate) and the two salon settees pull out as 7-foot-long berths. The head is fully enclosed and lies to starboard ahead of the helm. Pressure water, MSD and sink make it quite useful, although a bit tight.

The optional Kauri interior includes a tongue in groove ceiling that’s delightful. The forward vee berth is comfortable and has ample storage for a week of cruising for two. The big surprise lies under the cushions. Yes, it’s the three cylinder Yanmar diesel engine! The Logan must have one of the longest engine shafts ever for a 33-foot boat, but with two universal joints we didn’t notice any vibration and the shaft angle is almost flat. This helps to push the boat along very efficiently and level. Although the winds weren’t high enough to justify trying the steadying sail there’s no question that this boat can handle rough water.

The low center of gravity will make it particularly comfortable for people sensitive to motion sickness, with a very steady and gentle ride motion. The Yanmar diesel is 36 horsepower and swings a 16″x 13″three blade propeller. Our GPS showed a best cruising speed of 8.9 MPH at a relaxed 2,900 RPM and when pressed, the Logan delivers a top speed of 11.7 MPH at 3,800 RPM.

The standard gauges tell you everything you really need to know about the little Yanmar and the optional Raytheon autopilot and chart plotter makes setting and maintaining a course a breeze. The Logan tracks like an arrow thanks to the big keel yet at dockside the large rudder helps you into the slip with a minimum of fuss.

This leaves us with the impression that the Logan will go just about anywhere in economical comfort and a new Logan might even enjoy the lifespan that the original boat has had. It’s still going strong in the unforgiving waters of New Zealand, more that 90 years after her christening!

Originally published in Canadian Yachting’s January 2004 issue.

SPECIFICATIONS
IMPORTED BY
Heritage Launch Inc.
1013 Jamieson Road, RR#1
Wooler, Ontario, KOK 3MO
613-397-1608
www.heritagelaunch.com

LENGTH – 32′ 10″
BEAM – 8′
DISPLACEMENT – 7052 lb.
TRAILERING WEIGHT – 6,612 lbs.
FUEL – 79 US gal.
WATER – 79 US gal
HOLDING TANK – 100 L

ENGINE and PERFORMANCE
Test boat engine: Yanmar 3JH3 (B) Ewith standard gauges, 3 cylinder diesel, 36 hp
CRUISING SPEED (GPS) – 8.9 MPH 2,900 RPM
TOP SPEED (GPS) – 11.7 MPH 3,800 RPM

SOME OF OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
Raymarine ST 5000 Autopilot
Emergency tiller
Complete shore power package
Cabin heater
Teak and holly sole
Electronics package
Maxwell windlass
Steadying sail
Dinghy and engine

Photo Captions:
Photo 1 – A Logan 33 goes down in New Zealand – but only into the trough of a huge Pacific roller. These waters were the birthplace of the Logan 33.
Photo 2 – Canadian distributor Fred Blair at the helm with the helm seat in a raised position, hatch open overhead and driving from the salon with single convertible berths port and starboard
Photo 3 – The cockpit and galley with wonderful stove/oven and beautiful joinery work everywhere.