Monk 36

[Hawgwash]

Is there anyone within a couple hundred miles of Vancouver, including Vancouver Island with a Nova Scotia built Monk 36 who would be willing to allow me a visit?

 

[boatpoker]

Go for a ride in 3-4' seas. You will quickly drop this boat from your wish list.

 

[Hawgwash]

Go for a ride in 3-4' seas. You will quickly drop this boat from your wish list.

A great comment but...Really?
Be happy to hear more and you can PM me if you like.

 

[boatpoker]

A great comment but...Really?
Be happy to hear more and you can PM me if you like.

I've sea trialed Monk 36's in 3-4' seas. Both hands are required to hold on.
The bottom is near flat, there is very little hull in the water and they bounce around like a cork. As the fresh water tank gets low the transom is nearly out of the water and she ploughs, making steering difficult in even the lightest following sea.

 

[psneeld]

I've sea trialed Monk 36's in 3-4' seas. Both hands are required to hold on.
The bottom is near flat, there is very little hull in the water and they bounce around like a cork. As the fresh water tank gets low the transom is nearly out of the water and she ploughs, making steering difficult in even the lightest following sea.

Sounds like my Albin 40 too.

Thankfully I never expected to go out in much so I'm not too concerned....


Don't most of these smaller TTs bob and roll?

 

[Hawgwash]

I've sea trialed Monk 36's in 3-4' seas. Both hands are required to hold on.
The bottom is near flat, there is very little hull in the water and they bounce around like a cork. As the fresh water tank gets low the transom is nearly out of the water and she ploughs, making steering difficult in even the lightest following sea.

Since you have zero to gain by saying this and stand to have stuff chucked at you from owners, I do appreciate your candor.

If correct, it is certainly something to take seriously in our waters. If debatable, still something to keep seriously in mind while looking.

Thanks.

 

[Hawgwash]

The bottom is near flat...very little hull in the water...
As the fresh water tank gets low the transom is nearly out of the water...

Hmmm.
I see what you mean, but is the GB not the same?

 

[truant2]

Looked at a new one in a slip in Rock Hall, MD. Kept rolling so much almost got ill. Needs more length and less height.

 

[Hawgwash]

Looked at a new one in a slip in Rock Hall, MD. Kept rolling so much almost got ill.

Rats, but thanks anyway.
What do you call new; what year?

 

[boatpoker]

Don't most of these smaller TTs bob and roll?

Some more than others, this is one of the worst, right up there with the Carver 32 aft cabin.

 

[HiDHo]

We owned a 1986 for 2 1/2 years and lived aboard. While doing the "loop" the only foul weather we in countered was on Delaware Bay heading for Cape May into a nor'easter and 3-4' ground swells, not a very comfortable ride with spray over the top of the fly bridge enclosure. Drive from the lower helm much more comfortable. We eventually pulled off the Bay in one of the few inlets and let the sea subside. The boat will take the weather the saying " it's not the size of the ship, it's the motion of the ocean" applies to the Monk or any small craft.
Winter weather causes a lot of condensation on the hull and aft stateroom hanging lockers need insulation.
We received lots of favorable comments from boaters and dock walkers on the Monk's looks. We had the Perkins 135 which was bullet proof in operation and maintenance. The 8 KW generator was forward of the engine on centerline, bad news the holding tank is below the generator. Black iron fuel tanks have deck fills port and starboard where leak proof on ours but could be a water on tank top problem. Centered salon/galley good for dinner for four, we had the full fly bridge enclosure and used it most of the time. I always thought the teak mast, boom and spreaders, radar, etc. made it top heavy but I never tested that by stepping the mast into the aft crutch while in seas. We carried 400' of 5/16" HT chain and never noticed it plowing or nose heavy. Good luck with your search.
Bill

 

[Steve]

Well, I have to say we are very happy with our 2003 Monk 36, and have found it to be very well built and suiting our needs well. Our cruising is mainly along the Gulf of Mexico coast, we have made the crossing from Apalachicola to Clearwater Fl several times. Whenever possible we try to avoid rough weather but have been in it a couple of times and gotten bounced around a bit, I don't know if it would have been less or more "bouncy" in the Monk or another brand of semi displacement boat.
On most Monk 36 the generator was added fwd of the engine and can make her ride slightly "bow down". Many owners, myself included, have added ballast, lead ingots aft just inside the transom to compensate.
There are quite a few Monk 36s in the PNW hopefully "Hawgwash" can check with some owners in that area.

 

[Hawgwash]

Thanks Steve and HiDHo.
Always good to get owner perspective.
I will pursue it but may not go too far out of my way.
Yet.

 

[High Wire]

When we were looking for ours, I too had heard of the rocky ride stories. But I have not found it significantly different than a Grand Banks 32 or 36 we chartered except a whole lot dryer in a bad chop.
We always have our water tanks topped off, have a gen fwd of the engine, and have the additional ballast in the lazzarette.
That said, we have never yet been caught underway in a bad blow in the Monk in the 1200 miles or so we've run her.
That said 2: every boat I've been on has a wave pattern that will roll the snot out of you while other boats around look normal and vice versa. I have not found that pattern yet on the Monk.

 

[Hawgwash]

HiDHo, Steve and High Wire; what engines did you have and what were your cruise and WOT speeds?

 

[koliver]

Hawg:

Know some folks that had a Monk 36 a few yrs ago. Never heard any complaints about lively bouncing from them. To the contrary, all the comments from them were positive re this boat. I know they were regularly crossing the gulf, as they kept it in Vancouver and frequently were at Tugboat and Scott Point. Must have some experience in 3' to 4' seas.

 

[HiDHo]

Perkins 135
Cruise 6.5 knots
WOT 8 knots

 

[Hawgwash]

Know some folks that had a Monk 36 a few yrs ago. Never heard any complaints about lively bouncing from them. I know they were regularly crossing the gulf...Must have some experience in 3' to 4' seas.

I'm not disputing what others have said and certainly the need for ballast says something. I just have trouble reconciling the negatives with everything I know and believe about the 2 Eds.

Only first hand will tell.
I see Desolation Charters has one so maybe I need a road trip to Comox.
Hmmm, off season, I wonder if they would let it go for a weekend run to Blubber Bay. Aaaa, I don't know, still lots of Powell River hippies there. Might not get back.

 

[psneeld]

The trouble with only considering owner feedback has been discussed many times.

The number of "great" boats as described by owners differs pretty significantly from the number of "great" boats from those that run many different boats under many conditions.

I think owner input is important but in my experience it has to be tempered with a little "ego boosting" and lack of knowing better to a degree.

There seems to be a layer of boaters with enormous experience...than quite a void down to the weekend and occasional boater that has owned a few and rode on a few more in varied conditions. So picking out gems from the "white noise" can be a challenge.

Like many of the pictures posted from owners in 5-6 foot seas.....yeeow....my camera must be from a planet with different gravity and yardsticks.....


I see 2 choices. Whenever you are convinced only one "boat" will do the trick...you either accept known issues with that type boat or fly to a boat where you can really put it though its paces. I didn't go to my sea trial as I wanted a particular boat and knew the sea trial wasn't going to "learn me" any more about that size, shape, style TT. After 10,000 miles of the type of travel I expected...the boat hasn't given me any surprises.

 

[kthoennes]

Some more than others, this is one of the worst, right up there with the Carver 32 aft cabin.

Huh. I thought our Carver 3207 rode pretty well for a boat that was just 12,000 lbs dry weight. Not a knee jerk defense of a boat we owned, I just genuinely thought it rode well and had a nicely designed hull for a modestly priced boat. Had a nice deep and sharp forefoot (even though it did flatten out toward the transom) unlike the Monk 36 so it would cut through pretty well. Did roll a lot though. Too light.

 

[boatpoker]

Huh. I thought our Carver 3207 rode pretty well for a boat that was just 12,000 lbs dry weight. Not a knee jerk defense of a boat we owned, I just genuinely thought it rode well and had a nicely designed hull for a modestly priced boat. Had a nice deep and sharp forefoot (even though it did flatten out toward the transom) unlike the Monk 36 so it would cut through pretty well. Did roll a lot though. Too light.

When I sea trial a monk 36 or a Carver 32 I have the pilot make 360 degree turns at hull speed so that the boat crosses it's own wake. I love to watch the face of the prospective buyer as it turns white (along with their knuckles on whatever they are holding on to). I guess its relative or what you are used to but I don't think I could call that Carver forefoot "deep". I also think that a deep forefoot and a very shallow, near flat aft section can make for an extremely skittish boat in even the mildest following seas.

 

[Rebel112r]

Hawg. A fellow in our marina has one, a 05-06 powered with a Cummins B series, I think 300 hp. He and I brought it up from Seattle to Birch Bay last spring. Cruised in the fog at 1800 making 8 knots. Weather was good for trip. Nice boat, well equipped, gen and watermaker, spares spares spares. Seem like a great boat for the NW. Too much exterior wood for me.

 

[Hawgwash]

The number of "great" boats as described by owners differs pretty significantly from the number of "great" boats from those that run many different boats under many conditions. I think owner input is important but in my experience it has to be tempered with a little "ego boosting" and lack of knowing better to a degree.

Thanks.
I agree with everything you said especially those two comments.

None of us are likely to bash our own boats until after we have sold them. Sunchaser might have told his friends the Nissan woes while he owned it but I'm guessing he wouldn't have made a habit of telling the world on facebook. Big ticket items, even more so.

Whenever you are convinced only one "boat" will do the trick...you either accept known issues with that type boat or fly to a boat where you can really put it though its paces.

My requirements are very flexible but I won't compromise on comfort, either running in the frequent moderate seas of our coast or on the hook. The comfort of my "crew" is even more important than my own.

 

[JDCAVE]

Desolation Sound Charters has a Monk 36 in its fleet which you could charter. In fact you may be able to make an arrangement to take it for a sea trial for a price if you are serious.

http://www.desolationsoundyachtcharters.com/fleet/power/

We've seen it around several times and met the owner in Shoal Bay. We went aboard and had a drink with them. It seemed like a really nice boat but small for our tastes. We also met an owner in Shearwater who claimed to have the last one built in Canada. The owner kept his boat in Gibsons, I believe. Both of these boats were immaculate.

Jim
Sent from my iPad using Trawler Forum

 

[Hawgwash]

Desolation Sound Charters has a Monk 36 in its fleet which you could charter. In fact you may be able to make an arrangement to take it for a sea trial for a price if you are serious

Yup, thanks Jim. Covered those thoughts in post #18 above.

 

[Hawgwash]

Rebel; thanks for jumping in.

Too much exterior wood for me.

See; different perspectives. The little bit of exterior wood, I could easily live with.

A fellow in our marina has one. He and I brought it up from Seattle to Birch Bay last spring.

Now there is an interesting case. Assuming you are in Drayton Harbor, he either goes out in the lumpy stuff or stays home often. How many times over the past year did he sit at the dock while you went out? Or an even better measurement, how many times when he sat would you have gone out in his boat?

 

[Rebel112r]

We did take an early trip to Sucia last April from Birch Bay Marina, conditions were 20+ mph out of sw. I left about 45 minutes earlier and it was rough. I decided to take 3-4 footers on stbd bow and when we got close in to Matia made the turn to the NW and on to Fossil Bay. Things got tossed around making the turn. The Monk headed straight across, with seas more on the beam. He docked about the same time as us, said it was a little nasty but not scary bad. He ran at 8 kts compared to my 6 for the trip. Hull design may be similiar, the NP being a modified CHB design, I don't know what the Monk is.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Re the GB comparitive thought on post #7 I think they are quite different. From what I've seen the GB is lower and probably has a lower CG. There is considerably more deadrise amidships and less windage.
Did the Monk come more often as a single screw? The boat may not be as seaworthy w twins but if the Monks mentioned were singles the much lower weight may account for the ride difference .... or at least some of it.
Do most trawlers pound in 4' seas?

 

[Hawgwash]

20+ mph out of sw. I decided to take 3-4 footers on stbd bow and when we got close in to Matia made the turn to the NW and on to Fossil Bay. Things got tossed around making the turn. The Monk headed straight across, with seas more on the beam...said it was a little nasty but not scary bad. He ran at 8 kts compared to my 6 for the trip.

Thanks, I keep forgetting about your Village Marina
That's pretty routine conditions and a typical crossing that could come up at any time around here. I'll have to find one to look at now.

 

[JDCAVE]

The trouble with only considering owner feedback has been discussed many times...

The number of "great" boats as described by owners differs pretty significantly from the number of "great" boats from those that run many different boats under many conditions.

I think owner input is important but in my experience it has to be tempered with a little "ego boosting" and lack of knowing better to a degree.

There seems to be a layer of boaters with enormous experience...than quite a void down to the weekend and occasional boater that has owned a few and rode on a few more in varied conditions. So picking out gems from the "white noise" can be a challenge.

Like many of the pictures posted from owners in 5-6 foot seas.....yeeow....my camera must be from a planet with different gravity and yardsticks.....


I see 2 choices. Whenever you are convinced only one "boat" will do the trick...you either accept known issues with that type boat or fly to a boat where you can really put it though its paces. I didn't go to my sea trial as I wanted a particular boat and knew the sea trial wasn't going to "learn me" any more about that size, shape, style TT. After 10,000 miles of the type of travel I expected...the boat hasn't given me any surprises.

In a beam sea, the KK42 rolls "like a tortoise on it's back". I experienced it the second day I owned the boat making the turn up the Fraser River in 25 kt winds from the northwest and the river on an ebb tide. It was June 2, 2013 and I'm pretty sure the river was near maximum freshet for the year. Geez but did she ever heel over! I thought she was never going to stop! The poles and paravanes weren't down. It was a good experience actually as the admiral wasn't aboard.

I had been informed of the rolley characteristics of the KK42 before we bought her.


Jim
Sent from my iPad using Trawler Forum