£75K flybridge

[MickJ]

I'm seriously considering upgrading my boat for the 3rd time in a year (will get it right soon). I love my little diesel Sealine S24 but as my confidence grows, and my passages get longer and the land gets increasingly difficult to see on the horizon, I find myself in need of a little more size, and safely in 2 engines.

I only have about £75k (max) to spend, and want a flybridge from at least the mid/late 80's. Can I do better than a 1990 Fairline Corniche? From previous posts, perhaps a Birchwood T34 wouldn't suit me?

Thanks.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Nick2]

I am the newly and self appointed forum Corniche guru - I have one so feel free to PM me with anything that you feel I may be able to help you with.

Nick

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/Nick2>http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/Nick2</A>

 

[martynwhiteley]

Please don't get too sucked in by the 'Birchwoods are Bad' contingent.

Certainly at my end of the market, and for anyone looking at boats 10-15 years old, the badge name if far less important than the actual example you are looking at.

Boats are not like cars, they only make a hundred or so of most models, not 100,000 or more as they do for cars, and they're not built on production lines. Even out of the 100 built, very few will be the same, with different fit outs, different engine configurations, and even built by different yards. You can't get away with sweeping statements about boat makes, as you can with cars.

If it means that Birchwood's go for less money that the Princess/Fairline/Sealine rivals etc. then it means they're a good buy, and your getting more for your money.

I've not owned many boats, but I've hired plenty and looked closely at hundreds of all shapes and sizes. I've also talked to the many Birchwood owners I meet.

I wouldn't claim that my Birchwood is anywhere near 'Rolls Royce' in build quality, but I've yet to find a 27 Countess owner that's not 100% happy with their boat.

The main issue is that it only cost me £4K more than the Princess 25 I upgraded from, and the Birchwood is tons better.

People make fun of Birchwood's looks. I think the TS34 and 37's look great, and a newish 360 that turned up at our local regatta last weekend was the subject of much admiration.

Compare the new ones at the shows, sure the Birchwoods look like they've been fitted out by ex-caravan builders compared to Sunseekers, but compare them price for price, and then see what you get for your money.

Birchwood seem to have captured the knack of getting a quart out of a pint pot much better than most, and I'm sure my SWMBO is not alone in preferring the aft cabin layout of many Birhwoods, and appreciating their spacious and airy layouts.

Mind you, the Brits have always been suckers for Brand Names over Value, (esp. those o/s Yorkshire!).



<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue> <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mboat.org>http://www.mboat.org</A></font color=blue>

 

[tcm]

well, third time in a year, you should save yourself the next three years grief and upgrade forthwith to a fifty footer.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[lanason]

This may be contraversial but I quite like the hull shape on the newer Birchwoods.
They look nice.


<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>More Pics of Kelisha</A> /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[byron]

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

and the land gets increasingly difficult to see on the horizon

<hr></blockquote>

Funny how different people's perceptions are. I am far far happier when out of sight of land, I equate land with things to bump into, I am much more relaxed when over the 25 fathom mark. Guess thats because I started deep sea and came coastal in later years.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

You make some good points, Martyn. Perversely, it would seem that an older Birchwood is a better buy than a newer one.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I think with that sort of budget you should be looking at shaftdrive rather than sterndrive
£75k would get you an early model of the Fairline Turbo 36 with TAMD 60C 255hp motors but another £10k would get a TAMD 61A 306hp engined model which IMHO is the one to go for.
The Turbo 36 is an absolute classic with excellent seakeeping and loads of accomodation including a vast aft cabin. Find one that's been looked after and it will look after you and your money when it comes to resale
The Corniche 31 is not a bad choice and you'd get a later model than with The Turbo 36. You could also look at the Birchwood TS37 (they were built OK in the late '80's) or the Princess 35
Again IMHO, you should avoid the Sealine 310/330/F33


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tcm]

Re: ah but

No offence mate but your boat is red and the one before that was yellow!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[MickJ]

Thanks all. I'm getting a shortlist together as we speak, and a solid case to put to SWMBO.

Interested in the "IMHO, you should avoid the Sealine 310/330/F33" comment. Is that based on personal experience? Why all 3?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Because they're fundamentally the same. The 305 begat the 310 which begat the 330 which begat the F33 which begat the current model the F34 (or something like that)
IMHO, you want to avoid any sterndrive powered flybridge boat like these particular models and including the TS34 the reason being that the combination of a flybridge and its associated windage with sterndrives makes this kind of boat much more difficult to handle at slow speed in any kind of wind compared to a shaftdrive boat (doubtless there will be some experts out there who will disagree with me). Secondly the Sealine 305/310/330 etc etc was known for somewhat sensitive behaviour at speed particularly with the trim tabs down. Basically it became a bit twitchy at certain speeds in certain sea conditions. I once owned a 305 so I know!
I also experienced a whole load of problems with my 305 but I would'nt necessarily say that was typical. Its the first and last time that my SWMBO has given me an ultimatum to go out and change the boat which I did....for a Turbo 36. Chalk and cheese

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[sfh]

Why are shafts easy to handle over legs?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[lanason]

Re: ah but

I care to be different !!!

anyway its a nice "red" - more a burgundy - better than boring "blue"

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>More Pics of Kelisha</A> /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[lanason]

At slow speeds you have a rudder rather than pointing a slow rev'in prop.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>More Pics of Kelisha</A> /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[kimhollamby]

Birchwood TS34 one of the better ones

There are some Birchwoods of yore I would be cautious about (aft cockpit version of the TS37 known as the 'SS' or Super Sports' for example) but the 34 in its flybridge incarnation is not one of them. Have known a few owners of this model and also seen them running and they seem to work reasonably well, both in shaftdrive and sterndrive versions so certainly don't cross off the list. Sterndrive version of TS34 works much better that Sealine 305 or Princess 30DS flybridge, not least because it has (I'm sure but haven't checked) much more beam which helps stability.

At that money I'd be tempted to keep an eye for reasonable Princess 35s with the one caveat of the damned MS4 boxes which make the TAMD41 a lot less attractive than it ought to be (ask hlb/Haydn). Also the Princess 330 was okay, from memory (last on one in the late 1980s).

Corniche okay but the 200hp and 165hp shaftdrive ones have bad engine bay ventilation which can lead to a lot of smoke problems.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[sfh]

Theres so much talk of what not to have

our boat has twin Mercruisers D180's, very ecomonical, VM based excellent engines, had done 160 hours when we purchased.

the boat was yard finished, that means it has charm, finished in solid American Ash.

the hull is like a brick outhouse, almost 13 foot beam, proper hull length of 34 foot, not all bathing platform. great sea keeping with five adults on the flybridge

fully equiped safe boat but no brand names, Launched 1995 you would get a lot of change, but not selling, cannot find a boat with the same qualities without spending £,000's

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[hlb]

Re: Birchwood TS34 one of the better ones

But for a mear nine and a half grand, you can replace the dreaded MS4 for a decent pair of hydraulic boxes!!

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[byron]

The Turbo 36 with the 306s is a superb boat, a classic, loads of room and an excellent sea boat.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[jfm]

Yes, but 90 grand upwards........

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

IMHO, a number of reasons. The engines in a sterndrive boat are right aft so the bow is light and is more easily blown about (plus the fact that because sterndrives are more efficient, sterndrive boats are fitted with smaller engines and are lighter per se). With a shaftdrive boat, the prop thrust acts about 2/3rds along the hull from bow to stern whereas the prop thrust in a sterndrive boat acts right at the stern so with shaftdrive boats you feel more in control of the whole boat rather than just the stern (I have'nt explained that very well). With a sterndrive boat, you have to steer the drives as well as use the throttles; with a shaftdrive boat, you can just use the throttles to steer
Plus, at speed, I always feel a boat is better balanced with the engines near the middle of the boat
On the other hand, the three big advantages of sterndrives are greater efficiency so speed is higher and economy better, reduced build cost and, because the engines are at the back, more space for accomodation. Thats why you see so many sub 40ft boats with sterndrives


<hr width=100% size=1>