1980s French boats

[Baggywrinkle]

Boat was hit by Beryl, discussed in a previous thread. Boat yard shenanigans ensued so I imagine he has good reasons for everything here but very likely doesn’t want to talk about it. I know I wouldn’t after that stress!

Well that's a bit of a bummer, this isn't the usual "what boat should I get thread" - post #23 from @lustyd seems like the best advice IMO.

 

[Sea Change]

Another thought: would it be madness to consider drying out this type of boat on its keel? I've never owned a boat that I couldn't do this with.

 

[Sea Change]

This thread seems a bit like unpeeling an onion but to summarise the OP seems to be in some WI island and has a narrow timescale to decamp to a new vessel. I cannot see a budget mentioned (apologies if I’ve missed ) but say50k USD maybe ? A desire not to collect a vessel from another island maybe? So say it’s St Lucia would that help narrow down choices ? Maybe with a budget and location and a distance the search will be simple. It certainly can work like that if say you want a 40ft stern cockpit boat in uk say within 100 miles of Portsmouth at a certain price and age etc.

Happy to consider anything between Trinidad and USVI. ABCs a possibility but far from ideal. You're in the right region with budget, would be nice to spend less but I don't we'd find anything suitable.

 

[Neeves]

Sadly you will not get many 'ocean ready' catamarans that you could consider at US$50k, so I understand why they are not part of your list.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

Your quick survey comes up with French AWBs - are there no American yachts that would meet your needs. I'm not into American yachts, or monohulls in general - but the J35, I know a bit small, was a must have yacht in the late 80s and surely J yachts built something a bit bigger. The other thought would be X-Yachts, though more expensive than the French ensemble - but again yachts over which to drool. Talking of droolling - yachts from Scandinavia.

I understand you want something local to where you are - its a significant marketing coup if the French have completely squeezed out American yachts.

Or are these yachts a bit like hen's teeth AND to expensive.

Jonathan

 

[Sea Change]

Your quick survey comes up with French AWBs - are there no American yachts that would meet your needs. I'm not into American yachts, or monohulls in general - but the J35, I know a bit small, was a must have yacht in the late 80s and surely J yachts built something a bit bigger. The other thought would be X-Yachts, though more expensive than the French ensemble - but again yachts over which to drool. Talking of droolling - yachts from Scandinavia.

I understand you want something local to where you are - its a significant marketing coup if the French have completely squeezed out American yachts.

Or are these yachts a bit like hen's teeth AND to expensive.

Jonathan

The only American yachts that have come up are a Morgans and Hunters, or a couple of very old fashioned Whitby 42s. From speaking to people who know these designs, I think I want to avoid the boats. They are the cheapest in their size for a good reason, it would seem...

 

[billskip]

I know it's in the wrong place, but it's a good time to cross the pond you could sail it there in a
Month

 

[ashtead]

If transported would add at least £15k to price I suspect if seven star etc involved . Doubt anyone would take that moody to say St Lucia without some more spending either under own wind power based on what I’ve seen others spend . I guess a Hunter legend type is fine if you stay in port in WI -they are a marmite boat so have their critics as you say . If looking for a US boat I guess island packet is the sort of thing but over budget.

 

[Neeves]

The only American yachts that have come up are a Morgans and Hunters, or a couple of very old fashioned Whitby 42s. From speaking to people who know these designs, I think I want to avoid the boats. They are the cheapest in their size for a good reason, it would seem...

I had a quick look at yachts in Hawaii, for a reason - there were more than I'd have thought but of brands/models I simply did not know (and excluding French yachts - not one J or X yacht - but I lacked motivation).

Some have the dream, leave the comfort of the USA and the partner says, when they arrive in Hawaii - its either me or the yacht, and some choose their wife - leading to a, rumoured, surfeit of ocean going yachts.

Delivery skipper's dream... or not.


Just trying to think outside the box.

Jonathan

 

[lustyd]

yachts in Hawaii

And what was your plan to get all his stuff to Hawaii? Not sure how much nav you've done, but it's in the middle of a completely different ocean!

 

[Roberto]

Another thought: would it be madness to consider drying out this type of boat on its keel? I've never owned a boat that I couldn't do this with.

No problems
SL41 sistership on her keel only, no props. They (used to) race and cleaned it every few weeks (now not allowed any more without dirty water collecting systems etc.).





For something more exotic, a Sun Fizz being put on the hard at CVD Dakar


Video of the boat coping with the local means, minute 8:30 onwards

 

[Neeves]

And what was your plan to get all his stuff to Hawaii? Not sure how much nav you've done, but it's in the middle of a completely different ocean!

Try positive thinking - it might be more useful.

Delivery skipper.

Ship it, part container load.

Think laterally.

Sea Change needs ideas - only one of them needs to work. Currently logical ideas are not acceptable.

The OP has to make compromises - only he knows what is critical - we can only offer suggestions.

Jonathan

I do live on one side of said ocean, in case you don't know where Sydney is. But Hawaii is not in the middle, it is closer to the US than Asia.

 

[billskip]

Currently logical ideas are not acceptable.

It's not only anchors then.

 

[lustyd]

Try positive thinking - it might be more useful.

Did you read the thread? Positive thinking is all well and good, but OP was pretty clear he wanted this fast and easy

 

[Neeves]

Did you read the thread? Positive thinking is all well and good, but OP was pretty clear he wanted this fast and easy

And have you or anyone offered him anything acceptable? So far 'fast' is out, 'easy' is out (or not sparked much approval from the OP) - the OP has not mentioned what his fall back is - but maybe some ideas will blossom into something acceptable.

Thinking outside the box seems novel to most here and worse, condemned.

The OP wants to move and secure his possessions (he has not said why this is difficult) - maybe in the fullness of time he will find somewhere safe (and cheap) to store them, not necessarily on the island where he is now, freeing him up to explore yachts further afield and he can come back for his possessions. In the meantime he has to access and remove said possessions - which may not be straightforward in itself.

Fast and easy means an acceptable yacht appearing out of the blue, very quickly - buying in haste seems a recipe for, later, disaster - so fast is a bit of a pipe dream.

To me, accepting that all my ideas are deemed unworkable - I'd move and secure, or secure and move the possessions NOW leaving me only the worry of the new (next) yacht. Eventually the possessions have to be moved, nothing else is happening - develop a plan to move them. Pack them in boxes in one of the berths ready to go.....

Jonathan

 

[PaulRainbow]

Try positive thinking - it might be more useful.

Delivery skipper.

Ship it, part container load.

Think laterally.

Sea Change needs ideas - only one of them needs to work. Currently logical ideas are not acceptable.

The OP has to make compromises - only he knows what is critical - we can only offer suggestions.

Jonathan

I do live on one side of said ocean, in case you don't know where Sydney is. But Hawaii is not in the middle, it is closer to the US than Asia.

How much of the OPs $50K USD is all of that going to eat up ? Never mind all of the possession moving/storing, accommodation costs, travel. Doesn't sound like he'll have much left to buy a boat.

 

[billskip]

The OP wants to move and secure his possessions - maybe in the fullness of time he will find somewhere safe (and cheap) to store them,

Is ok in your world to put 10 children and your grandchildren along with their parents and grandparents in a storage lockup?

 

[Sea Change]

All I really need to know is whether a 1980s French AWB will do what we want, and if so which ones are good and which are lemons.

Thanks for everybody who has taken time to answer the question, especially the very comprehensive private messages from people with experience of these boats.

 

[Neeves]

Is ok in your world to put 10 children and your grandchildren along with their parents and grandparents in a storage lockup?

A, or the, wife, children and grandchildren are not possessions.

Jonathan

 

[billskip]

A, or the, wife, children and grandchildren are not possessions.

Jonathan

Maybe in some people's beliefs...