33 to 41 feet........here's goes nothing!!

With all the enthusiasm for larger boats shown, I still think that it is only worthwhile if you are going to make use of the extra size. The larger boat will be a bit faster in cruising terms, perhaps an hour or so in a day's sail. The main equation is between the additional accomodation and bunkerage, and the greater running costs and greater challenge in handling in harbour. A boat 40% larger will need double the amount of antifouling and the sails will also be about double.
 
I went from 31’ to 40’ last summer. The new boat is much easier when out on the water. Bigger, and electric, winches and everything led back to the helms, not the companionway, makes sailing singlehanded very easy. Especially as the wheel driven pilot is a single touch to activate. Marina Mooring is harder for sure, even with a bow thruster (high topsides and loads of Windage). I can’t pull her in to a berth with lines if there is any breeze and once you let go a cleat she is gone ;)

Mooring choices and draft can limit mooring options. for me it was a personal choice - I wanted the extra space and hanker after an AZAB and or Atlantic circuit. Don’t regret it and the extra space is luxury - it’s like a different world or different era
 
James W said:
Good advice, baby steps to begin with. I'm lucky to have a mud berth and so I can just charge it into the soft stuff if it all gets out of hand. The boat is probably just a larger version of the Storm, similar draft fin keel but with Skeg and fin rather than spade rudder.

It's also wheel steering which is a new one for me, but I'm here for the challenge!
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I miss the tiller upwind but the wheel is so much easier on the shoulders / neck etc. Bizarrely SWMBO hasn’t got the hang of it as she was used to putting the tiller the opposite direction, even though she has driven a car far more miles than she has helmed a boat. Cracks me up
 
pagoda said:
Went from 35ft to 42ft two years ago. Tiller to twin wheels. Outside harbours/marinas almost everything works as you would expect it to. Sailing in open sea in decent conditions is as easy as it comes.
Restricted conditions. crosswind and other traffic complicate matters. Most of what you already know will work, BUT
Windage at low speeds can cause havoc. How many tons of boat do you need to stop promptly now?
As pointed out - if there is much wind while you are berthing, whoever gets the first shore cleat needs a Full turn round it immediately or you and they will lose the game rapidly. If ideally you have a midships cleat back to a aft-wards shore cleat then you have control again with your throttle and rudder - and a decent chance of getting other lines organised.
It takes practice. I still make mistakes. Not such big ones, but mistakes nonetheless.

You will enjoy making 7Kt passages in a decent sailing wind!
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Great summary! As are the points about the sail drive being further ahead and the effects. I could get my old boat in and out if any berth like a pro but everyday is a school day on the new one ;) some really good points by all on this thread ;)
 
I sailed a 50 Bavaria into bonifacio with a friend who had chartered. It’s no more complicated than a 34 apart from the risks of in mast furling. Just everything is a bit heavier but with a couple of power winches or handles even this isn’t an issue. Having looked at the voyage (r) on line it looks a well set up layout if you can live with that form of galley setup.
 
johnalison said:
As discussed above, it has its drawbacks and is not a panacea. You also have to be careful that the first time you have to stop in a hurry you won't inadvertently give it more aft wellie because you are facing the control the wrong way.
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It would be weird if that happened as you are facing the control in the correct direction when you face aft. Just like when you face forward the drive is in the direction you push the lever. I’ve never even seen a novice get that wrong.
 
ashtead said:
I sailed a 50 Bavaria into bonifacio with a friend who had chartered. It’s no more complicated than a 34 apart from the risks of in mast furling. Just everything is a bit heavier but with a couple of power winches or handles even this isn’t an issue. Having looked at the voyage (r) on line it looks a well set up layout if you can live with that form of galley setup.
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People don't believe me when I tell them that I find my Bavaria 50 easier to sail and park than my previous First 345. It's just about planning and thinking about the forces (wind, tide, weight, etc.) when parking.
 
well worth considering fitting a bow thruster, might be easy enough to berth in your home port, when moving from 36 to 43 it was a must for me , gives much more comfort while entering a new marina
 
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