34 Foot boat with twin wheels?

[Tranona]

I notice that Bavaria are showing a single-wheel 34 as well.

Yes. Choice of single wheel or twin on the single aft cabin (which is actually the same as my 33) and twin on the 2 aft cabin. The latter boat is aimed directly at the Med charter market and they have done a good job on it. I was sceptical about it when I saw the initial specs, but works well in practice for the target market. The major loss is the chart table and a smaller, but still usable loo.

 

[Tranona]

That used to be called the Cruiser 33, but it's no longer listed on their website, so I guess the 34 with twin wheels is going to be the only one available.

No typical Bavaria confusion. 33 is now 34 and available in the 3 different configurations.

 

[Bobc]

Yes. Choice of single wheel or twin on the single aft cabin (which is actually the same as my 33) and twin on the 2 aft cabin. The latter boat is aimed directly at the Med charter market and they have done a good job on it. I was sceptical about it when I saw the initial specs, but works well in practice for the target market. The major loss is the chart table and a smaller, but still usable loo.

Built using resin infusion too, so light and strong.

 

[pvb]

No typical Bavaria confusion. 33 is now 34 and available in the 3 different configurations.

Not according to their website.

 

[prv]

or moor in more traditional UK manner ?

Not going to be very popular when you try to take up four spaces on the quay

Pete

 

[pagoda]

Not going to be very popular when you try to take up four spaces on the quay

Pete

What's wrong with rafting?? no tides, and not much wind most of the time?

 

[duncan99210]

When moored stern to, we remove the wheel... Solves the access problem without having two wheels or the incredibly expensive folding wheel.

 

[wully1]

Agree with pvb. You are out of date. Today's boats are infinitely better built than older ones. You may not like the style, but the standard of construction is very high.

but all the volume builders now build to a similar high standard.

Well on that , I agree I'm out of date. At Boot this year my 'out-of-date-ness' must have imagined the shoddy finish inside one French built boat that I'd have been ashamed of in secondary school woodwork class, the smeared sikafkex gluing down the thin teak decking on another, the creaking, ill fitting cabin soles in general. Or the flimsy already cracked and broken hard dodger sliding extension on a high cost blue water ready boat.
Maybe the modern way is to expect bouncy decks and boats that can be flexed enough to stop doors closing by tightening up standing rigging by hand....

 

[prv]

What's wrong with rafting?? no tides, and not much wind most of the time?

Can you explain it in Turkish, Greek, Italian and German?

Pete

 

[pvb]

Well on that , I agree I'm out of date. At Boot this year my 'out-of-date-ness' must have imagined the shoddy finish inside one French built boat that I'd have been ashamed of in secondary school woodwork class, the smeared sikafkex gluing down the thin teak decking on another, the creaking, ill fitting cabin soles in general. Or the flimsy already cracked and broken hard dodger sliding extension on a high cost blue water ready boat.
Maybe the modern way is to expect bouncy decks and boats that can be flexed enough to stop doors closing by tightening up standing rigging by hand....

Oh dear, you're starting to sound like one of those stereotypical owners of an ageing Westerly/Moody, oblivious to the realities of modern manufacturing, yearning for the good old days of little men randomly daubing buckets of resin around.

 

[Slowtack]

More inertia and friction in a two wheel system so less rudder feedback

 

[pvb]

More inertia and friction in a two wheel system so less rudder feedback

Maybe in olden times. Modern systems are very light - the Jefa systems especially.

 

[maby]

Would not want 2 wheels on a 34 foot boat for one reason only, I like to lay down in the cockpit and it would reduce the length of the cockpit space for this. From boats I have been on would need to be over 40 foot before I could realistically lie down. My 33 foot Bavaria still has enough room (just!) for me to lie down almost prone on it. The wheel also can collapse (on purpose) to make room on leaving and getting on the boat, although not been a problem so far.
But can see if lying down is not a priority why some may want twin wheels

I was about to make exactly the same reply - the most important single characteristic for any boat is the presence of two bench seats at least six foot long in the cockpit. When we were researching our replacement boat at the Southampton Boat Show four years ago, my first action on each new boat was to try to lay down - if it was not possible or was uncomfortable, then I didn't bother to look at anything else. The consequence of this is that most sub-43 foot boats with twin wheels didn't get a look in.

 

[pvb]

I was about to make exactly the same reply - the most important single characteristic for any boat is the presence of two bench seats at least six foot long in the cockpit. When we were researching our replacement boat at the Southampton Boat Show four years ago, my first action on each new boat was to try to lay down - if it was not possible or was uncomfortable, then I didn't bother to look at anything else. The consequence of this is that most sub-43 foot boats with twin wheels didn't get a look in.

I'm one of the world's keenest sunbathers, and find I can get comfortable in my 37ft twin-wheel boat by putting my feet through the wheel.

 

[Tranona]

Well on that , I agree I'm out of date. At Boot this year my 'out-of-date-ness' must have imagined the shoddy finish inside one French built boat that I'd have been ashamed of in secondary school woodwork class, the smeared sikafkex gluing down the thin teak decking on another, the creaking, ill fitting cabin soles in general. Or the flimsy already cracked and broken hard dodger sliding extension on a high cost blue water ready boat.
Maybe the modern way is to expect bouncy decks and boats that can be flexed enough to stop doors closing by tightening up standing rigging by hand....

Well, I am afraid I don't recognise any of that. From my examination of new boats from Beneteau, Jeanneau, Hanse and Bavaria when buying our new boat, construction and finish on all was to a high standard which meant we could concentrate of other aspects of the boat knowing whichever we chose would be delivered in perfect condition.

No bouncy decks, no flexible structures (as was often the case in many old boats), and to be fair in some older AWBs. As you see elsewhere, Bavarias are now infusion moulded so lighter and even stiffer.

 

[maby]

Well, I am afraid I don't recognise any of that. From my examination of new boats from Beneteau, Jeanneau, Hanse and Bavaria when buying our new boat, construction and finish on all was to a high standard which meant we could concentrate of other aspects of the boat knowing whichever we chose would be delivered in perfect condition.

No bouncy decks, no flexible structures (as was often the case in many old boats), and to be fair in some older AWBs. As you see elsewhere, Bavarias are now infusion moulded so lighter and even stiffer.

I would agree that the quality of the finish is pretty good, but I think the construction of the interior does leave a lot to be desired. Our £250k Beneteau does suffer from creaking cabin soles and I don't think it would take someone falling very heavily against an internal partition in a heavy sea to break it. How much that matters really does depend on your style of use - ours is a floating cottage that only moves between marinas when the wind is less than a Force 6 and wave height is no more than a metre or so. For that, it is perfect - bright and airy with a cockpit that could double up as a dance hall. On the other hand, it would not be my choice to take on an ocean crossing.

 

[JumbleDuck]

That used to be called the Cruiser 33, but it's no longer listed on their website, so I guess the 34 with twin wheels is going to be the only one available.

Well, they have two "Cruiser 34"s side by side at Southampton and, as far as I could see, practically identical except for the number of wheels. Other visible differences: dyneema vs stainless support wire for the transom, handholds beside it on one.

 

[jordanbasset]

I was about to make exactly the same reply - the most important single characteristic for any boat is the presence of two bench seats at least six foot long in the cockpit. When we were researching our replacement boat at the Southampton Boat Show four years ago, my first action on each new boat was to try to lay down - if it was not possible or was uncomfortable, then I didn't bother to look at anything else. The consequence of this is that most sub-43 foot boats with twin wheels didn't get a look in.

I did exactly the same thing. When I look at how we use our boat, even though we do sail/motor a a fair amount, most of the time is still either at anchor or tied to the shore. As I get older comfort becomes more important in the big scheme of things

 

[jwilson]

Yachts are getting wider so two wheels allows the helm to sit high (or low) with full visibility without having a huge steering wheel.
e.g. Our 38 foot boat is over 13 foot wide.
Garold

I agree: when twin wheels first started creeping in to small to midsize mass-production boats I though they looked silly: actually they work very well indeed, giving you a choice of windward or leeward steering positions, and a straight walkthrough from a stern-to pontoon. If the sheet winches are in reach of each wheel as well it's a bonus.

Don't get me wrong: I like tillers, but on modern AWBs a wheel or wheels just works better with autopilot use. Very difficult to have a proper permanent ram-drive AP with a tiller. An ideal would be a tiller with an autopilot auto-standby buttons on it, with the ram hidden away below.

 

[wully1]

Oh dear, you're starting to sound like one of those stereotypical owners of an ageing Westerly/Moody, oblivious to the realities of modern manufacturing, yearning for the good old days of little men randomly daubing buckets of resin around.

Oh dear, you're starting to sound like one of those stereotypical owners of a new, floppy, creaky, fat arsed boat, oblivious to the realities of modern cost cutting manufacturing, yearning for a boat that will hold its value.