+/- 37ft Hardtop Sports Cruiser

[jmw]

Hi All,

I'm seeking ideas and opinions on hardtop sports boats before I buy.

Just sold my Fairline Targa 30/33 and looking for a replacement. My heart is pretty set on a hardtop (no more messing with canopies) and have the following on my list to view which are all around my budget:

Jeanneau 34HT (D4 engine)
Jeanneau Prestige 36 (KAMD 300) - wife not so keen on flybridge though
Bavaria 35 Sport HT (D4)
Windy 37 Grand Mistral HT (KAD 44)

The oldest boat (but some say the best built and therefore worth the money) is the Windy at early 2000 with the rest mid 2000's. They are all priced around the £90 - £100k mark except the Prestige 36 which is £110k.

My boating is mainly in and around the Solent with possible trips a little further afar.

So the questions are

1) Am I missing other boats that should be on my list to consider?

2) Of the list above, does anyone have any words of wisdom or reasons to love them or avoid them?

Thanks in advance.

Joe

 

[rafiki_]

The best in that class is the Sealine SC35. Lots of room, super layout, and good hull. You might pick an early one up for £120-£130k.

 

[Nigelpickin]

Hi Joe

34 ht are nicely priced and look sharp but accom suited to weekending...
35 ht great value, looks a little American and will be the worst depreciator...
36 fly has a lot going for it and the extra space will let you use it for a proper holiday...
37 will hold its price the best, as long as you haggle hard...

My advice, if you're wanting to go for extended cruising, go for the flybridge or the w37...probably avoid the other two as you may well out grow them quickly...

Take your time and dont let this weather speed your decision too much and if you can increase your budget have a look at Sealine SC 35 and ptestige 38s....some are sitting at less than £150k and you never know what desperate owners will bite at....
And most of all, try to let your wife have the final say, or at least let her think it was her decision

Enjoy

 

[Nigelpickin]

You beat me to it rafiki

 

[Whitelighter]

Beneteau Monte Carlo 37

A 2008 boat for sale in poole at £99,950 tax paid

I would also suggest SC35 but its going to be 20-30% over budget

 

[Ian h]

might be worth a look

http://www.martinpaynemarine.com/se...nits=Feet&access=Public&listing_id=77837&url=

But to be honest the hard top ruins the lines for me

 

[Firefly625]

Hardtop wanted, look no further.

This will outlast all of us, and will earn respect from many..

http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/advert/aquastar-38-aft-cockpit-south-coast/39786828

 

[gjgm]

I can only pass a few comments on the Windy. It was an extremely successful boat for Windy, so, for a Windy, you should have a fair choice. I'm not sold on hardtops , so it wasnt for us anyway, but seemed to me you lost alot of the horizon in turns, but that maybe true of all h/ts. I also thought there was quite alot of engine noise coming back into/under the HT, but maybe same comment, and a certain amount of spray seemed to get sucked back in too. It is quite an old h/t design, so the opening is pretty small compared to modern concepts, and I always find the helmstation looks a bit dated with all those switches in a big block.I prefer a one level cockpit too.
You will probably find it surprisingly short on space compared to the Sealine, but then it's a much faster boat.
If you are going to be doing alot of fast 100mile passages, its probably the best choice, but easy days about the Solent, you might find it a bit too specialised/compromised. It is probably the best fun boat to be behind the wheel, but that might not be your focus. The blue stripe is fine if you look after it, but swinging fenders will make a mess of it, so take a look at the gel as it wont be easy to sort out on an older boat.

 

[KevB]

beauty they say is in the eye of the beholder and I'm guessing you have to own a SC35 to think it anything other than pig ugly. imho

Much better looking and in your price range is the Sealine c39

 

[KevB]

Another nice looking hardtop easily within your price range is the Hardy Seawings 355

 

[Prhperio]

Hardtop wanted, look no further.

This will outlast all of us, and will earn respect from many..

http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/advert/aquastar-38-aft-cockpit-south-coast/39786828

+1 to that !

 

[Firefly625]

+1 to that !

Single 510hp cat. What a nice boat.

 

[Whitelighter]

Single 510hp cat. What a nice boat.

Hardly a sports cruiser though is it?

 

[Firefly625]

Hardly a sports cruiser though is it?

I know, far better than a "sports " cruiser. But I did wondered when someone was going to spot that.

 

[AdeOlly]

We have a Prestige 34HT with KAD300s. It's a great boat, but whether the accomodation is big enough depends upon your family. Our kids are sub 10yrs, well one just turned 10, and no issues; we've stayed away 10 days at a time no trouble, but if you've got two teenage kids then its going to be too small. Biggest compromise is the heads, which is really tight. But a fantastic cockpit, large safe side decks with easy safe access and a big foredeck area for relaxing, good HT arrangement. Also good size swim platform for crabbing/swimming/fishing. KAD300s give 38 knots. Lots of intelligent design throughout, and a few French head scratchers too...!

Windy 37 is a fantastic boat, esp the handling, but not as spacious as you'd expect for its LOA. Design is old, and layout is I think inferior.
SC35 is best IMO at this size if you can find one in budget.

Whatever you pick, if you're buying early D4/DPH combo be careful - neither were trouble free! Don't discount the KAD44/300s - they're really nice engines, much smoother than D4s (6 cyl v 4cyl), with less complexity, but do use a bit more go-go juice.

 

[diligaf]

I have an SC35, if you can stretch the budget then do, we'll worth the extra. The Prestige 34 is an odd one IMHO. The hoods are ENORMOUS and the roof opening tiny, obviously an early attempt at a HT. Bavaria 35 is a nice boat and good value.

 

[Nick_H]

I haven't driven a Windy 37 GM, but i've been on one, and it feels small and claustrophobic under the hardtop to me, as well as in the cabin. I agree with others that the SC35 is the pick of the crop at this size, if you like the styling (which I do).

 

[MapisM]

it feels small and claustrophobic under the hardtop to me, as well as in the cabin.

I'd rather describe her as cozy, but I can see your point. For space optimization, surely there are better choices.
Shame that you didn't have the opportunity to try her anyway, 'cause it's the hull which is the real deal.
That's simply the absolute best in class, imho.

 

[AdeOlly]

The Prestige 34 is an odd one IMHO. The hoods are ENORMOUS and the roof opening tiny, obviously an early attempt at a HT.

It's not that tiny......

Nothing like the size of an SC35, but then nothing much is......

 

[jmw]

Thanks all for your replies.

The SC35 is beyond my budget and the Monte Carlo is very well used as an ex charter boat.

At this stage my focus is Windy 37 GM Hardtop and Prestige 36 Fly.

I know that they are different animals so I need to work out whether I want the performance of the Windy over the space (and luxury) of the Prestige. Our boating is in and around the Solent and we have tended to cruise at around 22/24 knots so the Prestige will fit this well although I may miss the turn of speed of the Windy when I want a bit of fun.

We have had some viewings and will probably have more next weekend so we can decide what to focus on but at this stage the Prestige being more comfortable and probably 4 or 5 years newer looks favourable so I might be seeking reviews from owners soon!

Thanks again.

Joe