Advice on size

[Homer J]

I suspect there is no right answer to this question.
I have an opportunity to buy a 49 Jeanneau SO or a 42 DS for roughly the same price. Both immaculate and well looked after and at a similar price.

In the future we’d like to do some extending sailing as a couple with occasional friends joining but this is probably 3 years away.

They are both at the top of our budget and whilst I’d like the bigger boat I’m thinking about the running costs and also what would happen if circumstances change and I have to sell - is a boat at 49 ft harder to sell than 42ft?

In the meantime will I have too much boat if I buy the 49 and will 7ft draft in the Solent be a pain.

I realise there is no right answer and there is a lot of it depends but I be interested to hear thoughts and the arguments for going one way or the other, or any other options.

 

[potentillaCO32]

What size boat have you owned before?
At that size i would be worried about marinas not fitting me in.
Personally would go for the smaller one.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Two truths:

1) Cost of maintenance of a boat is proportional to the cube of the length. The bigger boat will cost 1.6 times the smaller boat to maintain.

2) Cost of maintenance is always double what you budgeted for.

No-one with a 42' boat wished that they had bigger bills.

 

[dunedin]

What size boat have you owned before?
At that size i would be worried about marinas not fitting me in.
Personally would go for the smaller one.

Yes, depends where planning to sail (realistically, not just dreams). To the Caribbean or round the world the extra length is beneficial.
In many other places smaller is better - hence we paid more for a boat under 12m rather than cheaper ones of 14m or so.
Lots of visitor moorings are up to around 12m, and many places there are relatively few berths for larger yachts once get away from major marinas.

 

[mjcp]

Re the maintenance costs, Some specifics to think about vs theories:

Engine - they both take oil, impellers, filters etc, probably not much difference between them, so not much of a consideration, but fuel consumption may be highly relevant if the HP of the engine is significantly different. Do they both have the same shaft diameter? Relevant to prop replacements etc.

Rigging, are they both the same size of standing rigging, or is the '49 a step up in diameter? Or rod vs 7x19 etc. Are they both double spreader / triple? I have seen rigger prices based on the number of spreaders (for tuning and adjustments etc)

Running rigging - both the same diameter or a step up? Obviously, bigger boat probably means more string, but is the cost per string the next price point because its 14mm not 12mm?

Both of the above, if they are the same diameters etc, its a toss up, if they are a step up - that's the next bracket in costs of replacement terms.

Marinas - others have commented.

Moorings - in addition to the 12m limit, they often have a weight limit - 10t or 12t. Are one or both under/over that common cut off?

Sail plan - what's the difference in area? Most sail valet costs I've found are weight based - more sail = more cost.

Boat lift - typically weight limited, but can be length limited. longer boat might restrict where you can get a lift out.


"too much boat if I buy the 49" - reefing - manual , single line , furling main etc? Power winches? bow thruster? Hard to compare, a push button 49 might be easier to short hand than a manual 40.

my 2p (but what a situation to be making a decision on!)

M

 

[Homer J]

Re the maintenance costs, Some specifics to think about vs theories:

Engine - they both take oil, impellers, filters etc, probably not much difference between them, so not much of a consideration, but fuel consumption may be highly relevant if the HP of the engine is significantly different. Do they both have the same shaft diameter? Relevant to prop replacements etc.

Rigging, are they both the same size of standing rigging, or is the '49 a step up in diameter? Or rod vs 7x19 etc. Are they both double spreader / triple? I have seen rigger prices based on the number of spreaders (for tuning and adjustments etc)

Running rigging - both the same diameter or a step up? Obviously, bigger boat probably means more string, but is the cost per string the next price point because its 14mm not 12mm?

Both of the above, if they are the same diameters etc, its a toss up, if they are a step up - that's the next bracket in costs of replacement terms.

Marinas - others have commented.

Moorings - in addition to the 12m limit, they often have a weight limit - 10t or 12t. Are one or both under/over that common cut off?

Sail plan - what's the difference in area? Most sail valet costs I've found are weight based - more sail = more cost.

Boat lift - typically weight limited, but can be length limited. longer boat might restrict where you can get a lift out.


"too much boat if I buy the 49" - reefing - manual , single line , furling main etc? Power winches? bow thruster? Hard to compare, a push button 49 might be easier to short hand than a manual 40.

my 2p (but what a situation to be making a decision on!)

M

Thank you. Very helpful comments regarding diameter etc. I hadn’t thought of that.

 

[Homer J]

Yes, depends where planning to sail (realistically, not just dreams). To the Caribbean or round the world the extra length is beneficial.
In many other places smaller is better - hence we paid more for a boat under 12m rather than cheaper ones of 14m or so.
Lots of visitor moorings are up to around 12m, and many places there are relatively few berths for larger yachts once get away from major marinas.

You make a good point but we just sold a 37 because we want more internal space so we can spend more time aboard. Thanks for your thoughts - most appreciated.

 

[Homer J]

Two truths:

1) Cost of maintenance of a boat is proportional to the cube of the length. The bigger boat will cost 1.6 times the smaller boat to maintain.

2) Cost of maintenance is always double what you budgeted for.

No-one with a 42' boat wished that they had bigger bills.

That’s exactly what has been niggling away at me. And the main question is whether a 49ft boat is hard to sell??

 

[Homer J]

What size boat have you owned before?
At that size i would be worried about marinas not fitting me in.
Personally would go for the smaller one

What size boat have you owned before?
At that size i would be worried about marinas not fitting me in.
Personally would go for the smaller one.

we had a 37 before. We are after a bit more space inside and a larger bed - sounds daft but we would use it more with more space.

 

[KompetentKrew]

IMO around 40' is the perfect size. For a couple, it can be handled by one person when the other is cooking, sleeping or incapacitated, but also it's still very comfortable for 3 or 4 people (commonly chartered for 6).

Realistically I think friends may join you far less often than you might dream of.

A 40' is significantly more expensive than a 30' boat - I'd imagine they might double again for a 50' boat. But only you can decide what your budget is - maybe you're far less constrained than I am.

You had a 37' before - have you looked at both these boats?

 

[lustyd]

We looked at a SO49 in Bangor and the companionway entrance put us off as you had to climb up then in and down. For living on board that’s a nightmare. The 42DS was a nice boat but for me lacked space for its considerable size.

Yes, I am picky!

 

[KompetentKrew]

I have to say the companionway on my boat sold it to me the first time I went below. It does make a huge difference.

 

[dunedin]

Quote - “we had a 37 before. We are after a bit more space inside and a larger bed - sounds daft but we would use it more with more space.”

If primarily a couple staying on board for a longer period, worth considering “owners version” of boats with 2 larger cabins rather than three or four more compact ones.
We tend to spend 100 or so days on board each summer - and a well designed 12m with large owners cabin is very spacious for two.
If going up to 49 foot and sailing short handed in coastal waters, both bow and stern thrusters would be on my mandatory list (not for blue water when mainly anchoring).

 

[Homer J]

IMO around 40' is the perfect size.For a couple, it can be handled by one person when the other is cooking, sleeping or incapacitated, but also it's still very comfortable for 3 or 4 people (commonly chartered for 6).

Realistically I think friends may join you far less often than you might dream of.

A 40' is significantly more expensive than a 30' boat - I'd imagine they might double again for a 50' boat. But only you can decide what your budget is - maybe you're far less constrained than I am.

You had a 37' before - have you looked at both these boats?

The 42SO is well known to me and I like them. The 49 I’ve not seen yet.

 

[Homer J]

We looked at a SO49 in Bangor and the companionway entrance put us off as you had to climb up then in and down. For living on board that’s a nightmare. The 42DS was a nice boat but for me lacked space for its considerable size.

Yes, I am picky!

What did you end up with? I’m picky too’

 

[Homer J]

I have to say the companionway on my boat sold it to me the first time I went below. It does make a huge difference.

What is yours?

 

[potentillaCO32]

What did you end up with? I’m picky too’

It is a lot of money if you pick the wrong one.

Could you charter a 49 for a week and see what you think?

 

[Homer J]

It is a lot of money if you pick the wrong one.

Could you charter a 49 for a week and see what you think?

Exactly my thinking. Don’t want to get that wrong.

 

[Tranona]

My vote for the 42DS. They, like the similar Vision range from Bavaria were developed specifically for the type of use you propose. More space and comfort for 4 people with no attempt to cram in loads of berths for charter. Can't see what the 49 would give you unless you were planning log distance with big crews.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

And the main question is whether a 49ft boat is hard to sell??

With the caveat that I have never bought or sold a 49' boat, I would answer that I expect so because it's a size that is outside of the range of common boats and is a significant financial burden to berth and maintain for most people. Having said that, I would expect that condition, popularity and a realistic asking price would have a bigger effect.