Aft cabin flybridge to sports cruiser

The real value in an old motor boat is in the engines, so if they’re completely shot it’s a commercial scrapper. Unusual but could happen of course, but maybe a candidate for a love and affection rebuild. Out of interest not necessity I had a quote to re-engine the 460 with new Cummins, was c 100k.
 
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My experience is similar to Sticky Fingers. I had a Sunline 31 sports cruiser on the River Severn. We wanted more accommodation, and initially were looking for a Princess 360, but spotted an Azimut 39 on the river, and fell for the style. We bought a 39, moved her to Portishead, so I could use her as a crash pad when in my Bristol office. For me she looked huge after the Sunline. I had 4 hours pontoon bashing on The Hamble with a pro skipper, and this showed me how easy it was to handle on shafts, compared with the out drives on the Sunline. We had a couple of seasons on the Bristol Channel, then moved her back to the Hamble, where we had 5 great years.
We had a 4 year hiatus from boating, apart from charter sailing, which was great. Then bought our fabulous Azimut 42 last Spring. Moored at Haslar, we are loving the Solent again. The fly gives us great accommodation options, fantastic visibility, and super leisure options.
 
Thanks Rafiki, the Azimut 42 is a gorgeous machine! I think the main problem re windage and docking for me is the large aft cabin on my boat. Ironically we never use it now, after thinking it was a must-have feature.
 
Swaaby said:
Thanks Rafiki, the Azimut 42 is a gorgeous machine! I think the main problem re windage and docking for me is the large aft cabin on my boat. Ironically we never use it now, after thinking it was a must-have feature.
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What boat do you have? 45’ aft cabin flybridge boats are pretty rare… Princess 435, Fairline Phantom 43AC… um, Trader 445. Probably something else that I’ve forgotten!

Atlantic 444. Various Brooms. Searanger 46/48.
 
I recognise your sentiment, as previously owned a flybridge and traded down to a Princess v42 - mainly to have something more manageable when it comes to weekly cleaning, etc. We also found that almost all time was spent on the flybridge, so the open sportscruiser layout suited us well, as it essentially resembles a significantly larger flybridge with a bimini top (depending on whether you go for a hardtop or not). I would second what others have said above: outdrive boats are definitely more difficult to handle during harbour manoeuvres compared to shaft-driven boats - lots of wheel turning.

The v39, v40, and v42 are quite similar and were in production for a long time. I would say the quality of these boats is low to mid-average. Many of them experience problems with leaky windows over the years, and we were no different. Then again, there’s a brand-new 2025 v50 sitting next to us that just had all its windows removed due to heavy leaks in the rain!

The boats on your shortlist are fairly different in layout, so it might be best to have a look around and see what feels right for you. Feel free to send any questions my way if the v40 or v42 looks interesting!
 
Unless you're very different to the majority, I'd be surprised if long term you didn't regret the move.
Obviously you have your thoughts and reasons and they are the most important thing. You have a fabulous boat, but if you don't spend lots of time aboard and space isn't important, maybe you would love a sports cruiser.
I have no knowledge of your skills and experience but I can tell you based on your concerns, and as mentioned already, stay away from outdrives if handling is your biggest concern. Everyone with them on the larger boats in our marina whinges about not having screws.
 
Swaaby, really sorry if I'm trying to teach you to suck eggs, but I want to comment on the wife running around thing.
I think everyone goes through that.
It's common for the Husband to be more confident to drive, thus the wife becomes crew, voluntarily or not.
In the beginning I needed the wife to run around too.
However I decided it wasn't the way to go.
I needed to be better, and I needed to de-stress the whole thing as much as possible.
Since doing this, we still have some drama ( that's boating) but it's significantly reduced.
Basically almost every berth either requires a bow line or stern line 1st.
Some people swear by a centre line, but that never worked for us on this boat.
If the choice is evens, it's always stern.
The wife can have a rope ready and stand safely at the stern.
Now the rule: It's my job to put the boat where it needs to be.
No work or running about for the wife. Maybe a few comments for how close or far my blind quarter is (Actually both sides on ours)
When I put the stern where she can step off safely and take a turn she steps and tells me she has a turn.
If I'm ready I'll tell her to cleat it. if that doesn't work, so she can't get asore, I'll back out and try again. Then once 1 line is cleated, I can position the bow with the engine or thruster. She can stroll down the dock to retrieve the pre readied line, and were done.
Since we took this approach things have been calmer, safer, and become more repeatable.
With a stern thruster, it would be like taking candy from a baby but I do like the self back-patting of having done a good job without one. One day, I'll just get one for those days when I really need it (because I'm not good enough)
 
We're almost the same as Boaty_Pete, but Mrs lassos a cleat, usually midships for us. She lassos it and cleats it off, i put the opposite side engine ahead, at idle, and she has as much time as she needs to attach the other lines, we usually just tie midships and stern lines, then get off and sort the rest.

Golden room for our boat "if you can't step off, stay on", none of that jumping about malarkey.
 
My spring lines are permanently attached to the pontoon. They have a soft eye/loop on the other end. Whilst reversing back one of the fixed pontoon lines gets slipped over the central cleat and the boat is allowed to drift back until that spring stops it from going any further. If there is time, I usually tighten the other spring first before attaching the bow and stern lines. This process always sets the boat in exactly the same position and there is no chance of hitting the main part of the pontoon because the spring stops the boat long before that could happen. The whole process can be done by two of us (SWMBO stepping off the bathing platform onto the pontoon whilst the boat is drifting back) or onlookers usually help as instructed.
 
Swaaby said:
Hi Neil, she has a bow thruster and would ideally need a stern thruster to help with her rather ample behind! The real problem is asking the wife to career around the side decks in charge of the lines and the route is a little tricky! I have got to the stage when the “I just want to change” boating logic has come to roost!
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Would very much like to suggest that an actual viewing of any of those "sports boats" would be very beneficial.
Get your young lady to attempt to clamber out of the cockpit round onto the side decks ?
How are you with zips, Lift the Dot clips, baffling collections of chrome tube, milky plastic windows ,not forgetting all this stuff has to be removed ,stored and reassembled each time you go out on that rare sunny day mid July.
Just saying. :)
 
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