doug748
Well-known member
Unless they crack:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...ull-windows-Any-advice&highlight=window+crack
By which time the nice salesman, who told you how strong they were, will have legged it with his commission.
Amel 50 - I want one...
- Thread starter Sybarite
- Start date
Unless they crack:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...ull-windows-Any-advice&highlight=window+crack
By which time the nice salesman, who told you how strong they were, will have legged it with his commission.
horatio_nelson
New member
There's one at SIB, I walked past it today. In the flesh it was incredibly ugly. Might get a look around it at the show (am working there). I imagine the interior will be more impressive.
Sybarite
Well-known member
It was always Amel philosophy not to have any wood on the outside.
And, if you look at Roberto's thread of what people don't want on a boat, teak decks is nearly a unanimous no no.
Amel's decks actually cost more than teak but they last forever and dont give rise to leaks.
As for the furniture I haven't actually been on a 50 yet but, if I judge by the Amels I have visited I can see why in France they are called the Rolls Royce of yachts.
Ric
Well-known member
Amels have fabulous build quality, attention to detail and engineering. The factory takes a great deal of pride in staying in contact with all their boats, and owners, and continually listen to their feedback and suggestions. Their design ethos is to build a yacht for a couple to circumnavigate with family or occasional guests, in considerable comfort, safety and reliability. They also perform in all weather and points of sail, far better than just about anything except maybe a fully crewed racing yacht.
I have had a good look at the Amel 50 at the Cannes Yacht Show and it is built to the same high standards as the larger ketches. For example five watertight compartments, including watertight bulkheads between all cabins, a proper water inlet manifold as used in yachts mostly substantially bigger, all engineering systems integrated and built in from the start (unlike competitors where systems such as water makers, heating, air-con, washing machines etc are bodged in as an afterthought according to the whim of the client, with all the attendant problems of lack of integration).
If you are a traditionalist and don't appreciate good engineering, performance and comfort then there are plenty of bodgy 50 footers on the market with faded blue hulls and leaky, splintering teak decks that take a large smelly crew just to hoist the mainsail. Stick to those and don't knock the Amels, without even visiting one, based just on the looks and (excellent) plastic teak decks.
I have had a good look at the Amel 50 at the Cannes Yacht Show and it is built to the same high standards as the larger ketches. For example five watertight compartments, including watertight bulkheads between all cabins, a proper water inlet manifold as used in yachts mostly substantially bigger, all engineering systems integrated and built in from the start (unlike competitors where systems such as water makers, heating, air-con, washing machines etc are bodged in as an afterthought according to the whim of the client, with all the attendant problems of lack of integration).
If you are a traditionalist and don't appreciate good engineering, performance and comfort then there are plenty of bodgy 50 footers on the market with faded blue hulls and leaky, splintering teak decks that take a large smelly crew just to hoist the mainsail. Stick to those and don't knock the Amels, without even visiting one, based just on the looks and (excellent) plastic teak decks.
Ric
Well-known member
Windows will leak on cheap crappy yachts because the hull flexes like a jelly.
Amels have extremely rigid hills because the hull is not removed from the mould until all the waterproof bulkheads have been bonded into place, the furniture all bonded to that, then the deck bonded over the top. The windows are stronger than the GRP hull in impact - you literally cannot break them with a sledgehammer or axe. I don't know what sealant they use - but I can guarantee that it will be the best available. My own boat has 20 year old sikaflex 291 which is still completely intact and waterproof - so I suspect that whatever Amel use will last longer than that.
geem
Well-known member
How does this construction process make the hull stiffer? It has bulkheads and a deck bonded like any other. Where does the extra stiffness come from? I would have thought this construction process would give better tolerance consistency but I dont see extra stiffness unless I am missing something.
wully1
Well-known member
Also my impression when I went aboard a 55. TBH, I didn't mind the fake teak deck as Id never have a real teak deck on a boat- but the rest of the boat was flimsy feeling, 'trendy designer' and naff, not like the 46 I had a look round, that was quirky but solid.
Topcat47
Well-known member
This is the sort of boat I covet.
https://www.fairlieyachts.com/fairlie-53/
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. I can't afford it so I guess I"ll just have to stick with my Nic 26.
https://www.fairlieyachts.com/fairlie-53/
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. I can't afford it so I guess I"ll just have to stick with my Nic 26.
Sybarite
Well-known member
I suggest you read the article by Peter Poland on modern construction methods in this month's PBO.
I think there would be fewer comments about quality in the large building yards such as Bénéteau and Bavaria.
Ric
Well-known member
The bulkheads on cheaper boats are not glassed into the hull and deck. Also, the hulls on cheaper boats are removed from the mould before the deck is fitted (to free the mould for the next boat), and then once the furniture is in, the deck is just bolted and sika'd onto the hull flange. By then, the hull is deformed and it takes a lot of bodging to get the deck to fit.
On Amels all the bulkheads are glassed into the hull and underside of deck. Also, all the furniture is bonded to the hull. The result is a very rigid structure.
ip485
Well-known member
Maybe. I have no basis for disputing your assertion.
However, having read the other thread, the quality of the fitting will be a factor. Moreover the load of a large yacht being blown onto a wall is substantial. Car screens crack, especially with pin point loads (a bolt projecting for example) and I suspect dont even have the give of fibreglass layup.
As the other thread suggets should there be a problem you are very much in the hands of the supplier. If they went out of business I can imagine a bespoke panel would be a significant cost, never mind finding someone with the skills and the willingness to remove and replace.
I just feel it could be a whole host of problems if anything went wrong.
Topcat47
Well-known member
I don't see the relevance of this comment. The Fairlie is drop dead gorgeous, inside and out. The quality of their workmanship is second to none. Bene's and Bav's are AWB's built to a budget. Nothing wrong with that, but there has to be a place for exquisite craft of the finest craftsmanship.
Elessar
Well-known member
GRP boats crack too. The bonded window is as stong as the boat.
Loads of mobos have had big windows for ages, and I've only seen 1 crack reported - this thread found it of course. Sadly the mobo trend now is ridiculous, swooping windows that look awful to my eye, I rather like the rectangular shape of these.
Will be a huge PITA to fix if it breaks that's true, but loads of enjoyment makes it worth it and it's unlikely to break.
Looks like a lovely boat to me. For once a sailing boat that gives proper thought to comfort on board, both on deck and below, when stopped, something mobos sorted years ago and part of the reason why I converted to power. Remember the thread about the sailor who thought a new cockpit cushion had transformed his sailing comfort? The mobo forum couldn't stop laughing!
Even transoceanic globe trotters spend most of their time stopped. And most sailors only dream of crossing oceans, and do that when stopped. Despite that sailors compromise comfort most of the time for that dreamed of trip.
Looks like it has a tender garage and a drop down bathing platform too. More boating enjoyment.
I love sailing, but very few sailing boats would tempt me back out of moboland. They are just too old fashioned. Something like this might. Sadly I can't afford it.
Sybarite
Well-known member
The first Discovery was originally intended to be a Westerly - which went belly up before it was completed. The mould was acquired to be relaunched as the Discovery 55.
Sybarite
Well-known member
These comments demonstrate exactly why you should read the article. New equipment and techniques mean that you can prepare the bits and pieces to much finer tolerances than a manual artisan can and in volumes which traditional builders can only dream about. Volume production brings down costs but not quality.
alant
Active member
How much 'real' difference is there in most boats?
At the sharp end, most have a v berth with infill, then a saloon with possible drop down table/double berth, then galley/nav table & if big enough a double owners aft berth or 2 pretend doubles. All interspersed with heads compartment. In any boat shape, the options are quite limited.
tcm
...
Agreed. The nice big aft cabin on Amel is won at the expense of (quite hopelessly cramped but maybe safe-feeling) cockpit space, and v-v on (say) Jeanneau 57. But I had such a lurchy rotten time transat in the latter i got rid of it. Cats for full time liveaboarding I think, and to hell with the ugliness. Fairlie etc for lovely mono beauty and sailing fun, altho er probably easier if someone else buys the thing and does all the work, thanks.
But back to the Amel ... if anyone is seriously thinking of an Amel, well, they’re specially built to go rtw, right? Think again! You’ll have to be extremely hardy racer type with steel stomach to endure downwind sailing in mono - most people do just one monohull transat, and not many repeat the awful rolling/lurching experience.
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Monique
Active member
Sybarite
Well-known member
Funny that a significant number of Amel sales are to existing Amel owners upgrading.
Topcat47
Well-known member
Fair enough... but where do you put a kettle???
I put mine on the hob, where do you put yours?