TiggerToo
Well-Known Member
I was looking at the Amels. They have a great reputation - at least the more recent ones. What does the panel think of the "older" offerings, say 1980's?
Amels
- Thread starter TiggerToo
- Start date
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
I know nothing of the older models but I've always liked the look of the ketches
chinita
Well-Known Member
Well maintained, they are brilliant.
I have been aboard a couple of Sharkis (46ft) which have been immaculate.
A mate is half way to Barbados on his Sharki right now.
If I had my time over again I would buy one on a heartbeat.
If you are serious and have questions I can put you in touch with my mate when he gets back.
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
Correction : the Sharki is 40' and its replacement, the Santorin is 46'. The Maramu (not to be confused with the Super Maramu (53')) which is like a larger Sharki is 44'.
The logic for the Santorin was that each cabin should have its own en suite heads and the lazarette was made bigger for more storage space.
Sharki would be my choice for my next boat if ever I sell this house.... :mad-new: but preferably a late model one because there was a lot of evolution over the boat's production period.
The following blog (if you can read French) is very informative about the Sharki.
http://dougle.heoblog.com/index.php?post/2010/09/30/Le-projet-le-choix-du-bateau#main
They do a detailed analysis of the global performance. One of the points that they make is that some modern boats will get you there a bit quicker but you, you will arrive comfortably and relaxed. They also recounted a transatlantic where they left at the same time as a J boat. They arrived first because of the Sharki's ability to plough through adverse weather whereas the lighter J boat was held up by slamming into head seas.
Also :
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?457289-Trident-Warrior-38-40
See my post #6
Last edited:
Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
They may be very good boats but to me they are just pig ugly.
Paddy Layback
N/A
+1, rowaway factor minus ten.
TQA
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 20 Feb 2005
- Messages
- 6,815
- Location
- Carribbean currently Grenada
Great boats. NB All are ketches AFAIK.
Wheel is in the right position on a cruising boat. Love the two separate anchor / windlass / chain locker set up on the later boats.
I would have a Sharki in heartbeat.
Based on the % of boats completed more Amels have circumnavigated then any other production boat.
Wheel is in the right position on a cruising boat. Love the two separate anchor / windlass / chain locker set up on the later boats.
I would have a Sharki in heartbeat.
Based on the % of boats completed more Amels have circumnavigated then any other production boat.
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Friends have a Super 54, while it was being built they bought an older model from the late 70s, to tide them over...Both boats are superb cruisers, just a bit 'grace-less' The standard of fit out and kit is amazing, as is the price. Just about everything is built in house. I had a look at their spar shop. Basic extrusions to finished, complex, but effective and durable rigs.
Salty John
Well-Known Member
I sail a 1985 Maramu, 46', every now and again and love the boat. I've sailed it in both light and heavy air and it sails well. Very practical - some great ideas, and a well sheltered, deep, helm station. The only drawback for the area I sailed her in was draft, 7' is a bit deep for Florida and the Bahamas.
pvb
Well-Known Member
I'm afraid that's my view too, undoubtedly well-considered but rather lacking in design finesse.
chinita
Well-Known Member
You are quite correct 40ft. Just seemed like 46ft
One Sharki I was on board was owned by an elderly Swiss chap. He bought her new and had circumnavigated twice. The boat was in as new condition. Very impressive.
'Single Malt' was the name. If she comes on the market, sell the house.
geem
Well-Known Member
They seemed to be loved by all that own one by I cant help thinking they are a bit dull. Probably very practical but not a pretty boat. The Santorin at 46ft is very slow compared to our 44 ft Van de Stadt even though both are ketches. I wouldnt swap my Trintella for one
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It's great that we all have different tastes.
Monique
Well-Known Member
Small correction needed. The Santorin is quite quick and if you want a faster Santorin, Amel built many as sloops. Apparently, those are quite faster then the ketch version. As for being dull... not sure I agree. I own an SM (53 footer) and did 2 days in excess of 200NM/Day and 4 days in excess of 190NM/Day during our Transat in Dec 16. Additionally, during a violent squall of 55 knots, we surfed at 17.1 knots without much fuss. If being dull is synonymous to safe, I'll take it thank you.
But the worst point on my boat is it's inability to point... but she is meant to sail downwind around our planet.
Fair winds.
chinita
Well-Known Member
.......and if you had hit something at 17kts you have a watertight forward bulkhead. No electric water tank gauge, a simple sight glass. My sort of KISS engineering; thank you Henri.
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
Last edited:
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
The genoa fairleads are set out on the toe rail which prevents a tight sheeting angle. Also they had very voluminous keels which housed the water reservoirs and enabled them to use a float to determine levels.
With the passing of Henri Amel they resorted for the first time to outside architects who designed more speed into the later models.
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
Just found this note from 30 years ago :
Cruising Yacht Specialist Joel F. Potter, He wrote;
PRIDE is perhaps the best word to describe the spirit you’ll experience the first time you inspect an Amel yacht, and a feeling that you’ll gain an intimate and growing appreciation if you become one of the fortunate few to actually own one of these magnificent, state of the art yachts. The 150 craftsman, technicians and team leaders of this employee owned shipyard will build only 50 Amels each year for anxious buyers the world over. The founder, designer, and guiding force behind them is Henri Amel, who, at better than 70 years of age , continues to perfect this highly innovative cruisers while having found the time to have tested and refined these yachts with over 200,000 documented ocean cruising miles behind him. Not an easy task for any man, but when you consider that Henri Amel has but 10 % sight in one eye, it makes his accomplishments and his workers respect and loyalty for him all the more noteworthy. New or used, all Amel yachts have genuine collision bulkheads with watertight compartments doors, a double bottom, immediate and complete engine and machinery access, a hard fiberglass cockpit dodger with protected helm station, unsurpassed strength with a completely one piece, fully molded yacht made exclusively of bi-axial fiberglass, and a host of other features that, in total, are unique to Amel boats. When you inspect an Amel for the first time, I can take tremendous pride in looking you square in the eye as I state that in my opinion “you won’t find a stronger, safer, better built or more refined ocean cruising fiberglass yacht from any other production builder”.
Joel F. Potter Cruising World august 1987.
Cruising Yacht Specialist Joel F. Potter, He wrote;
PRIDE is perhaps the best word to describe the spirit you’ll experience the first time you inspect an Amel yacht, and a feeling that you’ll gain an intimate and growing appreciation if you become one of the fortunate few to actually own one of these magnificent, state of the art yachts. The 150 craftsman, technicians and team leaders of this employee owned shipyard will build only 50 Amels each year for anxious buyers the world over. The founder, designer, and guiding force behind them is Henri Amel, who, at better than 70 years of age , continues to perfect this highly innovative cruisers while having found the time to have tested and refined these yachts with over 200,000 documented ocean cruising miles behind him. Not an easy task for any man, but when you consider that Henri Amel has but 10 % sight in one eye, it makes his accomplishments and his workers respect and loyalty for him all the more noteworthy. New or used, all Amel yachts have genuine collision bulkheads with watertight compartments doors, a double bottom, immediate and complete engine and machinery access, a hard fiberglass cockpit dodger with protected helm station, unsurpassed strength with a completely one piece, fully molded yacht made exclusively of bi-axial fiberglass, and a host of other features that, in total, are unique to Amel boats. When you inspect an Amel for the first time, I can take tremendous pride in looking you square in the eye as I state that in my opinion “you won’t find a stronger, safer, better built or more refined ocean cruising fiberglass yacht from any other production builder”.
Joel F. Potter Cruising World august 1987.
doris
Well-Known Member
Sadly there is not a new 43-45ft Amel. Were there one I would be sore tempted to get a pure cruiser. They are the benchmark of practicality.
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
I spoke to an Amel's rep at the Salon Nautique 2 or 3 years ago and he said that they were working on a smaller one (around 12-13m). However it might take some time if they are already at full capacity with the 55 and the 64.
Other threads that may be of interest
