Another boat choice quandry

Neil_Y

Neil_Y

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www.h4marine.com
Looking for a friend or maybe have it as a shared boat.

Budget 25K to 45K

Must have three cabins and ideally 36-38' so twin aft layouts like the Hanse 341 or possibly older Contrast 36.

So what boats are there that have twin aft cabins in something less than 38'? and preferably less than 20 years old, although I'm happy with something older the other halves want something less tired looking and hopefully less maintenance. Previously I've had a Bav 390 owners (which I sailed many thousands of miles in and loved) but a bit long (berth cost wise)

Any suggestions I can research, or any boats out there you are looking at selling?
 
You will find nearly all the AWBs of 34' up - Bav 34,36,37, Benny 343, 351, 361, Jeanneau 35, 36 etc are available with 2 aft cabins. The problem is that relatively few were sold in this configuration in the UK. Plenty in Greece and Croatia from the charter market.

Bit too late, but I sold my 3 cabin Bav 37 3 years ago at the upper end of that budget.
 
I too faced the same problem looking for a boat for two couples. The problem with aft cockpit twin aft cabin boats is that the cabins are too claustrophobic. Why don't you look at centre cockpit boats. My 36 foot C/C boat ( Westerly Corsair II) has two heads a very large aft cabin and an acceptable forecabin, this provides about as much privacy as you are going to get on any reasonably priced boat. Oh ..... and my other requirement was plenty of storage which I have inside as well as a truly massive cockpit locker which is about 7 foot deep.
Why do you think a boat more than 20 years old requires more maintenance? If instruments, engine, sails, rigging, upholstery has all been changed in the last 5 years then the ongoing costs are going to be less than a 15 year old boat where none of that has been done.
 
Thanks, interesting that the three cabin versions aren't as common in UK waters.

Any thoughts about the Hanse? good / bad or just OK? They look quite well made and nicely finished.
 
Neil_Y said:
Thanks, interesting that the three cabin versions aren't as common in UK waters.

Any thoughts about the Hanse? good / bad or just OK? They look quite well made and nicely finished.
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There seems to be a 3 cabin Bav 36 in Gosport but as Said by earlier poster the 3cabin Bavs are rarer as illustrated by 34 Bavs for sale in UK currently all seem 2 cabin versions . You might give Clipper a call if you are interested in Bav though as they shift more than most brokers and might know of 3 cab ones which if not on market might be available in future etc. If looking for info on older Hanse the owners website might be a source of info. My impression is that not so many were sold in early 2000s compared to other marquees sources hence less second hand so might be even harder to find cabin spec sought. Have you considered a Dehler btw?
 
Your most likely choice might be a Beneteau 361 or 381, both of which had 3 cabin options sold in soem numbers in the UK. As others have said, Bavaria 36 or 38 the same, but many of the 3 cabin versions of these had a hard charter/sailing school life: not many Beneteaus or Jeanneaus used by schools/charterers, except for Sunsail's de-specced Beneteaus. The fact that many businesses choose Bavarias says something: they offer a lot of boat for the money and in general hold together adequately. Older Bav 36 and 38 actually 38 and 40 ft boats.

Also a few Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35s and 37s were a three cabin layout, and these had a more traditional hull construction than the eggbox double skin of the Bavs and Bens. Any of these are going to be right at the top of your budget though, and you may have to buy one that is not perfect.

Some older Hanses had pretty poor near-Ikea type joinery below, though they do sail rather well for cruisers. Not much wrong with any of the Ben/Jen/Bav breeds though as long as you sail them flat and reef early.
 
The First 345 looks interesting (thanks) I like the Feelings as well but don't see so many 3 cabin layouts there either.

The CC boats don't work for me, they are great boats for a couple + 2 guests but the third cabin works better for a family with two kids, when they bring a friend along or if there are say 3 children and two couples.

I'm less keen on the current Bavaria range mainly because I had an early 90's 390 Bav and the fittings were twice the size of anything on a similar Bav from 2000.

True you can get older boats that have been upgraded, but the older styled boats with lots of wood can start to look quite tired and old as the wood/varnish starts to stain black where water has got in. I'm just about to rewire another boat, and the wiring after 20 years is often a problem through the whole boat. Thanks again for the input might be an excuse for a sail from Greece to Scandinavia coming up.
 
And of course any boat now really needs a holding tank for any coastal sailing and older boats often aren't kitted out with space for these.
 
Neil_Y said:
And of course any boat now really needs a holding tank for any coastal sailing and older boats often aren't kitted out with space for these.
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If looking at Bavs, avoid the factory holding tank of the early 2000s, although you will find few with it fitted because it was so bad. Not difficult to retrofit one to most models. I managed to get a 55l gravity tank into my 2001 37.

Not sure I agree about how well they stand up over the 15-20 years. Mine had a hard life with 7 season's chartering and the interior stood up very well apart from upholstery. It was actually bought by somebody with a similar brief to you. Couple with two early teens children, boy and girl so 3 cabins ideal. Boat has now gone back to the med and happily moored in San Carles.
 
pvb said:
The Westerly and Moody aficionados are rather more silent than usual.
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As far as I'm aware Moody didn't produce boats intended for the charter market, hence the need to cram two cabins where one will do ?
Donald
 
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