Antares 30 or Sealine SC35?

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Mikehp0

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Hi Everyone. I'm new to this forum but very impressed with the quality of advice, courtesy and humour.

Can you help me out regarding a boat upgrade dilemma?

I have a day boat - a Yamarin 68DC which was bought to trailer between Padstow and Poole. I've enjoyed cruising Poole and the south coast so much that it doesn't go near Padstow nowadays and lives in a Poole dry stack.

I want to upgrade to a boat suitable for weekends away and keep it on a marina mooring. My wife and I have 2 big teenagers - one loves fresh air whilst my wife and the other one like having a roof and a heater unless 20c+. Similarly, the first slam or roll and half the family demands to go home.

Budget would probably stretch to £150k and the boats I've short-listed are used 2008 Sealine SC35s or a new Beneteau Antares 30 SeaMotion . Not sure there is a budget for running costs and repairs!

Antares:
Pros: nice warm saloon for half the family, fly bridge for the rest, single engine running costs, no canvas covers (I really don't like them), brand new so no issues, ongoing shaft drive low maintenance bills, fantastic sea keeping (helped deliver the Southampton show boat from Swanwick to Brighton last week in a force 4-5 and it was superb)

Cons: 2nd cabin double bunks don't compare to SC35's great second cabin and hasn't impressed the family, generally not as "posh" or impressive.

Sealine SC35
Pros: Big, posh, great accommodation. Family have all said they'd "love to stay on it."

Cons: twin engine and outdrive leg repair costs (any idea how much I should budget for on an '08 model?)
no flybridge - hence will be driven permanently closed up, canvas covers in place- hence potentially messy, cold & wet, will it handle the rough-stuff as well as the Antares at the inevitable 18-20knot family-friendly cruise? (the Antares dealer was very dismissive about the SC35 and other stern drive sports cruisers' rough sea handling)

Other Options?
The family won't look at anything that looks old or traditional. It has to be sleek, modern and streamlined. So, the smart modern chipboard Antares fit out is considered more attractive than a solid traditional Aquador or Nimbus cabin. An Antares 9.80 with twin engines at half the Antares 30 new price seemed like a good idea to me but didn't have the "wow factor".

Your help would be appreciated - particularly your views on sea keeping.
 
Mike, I don't know why this has slipped through the net.

There are several SC35 owners on here, and I think the odd 1 or 2 Antares owners.

I have neither, so my views are not that much value to you. However, I have been interested in the SC35, and not put off by the outdrives, as I have 2 on my current boat, which have performed well to date, although they are Merc rather than VP, as in the SC35.

For me there is no comparison between the 2 boats. The accommodation on the SC is very spacious, and well appointed, where the Antares feels a bit cramped. Of course you have the fly on the Antares, but this is quite small for obvious reasons.

Good luck with your hunt.
 
I'd say the sc 35 is the better boat.

Don't believe you will have hassle free boating with a brand new boat, it's a myth as you will find out on this forum, new oats always have teething troubles, some quite seriously disappointing which is down to the dealers after care, or should I say lack of it with certain builders.

Running two engines isn't always half the cost of running one as an engineer like myself still has to drive to the boat, hump all service gear to the boats mooring etc, and what about safe cruising reliability? If your in the Solent and break down there is usually someone along to take you in tow very quickly, I'd say your cruising area is a different story, presuming that's where your going to be based.

With the d4 engines and drives it's a major service very two Years, so one years it's just oils and filters, oils and hose clips, anodes et for the drives and a check over .

The second years it's all parts if you have done over 100 hours since, engine anodes, belts folders coolant etc you can get a more detailed list from me or any vp dealer if your going to be running the boat on a tight budget.

Welcome to the forum, enjoy and ask as many questions as you wish.

I'd also say for your money in this current climate and buying before the end of this year you would get a 2010 sc 35 for your budget, I can place you in touch with the right man for that search.
 
Biased SC35 owner here!

No worries about the sea-keeping - and I speak from experience on that one!

I agree the costs of maintaining the drives is an issue, not so much the basic servicing, more that cost hydraulic steering and lift rams is exorbitant. But then you can't have that sort of space in a 36' boat without some downside.
 
We have had an Antares 30 for 2 years now (Yanmar engine version) Hasn't seen much use this year(:() mind you. Our criteria was low running costs- no O/D 1 engine , Fly-bridge , patio doors & heating & no canvas to play with constantly.Ticked all the boxes & has been reliable.Its really nice just to close the doors & have a bit of heat with the rain & wind howling outside.A bowthruster is a must unless you want to bounce of everything mind you!What it doesn't do is go backwards very well. Well it does, but generally it goes where it wants to go(generally to port!prop wash)You get used to it though.We added another plotter to the fly-bridge as I didn't think the ST70 provided enough info & I feel a lot happier helming up there now.My one critism is I would like a larger fuel tank.We went from an old Bayliner, so it was quite something to have all the mode cons that came with ECHOES!There's a nice review on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MlWQbdld3s
 
Can only say that I have been thro similar thought processes recently and if I were making the same choice of two, the SC35 would win hands down. I understand your wanting to investigate the sea-keeping issues of each model,but actually I think the family expressing their satisfaction with the SC35 is telling. No good having a fantastic sea boat which the family aren't wanting to spend time on and in any event, although the hull design is different the SC 35 is a bigger, heavier boat that will have more 'presence' in the water on rough days, even if it may not ride quite as we'll.

Hope this helps and have fun looking!

Andrew
 
Hi Mike and welcome to the forum. Great place to find out everything you need to know. As for 'courteous'...you've not visited 'the lounge' yet have you :D;).

Anyway, I have no experience of the Antares so I can't give you a fair comparison but we have had our 08/09 SC35 for a year now and love her to bits! She is an excellent sea keeper so don't take any notice of that dealers negatives on that point. We crossed from Southampton to Guernsey in June this year and the weather was not great but she handled beautifully and took everything that was thrown at her.
The layout is superb as is the storage. An 08 will be in your budget and you may even beable to go newer at the mo.
The retractable roof means you never feel closed in and visibility is superb. So far, we've had no problems whatsoever with outdrives etc so I have no negatives there either.
Just one point...when you do the sea trial, make sure you check the port holes for leaks. It's been a problem on ours if only on the long, choppy passages.
Other than that, she's just a dream tbh and will easily cater for more than just weekends away.
Good luck whichever boat you decide on.
Lisa
:)
 
Hi there, I'm an Antares 30 owner and interestingly I've been looking to upgrading to either the Antares 36 or an SC35.

I am yet to sea trial the SC35 but from what I've heard, don't think you need to worry about handling. I also hate canopies so it probably surprises you that I'd even consider the SC35 but for me because of the length of the roof, the canopies don't tend to impinge on the cockpit. (I would probably leave them on all the time)

Accommodation is probably the most important thing for you and I have to say I don't envy you having 2 "big teenagers" on the Antares. It's not the bunks, which are great, it's the general moving around the boat (particularly on a wet day) that I think would feel quite cramped. Of course moorings aswell as fuel and servicing will be more costly so you've got a few things to think about. Nice decision to have though:)

Feel free to pm me for further info, if you want to spend a few hours on mine with the family, im sure that can be arranged to help with the decision.

Good luck.
 
I read with interest as I'm looking at an antares 30 as a first boat. Given my complete lack of experience should I install a stern thruster, or is that frowned upon?

Anders
 
Stern thruster. Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.

I should've done it as soon as I got it but thought I'd have a years stress first!
 
Have you discounted Jeanneau Prestige flybridges (32' or 36')? We bought a 2008 36' in January for £130k, after striking Beneteau's off the list on quality grounds. I really wanted a Princess 42' or a Fairline but was woefully short on the folding stuff, and I reckon the Prestige is a good substitute, until my next bank job!

Enjoy shopping, and welcome to the forum.
 
Another question for the Antares owners, did you install a trolling valve for better low speed manoeuvring or is the boat a slow mover at idle engine speed?

Did anyone install radar, or is that OTT for cruising and the occasional fish?

Anders
 
No on both, I've found the "idle" speed fine. Radar I guess is down to you and what you're going to do. I've been to the channel islands without it as I'm sure many others have but it's personal choice really. AIS is possibly a halfway house?

Leaves room quietly to avoid abuse for suggesting AIS could replace radar, which I didn't!
 
Anders_P42 said:
Another question for the Antares owners, did you install a trolling valve for better low speed manoeuvring or is the boat a slow mover at idle engine speed?

Did anyone install radar, or is that OTT for cruising and the occasional fish?

Anders
Click to expand...

A Trolling valve is really for better speed control when, er, trolling. Nothing to do with better manoeuvring .

Radar depends on where/how you plan to use the boat, as already said. I personally think it's a good idea, as is AIS. Neither is a replacement for the other though. Radar should tell you there is a big ship 5 miles away, but it won't tell you instantly which way it's heading, how fast it's going or the ships name, AIS will. But then AIS won't tell you about that big leisure boat bearing down on you in the fog.
 
wonky said:
No on both, I've found the "idle" speed fine. Radar I guess is down to you and what you're going to do. I've been to the channel islands without it as I'm sure many others have but it's personal choice really. AIS is possibly a halfway house?

Leaves room quietly to avoid abuse for suggesting AIS could replace radar, which I didn't!
Click to expand...

Useful to know on the idle speed, I saw one for sale that had had a trolling valve fitted and he claimed 1.5kt speed which sounded useful for an approch to berth.

PaulGooch said:
A Trolling valve is really for better speed control when, er, trolling. Nothing to do with better manoeuvring .

Radar depends on where/how you plan to use the boat, as already said. I personally think it's a good idea, as is AIS. Neither is a replacement for the other though. Radar should tell you there is a big ship 5 miles away, but it won't tell you instantly which way it's heading, how fast it's going or the ships name, AIS will. But then AIS won't tell you about that big leisure boat bearing down on you in the fog.
Click to expand...

Sorry I'm not up to speed with the marine terminoloy. I thought trolling was marine term for slow speed and I thought it would make berthing easier. I had visions of ploughing in to the marina at 6kt with the engine on idle :)

I read a few threads re AIS, the word 'clutter' crops up a lot. That said the images of radar screens on Raymarine's website look very cluttered to the untrained eye.

The radar systems don't seem excessively expensive, circa £1600 for the Raymarine RD418HD dome. What are typical installation costs for radar, assuming the boat has plotter with Radar input?

Anders
 
If you leave the engine/s in gear, then with the bigger boats, you could be seeing 5/6 knots at idle. The trick is to nudge them in and out of gear, so you can manouevre slowly when mooring/docking. Trolling is a constant low speed process.
 
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