Antares 760 thread

Welcome to 760 world. I am also a recent ex sailor and have a 2007 760. I had a purchaser survey, and had my engineer check the engine as far as he could, particularly important if planning longer trips like crossing the channel as I do. After all, there is no Plan B if it breaks down half way across, unlike a yacht.

Having said all that, as a motorboat newbie, I have been impressed by the little 760 in lumpy stuff.
 
zikzik said:
Hi. I’m moving to the dark side and have put a deposit on an Antares 760. I’ve gathered a lot of info now on these boats, And the seller is very well known to my current broker.
I’m trying to decide if I should get it surveyed. I’ve watched the survey of my current sailing boat, and wonder if one would uncover anything the seller doesn't know about his boat or just generate a long list of minors and a big bill!

I can see you guys know these boats well. What do you think?
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All depends on the price versus your risk. When I bought mine i gave the boat a good going over, decided on not getting a boat survey and the highest risk was an engine/drive problem so I paid a mechanic who had a lot of experience of the specific VP engine to survey the engine and drive, including a compression check. He found a few problems and the seller agreed to pay the mechanic's bill to fix everything.

Edit: the mechanic also came on the sea trial, which was one of my conditions of sale.
 
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Thanks guys. Thats good info.
The boat has a good service and maintenance history, but a bit of cosmetic work to do. So it will come out of the water for that as soon as I get it back to my berth. Where everything can be done.
I just need to balance any possible discovery, and its cost, before or after I take delivery.
 
zikzik said:
Thanks guys. Thats good info.
The boat has a good service and maintenance history, but a bit of cosmetic work to do. So it will come out of the water for that as soon as I get it back to my berth. Where everything can be done.
I just need to balance any possible discovery, and its cost, before or after I take delivery.
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Given your lack of experience with these boats i would suggest that you get a survey.

You will find that many insurance companies will insist on a survey, so take that into account too.
 
Update. My current insurer GJW (20 years plus over three sailing boats) has confirmed that no survey is required by them until a/the boat is thirty years old.
So after lots of thought and various discussion, the conclusion is the money item that would hurt most is the engine. So I’m not going to get a survey, but I am planning to get an engineer to look first at the service records, then the engine etc.
I’m now sorting out a sea trial as well for my benefit but also to enable the seller, who obviously accepts the above, to create a contract between us (the deposit is on trust as the seller is known to my selling broker for many years, and was done in case my buyer pulled out after a survey. He didn’t.
Time to start bedtime reading the paperwork he’s got!
Assuming all goes well, I’ll be able to complete in mid January and take delivery as soon as my yacht is out of her berth at the end of January. Then start looking at what I want to do to it….

What have you added that you couldn't live without?

What do you wish you had?

Exciting innit! The best and worst day of boat ownership approaching again!!
 
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zikzik said:
Update. My current insurer GJW (20 years plus over three sailing boats) has confirmed that no survey is required by them until a/the boat is thirty years old.
So after lots of thought and various discussion, the conclusion is the money item that would hurt most is the engine. So I’m not going to get a survey, but I am planning to get an engineer to look first at the service records, then the engine etc.
I’m now sorting out a sea trial as well for my benefit but also to enable the seller, who obviously accepts the above, to create a contract between us (the deposit is on trust as the seller is known to my selling broker for many years, and was done in case my buyer pulled out after a survey. He didn’t.
Time to start bedtime reading the paperwork he’s got!
Assuming all goes well, I’ll be able to complete in mid January and take delivery as soon as my yacht is out of her berth at the end of January. Then start looking at what I want to do to it….

What have you added that you couldn't live without?

What do you wish you had?

Exciting innit! The best and worst day of boat ownership approaching again!!
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Congrats - if the engineer gives a pass for the engine in it's current condition and it's been regularly serviced that's good. Visually you can quickly assess the rest of the boat with a good look over, it's pretty clear when a boat has been neglected or looked after.
Electrics, corrosion of metal parts and leaks are the other things to assess.

Before handing the money over a quick lift out and visual check under the waterline is well worth doing if there's a facility in your area to haul it for an hour or so (check running gear, anodes and any damage).

760's are pretty easy boats to operate and maintain - had ours for nearly 10yrs now and it's been great. Always hanker after a Series 9 but otherwise very happy.

Agree heating is a welcome addition.
Depending on what version you get they seem to arrive with most stuff you need (esp if you get one with the full aft canopy and beaching legs included).
 
I have seen one advertised with beaching legs. Are these similar to yacht legs? I.e bolted, or located on studs on each hull and roped fore and aft to keep them upright?
The 760’s draft is the only thing not ideal for me, as we like a bit of pottering and parking within Poole harbour. I like the alternative of a flattish hull and outboard power much less though!
I’m used to autopilot on my current yacht. I’ll miss that on longer journeys a lot. I’ll look into what might work once the primary jobs are done. I also like the look of flooring in the cockpit. Thats just a cosmetic of course. But nice. I’m used to a lot of wood!!
 
zikzik said:
I have seen one advertised with beaching legs. Are these similar to yacht legs? I.e bolted, or located on studs on each hull and roped fore and aft to keep them upright?
The 760’s draft is the only thing not ideal for me, as we like a bit of pottering and parking within Poole harbour. I like the alternative of a flattish hull and outboard power much less though!
I’m used to autopilot on my current yacht. I’ll miss that on longer journeys a lot. I’ll look into what might work once the primary jobs are done. I also like the look of flooring in the cockpit. Thats just a cosmetic of course. But nice. I’m used to a lot of wood!!
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Yes, the legs are "yacht legs", Beneteau offered them as an option from new, mine was never fitted with them, but the additional GRP layup at the mounting points is fitted as standard although access to that reinforced mounting point on the inside is extremely limited. Beneteau show the location of the mountings in the manual. The 760 has a draft of 1m, not sure how you would find a boat with offshore capability with less. I have fitted an autopilot and think there are postings about it in this forum somewhere. It works very well. Edit: see post #88 in this thread
 
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Next item of interest while waiting to get hold of my 760. Autopilots:

I’ve read the threads on here with interest, and like s couple of solutions, but I don’t think Ive seen anything about fitting the Raymarine evo100 system?
I have seen a YouTube review of one that shows one fitted. The ring on the wheel fits, but dominates it. Any users of them here please?
I should add I love them, having fitted one to my outgoing 32’ sailer eight years or more ago. In that case, its the tiller pilot version as she is tiller steered. Unless conditions are exciting though, I let the evo steer, its better at it than me!!
 
Update: sea trial completed yesterday. It went well. I’m only used to my old 5m rib in motor boat terms, so found it noisy. Though all the apparent sound insulation is there. I was pleased it didn’t lurch away once drive was engaged, also a smooth throttle which made it feel nicer. They get wet in a solent chop don’t they, requiring use of the wiper (I discovered the port side one doesn’t work!). Neither did the depth gauge or heater worked. Though both did when I looked at the boat a few weeks ago!! There a bit of steering play. Is that normal / adjustable?
I sense a project coming on, as my wife inspected it yesterday as well. She has a list of jobs she insist on me getting done pdq.
At least there is a big price difference between this one and others currently for sale.
I like a project. Sort of. :)
 
zikzik said:
Update: sea trial completed yesterday. It went well. I’m only used to my old 5m rib in motor boat terms, so found it noisy. Though all the apparent sound insulation is there. I was pleased it didn’t lurch away once drive was engaged, also a smooth throttle which made it feel nicer. They get wet in a solent chop don’t they, requiring use of the wiper (I discovered the port side one doesn’t work!). Neither did the depth gauge or heater worked. Though both did when I looked at the boat a few weeks ago!! There a bit of steering play. Is that normal / adjustable?
I sense a project coming on, as my wife inspected it yesterday as well. She has a list of jobs she insist on me getting done pdq.
At least there is a big price difference between this one and others currently for sale.
I like a project. Sort of. :)
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Good, at least this time of year is a good time to work through that list but more pleasant if you fix the heater first. Hopefully just a 12v supply issue and the depth sounder is supplied from the same source. The free play on my steering is probably 15mm total at the wheel rim, not a problem for me, I assume you have the original cable steering, which is not adjustable. Check the engine hatches have a goog foam seal, helps with noise reduction, and where the battery master switches are, under the step into the forecabin for any small holes after someone has made modifications as a lot of noise can escape.
 
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Yes, cable steering Plum. The play in steering feels more like 30-40mm. So it looks like I will be looking for the wear each end once in my care. Good suggestion regarding the 12v supply.

On a separate note. The current owner brought home an Octopus Intelesteer drive unit and bits from the US some time ago. The drive apparently replaces the standard cable steering shaft with its own, behind bulkhead cable drive unit. I am interested to learn if this could be hooked up to a raymarine evo 100 or 200 as an alternative to their bulky wheel drive unit?
 
zikzik said:
On a separate note. The current owner brought home an Octopus Intelesteer drive unit and bits from the US some time ago. The drive apparently replaces the standard cable steering shaft with its own, behind bulkhead cable drive unit. I am interested to learn if this could be hooked up to a raymarine evo 100 or 200 as an alternative to their bulky wheel drive unit?
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Several years ago when I was researching an autopilot for the 760 I considered changing to an Octopus drive unit because there was an autopilot option. However, after being passed onto different people and several exchanges I could not get any answers from them regarding compatibility of drive, autopilot add on, and control heads. They couldn't sell me a full system and gave me no confidence in them. They had a uk agent, who i contacted, but he was useless. Good luck, as the concept looked neat.
 
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