Bene 21 vs Corribee??!?

[FL390]

Yes you have read that correctly- chalk and cheese comparison.

I’m intrested in any views on these two boats. Very different but both fit my requirement for being 6.5m. (Marina fees). Somewhere in my past there was a day skipper ticket and I’m now looking for a boat to learn and consolidate knowledge on. Especially single handed skills and sail trim. I’m not looking to race at all, in fact I find inspiration from the sailing of Guy Waites and Roger Taylor. For me however it will be mostly day sails and occasional weekend adventures with young kids. (Everybody happy crapping in a bucket).

The Beneteau appeals but worried it’s too light, twitchy and wet for my needs, especially if with the family. I can’t say I’m enthusiastic about the time needed for maintenance or bringing the Corribee up to scratch, but the gap in price might take care of that.

I’d appreciate any thoughts on suitability. I’m aware there have been similar threads and I have digested them all. The info from sailboatdata is reproduced below.

Bene. Corribee
SA/ Disp. 22.3 15.8
BAL/ Disp. 34.7 44
Disp/ Length. 130 208
Comfort Ratio. 10.6 12.8

 

[fredrussell]

Bene for me. Bit more space down below and no slouch. Not comparable costwise though surely? The Bene will be far more expensive.

 

[Garold]

I had a Beneteau First 21.7 about ten years ago.

It was great fun but a bit ‘tippy’. It sailed more like a dinghy than a cruising boat. The outboard arrangement was fine but when someone went up to the bow, it nearly lifted the prop out of the water - so coming into the marina with someone on the bow didn’t always go too well.

I enjoyed sailing it alone and with a friend but when my wife came sailing it only lasted two or three outings before she decided that we had to get a bigger boat. I envisaged a sailing/camping experience with some local Solent touring, and the boat was perfect with the space below, and the wide cockpit.

The rudders were a vulnerability. My boat was rear ended slowly by a motorboat but it bent the ally fittings and left the rudders out of balance.

However, I really enjoyed the boat and would get another one if I was going to sail in/around an estuary or harbour and wanted to keep my costs down.

The Corribee looks like it may have a better toilet arrangement.

I am surprised how well the Bene holds its money so I presume that there is an active resale market for them.

Garold

 

[mbroom]

I have just bought a Bene 21.7 and sailed it singlehanded from the Solent to the Clyde a few weeks ago. In light winds, it sails extremely well in weather that would probably have the Corrie slopping about. It coped extremely well with strong winds as long as you reef early and often (the same as any wide boat...keep it flat). In fact I was surprised and delighted by how well it tracked in big waves, and by how light the steering was; I left the tiller pilot on and it coped for almost all the trip. I had to heave-to one night in a gale, and it coped with this with a scrap of jib and the tiller tied with rubber surgical tubing. It completed the entire trip at roughly the same average speed as many 30 footers. The bog is awful at sea, but I am moving the forward bunk privacy curtain back to at least give privacy for future crew members. I suspect it is much more practical with a family than a Corrie. However; you could buy several Corribees for the cost of one Bene!

 

[FL390]

Thanks for the replies. Indeed the cost isn’t comparable. However it’s the ongoing costs of boat ownership that worry me, rather than initial outlay. Both are very sellable boats so would hope to get a good chunk of whatever I paid back. Value for money is my focus.

Mbroom recent trip gives me confidence the Bene is only as tippy as you make it, however Garold confirms the dingy like qualities when shifting weight around. Arghhh decisions!!

 

[weustace]

I'm inclined to suggest you go for the Beneteau, if you can afford one with decent sails (or factor them into the bargain). Older boats require more attention (I have one of the time-honoured drinks mats on my desk: "Nothing works on an old boat, except the skipper"), though not necessarily more cash—it depends on what condition you find it in and what condition you're willing to sail it in. If you were to plan on having the boat refitted professionally to the same standard as a 5-10 year old Beneteau, I suspect you would likely part with the difference in price–maybe more, maybe less...and would be lucky to get an appreciable part of it back on selling.

Given mbroom's account, it seems they are decently seaworthy—I think I'd still rather go through heavy weather in a well looked after Corribee, just due to the heavier displacement, but you are intending mostly weekend coastal cruising—if choosing weather to match family sailing you will probably not venture out in more than F5-6 due to sea state, unless looking for extra excitement, and in the long summer days of F2-3 the Beneteau will be speedier.

As I'm sure you've realised, though, no boat offers true value for money—after all, how do you quantify the return? Definitely worth looking round both and having a sail if at all possible—I have been aboard a Corribee and looked over a First 211 from the outside previously and they are quite different boats!

William (a sailor of a relatively much slower, heavier, triple keeled 24'er...)