Beneteau v Bavaria---advice please

F

fineweathersai1

N/A
Joined
10 Jan 2008
Messages
119
Visit site
Trying to get this into correct foum--hope I got it right this time!----new member!
A question to anyone with opinion please.
Briefly, I have had smallish motor boats all my life, but got bitten by sail a few years ago--did the day skipper course, and have been on several Sunsail holidayswith wife and kids.
Anyway, went to the boatshow last week to check out the Beneteau 343(not in show--my luck!) I may be enthusiastic about the make because I have only sailed Beneteau.
I can well see why some of the more expensive yachs can command the extra dosh, but why is the Bavaria 37 about thirty grand less than Beneteau`s same size??
Perhaps the interior is not so well finished, but £30,000??
Am I missing something---genuine question----please give your views.
 
Personally, buy the Bavaria. Will you get an extra £30k of enjoyment from the Beneteau? I doubt it. However, make sure sure you compare the sail away price of each boat with the same extras etc before deciding. I think you'll find the gap may close somewhat.
 
Welcome to the forum. You will, I know, get a lot of advice. Some may even be relevant to your question, exercise patience and tolerance.

I'll just watch.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Will you get an extra £30k of enjoyment from the Beneteau?

[/ QUOTE ]Good point. Although I'm sure they're both perfectly fine boats, I presume that people who pay the extra £30k; <ul type="square"> have the available extra disposable income;
believe that the quality of the finish is better;
believe that the quality of the boat handling is better; and,
errmm, probably believe a few other quite reasonable things. [/list] Is that worth an extra £30k? Personally, I'd consider going for a less expensive, perhaps older, boat for my first yacht. But then, I like our MAB. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
fineweathersail1 was there a fineweathersail without the 1, is this a really popular moniker, or, are you the 1 who can't help but put 1 after his previous monikers.

You should have added that you would of course be flying (not wearing) a blue and you would have pressed every button.

Funny though /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Hi and welcome.

When I was in the market for a 34 to 36 foot boat I had a budget of between £70000 and £100000.

I wanted a boat that was easy to handle for two people and that sailed well in both light airs and heavy winds.

I looked at everything from 2000 onwards ranging from the expensive end of the market down to some almost one-offs.

I have to say that I was impressed by Rasseys etc BUT they were TWICE the price of a Bavaria ..... we are talking £50 to £60,000 more!

I just couldn't see it.

I understand the concept of quality and 'feel good' factor which is why I drive a Jag and my wife has an Audi. They FEEL different to the very worthy Mondeo/Vectra range ....BUT...... I just could not see why I should pay double for a boat.

My Bav sails anywhere and anytime that the 'heavier' boats do. On a recent 10 week trip to South Brittany EVERY boat that arrived stayed, and then we all left harbour at the same time. I found it really funny. There wasn't a dark corner somewhere that sheltered Bavs and Bennys and Jennys (as we call them) whilst all the more expensive boats bashed their way out into the ongoing Force 7's.

So, having decided that I could get what I wanted for nearer £60K I looked at the Ben/Jen/Bav range and after talking to both brokers AND surveyors who told me that there was little to choose between them in terms of quality, decided on my 34 and paid just over £50k.

We are both delighted with it. I have posted here before that 7 knots really isn't remarked upon and that on the odd occasion when we have been out in a genuine 7 (harbour dashing on hol) it was absolutely fine. Why shouldn't it be?

The boat is now 7 years old and still looks like new. The gelcoat is as unblemished as it was on day 1 and nothing has broken.

Whether or not you decide to go for a more expensive boat has to be a personal decision but I still have to be convinced that you will get a lot more if you spend the extra money.

Suffice to say I am extremely happy with my choice and that the surplus capital earns me a steady £3000 a year /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

I do of course have to add the rider that Bens and Jens are FINE boats and I deeply respect their owners /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
I also have a Bav 36. We also go to South Brittany each year for 10 weeks. The boat is fast, seaworthy, roomy and comfortable with a huge forecabin ( best if you don't want slapping all night).
My brother has a Beneteau 390, which is a nice boat and a bit longer, but mine is faster despite having the shallow keel and in-mast furling.
I was going to buy a Beneteau because of the above and experience of flotillas with Sunsail but when I tested both(a Ben 361) five years ago, the Bavaria was £20,000+ cheaper and simply sailed better.
My wife loves it and I wouldn't change.
My advice to you is to go and have a test sail or a short weekend charter to see for yourself. It is much cheaper than making the wrong decision.
 
Dogwatch is trying (unsuccesfully) to be funny

I have had a similar experience to yourself and ended up with bennys
it was the only boat we had ever sailed apart from our wayfarer
I like the 343 we had one on charter and loved it it sailed well the only draw back with it was it got overpowered easily
Saying that we had good look round the bav 38 at the boatshow and couldnt fault it for 80k
we were out on sunday in the solent and romped past a bav 39 in our bene both bashing into the wind and swell
Heres our bene 393 a great boat
picture-1.jpg
 
Bvaria have a very automated and efficient production line, and can churn em out...
Make certain that you are comparing like for like, pricing boats can be difficult because of the differences in equipment levels..... Which can amount to thousands of pounds...

If you are just starting to get into the sailing thing, then my single piece of advice would be to sail as many different boats as possible... So spend a few years chartering before you purchase... this is also good because once you have purchased you will NEVER be able to afford a foriegn holiday again!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Seriously, Sail lots of different boats, you will pick up on loads of things, and learn about what you enjoy in a boat...

we sailed tons of different boats over a 4/5 year period, and then bought a 5 year old Bavaria....

Have Fun.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Hello ..

Not sure about 30k difference as clipper marine are doing the Bav 37 at 76k and Beneteau oceanis 37 is around 83k all inc vat ex works etc etc

We have a ben 343 which we enjoy a lot but have sailed bav 33 and 30 which are also very pleasant to sail.

Which ever boat you choose dont forget the delivery cost, commisioning and extra bits of kit that are not on the standard boat such as autopilot, heating, windlass etc etc.
The extras and options will mount up

if you need some info on the 343 PM me or click on the link for photos

my benny 343
 
depends if you will want to resell , the gap widens on the resale value, ask brokers how long bavs tend to hang around compared to bennys, saleability as either vessel gets older...etc
other than that cant coment, we just sold our 393 benny, she was great, new benny arriving shortly (hopefully )
 
Yep /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif seems to miss the point that there are 3 posters here who bought Bavs .... um .... what is it? .... oh yes .... second hand ..... or do we call them pre-used? Oh well.
 
Have sailed all the white tub boats, and as I think someone else mentioned in the Excel thread, this year the Bavs seem to have got the seaworthiness thing better sorted than their French rivals. Never heard anything but praise from friends that own the Bavs, although that's not to say that Ben/Jen owners aren't just as happy.

If it was my money, today, the Jen and Bav would be the ones I'd look at. I think Jen clinch it on the looks, but lots of boats look the same from behind the wheel, which is where I'd rather be. Ben seem to have slipped in standards recently, both in terms of fit-out and getting the basics right around the deck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

C
Advice please on wiring diagram and wire labelling
2
Replies
24
Views
773
billskip
billskip

Share this page

Top