Benneteau First 325 or Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32

[salignac]

I am moving back to the East Coast, around the Thames Estuary and would like some advice regarding these two boats. Limited to approximately 4'6" draft which the Ben on a shoal keel would just do with the Jen a little less.

Having raced most of my life, I would like a goodish performance but with a family now to accommodate also need some comfort and room. I have sailed the ben 325 before but can anyone give any advice regarding the differences between the Benny and the Jenn or possible alternatives.

Budget circa 25 - 30k, + or - a few k

Andy

 

[FullCircle]

Ben to go fast, Jen for comfiness.

 

[KellysEye]

When chartering we sailed Jeanneaus and Benetteaus ranging from 32 feet to 50 feet. Jenneaus are better upwind as they have a deeper keel and Benetteaus are better offwind with a wider stern and shallower keels. I would choose a Jeanneau because the worst point of sail is upwind so it's the better boat to handle it.

Also we kept our boat in Burnham-on-Crouch there is no need for a shoal keel if you keep an eye on the charted depths and tide tables, there is plenty of deep water anywhere you want to go.

 

[bitbaltic]

can anyone give any advice regarding the differences between the Benny and the Jenn

I wasn't aware there were any differences between those two....!

 

[Daydream believer]

I have my Hanse 31 at Bradwell & sail over a very wide area & have never felt the need for shoal draft (draft is 1.800)
I would also suggest that a Hanse 32 would leave both of the suggested boats behind

 

[FullCircle]

I crossed the Ray Sand channel at 1,7m today. Shaved several hours off the time to Tollesbury.

 

[sailorman]

was that under iron topsl Jim

 

[FullCircle]

was that under iron topsl Jim

With 1.2ktsTWS in the fog, yes it was.

 

[sailorman]

With 1.2ktsTWS in the fog, yes it was.

HH Pilots stayed indoors too, only doing a "phone-in" service

 

[Spyro]

When chartering we sailed Jeanneaus and Benetteaus ranging from 32 feet to 50 feet. Jenneaus are better upwind as they have a deeper keel and Benetteaus are better offwind with a wider stern and shallower keels. I would choose a Jeanneau because the worst point of sail is upwind so it's the better boat to handle it.

Also we kept our boat in Burnham-on-Crouch there is no need for a shoal keel if you keep an eye on the charted depths and tide tables, there is plenty of deep water anywhere you want to go.

The First version of the Benny is the racing version with deeper keel and taller rig, the Oceanis is the same hull but available with shoal keel and shorter rig. Jeanneaus do the same with the Odyssey and the sunfast versions. So one make doesn't sail better to windward or off the wind than the other.
I've looked at few recent versions of the benneteau firsts and they are very sparse inside. The Jeanneau would be my choice.

 

[salignac]

Thank you for all your replies. Regarding a few matters maybe I should make myself a little clearer. I am returning to the Southend-on-Sea area due to parents failing health. There are two clubs there I have been looking at, the Island on Canvey Island and Benfleet yacht club. The island yacht club have the draft problem with only about 4'6" + or - being able to get out of Smallgains Creek into the Ray whereas Benfleet Yacht Club have bankside berths but is several miles to open water. Both have facilities to store boats over the winter period which is desirable.

I had thought of the River Roach around the Paglesham area, Burnham would be a bit of a haul especially during the summer months traffic wise unless the wallasea Island ferry is still operating from Essex Marina or I buy a rib and keep it at Essex Marina.
I did a lot of racing in Burnham many moons ago in keelboats, mainly Dragons and Solings although some offshore in EAORA and that can be bloody hard work short tacking up the North bank, not so much of a problem if cruising though. I think the term ditch crawling emanates from Burnham sailing and I am assured by a friend that still sails there that the estuary is gradually silting up.

Bradwell would be an option but is once again a bit of a haul, fine if you were going up for the whole weekend but with a young family now in tow that might be problematical, blame the wife!!!! but certainly if Bradwell was decided on the Hanse 32 would be ideal and would open up a lot of sailing waters.

The desire for a goodish performance is solely due to my racing background and the desire to still due a few round the cans racing now and again and the ability to make quickish passages.
Budget is very flexible hence the world is my lobster as the saying goes, just have ti justify the expense to the better half. Compromise, compromise to change areas, the sailing I have been doing for the past umpteen years you just got what you wanted with no thoughts of these little problems, sigh.

Thanks Spyro, I am going to look at A jeanneau 32.2 in a week as I know very little about them.

Once again many thanks for the replies and advice.

Andy

 

[Daydream believer]

I crossed the Ray Sand channel at 1,7m today. Shaved several hours off the time to Tollesbury.

But what boat ?

 

[FullCircle]

But what boat ?

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35........................















.............Lift Keel.:disgust:

 

[Kwik Decision]

I am moving back to the East Coast, around the Thames Estuary and would like some advice regarding these two boats. Limited to approximately 4'6" draft which the Ben on a shoal keel would just do with the Jen a little less.

Having raced most of my life, I would like a goodish performance but with a family now to accommodate also need some comfort and room. I have sailed the ben 325 before but can anyone give any advice regarding the differences between the Benny and the Jenn or possible alternatives.

Budget circa 25 - 30k, + or - a few k

Andy

Having chartered Beneteaus and Dufours in the past, I've always preferred Dufours, both for sailing performance and appearing to be better built (ie surviving a hard life in charter better). The more modern Dufour 325 is above your price range, but the 32 classic could well be worth a look.

 

[flaming]

The First version of the Benny is the racing version with deeper keel and taller rig, the Oceanis is the same hull but available with shoal keel and shorter rig. Jeanneaus do the same with the Odyssey and the sunfast versions. So one make doesn't sail better to windward or off the wind than the other.
I've looked at few recent versions of the benneteau firsts and they are very sparse inside. The Jeanneau would be my choice.

As far as I'm aware the first and Oceanis models have never shared a hull. The older Sunfast and Sun Odessy did though.

 

[E39mad]

Do you mean the 1980's First 325 or the 1990's First 32s5 with the Stark interior?

 

[Bobc]

I'd go for the 325, ir if you can find one, look at a shoal-draft 345 (draws 1.4m).

 

[KellysEye]

>the Oceanis is the same hull but available with shoal keel and shorter rig. Jeanneaus do the same with the Odyssey and the sunfast versions. So one make doesn't sail better to windward or off the wind than the other.

The versions we sailed were Oceanis and Sun Oddysey and betwen 1985 and 2002 we did 37 charters mainly with Benneteau and Jenneau boats and I can assure the Jeanneaus had a deeper draught and sail better upwind. For example the draft of a Benetteau Oceanis 35 we sailed was 5 feet, the draft of a Jenneau Sun Oddysey 363 we sailed was six feet four inches both were from the manual on board. It was the same with all the sizes of each we sailed.

 

[Bobc]

This is my old 345. Great boat.

http://www.pixstel.com/first-345-fric-frac-iv-_urlb26728.php

 

[Spyro]

As far as I'm aware the first and Oceanis models have never shared a hull. The older Sunfast and Sun Odessy did though.

several website seems to think they do. I just googled it.
I could be wrong , it's happened before.