Boat build quality musings

[Norman_E]

My SO 45.2 has mainly Harken fittings, but that main sheet traveller is by some maker I had not heard of before, seems to work alright though. Not sure who made the cleats, but they are the type with nylon rollers in the uprights. The only problem with that is that those rollers lead a hard life, taking the mooring stresses, and UV light eventually leads to cracking. Replacements are however still available from Jeanneau.

 

[AlJones]

Alan

Tanks for putting me right!

I feel duped! I hope I haven't been, I would like to think that Jen don't have a replacement for the main sheet track now that I have just blown smoke up Yachting Sports.

The one I'm speaking of is a 2001 boat!

Agreed the rest of the deck gear is Harken, with a few other Spinlock bits.

Happy sailing!

Al.

 

[Gezzer]

To add my thoughts, I have just taken delivery (22nd December) of a new Ben 34.3, I agonised for ages over what to buy, it's been 3 years since I sold my old Hurley 24/70, and for a while did not miss it, sold it due to lack of use whilst I changed jobs and spent a lot of time away from home, still spend a lot of time away but decided that as I now live in the marina (Eastbourne) I could at least get away on boat a lot more.

So I did tons of research YM, PBO all back issues, read all the stuff on here about AWB's, Old Boats, Quality boats and went off to SIBS, did'nt want to spend more than £90k and I wanted new so an AWB it was.

Short list of Ben, New Jan 36i SO, Hanse, Elan, Etap, Bav, Dufour and the new Polish (i think) offerings Sadona??

Anyway spent the entire day looking at these
ETAP had nothing in my size range
The Elan was nice design, but when you started to spec it up expensive
The New Jan 36 was excellent, some nice design touches, and huge interior space, but I was concerned about the new injection moulded deck construction which has allowed them to reduce costs as being un-tested, and they struggled to get it within my budget anyway.
The Bav was the cheapest, and it looked well finished, could have had the boatshow boat almost immediately, but it almost seemed too good value for money, and all the stuff I'd heard influenced me, probably should not have but it did, and curiously they did not seem too intent on getting my business, almost as if they new they would sell tons anyway so why bother pursuing me.

My short list came down to 2, the Ben and the Hanse, Hanse could not do an early delivery March was the best, and although I could have the 'lightly used' LIBS boat, they would not deal away from the price of a new build.

The Benny, slightly cheaper, better interior space, and an early delivery and comissioning in home marina clinched the deal ( no winter delivery trip), they even threw in a couple of days RYA tuition for ICC and boat handling.

So far have only found 4 snags, slight chip in table top, a snag in a cushion, both being replaced, a leak around a wiring gland at foot of mast and a missing screw cover, the fit of everything is very good, joinery excellent, all the doors have consistent gaps and close well, it's all tidy and well finished behind bulkheads and in bilges, and all wiring is neat and tidy.

Equipment spec is very good, Harken, Lewmar, spinlock etc, so at moment I am very happy with it, dealer backup so far seems good.

So I guess you pays money and takes choice, nothing is ever perfect, and modern manufacturing techniques allow the mass producers to really cut costs rather than corners, time will tell whether the choice I made is the right one, but I'm content that I have spent my hard earned on the right boat for me, and that's the important bit.

 

[contessa26]

Many thanks for an interesting thread everyone.

Quality? A subject that concerns us all. And to state the obvious... does it not just depend, at the time, on whether the people who put her together were 'perfectionists', whether the supervision at the time was any good - or even the 'supervisor' was in that day, the quality of the materials, and the experience of the design team... in boat building, probably actual price of the 'end-product' is less relevant...

But err... as others have said in this thread - how do you tell these things, on the actual boat you want to acquire - whatever boat it is...!?

I suppose if you were really really rich (!), you'd employ a proficient surveyor you trusted, to camp permanently in the boatyard and over see every single detail of construction... Or something... And I'm sure the law of the sea would still say that things will go wrong!

Others would say - buy second-hand, a boat that has been 'ironed-out'... Or build her yourself! (but not quiote the point of this thread).
Best wishes.

 

[jonlaw]

Hear Hear !!!!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Well, I am gobsmacked....

A rational and mature debate about the pros and cons of high volume lost cost AWBs.....

Must be a first!

 

[Bajansailor]

It is nice to see pearls of balanced wisdom and (as you point out) rational and mature thought on the forum occasionally (although I didnt want to have to say occasionally....), amidst all the squabbles that so often seem to happen!