Boat Choice 35-38ft

[PeterGibbs]

There are plenty of good suggestions in this thread. But I suggest you are already at or will soon arrive at the problem of comparative value. For £50k / £70k / £90k
laid out on one of the nicer 36-40 footers, you can get a new boat to your own spec with the knowledge that you will not likely have to put your hand in your pocket again for several years! That is the state of the market , and I for one see no change in the immediate future.

This is just what I went through 4 years ago, when I was keen on another Westerly, trading up from my excellent Fulmar. In the end I could not spend £60-80k for a 7-10 year old boat when (at that time) little more purchased a new vessel. I have not regretted the decision.

Peter Gibbs

 

[AlanPound]

"For £50k / £70k / £90k laid out on one of the nicer 36-40 footers, you can get a new boat to your own spec with the knowledge that you will not likely have to put your hand in your pocket again for several years! "

Hmmm I've thought a lot about this before replying... It is somewhat a matter of taste I suppose, but for me, I am not sure I would agree that would be the best option.

Cost of ownership of any boat is only partly 'repairing things that go wrong'. The balance is berthing, hauling out, antifouling, diesel, elective additions etc... and *depreciation*.

I would guess that the purchaser of any *new* boat is going to take a pretty big hit in the first few years - whereas a boat 7/10 years old is probably gently appreciating (provided it is being looked after), which will offset the cost of maintenance you mention. So cost-for-cost it may well be much of a muchness....

So your £50k-£90k (if that is your budget) may well buy you a new white plastic boat, or maybe a very nice 10-15 year old Oyster 37H, Najad 37, Victoria, Vancouver or whatever... And whilst you own the boat, that is what you will be sailing... (I know where my money would go...)

 

[Guest]

Interesting thing about this sort of debate is the way that everyone recommends mainly the old and heavy. Boats like the Rival 36 which have quite poor sailing performance and struggle to reach 6 knots.
.
Yet, boats in the long distance single hand racing world survive the southern ocean and achieve speeds of 20/25 knots, safely.

Its a bit as if Ferrari were winning F1 yet we were still driving Morris 10's!

There's a whole modern world of fast mono's and multi's out there. Why does this forum enthuse so much about heavy old tubs?

 

[nicho]

Because, it seems, most of the posters on this forum who engage in relavent threads, own them - I'm fed up with Jehovas Witnesses coming to the door as well..........

 

[Guest]

Maybe because the old heavy boats are still here providing good service, the jury is still out on the newer cheap and cheerfull lightweights.


"There are old sailors and bold sailors, but no old bold sailors."

Cheers

Lash

 

[jimi]

I'd go for the Beneteau 373 sod all the good old fashioned honest boats, get a value for money one with a decent CD and hot shower on the transom, you know it makes sense!

Jim

 

[BrianJ]

van de stadt.. CC 36'.. loved mine
BrianJ

 

[Guest]

Biscay 36

If we are mentioning Rivals and Nic 35's then have a look at the Biscay 36. they don't come much more solid and seaworthy (or prettier, but then I've got one!)

 

[AlanPound]

As new as I am to this, I think I already worked out the answer.... Those boats doing 20/25kts in the southern ocean

i) typically have a large crew working them very hard 24 hrs/day, and safety in that context depends upon continuous proactive sailing (apart from the single-handers I guess - but I think I would regard those individuals as exceptions/exceptional!),

ii) it depends what the boats are optimised for - the 20/25 kt boats are optimised for performance, whereas most cruisers have safety & comfort as higher priorities (and do not have the sponsorship to afford highly optimised boats anyway).

I suppose to directly address your remark, I would note that despite your correct observations regarding F1, we don't see too many Ferrari F1 cars on British roads...

 

[vyv_cox]

A lot of what you say is absolutely true. The Southern Ocean racing boats are so unlike what we cruise that there really is no comparison and there is no doubt that the 10 - 12 ft they draw would be an inconvenience in most marinas.

However, there have been occasional arguments and even a certain amount of evidence that lighter built boats have suffered less damage in storms than heavier built ones. The problem seems to me to be that certain parts of the lighter-built boats, for example rudder posts, need to be even stronger for a spade type than the skeg hung ones of the heavier boat. How do we know that this component has sufficient strength? In the 1979 Fastnet this was a component that probably caused more loss of life than any other. There are many other components of lighter boats that have achieved notoriety - like sandwich construction hulls, chainplate attachment, etc. Unless the owner has the capability to assess all of these likely problem areas it is much more realistic for him to buy a heavier boat.

 

[ponapay]

Nicholson 38

Try a Nicholson 38 - strong, attractive, comfortable, affordable, good windward ability, 4-6 berths, excellent track record and very seaworthy

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Nicholson 38

Quite often they are rigged as ketches, so you get a spare stick and the possibility of sailing to the mizzen and jib in strong airs

 

[jonjo]

Re: Nicholson 38

> Quite often they are rigged as ketches

Seen many, they all were.

One owner* reported to me that he never reefed the main. It was either fully up or he sailed under furled jib and mizzen alone.

* He was trying to sell the boat to me!

Ponapay, I have not forgotten I owe you a picture of that Nich 38 autohelm control panel installation.

 

[castaway]

Moody Halberdier I saw for sale at Ancasters brokerage place in Lagos Portugal. Boat is actually in the Canaries somewhere but a "fantastic" bargain by the sound of it.

For 35K you get a quality go anywhere ketch, center cockpit, half wheelhouse, big inboard, big rig, fore and aft heads and shower and acres of accomodation.

The Moody name speaks for its self.

I think the only reason it hadn't sold it that the location is so remote.

Nick (Moody Halberdier "Fairweather")

 

[Chris_Robb]

No mention yet of the Victory 40 - great go anywhere boat - with turn of speed, and loads of accomodation.

Of course Im very prejudice

 

[ponapay]

Re: Nicholson 38

Agree re Nich 38 mainsail - they are generally too small.

Boat balances beautifully in F8/9 with 2/3rds genoa and full mizzen.