Boat choice, older or newer

ColleyV8

ColleyV8

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I am upgrading from my 6.4m Finnmaster to a larger power boat, my requirements after looking at this forum and other sources was:

Flybridge for space, had a 26ft sports cruiser before and don't like the layouts
Double Cabins (no bunks) + Saloon seating
Diesel inboards x 2
Shaft drive
30-36ft for marina space I have (Cardiff)
Openish layout with balanced space, no huge areas and tiny areas
Bow thruster
Coastal, and Bristol Channel to Ireland area boating
Budget £100,000

My considerations have come down to Prestige 32 Fly circa 2002, Antares 10.80 Circa 2001, or Princess 360 circa 1995, all currently in the 80k range

Are the newer boats a comparison to Princess's build quality back in the day, and which will hold values better, as far as engines I think they are all KAD's or TAMD available at the moment (not too up on big diesel engines)

Any opinions?
 
Have looked at (with view to purchase) both the Princess 360 and the 32/ 36ft flybridge offerings from Beneteau and Jeanneau.
Circa 1995 - 2000 and all around £80K to £100K
Observations.
The Princess was built and what what it cost to build plus a profit was the asking price.

French worked out that volume was the key to success and that to acheive that volume the boat would have to sell below a certain price.
They constructed the boat to acheive that price.
If want space and quality and probably the ability to actually see, let alone service the engines, it got to be the Princess.
If you want something much newer and with bit more whizz and you are prepared pay somebody to do the engine work then the Benny/Jenny might be for you.
Walking away from a Prestige my wife commented on how wobbly the boat was when getting on and off, the quality of the internal construction was more Airfix than Aston Martin.

Before anybody has hissy fit, OG has French boat. :)
 
oldgit said:
Have looked at (with view to purchase) both the Princess 360 and the 32/ 36ft flybridge offerings from Beneteau and Jeanneau.
Circa 1995 - 2000 and all around £80K to £100K
Observations.
The Princess was built and what what it cost to build plus a profit was the asking price.

French worked out that volume was the key to success and that to acheive that volume the boat would have to sell below a certain price.
They constructed the boat to acheive that price.
If want space and quality and probably the ability to actually see, let alone service the engines, it got to be the Princess.
If you want something much newer and with bit more whizz and you are prepared pay somebody to do the engine work then the Benny/Jenny might be for you.
Walking away from a Prestige my wife commented on how wobbly the boat was when getting on and off, the quality of the internal construction was more Airfix than Aston Martin.

Before anybody has hissy fit, OG has French boat. :)
Click to expand...
Strange how in the car world folks pay a premium for real or perceived quality , they know the pecking order .Yet the very same folks in the boat world leave that very same analytical part of there brain behind …….and go on price .

Its as if it’s gotta pointy end and blunt end and currently floating ;) , so must be a good boat or something.
 
I’m not too familiar with Sealines either but you’ll struggle to find a flybridge cruiser of that size on shafts. A friends father has a Jeanneau Prestige 36 and it’s a nice boat. The only issue is the engine access.
 
That Fairline's nice and has the tasteful and light/airy wood.
P360 also good IF you can find one with the plain wood finish rather than the yellow 'dog vomit' finish.

But step on either of those and compare with the Ben/Jen and the difference in quality/ solidarity is obvious
 
tico said:
P360 also good IF you can find one with the plain wood finish rather than the yellow 'dog vomit' finish.
Click to expand...

Burr Maple. What Princess proudly referred to as a 'superyacht finish' when it was introduced! :D

Earlier P360 got peach I think, which was rather less busy.
 
It seems boatsandoutboards likes to keep listing on way passed when they are sold etc , I'm going to set a travel distance and see what comes up around Wales and Bristol,

Are there used boat shows on at the same time as SIBS this year?

I am see a sealine s36 and a 360 (never found out why the change) in Southampton but its 4.5 hour drive away
 
ColleyV8 said:
I am upgrading from my 6.4m Finnmaster to a larger power boat, my requirements after looking at this forum and other sources was:

Flybridge for space, had a 26ft sports cruiser before and don't like the layouts
Double Cabins (no bunks) + Saloon seating
Diesel inboards x 2
Shaft drive
30-36ft for marina space I have (Cardiff)
Openish layout with balanced space, no huge areas and tiny areas
Bow thruster
Coastal, and Bristol Channel to Ireland area boating
Budget £100,000

My considerations have come down to Prestige 32 Fly circa 2002, Antares 10.80 Circa 2001, or Princess 360 circa 1995, all currently in the 80k range

Are the newer boats a comparison to Princess's build quality back in the day, and which will hold values better, as far as engines I think they are all KAD's or TAMD available at the moment (not too up on big diesel engines)

Any opinions?
Click to expand...
Princess all day. No comparison to the others listed. Really good price for that model too. If all is well with it.
 
Whopper said:
Sealine seem to strike the right balance of newer but with quality ahead of the French alternatives.
Click to expand...
I owned a 2007 Sealine for 9 years and I’ve owned a 2009 Prestige for 5 years. I’d say the build quality is broadly similar but the Prestige has a better hull but to be fair, it is a newer design compared to the Sealine. I love(d) them both equally though.
 
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