Boat Pecking Order

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Sailfree

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The post on Bavarias got me thinking. Ignoring the Bav bashers and those wedded to MABs a number on this forum have gone through evaluating what new boat to buy. Is there any one boat that is better value for money?

Bavarias appear much cheaper than most and offer tremendous value for money and at the other end are the Swedish boats, great if you have the spare money but can you otherwise justify taking out a large marine mortgage for one?

Can we get a maufacturers list in ranking of quality agreed and add a cost factor eg a HR is over twice the price of a Bav for the same length yet both have volvo engines so is its quality really twice as good. To start the ball rolling I will try to list them in Quality order please correct me and add any I miss and suggest a cost factor starting say at 100 for Bavarias. Please excuse my prejudices but if others copy and paste with their amendments we may get an overall picture.


Bavaria 100

Jeanneau i range 105

Beneteau Cyclids range 105

Elan 120

Hanse 120

Benetau 125

Dufour 125

Gran Soliel 135

Dehler 135

jeanneau 130

Moody 220

Etab 190

X boats 200

Swedish boats HRs etc 210

Contest 230


With GC1 gone someone has got to start some controversy!!
 
Not sure I understand what your cost factor represents... is it just that i.e. cost? or does it include weightings and represent value for money?
 
The fact is that every boat has an intended purpose and is designed to meet that purpose. For example HRs are intended to be able to stand up to rough weather for days on end and Barvarias are intended to be coastal cruisers spending more time in harbour.

So I actually think a "value for money" rating would be misleading, what really matters is that the boat meets the requirements for the intended use. If it doesn't then you've just wasted many thousands of pounds whatever you bought, and that is not value for money!
 
I agree. What boats are designed/intended to be used is neither here nor there. The vast majority of HRs are sitting in marinas around the coast, alongside their Bavaria cousins.

Nice to see a post about boats, tho'
Donald
 
US boats too ,from the very very good-Cabo Rico,Island Packet,J boat,Morris etc to the awb and the indifferent and so to the stuff that makes Bavaria look tough....Oh and those Hunters,wouldnt know what number to put on any of them without factoring in the exchange rate...
 
I think Etaps and Moodys should be the other way round. Then there are the Northshore yachts, Vancovers, Fishers and Southerlys, all very good indeed. Next up could be Island Packets, heavy, very well built and full of excellent ideas. Then one could go on and on; I like Oysters, which are very well built and very expensive.

But there are thousands of very good yachts. Try reading Yachting World, and then going to the Caribbean where they all are /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I suspect you have set yourself an impossible task. Still, full marks for trying.
 
Yours is exacly the response Iwas hoping for. An evaluation based on experience.

The cost factor is purely that for any given length if the Bavaria cost 100 what do the others cost eg twice the cost is 200.

The comment that only HR can stand up to a rough sea for weeks I do not consider relevant. I am trying to tease out others impressions of quality when looking HARD at boats as an interested purchaser and especially peoples experiences if they have owned 2 or more makes.

If the comments build up others can form a better judgement on value for money and how suitable the boat is for there particular requirement.

I just thought some knowledge of quality v cost as opposed to the prejudices often expressed could be interesting (just what are you getting for your money)and more informative than BavBenny bashing
 
Now i think this is a very useful thread not knowing much about sailing boats apart from having been on a few at the boat show
I did notice on the bavarias the fixings were very flimsy.
One boat i did like was the legend 45 cc because of the hugh aft cabin swmbo likes the previcy of this but are the boats any good to sail ?
Got a charter booked in feb for a oceanis 343 are they any good ?
what about westerlys nobodys mentioned them
I presumed that Oysters were one of the top yachts because there dead expensive and your not allowed on them at the boat show
the type of cruising we plan to do is from portsmouth out to the various places on the isle of wight,west country northen france etc not to keen on very rough weather although we have been in some very rough stuff bristol channel is a tough place to sail
Any suggestions ?
 
As mentioned , well done Sailfree for giving it a bash.

Sales reps were always good for advice for company cars as their views were largely impartial.

Would be nice to hear views from charter skippers.


p.s. What about Catalinas. The build quality always seems to be good.
 
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