Boat suggestion for Mediterranean

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MCNav

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I am looking to purchase my first boat and I would like some advice/tips from some seasoned boat owners. I live next to a marina in the South of France thus it seems very practical for me to own the boat. The season in the Mediterranean is pretty much from March-October so I definitely think I will get enough usage out of the boat to justify the ownership cost and mooring fees.

My requirements:
- cruising in the Western Med, mostly coastal but up to 100nm thus I'd want something heavy enough to be stable
- limits of size due to berthing are: 36 feet by 10.8 feet (beam max width is very important)
- the boat will be moored in salt water year round
- diesel only due to consumption & fuel costs. I estimate around 75-100 engine hours per year
- toilet and a place to steep for the occasional overnight away from the home berth would be ideal
- I would like a boat with very large outdoor area ideal for sun lounging although no bowriders or Sea Rays with bucket seats in the front.
- the main purpose of the boat will be for cruising & exploring, relaxing sun lounging, eating & entertaining (fridge, MW, wetbar), swimming/snorkeling and some limited watersports. I know a boat this size is not the ideal contender for a wakeboard/tubing boat but nonethless I'd like the possibility to do a couple runs with it.
- I would ideally opt to get a new or a boat less than 1 year old as I want to enjoy the boat more than fixing it

Current options:
I really like what the Italian makers are doing with their boats. Some of my options are:

Sessa S 32
Atlantis 315 SC EVO
Airon Marine 325
Rio Blu 32
Galeon 325

Thanks in advance
 
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MCNav said:
I am looking to purchase my first boat and I would like some advice/tips from some seasoned boat owners. I live next to a marina in the South of France thus it seems very practical for me to rent vs owning. The season in the Mediterranean is pretty much from March-October so I definitely think I will get enough usage out of the boat to justify the ownership cost and mooring fees.

My requirements:
- cruising in the Western Med, mostly coastal but up to 100nm thus I'd want something heavy enough to be stable
- limits of size due to berthing are: 36 feet by 10.8 feet (beam max width is very important)
- the boat will be moored in salt water year round
- diesel only due to consumption & fuel costs. I estimate around 75-100 engine hours per year
- toilet and a place to steep for the occasional overnight away from the home berth would be ideal
- I would like a boat with very large outdoor area ideal for sun lounging although no bowriders or Sea Rays with bucket seats in the front.
- the main purpose of the boat will be for cruising & exploring, relaxing sun lounging, eating & entertaining (fridge, MW, wetbar), swimming/snorkeling and some limited watersports. I know a boat this size is not the ideal contender for a wakeboard/tubing boat but nonethless I'd like the possibility to do a couple runs with it.
- I would ideally opt to get a new or a boat less than 1 year old as I want to enjoy the boat more than fixing it

Current options:
I really like what the Italian makers are doing with their boats. Some of my options are:

Sessa S 32
Atlantis 315 SC EVO
Airon Marine 325
Rio Blu 32
Galeon 325

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

To follow up on JFM .. you wouldn't be an Atlantis salesman would you ( only joking) ? The Verve is simply stunning as a refined concept of what a great Day/Weekend boat should be for the Med. There is only one at the moment ( currently on the Hard at the Genoa Boat Show) .. don't let the red hull put you off ! Where are you based in France?
 
EME said:
you wouldn't be an Atlantis salesman would you
Click to expand...
I'm sure he isn't, or he's not a good one at that, anyway.
The only requirement which is "very important" to him rules out completely (or widely, so to speak...almost 2 ft!) the Verve.
 
I forgot to mention:
Among Italian stuff, and considering your requirements, I'd suggest to consider the boat below. Also because you'll soon realise that in the Med having somewhere to escape from the sun is as important as sun lounging, if not more.
8_5.jpg
 
the Galeon 325 is available as a HT hardtop version too, I think the 325 scores a good balance below too having a 2 cabin interior but has also a good spacious cockpit which is only second to the 315 SC
the Sessa C32 is a good balance of inside and exterior spaces but is somehow the old generation of the Sessas
the Airon Marine has nice sporty lines but the 325 was always in my opinion a small boat outside and inside
Rio 32 Blu is a cross over between a centre console and a cruiser, yes they wer in the spot before Atlantis in this, below is a bit tight compared to a Galeon or Atlantis but is not much far away from the Airon 325, but ouside you have a full 32 feet to use, more day boat and a cruiser for 2 people but

the Colombo is classy, too much of a day boat more then anything else
the above is a pretty good list plus the suggestions over here
 
MapisM said:
I'm sure he isn't, or he's not a good one at that, anyway.
The only requirement which is "very important" to him rules out completely (or widely, so to speak...almost 2 ft!) the Verve.
Click to expand...

We're trying to help the guy .. agreed? I have no wish to start a flame war. Those of us in the Med ( that includes you!) know that the beam dimensions are usually the critical element. We also know they are expressed in metric rather than good old 'feet-and-inches'. The metric conversions that the OP states relate to no metric berth measurements that I have seen - I may of course be wrong. We don't KNOW he has bought a berth .. but respect his comments and are just trying to help ?????????

In plain English for a 'Verve' you need a 3.80m wide berth (min) if you know the Capitainerie. I KNOW that I because I've asked for myself .. despite the quoted 3.84m. Others will need to look at 4.20m ( common) or 4.10m ( limited) etc.... and why I asked WHERE his berth was.

PS .. Your options just do not hit the mark compared to the 'Verve'....
 
Mmmm... maybe you have no wish to flame, but you seem to think that I had some, whilst I couldn't have been more far from that, and I was just commenting based on facts.
Whatever the Med requirements (though indeed there is no such thing as a "Med standard"), the OP stated his wishes very clearly.
Now, I accept that you were (as I'm sure John was) "trying to help the guy", but at the end of the day you wouldn't have done him a favour, if he rushed to buy a Verve just to discover that she doesn't fit his berth...? ;)
Re. my option ([pedantic]why "options" when I gave just one suggestion?[/pedantic]) not hitting the mark compared to the Verve, yours is a very respectable opinion.
As respectable as mine which happens to be different, I suppose?
 
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In toto .. I agree ... having spent more time on the "Verve' than any (sane) person should without owning one, I really need to post a ' Fender-Kickers' perspective of why it is so good ( and 'reasonable' VFM) . <<Wakeup>> has the pictures .. we both really should put a thread together :D

BTW -- some very interesting answers as to why no "IPS" option on the 'VERVE' ...
 
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I am very interested on this Verve thread and why no IPS, Atlantis are now also offering ZF Zeus on the 50x4 with C9 Cat engines
and the new Azimut 40S which I would have cutted my arm would have been with IPS is not going to have them, but goes back to traditional shaft drives unlike the 43S
 
EME said:
In toto .. I agree ... having spent more time on the "Verve' than any (sane) person should without owning one, I really need to post a ' Fender-Kickers' perspective of why it is so good ( and 'reasonable' VFM) . <<Wakeup>> has the pictures .. we both really should put a thread together :D

BTW -- some very interesting answers as to why no "IPS" option on the 'VERVE' ...
Click to expand...

Ah sorry I didn't check verve dimensions, was in hurry. It just suited op's requiremnets on deck and fun space and is completely too cool for school

I spose I'm confused about the berthing and maybe op can comment. He seems to be rentin not buying a berth cos he mentions berth fees. In which case why is the 3.2m so set in stone? He can choose a boat then rent a berth to suit it? Whatever!
 
Thank you for all the responses. I'll try to shed some light on some of the issues brought up:

- The berthing situation in the South of France (Monaco area or St Tropez area) in the popular marinas is pretty dire. For one, there are very rarely berth for 'rent' unless you want to spend half the year looking for a free berth or are happy driving a few hours to get to your boat. There's more boats than berths here. The berth I'm looking at is 10.5m +/- 5% by 3.30m absolute maximum beam as expressed by the Capitainerie. If I buy a boat that's 3.5m or 3.75m, I have to move up to the next category berth which here means double the price to buy and 50% more yearly fees (port fee, electricity etc...) than the 3.3m max beam berth. This would make by boating experience a lot more expensive.

- Atlantis Verve - amazing looking boat but I have a hunch the retail price will be out of my budget compared to the other boats mentioned and it is far too large for the berth.

- Sealine S34 - might squeeze in at 3.33m-3.35m depending on who you ask. I couldn't find reliable specs as to the exact beam as this line seems to be phased out on Sealine's website.

- I am also considering the C30 from Sessa as it seems to have more space inside and outside than the S32 on paper. I haven't seen the S32 in real life yet but the C30 was a pretty good size in/out.
 
Berths & Stuff

Hi

- The 'scarcity' of berths for rent in the South of France is a bit of an urban legend. They do exist but appear like 'Gold-dust' as demand is high and the Capitaineries are the only real place to start. You say you live overlooking a marina. If so then befriend the Office Staff/Big Boss and you will be surprised at what becomes available. However afaik annual rentals are the longest available and all contracts have a 1-month get-out clause ( hardly security of tenure) and many folks rent their berths out on a monthly basis ( as rents are higher and they are always full). In theory the Capitainerie controls all berth rentals- short and long-term. Buying is by far the best option in my opinion. Some generalisations follow:
- Minus 5% applies to the beam - although as an owner deals are frequently done with adjacent neighbours- the capitaineries do not really care and may even help (if you are the owner)
- Plus 10% applies to the length. Although in practice that is frequently/usually overlooked.
- Prices take off at around 4m ... this when they genuinely double ... below that they are pretty standard. The reason is pretty obvious when you think about it. Since the marinas were built average boat sizes have increased and there is a greater scarcity of berth supply at c. 4.20+ m wide.

If you say where you are interested in renting then one of us may know the local capitainerie -- but I would still seriously consider buying.
 
EME,

I am looking at buying a berth, not renting. I'm looking at the Marina next to my place which is an owners only marina meaning the Captienarie does not rent the berth. I wouldn't want just any marina in the Cote D'Azur. If I have to drive 40minutes, find parking and deal with traffic every weekend I know I wouldn't get much use out of the boat. Category III is 10.5m by 3.5m but I was told maximum 3.3m. The next Category is IV 12.5m by 4.0m, where the asking prices are nearly double than the Category III and the maintenance fee is 50% more per year.

There is some availability in the winter months for rentals but nothing year round. What I'm saying comes straight from the mouth of the staff of the Capitainerie.

That being said, I could probably squeeze in a 3.35, 3.40, 3.45m boat in there but nothing like the Verve.

BTW cool LED systems!
 
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