Broadblue

Phoenix of Hamble

Phoenix of Hamble

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Aug 2003
Messages
20,966
Location
East Coast
mishapsandmemories.blogspot.com
These folk have just opened an office in our marina.... took a quick peek at the weekend through their window.... look very nice indeed..... just a shame you have to but two boats and a load of joining meccano to get a sail in/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Neil, There's one moored on the Beaulieu River, above Buckler's Hard. Can't say it looks a thing of great beauty to me, but I'm not a huge fan of catamarans. The owner has called it "Onawhim" so perhaps it was an impulse buy?

However, I believe they do have single line reefing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Is that a bad thing?

Surely all boats are updates with curvy bits?

I don't understand your comment at all, please expand!
 
Saturday afternoon heading towards Yarmouth a very large cat came by at a rate of knots. We had 2 reefs in and 28knts over the bow and managing 4.5 knts to windward. This thing went by on a broad reach at about 15 knts. I am warming to the idea, just need the bank balance to be that healthy.
 
Don't knock till you've tried them properly!

Fantastic fun, comfort, speed, facilities!

Crap for marinas!

Have to be sailed properly though!

Wish i could afford a big cat!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Just struck my that Prouts were always, erm, erm, cough, rather china teapot/Gingham curtain boats.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes ok, sort of.

But I don't see the problem with Broadblue, maybe a little smitten with the 38 so a hint of bias, maybe. But most, if not all new companies start by playing safe and buying the molds of another or in this case a management buy out.

But I think Broadblue has done an exceptional job of turning a 70's design into one of the best looking <40ft cats on the market today. It is the difference between the escort mkI and the focus, completely different cars with basically the same roots.

Have you been aboard a Broadblue, I suggest a visit at the next boat show, sit in the saloon with 360° views and say they are re-badged prouts, I bet you can't.

I jumped on your post as the view you gave is one of those 'see how clever I am, I know Broadblue is the prout management team', it is exactly the same reaction when the baby Jag is mentioned, within seconds you will hear 'ha, re-badged Mundano', almost certainly from people who have never been in or driven the Jag.

Broadblue is possibly one of the countries most promising yacht builders, Northshore is up there, but BB is up and coming and could be the UK's answer to luxury yachts at lets be honest respectable prices. This is not meant to sound like a personal attack on you, sorry if you take it badly, but I get fed up with knockers who do drive images that can break a company and damage potential sales over unfounded opinion, again, see the jag.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Broadblue is possibly one of the countries most promising yacht builders

[/ QUOTE ]
Builders or designers? I thought at least some of their production was coming from eastern europe? I can't remember what they said about which models were being built where now...

Rick
 
The 385 is being built in Poland and the 42 production has been moved back to UK because of the success of the 385.

We have recently bought a 2 year old 42 that was built in the UK and generally the finish and build quality is far better than most of the French cats, with Privelege being a tad better but also much pricier.

The interior layout is excellent and as Woofy says the 360 deg view from the saloon is brilliant, keeping watch from the comfort of the saloon is no problem at all in shitty weather obviously with a proper check on deck as needed. Cabin space and headroom is brilliant in the 42 although it is not so good in the 385 but then it is a smaller boat.

When you compare price with available space and look at monohulls with the same amount of room you are then at 50'+, the cost of a BB then starts to look very good for a quality British Boat
 
As I cowered against the elements on Saturday I must confess to being extremely jealous of the owner of the Cat that flew past us. The only cat I have been on was a hobie cat, that was great, but I was young, now I need the comfort. The space they afford does seem to be rather exceptional. One day I may even charter one to find out for myself, would that be a good thing or the start of the slippery slope!??
 
Re: They make a lot of sense as a breed

and the Broadblues are good examples of that breed. Not overly technical but performing much better than the old Prouts. Build quality is as good as most production boats and a fair bit better than most. The guys & gals who build the 42 are based in Norfolk and seem to be on top of the job. They weren't anything but complimentary about the build quality of the 385.

Should you want to try a weekend or longer on a French cat Trafalgar Yacht Charters have a couple available.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

bluey01
Anyone want to design a folding sailing dinghy with me?
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
2K
bluey01
bluey01

Share this page

Top