buying a boat - sun odyssey 40 ds

[chrisrog]

We are looking for the ideal boat! to live aboard and cruise to interesting places, I'm not sure how adventurous we will be but definitely the med and after maybe the atlantic to the caribean.
We have seen a boat we like the look of, a sun odyssey 40 deck saloon. Has anyone had experience of this boat or would like to give us any advice?
Thanks all

 

[HoratioHB]

We have SO42i not the DS but similar in design quality etc and would happily sail her anywhere. We looked at a DS and decided to go with the more conventional design because the DSs we saw had a magnificent rear cabin but consequently little storage and you need that if you are going to live aboard. Also in hot climates you do not spend much time in your sleeping area so in some senses it is wasted space. They also tend to be more expensive......

 

[Bajansailor]

I would endorse HHB's comments above.
A friend of mine has just bought a SO 40 (not DS) and it was considerably less than what all of the DS versions of similar vintage are selling for.

And you will find in a hot climate that the deck saloon windows work very effectively as a green house re heating up the boat, and you will permanently have the blinds closed over them, to try and keep out the sunlight - which sort of defeats the whole concept somewhat......

PS - Here is a thread I started a couple of weeks ago re SO 40s :
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?C...rue#Post1946916

 

[LadyJessie]

Agree with the comments about 'deck saloon' in warm climates. It is not a good idea. It works great in the North Sea and the Baltic but in the Med it is the perfect illustration of what 'the greenhouse effect' is. Avoid. The standard Sun Odyssey 40 is a good boat though.

 

[tcm]

agree with others it wil be hot where you plan to be and hoter still with biger windows. I rented a 43DS in scotland tho which was pretty darn good for that area

 

[temptress]

We have a SO 47 that we live on (well we are ashore trying to refresh the kitty right now!) and would not change her - although we have upgraded most of the domestic systems, electrics and charging over the years have added storage space/lockers by converting one of the aft cabins.

In hot climates we live un the cockpit and nearly always have the blinds closed down below to keep things cool. IMO a deck saloon is great for cool places but not so good in the heat.

In the Med in the winter you will be glad of it and in the summer you will cook in it but then again you will cook inside in ANY boat (unless you get air-con but that’s another story altogether) so live outside.

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[grafozz]

have you considered a cat ? there are so many plusses . space ,motion ,pace ,economy under power, storage ,big cockpit ,etc ,etc .