buying ex sunsail

P

pathfinderstu

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 Sep 2011
Messages
401
Visit site
hi am thinking of buying an exsunsail beneteau cyclades 43..have more or less weighed up most of the pros and cons, but wondering about the actual sailing qualities of the cycllades range. some people are telling me they are a load of junk.! any one with comments about experiance with them would be greatly appreceated, ty
 
Cyclades range is a more basic (cheaper aimed at charter market) version of the Oceanis range. They have same hulls rig etc but less ports and different interior layout. Performance of the Cyclades 43 should be the same as Oceanis 43.
 
A friend did one of those Sunsail deals, buy the boat and they pay you some of the chartering fee and they maintain it and you get it back after 5 years. At the end of five years he said the boat was in superb condition, immaculately maintained and new sails and just a few scuff as expected. very chuffed. He then sold three quarter shares and reckoned he got his quarter for free.
 
MoodySabre said:
A friend did one of those Sunsail deals, buy the boat and they pay you some of the chartering fee and they maintain it and you get it back after 5 years. At the end of five years he said the boat was in superb condition, immaculately maintained and new sails and just a few scuff as expected. very chuffed. He then sold three quarter shares and reckoned he got his quarter for free.
Click to expand...

I don't think this is an owner deal. I think it a used ex-charter boat possibly through the Sunsail brokerage.

The boat might be one that Sunsail owned outright rather than an owner boat or could be an owner boat but the owner opted for the buy-back deal after the 5 or 6 year charter term.

Richard
 
Supine Being said:
I'd be more concerned about the hammering some Sunsail vessels can take rather than the individual qualities of the vessel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXI7HW2QzQ8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I have also heard some fairly negative things about the way that their flotilla fleets are maintained. Could be unfair but, well, make sure you get a very good survey if you're serious.[/QUOTE

Some sailing schools have a good reputation, employ good instructors and their boats aren't left looking like they've been pushed from the back of a Hercules, while some more 'corporate' outfits are a total menace at sea or in port, with an effect the WWII Kreigsmarine could only have dreamed of...:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
 
When we did a flotilla there was one of these in the fleet. it didn't sail well, and was apparently built on the cheap, according to the lead skipper. However, the accommodation was pretty good. I found this review:

When people disparage Beneteau, this is exactly the type of boat they are referring calling them “bleach bottles” or “disposable boats.” The construction is as inexpensive as possible in every facet from stem to stern, masthead to ballast tip, from gudgeon to gunwale to gooseneck. You do not want to go offshore or take many windward trips on her. And while that may sound harsh, there is an important trade-off at play here. Her value as a liveaboard, coastal cruiser, and island hopper is exceptional.
Click to expand...
 
pathfinderstu said:
hi am thinking of buying an exsunsail beneteau cyclades 43..have more or less weighed up most of the pros and cons, but wondering about the actual sailing qualities of the cycllades range. some people are telling me they are a load of junk.! any one with comments about experiance with them would be greatly appreceated, ty
Click to expand...

I have an Owners Version Cyclades 43.3. These were made for 2 years before being rebadged Sunsail Cyclades. I Sail out of Gibraltar in one of the most unpredictable and challenging areas in the South Med and have had her for 3 years.

She sails just like all Bene/Jen/Bav AWB's that is to say easily and stable. She is not the fastest boat as she is incerdibly beamy at 14ft 4 inches but she can be very responsive in light and medium winds. Mine has come second twice in the Cruiser Class of the Gibraltar National Regatta and that is mainly due to her adaptability to all Sea Conditions and Wind. She is safe and comforting in a Force 8 and mine is rigged to be single handed easily up to a F5. As mine is owner not charter spec I have Inmast Furling (wow, great) and full Raymarine kit including Autopilot and Radar. I normally sail with Wife and two young children so ease of handling is key. The Main is the powerhouse as the Gene is only 110%. You can sail on the main only but I tend to use the Gene to help with steerage and pointing. The winches and control for Furling Headsail are by the Twin Wheels so easy to do whilst at helm with 10 mins practice.

Happy to answer any questions on her/build/general/comfort. I have the 3 cabin 3 head arrangement which works very well.

Can I ask why you are looking at ex-sunsail. There are quite a few Owners versions for sale for very little more which will be better equiped and better looked after.

Cheers

Paul
 
pathfinderstu said:
hi am thinking of buying an exsunsail beneteau cyclades 43..have more or less weighed up most of the pros and cons, but wondering about the actual sailing qualities of the cycllades range. some people are telling me they are a load of junk.! any one with comments about experiance with them would be greatly appreceated, ty
Click to expand...

Here is another thread with a lot of Info on the Cyclades Range and History:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288181&highlight=Beneteau+Cyclades

Paul
 
Blueboatman said:
Wise words indeed. Why buy a boat that has had multiple skippers when you can for little more money buy a one owner one?
Click to expand...

Or another perspective - why buy a boat that has repeatedly been neglected for months at a time, when for about the same money (and perhaps a bit less) you can have one that has had weekly maintenance throughout its life?
 
bbg said:
Or another perspective - why buy a boat that has repeatedly been neglected for months at a time, when for about the same money (and perhaps a bit less) you can have one that has had weekly maintenance throughout its life?
Click to expand...

For us the key thing was to have the boat we wanted for a cheap a price as possible, and were happy to do lots of work ourselves to get it back up to scratch. An 11 year old Sunsail ex-charter and ex-flotilla lead boat was it. Ok to sail but very very mucky and with more duct-tape than wiring and plumbing. Survey confirmed it was fine structurally and I'm able to learn about the boat as I fix it up, and we can sail as much as we like.

I've held off filling in hull scrapes and repolishing as we were hit a few times when parked and anchored in our first season last year, and I'm sure we will be hit again. So far no regrets at all buying ex-Sunsail but I do know some people who have been very disappointed when buying one as their first boat because they haven't grasped the time and money it takes to redo a boat and didn't anticipate the fragility of the bodges they inherited.
 
RupertW said:
For us the key thing was to have the boat we wanted for a cheap a price as possible, and were happy to do lots of work ourselves to get it back up to scratch. An 11 year old Sunsail ex-charter and ex-flotilla lead boat was it. Ok to sail but very very mucky and with more duct-tape than wiring and plumbing. Survey confirmed it was fine structurally and I'm able to learn about the boat as I fix it up, and we can sail as much as we like.

I've held off filling in hull scrapes and repolishing as we were hit a few times when parked and anchored in our first season last year, and I'm sure we will be hit again. So far no regrets at all buying ex-Sunsail but I do know some people who have been very disappointed when buying one as their first boat because they haven't grasped the time and money it takes to redo a boat and didn't anticipate the fragility of the bodges they inherited.
Click to expand...

Commonsense! I'd contemplate buying one, but would invest in a full structural survey by a respected surveyor. And would'nt underestimate the time and expense in sorting out cosmetics
 
bbg said:
Or another perspective - why buy a boat that has repeatedly been neglected for months at a time, when for about the same money (and perhaps a bit less) you can have one that has had weekly maintenance throughout its life?
Click to expand...

Ergo, a third possibility. Buying from someone you know ashore and afloat
 
pathfinderstu said:
hi am thinking of buying an exsunsail beneteau cyclades 43..have more or less weighed up most of the pros and cons, but wondering about the actual sailing qualities of the cycllades range. some people are telling me they are a load of junk.! any one with comments about experiance with them would be greatly appreceated, ty
Click to expand...

Pathfinderstu,

Even though a number of forum members are clear in that they would not purchase an ex charter vessel, I have surveyed a number of ex Sunsail yachts over the years both in UK and abroad for potential purchasers and will say all the purchasers completed the sale and keeping in contact with many, they are all happy with their purchase.

An ex charter vessel is priced to reflect the fact they they have been well used and maintained. As long as you have all the information to hand then you are able to make an informed decision. In this regard it is critical to have a very detailed survey.

With regards to the Cyclades 43, I have sailed on one and surveyed one also. They are designed for coastal cruising and I believe they perform this task very well while providing for their price very good accommodation and stowage.
 
many thanks for all your posts, i have taken the plunge and put a deposit down but after reading some or the comments wondering weather i have made a huge mistake, however the positive posts are reasuring and will be having an out of water full survey done.
 
I have chartered a Sunsail Cyclades 43 on a weeks flotilla. It was in 2007 and the boat had only had one week's previous use when we picked it up. Overall the boat sailed fine in the variety of conditions we encountered, sailing faster than any of the smaller (up to Oceanis 37 type) boats of the flotilla as would be expected. She was very easy to sail being very simply rigged with not a lot of adjustments (e.g. no mainsheet track) but not needing any sudden reactions from crew either. Overall a steady but by no means laborious sail experience - she gave one a reasonable sense of moving. The two line slab reefing worked well with the big mainsail, although we did not reef in high winds. On one occasion we had to leave a small harbour when winds of F7 suddenly blew up and we motored in heavy seas for some time but it remained safe and reasonably comfortable on board considering the conditions.

The arrangement with four cabins (forepeak, bunk cabin and twin double cabins, with two heads) worked well for two families with five kids aboard, and we always had plenty of room. The cockpit provided loads of space for us all and was ideal for Mediterranean living and motoring but it did feel a bit of a way across when heeled a bit. The gas locker arrangement in the stern was a pain if like me you insist on the gas being turned off at the bottle.

The high wind day reinforces what others had said about Sunsail boats, we got smashed in the bow by another boat in the raft and others got beached. I have also been on a Sunsail boat that suffered a collision when racing in the Solent. But given a good survey so that you know exactly what you are buying (and make sure that every system on board is tested) I am sure that at the right price one could be a good buy.
 
Last edited:
A friend of mine bought a Jeanneau from Sunsail .The structure of the boat was ok but the cushions etc needed replacing. He had it surveyed by a guy I use .Get it surveyed and you should be ok.As to sailing a Cyclades 43 there ok .If there are any problems with it the surveyor will pick this up if he or she is any good. Enjoy.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top