Club Cruiser Purchase Suggestions

[ncounties]

Hi all,

I'm a member of a sailing club in Ireland, and we are currently looking at purchasing a new cruising keelboat for the club. We have the following requirements:
Length - pref. 37-39ft
Three Cabins
Single Helm
Price - €90-110k

Some initial thoughts were an Oceanis 37 (my initial preference), Sun Odyssey 37, Bavaria 36.

But would welcome some suggestions of other relatively modern keelboats, that offer the comforts of the above, but would be sail relatively well in most conditions, and capable of a decent speed.

Best,

NCounties

 

[Sticky Fingers]

New? Or new to you? Budget unlikely to get anything remotely close if you mean new new.

And why the single helm? That will limit your choices.

 

[ncounties]

New to us. The club already has a First 31.7 and a Sun Odyssey 35 so our Skippers are used to single helms. We want to reduce the requirement for them to have to get used to twin helms and the associated knocks and bumps that may result during that learning curve...

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Fair enough I guess. Or you might want to offer the opportunity to expand their experience!

 

[Tranona]

It will take one session to "change" - it really is no different having 2 wheels. You only use one at a time and they do exactly the same thing as a single wheel. I would have real concerns about the ability of your skippers if they were unable to adjust! What you gain is usually more cockpit space which may well be a benefit if you sail them with large crews as well as potentially wider choice.

However your biggest challenge will be actually finding anything as the UK market is out for you so you will be restricted to what is already in the EU.

BTW add the Hanse 370 to your list as well as a mid 2000s Bavaria 37

 

[Sticky Fingers]

It will take one session to "change" - it really is no different having 2 wheels. You only use one at a time and they do exactly the same thing as a single wheel. I would have real concerns about the ability of your skippers if they were unable to adjust! What you gain is usually more cockpit space which may well be a benefit if you sail them with large crews as well as potentially wider choice.

However your biggest challenge will be actually finding anything as the UK market is out for you so you will be restricted to what is already in the EU.

BTW add the Hanse 370 to your list as well as a mid 2000s Bavaria 37

Totally agree. My own experience is that the two wheel setup is materially better in every way bar one, that being the reach to the throttle and gears from the remote wheel.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Also look at others, some a wee bit bigger eg

Hanse 400
Bav Vision 40
Sun Odyssey 40.3
Starlight 39

budget will be the major limiting factor here.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Or spend less and arguably get a better boat.
eg

Bav 41
Dufour 40
Beneteau Oceanis 393, 40CC and 41
Elan 40

 

[ylop]

However your biggest challenge will be actually finding anything as the UK market is out for you so you will be restricted to what is already in the EU.

Are these not classic ex med charter boats?

Are NI boats open to ROI buyers?

 

[Tranona]

Are these not classic ex med charter boats?

Are NI boats open to ROI buyers?

Yes to the first but that budget won't get a recent ex charter boat after VAT is paid and older, say 15 years old which will be in budget will likely be very tired by now. Biggest negative would be that most are based in the eastern Med or possibly Spain so will cost to bring back up north although that might make a good club cruise. Really depends on how much effort the club is willing to put in to organise such a purchase.

Not entirely sure about the second point as there still seems confusion. However maybe not to many of the target boats available in NI.

 

[doug748]

I would not look much beyond an older Bavaria from a UK, private, perhaps original, owner. The issue of twin wheels will not much arise at that budget and they are easy to avoid.

 

[yoda]

+1 for a Hanse 370

I have been pleasantly surprised and love my 3 cabin version.

 

[ncounties]

Thanks for the suggestions - definitely gives me an extended list of contenders.

 

[wonkywinch]

A new video from a You Tuber I follow, lots of twin helm points in the first 10 mins. Then you can skip the rest of the 2 hours!