Compiling a next-boat list: anyone seen Riviera, Prinz or Cruisers?

jonnybuoy

jonnybuoy

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After 3 seasons with my brilliant first boat - Aquador - I am hoping to change next year. Main reason is for more space as with kids, dog etc. a 23ft boat can get a bit cramped on overnight stays..
Having read other posts I've decided to go straight to 35ft-ish rather than via a 30ft boat to avoid wanting to trade up again too soon. Leaning towards a hardtop after this summer but not 100% fixed on that yet.

So have been compiling a list. At SIBS saw and knocked on the head a number of candidates. Still on list SC35 (liked a lot..but pricy for 35ft) and Monte Carlo. Jeanneau Prestige styling right but can't get my head round everything cream coloured.

Anyhow there are a couple of boats on my to-see list that I have only read about and wondered if anyone had seen them in the flesh: Elan Power 35, Riviera m360, Prinz 33/36 and Cruisers 330 express (if they were at sibs I missed them).

Grateful any pointers.

Cheers

Jon
 
Elan power is a nice boat - one of the first to have a hard top which looks designed rather than just an after thought. Conventional layout and the only thing I would say is the saloon feels a little small - certainly when compaired to the SC35 but better then the Monte Carlo 37.

Cruisers seem to have some nice design features, but still have an american feel and it depends if you like that or not. Had a lok around the Prinz 33 at last years SIBS and it seemed very well put together. No forward cabin though, you have to go up to the 36 for this but that is not neccessarily a bad thing. I think Prinz and Cruisers will be at EC in three weeks time - they are on the exhibitors list anyway.

in terms of boats you don't mention, how about the bavaria 33 HT? Loads of volume for the length and two cabins if that flicks your switch.
 
With regards to the Elan I think after an Aquador build quality may be a bit of an issue. I looked at one at SIBS last year and although it's a great looking boat everthing felt a bit lightweight and the fit and finish was a bit naff in some places (this may have been improved since then)
 
Go on, you're itching to mention it. I'll do it for you. A Westlife 34 has got to be high on the list. Scandinavian quality, superb UK service, what more could he ask for?
 
Elan is a really nice boat, a nice ballance between German efficiency and quality, Italian design, from an experienced slovenian manufacturer,at a fair price, really my favorite.
However the only issue going from a 23ft to a 35ft is the manouvrability.
Me and my family trailer my 25ft boat in the Northsea aswell as in the med, I am not sure what's your idea about this.
I do think a lot about it...
yes I know, I need two boats
 
Doral, spent a bit of time on this range at SIBS , great build
quality, layout , and finish, worth a look. very impressed. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Used to be Berthon but Riviera is'nt listed on their site any more
 
Jon,

Same Situation....

So Choice is SC35 (Way too pricy), Montecarlo 37, Nice boat, poor fitout, Bavaria 33HT (Best all rounder just not exciting), Elan 35HT has a strange split galley and build quality is hit or miss (nice overall though) Prestige 34HT is very nice but accomodation is compromised, Windy 37HT...take out a second and third mortgage!

A few stranger ones out there ie. not performance cruisers think Nimbus 320 and also the US style hard tops such as Doral (canadian) etc.

I would rank them as;

Bavaria 33HT
Prestige 34HT
Elan 35HT
Montecarlo 37HT
Windy 37HT
Sealine SC35

Unfortunately they are all a compromise in one way or another! (therefore buy a flybridge /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)

Cheers

Paul
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Jon,

We're in a similar boat so to speak looking for a mid 30 fter hard top, as such our list is very similar to yours!

Comments so far are:

Sealine SC35/38 very nice but very expensive /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Montecarlo 37 looks nice but not happy with the quality and becomes expensive when you start selecting things from the options list.

Jeanneau - Good value, especially used, ticks most of the boxes with reasonable quality from what I've seen, good dealer network as well, downside, probably not the best handling hull, also not the best looking in Hardtop form.

Elan - Looks very good, and hull should handle well, although reading the reviews opinions seem mixed, quality a bit of an issue, although the one we looked at had been a demo boat for years so possibly not looked after as well as one might hope

Others to look at:
Windy - I didn't like lack of standing headroom without sticking your head out of the roof!
Baveria - I haven't looked closely enough to form an opinion
Westline - Jez hasn't mentioned it so I will the W34 looks good and others on the forum have seen it in the flesh and sung its praises, if your going to Earls court certainly one to look at, If I'm able to go it will be the main reason I go!
 
If you're serious about Cruisers then you may as well throw Four Winns, Monterey, Regal, and Sea Ray on the list too. None of these has a huge advantage over the others.

Kelly Cook
 
Thanks all for your comments.

Bav: I need to look at this one again, saw at sibs but it didn't leave me with a strong impression - maybe I was getting boat-view fatigue after a rather protracted lunch.. I do however have a bit of an aversion to white upholstery, seems to make a boat a bit too bright.

Doral: will add to list- Boca grande I guess

Westline: of course, an oversight, was rude of me not to have included it on this forum!

Poweryacht thanks for the clip and address for Riviera that is definitely a must-see.

Paul- thanks, been following your posts on your planned change with interest. Haven't yet come to a flybridge conclusion but I'm a few months behind you so you never know..

Anyway tricky stuff this boat chosing malarky - bit more research a the stands and beertents at Earls Court & Excel methinks!

Cheers

Jon.
 
We decided on the Prestige 34 Open a few years ago. I have now skippered her over 5000nm in all sorts of weather and myself and the family have spent around 120 days/nights on her.

Besides whats been said there is one particular attribute on the P34 that I still find outstanding and very useful if you got your kids (or people not so used to boats) with you. Its also very useful if you handle her on your own.

Its the combination of the "open" cockpit with "lots" of floorspace in the back, open acces at almost the same level to the "largeish" bathing platform, easy and very safe access to the sidedeck and the flat safe feeling deck area.

I've come to think of it as a "walkaround sports cruiser".

Here's a live movie from the cockpit in not so good weather (sorry about the watermark, had to find a conversion program in a hurry):



I noticed in the preview that you can acces the others as well so feel free to watch those as well.
 
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