Considering buying my first flybridge.....

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scadding

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I would appreciate the opinion of the panel......

My previous boats have all been day boats or sportscruisers but now I've decided to purchase my first flybridge. As its my first FB boat I've decided to look at something around the 11-12 metre mark.

Two boats that have caught my eye are the Beneteau Antares 36 and the Sealine F37. Both on shafts (preferred to outdrives) and both running D4 260's.

I would appreciate yours views and comparisons on the two boats I'm considering and also any other suggestions that you feel I should be looking at. Ideally they would be less than 12 metres LOA with a price tag of less that 180k.

Thanks in advance.......
 
Personally Id buy a princess 40 late one or a fairline phantom 40, the build quality of both boats are better, you will get a very nice boat for 180k in this climate.

D4 260s wont give electric performance in shaft drive version, if your going 11 to 12 m you need 600hp plus combined hp, they did build some prestige 36s with d6 350s if your going down the french route.

If you want your investment to hold up buy british from the main 2 builders.
 
Think Spottydog has an F43 for sale at the moment. little larger than you had planned but very good spec and condition. maybe worth a pm?
 
We looked at the Antares some years ago and found it to be a nice boat but a little rough around the edges compared to the F37. Can't comment on the handling of the Antares, but we love our F37. A very easy boat to drive, great accommodation and stowage for the money.

As VP says, power is always an issue. We have 2 x 230 hp on tap, and she will make around 29 knots on a good day, down hill with a following wind, no crew, no fuel, no water and no stores. In cruising trim, she'll just about make 25 knots on fresh antifoul, but we cruise around 20-22 knots. Having said that, we're packing a lot of gear - the tender, crane, extra batteries, water tanks etc probably add around 600kg to a boat that is 8 tonnes dry, and that's before you add the rest of the rubbish that accumulates.

Princess 40 and Phantom 40 are lovely boats, but you will pay for the name (and the extra length). You won't regret going to a flybridge, either, IMO. Upstairs gives you the wind in the hair bit, but without the intrusive engine noise, downstairs gives you a big, light, airy saloon for when you get where you're going, and you still have the cockpit.
 
As VP said look at the English builders, I looked at all sorts when looking formmy first FB I chose princess 35 on shafts with 200hp it wasn't fast but excellent at sea keeping, changed it for a princess 420 with 425 hp and a bow thruster, it's a bit thirsty but handles superbly and is very Manoevurable, she will make 30 with a clean bum and half empty tanks etc, full loaded and with a slightly grubby bum she still makes 25, just finished a weeks cruise and she made on average 18 knotts and returned about 3/4 mpg! Hope that helps
 
How about a mid 90s princess 410 in turn key condition just fill the tanks and head off!! Then again I'm biased as it's mine, on at £99950 ono
 
Buy the F43, we loved ours, loads of space, flybridge a tad small but the internals make up for that, great sea keeping and can easily sleep 8, 12 if your mates sleep on the flybridge with the cover on...

Good luck with your purchase...
 
Hi
My pal runs our local sea school and I heard there F37 is about to come on the market, Think its a 2000 build and looks nice but will be cheap due to high hours although it runs fine, possibly around the £90k mark was mentioned. if you want me to find out send me a pm.
Mike
 
Apologies for the radio silence.....no computer access for a couple of days.

Thanks for all the comments....I have spent the last couple of days looking at various options: Antares 36, Antares 12, Prestige 36, Sealine F43, F37 and a Phantom 38.

The family conclusion is that the French manufacturers dont offer the finish that we are after, which leaves us with Sealine, Fairline or Princess. The F43 is a lovely boat but probably a little too large for our needs. We were all impressed with the F37 and Phantom 38 but we placed the F37 just ahead because of its internal space, the Phantom does however have the more spacious flybrige. I am now keen to view the Phantom 40 and Princess 40 as earlier suggested....I will keep you posted.

The later models of the F37 has 3 engine options...D4 260, D4 300 or D6 320 (i think). The quoted top speeds for all three are very similar (1-3 MPH difference).... are there any clear advantages in running the F37 with either of the larger engines?

Thanks in advance for your views....
 
We have a Prestige 32 (also on shafts) and its a great boat and very good value for money. Worth looking at at the Prestige 36 and Sealine F37. But got to agree the Sealine F43 is superb.
 
Thanks for the endorsements for SpottyDog Guys, I'm sure first serious buyer to view will want to buy her...

The F43 is quite a big boat, but you soon get used to handling her, she weights in at 11 tonnes so is reasonable "planted", plus you have twin shafts and the bow truster, you certainally don't need a stern thruster.
Where she really scores is the internal layout and tardis like accommodation, perfect for entertaining.

Its worth noting, that trim levels vary tremendously, between vessels.

Like Ripster, we used to have a Prestige 32, another great boat, very many happy memories with her, we took her out in some big seas, she always looked after us, good choice too.
 
Hi ,

I owned a Fairline Phantom 40 for a year before upgrading to the Squadron 58.

Like you when buying the first flybridge it was a choice for me between a F34 (outdrives) new or an older Phantom 40.

I was told once you go on a P40 you will not look back.

True to the word I flew over and bought the P40.

Really great boat for what you want, excellent sea keeping for the size and if you buy right you wont lose much on it.

Seen a nice 2007 come into essexboatyards here at £199k asking

http://www.essexboatyards.com/boats/view.php/389/Fairline+Phantom+40

£180k might be stretching it but it doesnt hurt to ask :-)

Ask for Mr James or Nick barke.

I was down at their offices at the weekend and they are a great bunch of guys and will look after you.
 
Serious cruising boat

We have, with a couple of exceptioins, always had aft cabin boats. For sheer space they can not be beaten. Buy a 37 ft aft cabin boat and you get 37 ft of accommodation. Buy a 37 ft f/b boat and you lose 10 ft to the cockpit but I will acknowledge you do gain a very ueseful lazarette.
We kept a Broom 37 (1990 variety) with a pair of TAMD 61, VP's (306 hp per) at Shamrock Quay and cruised to West Country, CI's, Brittany and Normandy and that was after bringing it South from Holland, where we boought it.
Max speed fully loaded with 4 adults, full tanks and serious cruising kit was a genuine 26kts with cruise all day at 18/20 kts. Superb comfort for either 2 couples or Parents and 2 kids with a nice big separation between the 2 sleeping cabins.
Seakeeping was the best we have had with little requirement to slow in bad weather, other than for the comfort of the crew!
A lovely big aft deck with great seating for lounging and eating and best of all you can have open cockpit in the sunshine or sheltered "hood up" in poor conditions. We used to cruise with a Fairline Corniche and on rougher crossings we used to arrive refreshed and still in our T shirts. They used to be frozen and take half an hour to change and defrost.
The f/b's may look "cooler" but if you want serious space, look at the aft cabin Brooms, Atlantics, Aquastars, etc.
We currently have a Broom 38 (2000) with 2x Yanmars @ 250 hp per and love it to bits. Dark blue hull too!!
No connection other than enthusiastic and very satisfied owner.
 
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