F33 or S34

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russ

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Some may know my hunt for a S34 has been to say the least difficult.

Should I now consider the F33? What are the pros and cons between the two models.
My original concern raised by others was that whilst up on the fly deck you can be left isolated whilst your guest are enjoying the rear deck.
Also lack of control in windy conditions and bridge heights if we end up back on the Thames.

Advantages of all year round use and more living space are an attraction.

Your views?
 
Ultimately it comes down to what your preference is Russ. The F33 is a great package but with some downsides, which you have mentioned. The living space point is interesting because I tend to include the cockpit in this as it is inevitably where we spend most of our time. Even when we had out Broom 41 the cockpit was the first choice and we only moved to the saloon when it got a little chilly. The heating system didn’t include the cockpit on that boat and whilst I did a few upgrades I never got round to sorting the cockpit heating.

My personal view is that the lower helm on many flybridge boats is a compromise with a ‘letter box’ view through the often shallow windscreen and up top it is usually cold (in the UK).

So, perhaps unsurprisingly, it would be the S34 with cockpit heating every time for me but I am sure that an F33 owner will be along shortly to give an entirely different view :)
 
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russ said:
Should I now consider the F33? What are the pros and cons between the two models.

Your views?
Click to expand...

My berthing neighbour used to have one. Make sure you get one with a powerful bow thruster- his didnt have one. Maybe it was his lack of experience but it was a pig to berth on a windy day - many times we had to fend him off
 
Low speed handling on the F33 is not an issue.
The F36 or 360 is a 50% bigger boat and possibly the best model ever made by Sealine.
 
russ said:
Some may know my hunt for a S34 has been to say the least difficult.

Should I now consider the F33? What are the pros and cons between the two models.
My original concern raised by others was that whilst up on the fly deck you can be left isolated whilst your guest are enjoying the rear deck.
Also lack of control in windy conditions and bridge heights if we end up back on the Thames.

Advantages of all year round use and more living space are an attraction.

Your views?
Click to expand...

I think the F33 is one of sealines worst sea boats. It is awful in a quartering sea, and heels alarmingly.

If you only go out when it’s flat the accommodation is great for its size.

I’d happily own an S34 but not an F33.
 
Elessar said:
I think the F33 is one of sealines worst sea boats. It is awful in a quartering sea, and heels alarmingly. .
Click to expand...

I think that would apply to all small stern drive flybridge boats. I doubt the 305,310,320 or even F34 are any better/worse and the same would apply to 30ish foot models from other manufacturers.
 
Elessar said:
I think the F33 is one of sealines worst sea boats. It is awful in a quartering sea, and heels alarmingly.

If you only go out when it’s flat the accommodation is great for its size.

I’d happily own an S34 but not an F33.
Click to expand...
The S34 and F33 hulls look much the same in principle .
You obviously had a bad experience in a F33 but you obviously survived. Maybe that particular sea state would have been equally bad in another boat of the same size .
 
CLB said:
I think that would apply to all small stern drive flybridge boats. I doubt the 305,310,320 or even F34 are any better/worse and the same would apply to 30ish foot models from other manufacturers.
Click to expand...

The 30 - 320 have the same basic hull, on the 330 the engine centre distance was increased to give better slow speed handling.


Brian
 
russ said:
Some may know my hunt for a S34 has been to say the least difficult.

Should I now consider the F33? What are the pros and cons between the two models.
My original concern raised by others was that whilst up on the fly deck you can be left isolated whilst your guest are enjoying the rear deck.
Also lack of control in windy conditions and bridge heights if we end up back on the Thames.

Advantages of all year round use and more living space are an attraction.

Your views?
Click to expand...

My client just sold his , best one out there at least I could have vouched for it .
 
MartynG said:
Low speed handling on the F33 is not an issue.
The F36 or 360 is a 50% bigger boat and possibly the best model ever made by Sealine.
Click to expand...

Having spent a week on a 360, we took out a F33 in similar conditions. Completely different boat, much more jumpy and not as solid footed.
 
CLB said:
I think that would apply to all small stern drive flybridge boats. I doubt the 305,310,320 or even F34 are any better/worse and the same would apply to 30ish foot models from other manufacturers.
Click to expand...

I had a 30 ft bayliner sterndive flybridge that I took to the Channel Islands and France on a number of occasions and took her out in some serious weather too.
She was an infinitely better sea boat than an F33.
I love sealines BTW am now on my second and have driven quite a few more including the S34 and F37.
 
MartynG said:
The S34 and F33 hulls look much the same in principle .
You obviously had a bad experience in a F33 but you obviously survived. Maybe that particular sea state would have been equally bad in another boat of the same size .
Click to expand...


Yes I survived - of course. And I disagree with you that others are as bad I think the F33 is a bad sea boat.
It’s still a good boat if you don’t go out in lumpy seas - it’s a tardis.
 
EugeneR said:
Having spent a week on a 360, we took out a F33 in similar conditions. Completely different boat, much more jumpy and not as solid footed.
Click to expand...
The 360 is 50 % bigger , heavier, wider beam . So naturally it will have better stability.
 
Worth tracking down the MB&Y test report on the F33 and read the comments about handling.
Probably more at home on non tidal waters.
 
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