For someone looking for an affordable yacht with stunning looks and good performance

[Blueboatman]

My opinion
(Everyone has one ?)
That’s a fair enough intro price
Then you start doing the resto work on the satin wood finish ( not so easy actually to do it well)
And keep on top of the teak deck/cores..
And I’d want to know how much gel coat is left on the topsides
And sight along them past the bonded bulkheads in all sorts of light
And that engine is a good un but , ya know, getting up there in age now and eco fuels and old seals ?
And on an original ally mast, what slop play and rattle on all the mast fittings and rollers and winches
and and and ..
It’s a very nice sailing boat
Yeah I’d have it too ??

 

[doug748]

The Dawn 39 was a development of the Contessa 38 the extra foot going into the stern but whilst sharing much of the hull but the internal fit out seems much better and the extension of the stern makes for a better (larger) aft cabin as well as giving the yacht a better appearance.

Quite, they were Contessa 38s. Here is the one in Greece, still for sale:

Contessa 38 Used Boat for Sale 1982

.

 

[Frogmogman]

https://www.berthoninternational.com/yacht-for-sale-specs/dawn-39-stroma-of-findhorn.pdf

I have always liked them but never found one for sale when I was actively looking, I am almost tempted. It looks like there may be a little cosmetic work below decks, it needs a holding tank fitting and the galley could probably do with a bit of a refit but it's perfectly serviceable

TBH, the 38 was one of my least favourite boats from the Contessa stable. I always found it pretty dreary when new, with fairly mediocre performance by Rogers standards. It was derivative of the 32, but lacking the charm of the original ; already outdated when it was first launched. Without the sale of a fleet of the things to the MOD it would have been a commercial failure.

But hey! A chacun son goût.

 

[DownWest]

Affordable?

A subjective term.

Bit more than a Twister, Poignard, but the Good Father was in the lounge recently wondering what to do with 300k he had in his back pocket.

 

[Stemar]

some of the berths look a bit tight for the less flexible gentleman.

Another reason for being 25 years younger

 

[dgadee]

I don't wish to be rude, but at your time of life isn't that going to be a bit of a handful?

Yes. Needs at least one electric winch, probably more. And that teak deck ... Good looking classic boat but you need a crew for it, not just the wife.

 

[doug748]

YM have just released a review of the Dawn 39, personally I would prefer the 38 with a tiller but there we go:

Dawn 39: big sister to the Contessa 32 - Yachting Monthly

 

[webcraft]

You are looking at a different boat £74K

Still 20x what we paid for the boat we are currently living aboard

- W

 

[LittleSister]

For someone looking for an affordable yacht with stunning looks and good performance

I have the stunning looks and good performance, but sorry, I'm not currently looking for a yacht! ?

 

[Wansworth]

I could say the same…..

 

[Frogmogman]

I could say the same…..

I thought you were always looking for a yacht ?

 

[Wansworth]

I thought you were always looking for a yacht ?

As Micawber said…..something might turn up?

 

[LittleSister]

Wansworth may not be looking for a yacht, but they're looking for him!

They keep jumping out in adverts, and when he's by the sea, trying to catch his eye.

 

[DownWest]

Wansworth may not be looking for a yacht, but they're looking for him!

They keep jumping out in adverts, and when he's by the sea, trying to catch his eye.

Likely a yot will mug him in a dark alley.. The word is out.