Golden Nuggets!

[c_j]

In a recent thread the suggestion was made that each manufacturer may have a golden nugget, a boat well thought of even if other boats in their range are not generally in the higher echelons.

The Sealine S37, and other Sealine models built on this hull seemed to fit this description but what else is out there.

I think we should be told!

Whats the best Bayliner, Rinker, Cranchi, etc, etc, etc,

Plenty of time for the answers cause I am just off to Chapmans Pool

Boat out of the water in the winter indeed!

CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

 

[petem]

Chris,

The old Fairline Turbo 36 seems to have struck a chord with many on this forum. The only aft cabin Fairline after that, the 43AC never achieved anywhere near the same popularity (although my wife likes them).

Pete

 

[ari]

Princess 266 Riviera, fantastic performance with twin 205's, (44 knots!) amazing seakeeping and sportsboat handling but still good weekending accommodation.

Fairline 33 Targa with twin 200 diesels. Practical layout inside and out, 30+ knots, economical, two seperate cabins, large cockpit, big enough for cross channel small enough to manage single handed (as long as it isn't too windy!)

Princess 35. Consumate mid 30ft shaft drive flybridge cruiser.

Princess V65. Bloody gorgeous!

Windy 25. Perfect sports dayboat.

Formula 272 SRI with a pair of 330hp Mercruisers. Totally impractical but had a go in one once and fell in love.

Porsche 911 Carerra 4. Oops, drifting in me own post now!!!

Ari

 

[Guest]

Re: not v65

i wd've thought the fairline T36 should come in somewhere, especially seeing as they've gone up by 10 grand since colin started looking attem, and then everyone here chimed in at how fab they are.

Must disagree bout the v65. It great at boatshows mainly because it's a massive sportsboat NOT made by sunseeker, so there's a lovely feeling as you look round, not having had to lie your head off about buying one just to win a looksee. Otherwise its not tarty enough, not well enough specc'd, a crap indoors-only drive. Also it got a rave review in MBY, so like the 43AC - the kiss of death. They're so nice that they never slag off a dud. Cept the V50 got a beating tho...anyway.

MBY overcompensated (the other way way) with Fairline t48, which they said yawn well maybe but weak engines, however they must've sold 120 at least by now - tho not a golden nugget IMHO.

 

[ari]

Re: not v65

Fairline Turbo 36 definitely a classic, yes. And the Corniche too I reckon, smallest "proper" twin diesel shaft drive flybridge cruiser.

And although not a fan of them myself, the "Howards Way" Sealine 285 had its following for good layout and accommodation. There were a lot of good boats about in the late '80s when you think about it.

I think in a lot of cases these days manufacturers (responding no doubt to customer demand) place so much emphasis on internal space that they compromise the external layout, ie narrow (or even no) side decks, sloping foredecks, sideways seats in the cockpit to accommodate headroom in a mid cabin etc.

It is always interesting to watch the way potential customers act at boatshows when viewing something like a Targa 40 for example. They'll walk straight through the cockpit and into the cabin and spend 90% of their time looking down there. But lets face it, when you are using a boat like this how much time do you really spend in the cabin rather than the cockpit (unless you're asleep)?

As to the V65, I like it because it's not tarty. Classically clean and uncluttered and won't date as much (IMHO). As to spec at about £100K less than a Sqweeker with the same accommodation theres plenty of change to add toys. Agree about the inside helm though, all the big sportsboats seem to be going this way, which does somewhat negate the point of a sportsboat in the first place. I'll have to spec it without the hardtop I guess and save another £35K. Bet it'd be a sod to resell without it though !

Ari.