Help! Which one? Hanse 301 or Ben First 32s5

[wrongfontagain]

I know they're different boats and one much bigger than the other, but I really like them both - a lot. The Hanse looks almost brand new: 7 years old and like she's come out of the factory; self-tacking jib, deep fin keel (not wing) although looks like she's a good sailer with narrow beam so limited room and small headroom; the Benny is also in good nic but has been 'round the block' and raced hard over the years since her commission in the late '80s. Will usually be sailed just two up and relatively inexperienced. Need lots of help on this one. Please.

 

[bobgoode]

The Hanse will be more relaxing to sail two up...unless you like lots of tweaking. I was moored alonside a 32s5 who reckoned she could be a bit of a handful but was rewarding to sail...fast. You pays yer money..

 

[photodog]

Can you post some links to the boats??

 

[photodog]

The 32s5 and the 301 are less far apart than at first might appear... both are Cruiser/Racers.....

The key choice is almost a classic....

Buy new and smaller..... or older and bigger.


Newer= Less problems/ less money on maintanence/ more sailing.
Smaller= Less hastle around the marina/cheaper to moor/ cheaper bits.

Older= higher maintanence required/ potentail for more major replacement items.
Bigger= faster/ more expensive to moor/ better with guests/ harder work for shorthanded crew...


Now... if you had loads of experience... were good at DIY... had lots of peeps to sail with.... had a good size pot of reserve cash to allow for increased costs... then the 32 would be sensible..

But if you are relativley inexperienced.. (Which you have said in previous posts) less keen on the DIY.... are buying at the limit of your spending... then the 301 makes a lot more sense..


My personal experience is that each boat we have bought has been smaller than the previous... until we have gotten down to 31 feet which we feel is ideal for a couple for coastal pottering... and easy to single hand... and this boat was of a simular vintage to the Hanse which has meant a nice clean modernish non smelly boat that has required relativley small amounts of maintanence... so we have not had any problems so far with budgets....

I think that you know the answer... your heart is saying the 32s5 (which is a cracking boat btw...) but the head is saying the Hanse....

You will not be dissapointed in the Hanse's sailing characteristics... and in the long term I think that the Hanse is going to be easier to sail... require less maintanence... be easier to resell... and cost less to keep.

I would say go with the Hanse.

 

[Refueler]

I know they're different boats and one much bigger than the other, but I really like them both - a lot. The Hanse looks almost brand new: 7 years old and like she's come out of the factory; self-tacking jib, deep fin keel (not wing) although looks like she's a good sailer with narrow beam so limited room and small headroom; the Benny is also in good nic but has been 'round the block' and raced hard over the years since her commission in the late '80s. Will usually be sailed just two up and relatively inexperienced. Need lots of help on this one. Please.

Simple solution ..... which one does SHE like ?

 

[photodog]

Simple solution ..... which one does SHE like ?

Actually.. you are bang on... that is the most important consideration!!!

 

[wrongfontagain]

Help! Which one? Hanse 301 or Ben First 32s%

Simple solution ..... which one does SHE like ?

Actually.. you are bang on... that is the most important consideration!!!

Believe it or not I haven't taken 'her' to see the boat yet. Well I should say I haven't taken her to see the 'inside' yet - have shown the boats to her as they sit on the marina but did not go inside! In fact I think the interior of the First would win hands (Hanse) down - my 16-year-old (6' 3") summed it up: "I want the outside of the Hanse and the inside of the First 32". However, at 5' 9" its not a problem for me but on sitting inside I could see what he means.

 

[Strathglass]

I know they're different boats and one much bigger than the other, but I really like them both - a lot. The Hanse looks almost brand new: 7 years old and like she's come out of the factory; self-tacking jib, deep fin keel (not wing) although looks like she's a good sailer with narrow beam so limited room and small headroom; the Benny is also in good nic but has been 'round the block' and raced hard over the years since her commission in the late '80s. Will usually be sailed just two up and relatively inexperienced. Need lots of help on this one. Please.

I had a friend with a Ben First it had rod standing rigging. Great for performance BUT eye watering when one intermediate broke.

The cost of just the one piece of rod was enough to make me abandon the thought of using it on the boat I was building, even though it was standard on the boat. I used 1/19 instead.

I would investigate the cost of replacing any standing rigging before investing in an older Ben First.

Iain