if you had 50-80K...

[[3889]]

Despite my previously- expressed snobbery about the build quality of these marques, I was extremely comfortable on the Beneteau 393.

The 393 felt more spacious than the Jeanneau 37, both in the cabin and cockpit, despite being very close in actual length.

I guess when it comes to space and comfort, the law of diminishing returns of kicks in at about 40', because I wouldn't spend extra money for a Jeanneau 45.2 over the Beneteau 393.

I'm most comfortable with 2 - 4 people on a boat this size, and a couple with two kids would probably be fine on the 393. It didn't feel crowded with 3 adult men in the cockpit, so I guess it depends how fussy you are about the size of the master cabin.

They're like Ford cars - if you buy one that's 10 years old you'll probably have to repair things occasionally, but if you just want it for 6 months you can probably buy one, if you're canny, and sell it when you're done without much depreciation.

I haven't sailed on a Bav, but some of these other comments sound encouraging.

393s are nice for the OPs requirements, I spent 4 months on one in the Ionian, but I think he would get a 411 for his budget.

Drop down transoms: does any one like them? Dreadful wave slap in anything other than mirror calm conditions plus faff of deployment / lifting.
At the risk of MyBoatIsBest syndrome, the Jeanneau XXi models have great transom design. Low steps and useful liferaft stowage. Lots of other design flaws such as the enormously wide cockpit but the transom, c'est magnifique.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

...Drop down transoms: does any one like them? Dreadful wave slap in anything other than mirror calm conditions plus faff of deployment / lifting....

Dunno about "my boat is best", but to answer your Q, I've got one on my 2017 Bav. No wave slap noticed in the conditions that I sail in, and dropping or lifting it is a 5 second job. Makes boarding and loading gear or supplies in the Marina very easy, and swimming on the very rare occasion I tried it, feasible. Is it better than a stepped transom - don't know. More efficient use of space.

 

[ashtead]

Dunno about "my boat is best", but to answer your Q, I've got one on my 2017 Bav. No wave slap noticed in the conditions that I sail in, and dropping or lifting it is a 5 second job. Makes boarding and loading gear or supplies in the Marina very easy, and swimming on the very rare occasion I tried it, feasible. Is it better than a stepped transom - don't know. More efficient use of space.

Very happy with our drop down. Only thing I might avoid is any form of electronic aided version in case of failure

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Very happy with our drop down. Only thing I might avoid is any form of electronic aided version in case of failure

Agreed. The only tech involved is a line.

 

[jordanbasset]

Dunno about "my boat is best", but to answer your Q, I've got one on my 2017 Bav. No wave slap noticed in the conditions that I sail in, and dropping or lifting it is a 5 second job. Makes boarding and loading gear or supplies in the Marina very easy, and swimming on the very rare occasion I tried it, feasible. Is it better than a stepped transom - don't know. More efficient use of space.

Very happy with our drop down. Only thing I might avoid is any form of electronic aided version in case of failure

Agree with both, very happy with our drop down transom

 

[doug748]

Drop down transoms: does any one like them?

A shame to lose the sugar scoop stern which is better adapted to multi use, light, simple, strong, available at sea and an improvement on what was offered before. What a drop down flap gives you is extra internal space, even where little is needed, it seems it's how new boats tend to be sold.

To answer the OP's question I would look for one of these:

https://jeanneau.apolloduck.com/boat/jeanneau-sun-odyssey-43-ds/601460

 

[Bobc]

A shame to lose the sugar scoop stern which is better adapted to multi use, light, simple, strong, available at sea and an improvement on what was offered before. What a drop down flap gives you is extra internal space, even where little is needed, it seems it's how new boats tend to be sold.

To answer the OP's question I would look for one of these:

https://jeanneau.apolloduck.com/boat/jeanneau-sun-odyssey-43-ds/601460

Hardly in the £50-80k budget.

Personally, I would get one of these:- https://yachts.apolloduck.com/boat/bavaria-yachts-44-cruiser/559812

Plenty of them for sale in the Med. Absolutely bullet-proof. Very spacious. Simple (no fancy electronic or motor-driven stuff).

Will also do transat easily and comfortably, and perfect for the Caribbean too.

I know a family that bought one in Cadiz last year and sailed it back to the UK. They love it.

 

[RupertW]

Hardly in the £50-80k budget.

Personally, I would get one of these:- https://yachts.apolloduck.com/boat/bavaria-yachts-44-cruiser/559812

That looks really nice and practical too. The only thing that would stop me buying it is the teak deck. I like to be barefoot when sailing or lives my on board, so teak is out.

 

[doug748]

Hardly in the £50-80k budget.

.

https://www.boats24.com/sailboat/sa...un-odyssey-43-ds-mit-yanmar-4jh3-e-motor.html

 

[Bobc]

That looks really nice and practical too. The only thing that would stop me buying it is the teak deck. I like to be barefoot when sailing or lives my on board, so teak is out.

Yes, one of those, but minus the teak decks.

 

[miha90]

A little bit hard to find but occasionally one or two pop up in your budget range, a Hallberg Rassy 42. Bulletproof boats from what I hear.

https://www.apolloduck.eu/boat/hallberg-rassy-42/565587

 

[Skylark]

My Oceanis 41 has teak decks and an electric drop down transom.

In a marina, it’s quite satisfying to be alongside a 45 ft boat with sugar scoop stern. I’m sociable so I’ll invite the owner aboard for a sun downer. There’s usually more room aboard my boat and I can pay for the drink from the marina fee saving

I have fair skin so I’m easily burned by the sun. I hence always cover my legs and feet so I only see advantages in my lovely decks

I’m so glad that I didn’t solicit forum advice when I was in the market for a brand new boat

 

[geem]

What you don't want:-

Teak decks
Centre cockpit
Lots of big windows
Something heavy that takes a lot of pushing along
Something that doesn't have a deck shower
Something that's not easy to get on/off the transom of (either to a dinghy or a quayside)
Something that's not easy to get off the bow of onto a quayside
Something that has a weird engine that you can't get spares for easily
Something that has a cockpit which is not comfortable to lounge in
Something that does not have a bimini

With the Caribbean in mind, agree with windows, engine, bimini, comfy cockpit but the rest is not necessarily important here. Seas are bigger, wind is stronger so heavy boat is comfy in those conditions. You sail a lot here. Abilty to carry kit is important. Charter boats with lots of beds is less relevant. They often have poor designed spray hood that are great when there is no breeze but draughty here.
You need locker space for paddleboards, kayaks, dive gear, kite surfing gear, sailing rig for the dinghy if you are like us.
You live on anchor so a good dinghy is super important and a big two stroke outboard. A watermaker is a game changer. Friends without them are a slave to water collection. A trip to the tap for dubious quality water every other day. No fun. Since you spend so much time at anchor lightweight boats are not much fun rolling about in windy anchorages. Something heavier isnt always slower, its just comfier

 

[[70521]]

Hi all,

If you had a budget of 45 to 70K €, and needed to buy a boat to spend 6 months sailing in the med with a familly of 4. What would you buy? What year?

And if you were sailing in the caribbean? would your answer be different?

Thanks

G

I'd get a Round the World trip on the Queen Mary II.