If you were buying a cruiser...

pvb

pvb

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If you were buying a cruiser, say 32-37ft, would you look at the latest generation of Beneteau/Jeanneau/Bavaria with their stark rectangular light-coloured Ikea-style interiors, or would you look for a recent(ish) previous generation model, with cosy rounded settees and darker furnishings? More importantly, if you were looking to buy today, but wanted to sell in say 5 years' time, which style would be more desirable in 2019?
 
Bavaria went through rather a gloomy phase a few years ago and a friend's boat from another yard has nowhere that I can sit comfortably. Rounded cushions seem to be driven by style more than function and often the seating is not well thought out. People's needs will all be different so it is hard to advise. I would be happy with any comfortable second-hand interior as long as it didn't smell of tobacco.
 
pvb said:
If you were buying a cruiser, say 32-37ft, would you look at the latest generation of Beneteau/Jeanneau/Bavaria with their stark rectangular light-coloured Ikea-style interiors, or would you look for a recent(ish) previous generation model, with cosy rounded settees and darker furnishings? More importantly, if you were looking to buy today, but wanted to sell in say 5 years' time, which style would be more desirable in 2019?
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Buying new carries the risks that the radical design turns out to be a fad. Also new boats require lots of adjustment and messing around to get them the way you like.

If I wanted to sell in 5 year's time, and money was important, I'd definitely go for a top-quality really well maintained older generation model which had been set up for roughly how I want to sail. Such properly sorted boats have found a fairly firm clearing price for whenever one wants to move on.
 
I wouldn't buy a recent generation boat, the build quality is ever decreasing and I think the styling is ugly. Straight lines don't work on water and they will show their age quickly. And twin wheels on sub 60 footers just look stupid. ( IMVHO )
It might take a while but there are some really nice boats out there- a lot if them very badly presented.

Take your time and seek the good ones out.
 
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dom said:
If I wanted to sell in 5 year's time, and money was important, I'd definitely go for a top-quality really well maintained older generation model which had been set up for roughly how I want to sail. Such properly sorted boats have found a fairly firm clearing price for whenever one wants to move on.
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I would tend to agree...
 
Last year, I wanted to buy a slightly larger boat than my 2001 Benetoy 361. I never considered buying new. I went aboard a new Oceanis 41 and was immediately smitten, so I bought one. Both interior and exterior contemporary design features suit my eye.
 
pvb said:
If you were buying a cruiser, say 32-37ft, would you look at the latest generation of Beneteau/Jeanneau/Bavaria with their stark rectangular light-coloured Ikea-style interiors, or would you look for a recent(ish) previous generation model, with cosy rounded settees and darker furnishings? More importantly, if you were looking to buy today, but wanted to sell in say 5 years' time, which style would be more desirable in 2019?
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I have a recent-ish Jeanneau and do prefer its styling to the newest models. Whether it will financially outperform the hard-chine generation is a moot point; I suspect that the newer boats will take a dip in popularity but then recover in the longer term, as happened with the revolutionary Sierra in the 80s. The one feature amongst the new boats I do like, a lot, is the open plan option in the Oceanis 38, which I appreciate may not have universal appeal, but might persuade me to update if the build quality has improved* over its predecessor.

*relative to AWB's -I'm not expecting HR standards
 
These look pdg to me, and I'm definitely not AWB

medium_20_lux_jeanneau57.jpg
 
As the owner of a beneteau we went aboard several AWBs at Soton in that range. (No intention of changing yet Jonic so put your brokerage forms away!! ;) )

Have to say not impressed with the quality or styling. Rather stick with our 15 year old boat. IMHO if well maintained over next 5 years we will lose far less than buying the similar sized ikea flat pack 37.
 
jac said:
As the owner of a beneteau we went aboard several AWBs at Soton in that range. (No intention of changing yet Jonic so put your brokerage forms away!! ;) )

Have to say not impressed with the quality or styling. Rather stick with our 15 year old boat. IMHO if well maintained over next 5 years we will lose far less than buying the similar sized ikea flat pack 37.
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SWMBO and I did the same at SBS last year. Looked at all the new AWBs, and decided that we preferred what we already had.

I did like the Discovery and the Gunfleet though, but couldn't afford either.
 
pvb said:
If you were buying a cruiser, say 32-37ft, would you look at the latest generation of Beneteau/Jeanneau/Bavaria with their stark rectangular light-coloured Ikea-style interiors, or would you look for a recent(ish) previous generation model, with cosy rounded settees and darker furnishings? More importantly, if you were looking to buy today, but wanted to sell in say 5 years' time, which style would be more desirable in 2019?
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If you buy a new or nearly new boat of just about any kind you will suffer a big hit in fall in monetary value in the first 5 years. This might be offset a bit if inflation affects the price of new boats - as has happened since 2008 when the sterling cost of new boats (particularly higher priced ones) has risen significantly. This has the dual effect of reducing the level of supply and increasing the differential between new and used prices, so some boats have held more of their monetary value. Monetary values of boats tend to fall more slowly, if at all historically after 5-8 years, but of course a boat of that age starts to have increasing maintenance or replacement costs.

Trying to predict what might happen over the next 5 years is really a mugs game. Individuals have little control oover what happens to future values other than keeping their boat in good condition. Historically the biggest losses are in custom built boats or the very bottom end of the market but in the middle there seems to be very little discernible difference.

As the sole purpose of buying a boat is to enjoy the use of it, surely one should buy the boat that best satisfies your needs, but with an eye on other peoples' needs for when the time comes to sell it. If you stick to the popular styles and designs of the times you are unlikely to get it "wrong".
 
Went aboard Beneteau & Bavaria at the PSP Southampton Boat Show, I was impressed with the First 20 and that was it. I thought the Bavaria's interior was very poor, I prefer the previous model!
 
The new Delher 38 is worth a look - interior design is excellent use of space and strikes the middle ground in looks. I have something a bit bigger - not Delher I must add - but if in the market for a new boat would be high on my list.
 
Camelia said:
I am so glad there is at least on other person out there that thinks the same as I do on that subject...

They waste so much space.
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There are sound reasons for twin wheels on many modern boats. Once you have used them in the environment for which they were designed you might appreciate that.
 
Twin wheels on sub 60 footers just look stupid. ( IMVHO )
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I don't think length has much to do with it. Its cockpit width that matters. Having chartered many 40 odd footers in recent years, both with single and twin wheels, when you are mooring stern to in the Med give me twin wheels for convenience every time. With modern wide sterned boats its impossible to fit a big enough single wheel to be able to sit on the side deck and see the foresail so unless you are happy to blunder along to windward sailing purely on feel (or instruments) there is no other choice than twin wheels. Early examples seemed to take away all feel from the helm but the recent ones I've tried are not too bad. The only real downside I've found on cheaply fitted out charter boats is that instruments are not duplicated each side and this year we had a boat that had the echo sounder on the opposite side from the throttle which was positively dangerous in shallow water.

When you get down to the 34 foot mark I still prefer a big single wheel but some boats of that size are getting so wide dual wheels probably make sense.
 
Having gone on the new Bavaria 37 at SBS I thought it was the best design and fitting out they have ever done in that size range. Mind you the price has gone up as well.
 
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