Liveaboard -sail vs power

Though you'd be buying an older boat, I'd at least have a look at one of the centre cockpit, large aft cabin Moodys, e.g. here. They have a more civilised sleeping cabin than the aft cockpit boats have and could be a better choice if there's just the two of you. Budget for additional costs if you end up with a boat over 12 metres. Most of all good luck...:)
 
seastar777 said:
I know, I know it is like Sky and Earth, but still... We are couple of old dreamers, you can call us old fools..I am 43 , husband is 67. We going to buy a boat and live a board. When we started to look for a boat we liked Birchwood 330 , but the more we look the more we like idea of sailing boat. Inevitable luck of experience makes decision harder. So we will be very grateful for any opinion.
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Evey body is entitled to dreams but sometimes dreams can turn into nightmares,as others have suggested bget some hands on experience first off........how is the back,boating is hard on the back,have fun.I see you on a nice Incape 45 living aboard with the occassional midweek outing!
 
djbreeze said:
Though you'd be buying an older boat, I'd at least have a look at one of the centre cockpit, large aft cabin Moodys
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Thank you very much , we actually were looking at them, and I do like Moody, and Westerly , Oceanlord in particular. The only thing that's worrying me -older boat - more maintenance. Though I read reviews for Moody and they all are very good. So yes we definitely will be considering them.
 
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mogy said:
how is the back,boating is hard on the back,have fun.I see you on a nice Incape 45 living aboard with the occassional midweek outing!
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Thank you, so far-so good:) and there is a hope that once we will leave Wash for warmer and less foggy places it will be even better:)
 
Tranona said:
You are welcome to have a look at my boat to get an idea of what a together boat looks like. If you want to pursue the idea of chartering and possible buying a boat PM me and I can give you contacts in Greece.
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Thank you very much we will certainly accept your kind offer.
Tania
 
seastar777 said:
Thank you, so far-so good:) and there is a hope that once we will leave Wash for warmer and less foggy places it will be even better:)
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Sorry didnt read all the threads,you are obviously half way there!!! If I was dreaming of a liveaboard I would definatly have a wheelhouse,nothing nicer than sitting down watching the world go by sipping tea.....and keeping an eye onall the antics of the neighbours!!!
 
We're looking at doing the same, spending a year or two learning the craft :)
The Bavaria 390 & 410 Lagoon are on our shortlist also, seems there are none around the uk to get a peek. So we're booking flights for next week to have a look at some around the med :rolleyes:
Should be fun.
Spent last week on a Westerly Sealord & decided the centre cockpit would be good for colder climbs, but a larger aft cockpit would suit us better if & when we get further south.

Very best of luck to you.

Can you let me know if you find a 390L in the uk? Not to buy, just to look.
 
seastar777 said:
Thank you very much , we actually were looking at them, and I do like Moody, and Westerly , Oceanlord in particular. The only thing that's worrying me -older boat - more maintenance. Though I read reviews for Moody and they all are very good. So yes we definitely will be considering them.
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That's not always the case regarding maintenance a good sound older boat is generally built tougher so less bigger things to go wrong.. Of course depending on which boat you choose.
We have, moored next to us, a few 'plastic fantasic' boats and they are forever having larger jobs done to them. Where as our 30 year old Najad 343 its more cosmetic 'fun' jobs..(even though WE own one I would advise away from buying a boat with teak decks!)
Motor maintenance is likely to be similar.
I would probably say the Moody range (especially 35 & 376) as djbreeze has suggested is a good range to look at... quite modern, yet sturdy.
 
wazza said:
That's not always the case regarding maintenance a good sound older boat is generally built tougher so less bigger things to go wrong.. Of course depending on which boat you choose.
We have, moored next to us, a few 'plastic fantasic' boats and they are forever having larger jobs done to them. Where as our 30 year old Najad 343 its more cosmetic 'fun' jobs..(even though WE own one I would advise away from buying a boat with teak decks!)
Motor maintenance is likely to be similar.
I would probably say the Moody range (especially 35 & 376) as djbreeze has suggested is a good range to look at... quite modern, yet sturdy.
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Not sure I would agree with you. The Moody, particularly the 37/376 is an excellent boat. However the number of really good ones around is very small and usually not for sale. I looked seriously at buying one (or other Moody) about 5 years ago and only found one that was worth buying - and it sold the day it went on the market for about 20% more than the typical asking price.

The problem is that they are at an age where expensive things are starting to go wrong, and many have old equipment, so you end up spending large sums to bring them up to the standard of newer boats. Each time I looked at older boats I was disappointed and was relieved to get back to my (then) 6 year old Bavaria - still going strong 5 years later.
 
What about the Moody 35?
I also looked at buying one of these and they seemed to get very good reviews..
Ok, I stayed with our Najad for other reasons, and am happy with our boat. She's from 1981 and the teak deck is giving me grief but I suppose that's to be expected.
 
Advantage of the 35 is that it is a newer boat. However a fellow member of my club went to the 1998 boat show with the intention of buying one and came home with a Bavaria 35 (virtually the same as my later 37 but a bit posher) which he still has. Won't bore you with the detailed reasons for his choice but it was nothing to do with money as they were very similar prices then. You can see what a bargain mine was 3 years later when the price had fallen 25% owing partly to the strong £ - and Moodys were in final decline in "small" boats.
 
Well, as usual, as many opinions as many people:) I assume we will have to go and try as many boats as possible, one of them will tell us that she's ours:) It is just easy to understand what to keep what to get rid off. You know, like when I'm going to holiday I always tend to bring lots of things I do not really need but usually forget one or two that I really DO need. I have the same feeling with buying a boat, there is so many things to consider.:confused:
 
Thank you

outtametree said:
We're looking at doing the same, spending a year or two learning the craft :)
The Bavaria 390 & 410 Lagoon are on our shortlist also, seems there are none around the uk to get a peek. So we're booking flights for next week to have a look at some around the med :rolleyes:
Should be fun.
Spent last week on a Westerly Sealord & decided the centre cockpit would be good for colder climbs, but a larger aft cockpit would suit us better if & when we get further south.

Very best of luck to you.

Can you let me know if you find a 390L in the uk? Not to buy, just to look.
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Actually it is your post made me to look at this boat on-line:)
No we did not find one in UK yet, good luck to you with your voyage and I really hope it will be fruitful.
It is puzzling me, on the one hand aft cockpit is ideal for living out there in the warm, on the other I do love comfort of a big bed, being not very petite myself, neither is my best half:)
Other and very important thing is galley:)
 
seastar777 said:
So how old is too old?:)
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I'm guessing that question is one only you can answer..

Our boat is 31 years old this year a nd is in great condition. She has been looked after well and the old Najad quality shines through, built to last. I'm sure she'll be looking as good in another 20 years (teak deck aside).
Then, for example, an ex charter boat obviously has had a lot more use and not been looked after so well. And they are not so old.

When we bought our boat 8 years ago, we looked at an almost new Bav 36 but decided on the Najad which was then 20 years older.. choices:)

I believe you'll know once you climb aboard a few boats... maybe you'll think as we did "Ok, we can see us aboard here...." then finally get on one and saying"Yes, this is what we want!":D
 
seastar777 said:
So how old is too old?:)
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Yes, there is never a clear cut answer. If you are going centre cockpit in your price range you are inevitably into older boats as the few designs built in any numbers the last 15years (HRs Bavaria Oceans, late Moodys, Benny CCs) will be outside your budget. Many argue that older boats are better built and there may be some truth in this - however 30 years of continuous use, particularly if it is long term cruising takes a lot out of a boat. So much depends on condition, maintenance and level of replacement. They are often in the time window for new engines, electric and domestic systems are old and out of date and they may be on their second or third set of sails. People are often selling because they can see all the big bills looming and would rather somebody else took the hit! On the other hand you can get older boats where all the work has been done and plans change so you can benefit by buying somebody elses dream.

Be prepared to see some awful boats - you will soon get the hang of spotting the dogs. You need to keep an open mind because many of the boats (like the Bavaria 390) were only built in small numbers, or not sold in UK. Draw up your list of key criteria and use that as a first screen - then you will consider a wider range of boats than if you fix on one or two models and then try to hunt one down. As you will see from the wide range of boats that people use there is no "best" boat for everybody. And actually there are very few intrinsically bad boats!
 
Something that needs to be said ,at the risk of opening a different can of worms,is the difference in motion at sea between older ,heavier boats and modern lighter boats. If you are going to be cruising continuously,this IS important.
For living aboard,not going anywhere much,it's a question of choice as to layout.
No doubt the modern boat wins on this score.
 
Ludd said:
Something that needs to be said ,at the risk of opening a different can of worms,is the difference in motion at sea between older ,heavier boats and modern lighter boats. If you are going to be cruising continuously,this IS important.
For living aboard,not going anywhere much,it's a question of choice as to layout.
No doubt the modern boat wins on this score.
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Very much a plus point for a center cockpit too!
 
Hello,it's me again.. So after lots and lots of thinking and browsing we started to look for catamaran. So now here is the question. Which one? I do like Lagoon 380, a lot, and there are some nice boats in the region of 100K. As well we were looking at Prout Snowgoose 37. The main target is Med, but the more we are looking the more we are thinking why not Caribbean and beyond:) Though of course its just dreams so far, but...So tell me pretty please about pros and cons, especially cons:) P.S. I am not writing a book:)
 
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