madorwhat
Active Member
Both boats similair price , Trader is 42 FB Signature has 200 hours only and immaculate
What would you go for and why ??
What would you go for and why ??
New Beneteau ST44 or used Trader 42 FB Signature
- Thread starter madorwhat
- Start date
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
Why is the Trader for sale? Trader seem to suffer a lot of new boat teething problems. Do a search on here for "Trader Gludy" to see at least one real horror story.
gjgm
Well-Known Member
I dont think you can take that thread as a guide on Trader quality.
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
I know what your saying Gludy not a normal case, but the engines were screwed down with self tappers and came away
Have noticed in a lot of adverts for Traders the words "a fully sorted nearly new Trader" seem to come up a lot
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
What engines/nav gear/equipment/how old etc etc? Very easy to argue a case for either boat. Which do you prefer, that's the important bit.
madorwhat
Active Member
ST44 is new and would need some spend to get to all extras I would want. Trader is 2009 with less than 200 hours but can only be described as immaculate.
Trader layout is probably favourable for us with extra cabin and large owners aft cabin. Plus I think the finish is better on the Trader ??
Trader has Cummins QSB5.9 and ST44 on Volvo D4300 , both good as far as I know but Trader is reputed to be a bit more frugal ??
Trader layout is probably favourable for us with extra cabin and large owners aft cabin. Plus I think the finish is better on the Trader ??
Trader has Cummins QSB5.9 and ST44 on Volvo D4300 , both good as far as I know but Trader is reputed to be a bit more frugal ??
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
You're really answering your own question. It's all down to personal preference. I would also probably choose the Trader BUT I'd want to get a good surveyor on board to check it all out as there have been various build quality issues.
Presumably the Trader has all the nav gear etc you'd want?
Exciting times. And welcome to the forum. Keep us posted as to how you progress. Pics are always welcome!
kashurst
Well-Known Member
between the two I'd pick the trader as well. Looked at one at the boat show a few years ago and really liked the build and design. There is poor Gludy whose story became infamous but there are a lot of very happy Trader owners out there. The Trader looks much more boat for your money than the st44 (in my opinion). If the trader already has most of the kit you want too, its an easy decision.
madorwhat
Active Member
Yes ,could be answering own question but my head is currently pickled with weighing it all up .
I actually prefer the look of the ST44 to be honest , but the Trader with the rear canvas off is not an ugly bug either
I actually prefer the look of the ST44 to be honest , but the Trader with the rear canvas off is not an ugly bug either
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
I think between those 2 I would be tempted to go for the Trader, but I would employ the best surveyor possible & get the engines and fitting checked by and engineer... and if a load rubbish would be quite happy to settle for the ST44!
honestly, some of what Trader got up to was not funny, go in with your eye's open...
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2404860
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beebok
Well-Known Member
Well I have been along a similar route,did not want Beneteau I felt I wanted a boat with a good reputation for sea keeping,Beneteau may offer that but we felt the Aqua Star 48 had a pedigree and we talk to a lot of owners who confirmed the build quality and sea keeping was of a high standard.
The Trader did not offer what we wanted,its either a 42 which did not give us the space below the 535 was too big and I wanted stabilizers none second hand on the market with this extra and the numbers did not work out retro fitting.
The Aqua Star 42 has some good reviews and YBW have a video on youtube may be worth a look.
The Trader did not offer what we wanted,its either a 42 which did not give us the space below the 535 was too big and I wanted stabilizers none second hand on the market with this extra and the numbers did not work out retro fitting.
The Aqua Star 42 has some good reviews and YBW have a video on youtube may be worth a look.
Whopper
Well-Known Member
Is the Trader a command bridge layout (a la Broom or Atlantic) or the flybridge aft cabin style traditionally associated with Trader?
madorwhat
Active Member
Yes its a Flybridge aft cabin model ,which I like.
Thats one thing that the ST44 is missing maybe, the rear storage is huge and a bit of a waste of space really
Thats one thing that the ST44 is missing maybe, the rear storage is huge and a bit of a waste of space really
maybh1
Well-Known Member
One very happy Trader owner here - 13 years of ownership from new
Of course we had teething problems - who doesn't? Buying her was one of the best decisions we ever made evidenced by the fact that we just cannot bear to part with her
May
Xx
Whopper
Well-Known Member
Hmmm. Yes I do like that style Trader. Tough decision. Will you actually use the higher end speed. If not it could be worth considering something more displacement style.
If not, I would probably go for the Trader.
If not, I would probably go for the Trader.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
I'd be very surprised if that was the case. The Trader is a bigger heavier boat with bigger engines so I can't see how it can be more frugal than the ST44. All the same, I'd go for the Trader because it is a bigger heavier boat and likely to be a more comfortable boat both at sea and for living onboard. I agree with you on the finish as well. The Trader is certainly a more luxuriously finished boat compared to the rather utilitarian ST44 but that won't necessarily mean it is a better built boat. Trader have had a chequered history in the UK to say the least and build quality can be patchy. Agree entirely with longjohnsilver. You need a good surveyor to go through the Trader with a fine toothcomb. But if this one is a good one, it could be a good buy
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
Aqua Star 42... now that is a proper boat!
madorwhat
Active Member
Sorry , my mistake.I meant the ST44 was better on diesel
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Ah, I thought so. One thing I didn't say in my previous post about the Trader is that you really should sea trial it before you buy. A friend of mine had a Trader 41+2 (which was the forerunner of the 42) and not only was it a very wet boat but it wallowed a bit in a beam sea compared to a planing boat. I'm not saying that's bad, just that it might feel very different if you are used to fast planing boats. Also if you cruise the Trader at close to its max speed (ie high teens), I suspect it will use quite a bit more fuel than the ST44
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
You should check the old MBM test of the Trader 42, it was indeed a very wet boat and the hull was later modified with a spray deflector on the forward chine, you should make sure the example you are looking at has this mod, otherwise you will nee the canopy up even on calm days
Seem to remember the fuel consumption figures were quite sobering, its definitely a very sub 1mpg boat.
Seem to remember the fuel consumption figures were quite sobering, its definitely a very sub 1mpg boat.