New Boat Help

[Guest]

My wife an I are looking to move up from a Bavaria 32, we're looking to go up to 37 to 39 feet. Although our Bavaria is great for a 32 we're after a larger cockpit that the larger Bavarias don't seem to have compared to others we've seen. My wife refuses to buy a Beneteau for reason I better not mention.
We mainly cruise the South Coast and Channel Islands and are not interested in racing.
We've so far considered a Jeanneau 37, Hanse 371, Dehler 39, Moody 38 (though we don't want a centre cockpit) or possibly an Elan.

Does any one have any experiences or advice they could give us, or maybe any other suggestions.

Thank you

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[dulcibella]

When you say you want a larger cockpit, is this for sailing or picnic purposes? While wide cockpits are nice for social activity on a mooring, they can be a serious danger at sea because they are often too wide for everyone to be able to brace their feet on the opposite seat, and also can hold a helluva lot of water. My suggestion would be to look at boats with long but narrower cockpits - examples are ocean cruisers such as Vancouver, Tradewind, Rustler, Crealock etc. If you aren't interested in racing, these are much more sea-kindly and comfortable boats.

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[Vid]

Once had a Jenneau SO37 as a charter boat and really liked it compared to the Bavarias I've sailed. Certainly spacious inside and out. Was a little concerned about the v.wide cockpit at sea but went from Solent to Poole in F7/8 with quite a lumpy sea and it was perfectly safe and dry and comfortable. Did need to stretch a bit to brace though and I'm 6ft but it should be possible to add extra bracing points for others. Perhaps a permanent cockpit table? It may reveal limitations if you're undertaking Biscay crossings in heavy weather but for moderate-conditions coastal cruising I thought it excellent.

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[quaelgeist2]

@ dulcibella

racing does not automatically ask for a small cockpit - in some boats it is too small to have 3 people working in the cockpit, how do you want to tack and trim properly?

@ TWFS

Moody has also a S38 with aft cockpit, check here (some day I would like to trade in our S31 for an S38 but keep schtum for the time being ;-) )
http://www.moody.co.uk/archive/61_boat.htm
The S31 goes very well through all seas and with light or heavy winds - would expect the big sister to do similarly.

chris

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[tcm]

tell us the unmentionable reasons against a benny!

this is most interesting. Possible reasons include

1. The beneteau salesman at a boat show was unpleasant
2. Those horrid people over on the other pontoon have a beneteau
3 Her ex had a beneteau.
4. the benteau salesman squeezed her a bit rudely, or she thought he did.
5. There is hardly any headroom for nightime frolics in the beneteau
6. There is too much room in a beneteau for nightime frolics, and the options list includes handcuffs at either side of the bed
7. something else


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[Gunfleet]

Re: tell us the unmentionable reasons against a benny!

oh don't tease him - he's only just got here

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[jimi]

Re: tell us the unmentionable reasons against a benny!

I too am intrigued and indeed feel guilty, maybe she's heard that some Beneteaus have holding tanks?

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[Guest]

Re: tell us the unmentionable reasons against a benny!

1 & 4, didn't know about the handcuff option, maybe the Beneteau could be on the list again.

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[Evadne]

Re: tell us the unmentionable reasons against a be

That was a good set of guesses, or were you a Beneteau salesman in a previous life?

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[tcm]

Re: teehee

and welcome to the nuthouse er forum. Sorry, i failed to see you were a newbie hereabouts - we are all under strict instructions not to rip into new people, which i forgot about or didn't look. Cheers for being such a sport. Oops! I spect that's the sort of thing that the benny salesman said to your swmbo! I've really gorn and put my foot in it now...

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[Stuart_Wyatt]

Re: tell us the unmentionable reasons against a be

I have heard of a broker who allegedly says he won't sell used ones because so many fail the survey. Allegedly

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