new(ish) cruiser

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seasick

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Just down sizing from my 32 RLM entice, and loking for used cruiser 26-28 feet. Immediately thought of a Hardy 27, or a Sea warrior but saw an old post on the forum suggesting looking at Beneteau or Jeanneau similar size. The difference in price is considerable, you seem to get a more modern french vessel with good equipment for the same s/h price. Talking to folk at my Marina, the concencus was that the French vessels fall apart with age "fibre glass hull so thin you can poke your finger through it"
units that "fall apart" hand rails that "you had better not rely on." My intended use would be fishing and I have dreams of doing the French canals. My kids all have children of their own so dont come with us very often, so the number of berths is not important, although it would be nice to accommodate the occasional extra two pax, even if it is in the cockpit area. Would like a cruising speed of 9 knts min and must be diesel in case I do pluck up courage for the French canals. Would appreciate any comments especially from any one who has bought a s/h Frenchie. - is the build quality that bad compared to UK built? I cant envisage boating for more than 10 years , so I dont need the boat to last for ever. Maybe a viking funeral would be a fitting end for us both. Thanks in advance
 
Hi Seasick
I purchased a beneteau antares 760 over a year ago . Purchased her in north wales and brought her by water over to southern Ireland . In my opinion a great boat . We have over 120 hours up on her since we bought her and have had many weekends away on her some on flat calm seas other trips on not so calm seas and never once did I ever think that's it im selling:eek:
Accomodation is suitable for weekends away with the forward berth quite comfortable and the addition of a suitable heads. Nice comfortable galley and with the Volvo engine you can trust .
My last boat was a beneteau this one is and im sure the next one will be too .
Any questions you may have pls just ask
Regards J
 
Many thks Lady Rachel, it seems from your comments that the poor quality fittings people talk about, is unfounded . May I ask what year she was built? I s she easy to handle/berth as my wife is refusing to "jump for it" any more. What engine size do you have and approximate cruising speed/ consumption to you get? If she can cruise at 9/10 knts , then I would cross the channel on a good day, as being retired , I have the time to wait for good weather. If you were buying a 760 again, are there any helpful pointers you can give me, or suggested improvements that perhaps you may think in retrospect would have been a small improvement? Did you consider any other 27ft (ish) boats . Many thanks for your helpful reply, much appreciated. regrds
 
Hi seasick
2005 . No problems berthing her so far . She has a bowtruster and it helps but to be honest if its really blowing i just park her where i can and wait for a suitable time to move her:) Engine is a Volvo penta TAMD41P 200Hp and i find it very easy to service and maintain . Easy to check engine oil ect before setting off . Cruising speed of 18Knts at 3200 Rpm at this she burns roughly 28Ltrs an hour with a clean bottom. She will reach 24Knots but then she will burn a lot more fuel but good to know if you are running from weather ect . To be honest i didnt really look at anything else as it was the next step up on the Beneteau range for me and as i use her all year around i wanted the comfort of an enclosed cockpit . When i purchased her she had very low hours and was serviced regulary and she came fully loaded so id really didnt have to get anything for her . Only thing ive done is fit a 12v socket and a set of brushes for the bowtruster . All in all very happy :)
 
The Marex 280 is coming into your price range, especially if you are prepared to travel to the continent to buy.
I’ve not owned one, so I can’t recommend, but I have looked at a few Marex’s with our next boat in mind, they seem to tick most of your boxes and the build quality does seem to be very good
 
Two totally different concepts as to what a boat is and should do.
The highly successful Peche Promenade is basically a lightweight fast fisher with added comfort,basically designed to get you there and back. Usually with a single decent sized engine.
The Hardy is a boat from a different generation. It is essentially a mini version of its bigger brothers and built with the same solidity and care.Have a look at the quality of the stantions and the way they are secured to the toerail, note the size of the deck drains and the sheer quality and thickness of the layup.
Quick it aint, many came with a pair of weedy 75 hp engines which struggle up to 10 or 11 knots.
Chalk and cheese really.
 
Both myself and Firefly625 of this forum have the Hardy 25/26 (same boat just relabelled). I am not aware of a recent 27 footer - the size jumps to 32 after ours. Ours is a single Yanmar 230 on shaft - the 32 is a twin. Basically a Hardy gives you a pretty overengineered, heavy sea boat - round about 4 tons that cruises at 15 knots and tops out around 20. it is an old fashioned design - open plan, pilot berth but really deals with a heavy weather very well - nice big sunroof, high guard rails, wide decks - very safe. Have a look at www.Hardy-marine.co.uk for details. The French boats are lighter and of more modern design and I guess I should let an owner of one of those give their views but I would disagree that they are so thin you can poke through the glass etc - if you go to France the harbours are full of them so they definitely do the job for that setting. This is my second Hardy and I have a lot of respect for them - I brought this one on its hull from Falmouth to the Solent. If you want to chat in more detail PM me
 
Thank you everybody for your helpful comments. Sorry about my error re Hardy length, duly noted. Will the more powerful engines giving cruising speeds 15 knts or more , cope with slow running on our rivers/ French canals.? Any other boats about 25-27 feet I should look at? regrds
 
seasick said:
Thank you everybody for your helpful comments. Sorry about my error re Hardy length, duly noted. Will the more powerful engines giving cruising speeds 15 knts or more , cope with slow running on our rivers/ French canals.? Any other boats about 25-27 feet I should look at? regrds
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They are comfortable as a hull around 5 to 6 knots but the turbos don't like extended slow running so that might be an issue, I think that applies to any turbo engine but there are engine experts who can give more on that. There are plenty of people here who have taken powerful vessels through the French canals so I guess as long as you give them a good blow out at the other end you would be OK. Hardy originated making river boats so the lighting rig on the coach roof folds down to reduce air height
 
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