New liveabord need some help

[Liz_I]

Hi
did you get the inventory?

 

[Liz_I]

imho a cabin in the bow is only good if your are either in port or at anchor & then only if it's flat calm. You will always get the noise from the anchor chain.

 

[syfuga]

Hi,

Realise the OP is on a limited budget, but when we got into Amel's we were off track anyway. Realistically OP needs to look at 32/35 footers, and keep back some money for the cruising gear.

Have had no problems with forward cabin, with anchor strop taking the load, just occasionally when there is a rock about. But just as well to know what is happening.

 

[jordanbasset]

Now that would be very nice I do like the Dehler 41ds and it would make a very nice first yacht With that in mind what is the general opinion to Bravarias? please be objective, I know they are AWB but people have sailed around the world in AWB's. There are some ex charter 40-44ft ones now coming onto the market, 95-2003, nice comfy cockpit, which from what I gather is where most of my time will be spent My partner is still looking for the big aft cabin but she has opened her eyes to maybe a large owners cabin in the bow, what do you think?

We had a 2003 Bavaria 38 (in reality 40 foot long), excellent storage, plenty of hanging space, good sized cockpit, where you will spend a lot of time. Very reliable, only things we had to replace were standard items, domestic water pump, tacho, heater element. Most of the time it was very comfortable, infact 99% of the time she was, yes when beating to windward in big seas she was not at her best but it was manageable.We did not circumnavigate but did take it from the UK to Greece without problem and we have heard of others who did circumnavigate in one. But it does depend on what your intentions are, if you are talking about into the med, out to the caribean etc it will be fine. But sure some will be on here to disagree shortly

 

[syfuga]

Intrigued that anyone would think the Dehler 41DS would make a nice first yacht! Personally started with a Wayfarer, shared a Gibsea, and only got to Fuga when we retired and went sailing.

There's nowt wrong with the Bavarias, particularly the earlier centre cockpit ones, but they are built down to a price. Dehler yachts of this vintage were probably massively over engineered, with structural steel in the frame of the boat adding to rigidity. So she is nearer a Halberg in quality than an AWB.

IF you are truly planning to liveaboard, and go long distance cruising, then the boat needs to be geared up for that, and that costs money.

Then inevitably, bills will roll in. Things need to be kept working, and sooner or later you will need to find money for spares and repairs. Since 2011 we have upgraded the radar and plotter, replaced the folding propeller, bought new sails and ball slide system, replaced the furling gear. None of these are small ticket items, and are in addition to the normal run of antifoul, varnish, and running repairs, etc.

Yes, there are liveaboards who buy a boat, go nowhere, and preside over a steadily deteriorating asset. They get away with a lot less. But decide what you want to do, and budget accordingly.

 

[RAI]

Cheap and cheerful

There are a lot of couples living happily on smaller older boats. TLC goes a long way to keeping them livable and functional. The NAB/HR 35 is centre cockpit and rear cabin but not centre bed and can be registered as 9.99m to save on marina fees.. My preference is for my own 1977 vintage C-E 38, of course, but then I am biased and living on it in the Canaries at the moment. My neighbours from Slovenia are on something about 30ft with an engine that does ahead, but not astern, they are very happy.

 

[Tranona]

There are some ex charter 40-44ft ones now coming onto the market, 95-2003, nice comfy cockpit, which from what I gather is where most of my time will be spent My partner is still looking for the big aft cabin but she has opened her eyes to maybe a large owners cabin in the bow, what do you think?

That era Bavaria has a lot of good points over later ones. I have a 2001 37 so am obviously biased! However, if I had a pick a 38 or 40 Ocean would be my choice - but these are way outside your budget. Next best is a 1999-2002 42, which is what I would have bought if I could have squeezed a bit more cash at the time. The charter layout is to my mind better than the "owners" as it has a side cabin with two up and under berths which is excellent for storage. Reduces the size of the forecabin and forward loo but arguably a good tradeoff for a liveaboard. However, don't think you will get a good one in that budget - you need an extra £10k or so.

Alternatives are slightly earlier (pre 1999) 38s which will be nearer your £50k, or a 37 like mine. The 38 is a much bigger boat than the 37 as it is nearly 3' longer on the waterline and 6" wider beam and has 2 loos (mixed blessing!). Also in budget would be a 2002 on 36 which was a top seller and has as much space as the 37, but different layout. All of these boats were popular in charter fleets at the time, so a trawl of Yachtworld.com will throw up lots for sale.

 

[nimbusgb]

please explain as GRP glass reinforced plastic IS polyester - the terms are interchangeable depending upon which side of English Channel you are on.

The Dehler is a nice boat but it does not have a monolithic hull - but a galvanised "chassis", this may be a good or a bad thing depending on where you stand on salt water and galvanised steel and monolithic hulls I would have considered it a AWB; the 41 DS was on my short list in 1999 - then they went bust.

(MOST (not ALL) boats now don't have a monolithic hull Amel is now one of the exceptions in that respect. But way out of the OP price range for a good example).

Didn't buy the Amel in 1999 because of the choice of engines - anything as long as its was Volvo and that stupid Z drive to get the drive down to the centre of the keel - loved the deck layout and the practicality of the interior - oh and the size: at 53ft MCA rules .. . . . . . .

The resin part can be polyester, vinylester or epoxy. It's not always polyester. They're all commonly called GRP it's the p part that is different.

 

[TQA]

You are not going to get an Amel in good nick for that money.

However a Beneteau Oceanus 430 ticks most boxes for you and I suspect your partner will like the interior.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1987/Beneteau-Oceanis-430-2639449/Lefkas/Greece#.UkhwDdI3s8U

 

[rolfbudd]

Update, it looks like we may be heading down to Spain end of Nov so will do some more research and pop in to some marinas on the French Med coast and then wind our way down the Spanish coast to Murcia and see what we can find. We are still looking at all possibilities so if you have any ideas or see something that maybe of interest then please post. Also interested in meeting some live aboards (happy to buy a pint or 2 and pick you brains about life etc so if any one is interested please pm me.

 

[rolfbudd]

Hi TQA that one is now on the radar, if we dont find what we are looking for on the French/Spanish Med coast we are planning to fly over to Greece early next year to hace a look round Corfu, Prevesa and Lefkas, there is a Beneteau 40cc that way, a bit more than we wanted to pay but.... still interested in the Moody 42 at the mo, I think the Franchini 47, while being a very nice yacht is probably to big for our long term budget but might still give it a look

 

[rolfbudd]

Looking at the Bene what are the views in general of the linear galley set up? what are they like to use at sea or in a roly anchorage?

 

[sailorgirl]

Looking at the Bene what are the views in general of the linear galley set up? what are they like to use at sea or in a roly anchorage?

We've a linear galley on our 20 yr old SO -it works fine at sea even beating to windward as you can brace yourself on the sofa. We have never had such a rolly anchorage that its been anywhere near as much a problem as beating to windward in a F6. Do ensure there is a good strong handrail above the galley for when you are other other tack - you can lean on it with one arm whilst stirring the stew.

 

[Birvidik_Bob]

Ours is for sale and might meet your needs. It's based in Lefkas. Have a look at
http://liveaboarddream.wordpress.com/

The website is far from finished yet, but it might give you an idea.

Cheers

Bob

 

[RAI]

Update, it looks like we may be heading down to Spain end of Nov so will do some more research and pop in to some marinas on the French Med coast and then wind our way down the Spanish coast to Murcia and see what we can find. We are still looking at all possibilities so if you have any ideas or see something that maybe of interest then please post. Also interested in meeting some live aboards (happy to buy a pint or 2 and pick you brains about life etc so if any one is interested please pm me.

If you would really want a project, there are suitable rear cabin boats abandoned in many sunny marina's. Talk to the marina offices for details. All sizes in San Sebastian La Gomera.

 

[Muzz Thomas]

Hey, Why not try a Moody, just done the same as you, Brought itlast year< Sept, and had our first year in Greece, it wold also site your price range, there are a couple of 35's$ sale. Maybe 20 years old but in good nick.

 

[GrahamM376]

Looking at the Bene what are the views in general of the linear galley set up? what are they like to use at sea or in a roly anchorage?

Having sailed on a couple of boats with them, I don't like them, they aften also have a horseshoe seating arrangement around the dining table which is no good as a sea berth. Prefer traditional galley with bench seating/berths with lee cloths, like our Moody https://www.google.com/search?q=lay...Aaz94GwAg&ved=0CCoQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=428&dpr=1

 

[Zanziba]

Moody CC's get excellent reports. I love my Morgan 416 with it's very spacious rear cabin but that's more to live in than to sail (at the moment)... horses for courses. Westerly corsairs tick both boxes but they demand a premium even for early 1990's boats.