Oceanis 350

tjfmmaes

tjfmmaes

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Hi all

I have just looked at an 1987 Oceanis 350 and I quite like it. Does anyone know of any known problems, things to look out for or just have any experience (good as much as bad) with them?

Any information would be greatly appreciated as this is our first "big boat" purchase and we are a tad apprehensive (but very excited).

Thanks

Thomas


<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by tjfmmaes on 02/02/2004 14:23 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
Crewed on one from Gib to the Canaries - it was a reasonably good experience even in some big wind/waves.

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The Oceanis 350 was a popular yacht with the large charter fleet operators for whom she was, to a large extent, designed. You should check the history of this boat carefully and if she has been in charter, bear in mind that she will have had a hard life. Often, but not invariably, these boats will have been refurbished after coming out of charter. A surveyor's report should throw up any serious problems.
The Oceanis range was launched in 1985 with thismodel.The concept was for a high volume, comfortable boat for six to live on in the warmth of the Mediterranean. She was designed for good light to moderate wind performance and with her shallow forefoot and broad transom, was not at her best punching to windward in big seas. With a full crew on board, stowage is at a premium but for family sailing there is probably sufficient for a weeks cruise. Many people bought her for family cruising in Britain and enjoyed the experience.

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ
 
That is an interesting point, one US review puts it that light air performance is not good but mid-speed (15-25kn) is fine. Others say that he couldn't stop the boat from broaching at 18kn wind, Your point is that it is fine for light to mid conditions. Excerpt from this review is: "Most owners agree that the Oceanis 350 balances
well and is reasonably seakindly, though one owner said, “The bow will pound if it hits high waves dead on,” while another said, “This boat really never pounds.” The boat’s light air performance also is a bit less than some would like: One owner said, “My main complaints are not enough sail for winds under 6 knots; in winds over 20 knots or on a beam reach, I have to reef the main to keep the boat balanced.” “The boat does not carry much sail, and consequently does not perform well in light winds,” confirmed another. “However, when the wind gets above
13 knots the boat becomes quite quick. The boat will easily sail 8 to 9 knots when the wind is in the 20 to 25-knot range."

So which is true?? (Everyone seems to agree that high winds are not its forte but I guess with properly reefed main and genoa/storm jib that should be ok)

Another interesting point is the windward performance. Again the US review says that: " The boat points reasonably well, better with the deep fin than the shoal draft wing keel."

So I am a bit confused (more than usual even)....

Thomas


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Having been thoroughly confused by all the replies, I thought I would turn the question back:

What would forum readers get then if they had about £35k to spend on something that

a) my wife would like: she likes to sail from place to place, knows how to handle a boat, does all the mooring but is not really in the technicalities of it all. She also likes a decent galley, wheel steering is a must as that is what she is comfortable with, decent room for friends to come and stay (and for us as well) and if she is happy, that makes everything so much easier.

b) I would like: easy short/single handling, performance should be OK - does not have to be racy but dependable and predictable (but I don't mean sloooow - hate being overtaken), easy to maintain, reliable, needs to have heating and pref hot water as I want to use the boat as a weekend retreat for as much of the year as possible)

We both would like something around the 34ft mark, maybe a bit less, we are not snobby about AWBs (as you can see from the title of this post), will use it mainly around the south coast with some cross channel trips.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Thomas


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A few points

1. Almost any boat except some sort of extreme lake racer is going to be underpowered in six knots of breeze.

2. Most boats in the size range you are looking for would benefit from being reefed down somewhere in the 15 - 20 kts apparent range, if going upwind.

3. "I have to reef the main to keep the boat balanced". This could be because the mainsheet arrangement on many charter-style boats has the traveller track very unhandily placed ahead of the companionway which precludes dumping the traveller in gusts to keep the boat tracking.

4. Boats of the Benny sort will broach if they heel too much, becasue the broad quarters lift lots of rudder out of the water when heeled. The answer is to sail the boat flat, like a dinghy.

5. What would I look at for £35K?
Sadler 34
Dehler34
Nicholson 31
Westerly Fulmar
Sigma 36


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Re: A few points

I too looked at some of these boats, however part of my criteria was a double aft cabin and wheel steering which the Oceanis 320 gave us. Most, if not all, of those you mention don't offer this (mind you we were looking at boats up to 33').

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Re: A few points

I know people do sleep in back bedrooms, but often it's difficult because of the way the slightest popple on the water causes a slap under the transom, which is only a couple of feet away from the sleeper's ear.

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Speed in very light airs will be a bit sluggish because of her high wetted surface area and comparatively small rig. I don't think anyone can honestly claim that this boat does not slam in big seas.The sort of waves you get in the Solent and Channel - steep and short - are particularly difficult.Many boats of this type suffer in a similar way but in my view she is one of the worst.

Except dead down wind, speed claims of 8 to 9 knots (easily!) say more about the calibration of the guy's log that the boat. On a good beam reach in 20 knots, full sail, 7.5 knots would be reasonable, 8 knots might be achieved in 25 knots if you really pushed her. Down wind she will surf at 9 knots plus, but average speeds will be closer to 6.5 to 7 knots.
Her pointing ability is, indeed, reasonable in moderate conditions (12 to 15 knots apparent to windward). This is in the context of a cruising boat - performance cruisers and cruiser racers will out-point her comfortably. Her pointing ability will decline in higher winds unless she is reefed to keep her on her feet and, because of the lack of a forefoot to keep the bows up, she will tend to fall away over waves thus losing ground to leeward. Clearly the deep fin version will point better that the shallower wing keel but the latter tends to have a softer, slower motion in a seaway.

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ
 
Re: A few points

Ah - we sleep in the forecabin, the after cabin is for Dad or the kids, or guests come to that!

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I know people who have them and are very happy with them. One small point though. The flattish forward facing windows are prone to leaks.

John.

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Hi I know this is a bit tardy, but I thought I'd give some feedback:

- I ended up buying the boat a year ago. It has worked out fine, she is lovely to be with - (imagine a guy with a huge grin - that would be me, if you can distunguish me from the rest of the people in the marina)
-Socially (as in with people aboard), she is absolutely fine, some niggles with electrics and stuff but no real deal.
- Sailing, she is, as James Jermain said (sorry James for doubting you), a bit tender. However, I sailed her in a force 7 last feb, with properly reefed main (1) and some genoa reefed and was very well behaved. I also sailed her from Lymington to Portsmouth ( i know not really an ocean passage) in a force 7 with huge (for the solent) swells - no real issue. Key is to reef a little earlier. My friends came aboard with a 2 and a 3 year old, properly decked out and strapped in of course, and had a whale of a time (the kids that was, the parents were a bit peaky.)
- As any boat, you learn how to sail her, last weekend, I sailed without touching the wheel for 20 minutes at a time (no autopilot) because I found out how to balance her - what a great feeling.
- Speed - she'll never be a top performer, although I am going to put her into the beneteau cup because you just have to find out - don't you?


I haven't been always prompt enough in my thank yous - but I do appreciate all your help.


Cheers

Tom
 
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