longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
Went to SIBS yesterday and had a very enjoyable day, as expected loved the Nordhavn and Fleming, but both unfortunately over our budget. We have friends who run a Nordhavn 62 in the States who are thinking about selling and buying a sailing boat for the Med, or more specifically a cat, so thought we'd have a quick look at a few. Debs wasn't keen, but as we were right by the Fountaine Pajot stand I said let's have a quick look.
That's where the problems started. The quick look turned into half an hour or more. The Saba 50 is just enormous with so much socializing space both inside and out with a minimum of 4 double cabins and heads. And headroom, it's huge. I'm 6'3" and still had a foot or more almost everywhere! Ok, the fit out is not up to mobo standards but no doubt can be improved, but then the price is also so much less than a mobo with the equivalent space. I've never sailed, but knowing others who have learnt it doesn't seem an insurmountable problem, and with a cat everything is done more or less on the level. Of course there are motor cats, but sailing long distances in relative comfort does seem to make sense. Plus there are 2 small engines using tiny amounts of fuel if there's no wind. And enormous amounts of storage space.
So the thinking cap is back on. Do we update Eos, fit air con etc, and trundle off to the Med via the W coast of France, or bight the bullet and maybe change to a sailing cat with all the advantages that brings. But then, if going to the Med, where do we moor it with a beam of 8m, or do we look further afield? Lots of thinking to be done.
If you're going to SIBS do have a look at the Nordhavn, it's hard to believe it's a 5 year old boat, and the Fleming is superb. And whilst on the pontoon do have a quick look at the Fountaine Pajot. We also looked at the Lagoon, felt that we were treated as unnecessary nuisances by about 5 Ancasta staff on board who all totally ignored us and continued with their conversations, all in direct contrast to the attentive and friendly lady on the FP.
That's where the problems started. The quick look turned into half an hour or more. The Saba 50 is just enormous with so much socializing space both inside and out with a minimum of 4 double cabins and heads. And headroom, it's huge. I'm 6'3" and still had a foot or more almost everywhere! Ok, the fit out is not up to mobo standards but no doubt can be improved, but then the price is also so much less than a mobo with the equivalent space. I've never sailed, but knowing others who have learnt it doesn't seem an insurmountable problem, and with a cat everything is done more or less on the level. Of course there are motor cats, but sailing long distances in relative comfort does seem to make sense. Plus there are 2 small engines using tiny amounts of fuel if there's no wind. And enormous amounts of storage space.
So the thinking cap is back on. Do we update Eos, fit air con etc, and trundle off to the Med via the W coast of France, or bight the bullet and maybe change to a sailing cat with all the advantages that brings. But then, if going to the Med, where do we moor it with a beam of 8m, or do we look further afield? Lots of thinking to be done.
If you're going to SIBS do have a look at the Nordhavn, it's hard to believe it's a 5 year old boat, and the Fleming is superb. And whilst on the pontoon do have a quick look at the Fountaine Pajot. We also looked at the Lagoon, felt that we were treated as unnecessary nuisances by about 5 Ancasta staff on board who all totally ignored us and continued with their conversations, all in direct contrast to the attentive and friendly lady on the FP.
