AllanG
Well-Known Member
Now that's a REALLY good looking boat, just a shame I haven't got £750k laying around!
Ooops seem to have ended up in the Sunseeker sales office....
- Thread starter Greenhorn
- Start date
Now that's a REALLY good looking boat, just a shame I haven't got £750k laying around!
henryf
Well-Known Member
I'm not entirely sure I follow your logic here. On the one hand you say don't buy a flybridge, in the next breath you say buy a boat with a saloon / helm and aft cockpit on the same level which is exactly what a flybridge has.
Flybridge boats aren't freezing cold in winter. On Saturday we were snug as bugs sitting at the lower helm position with the reverse cycle air-con doing it's thing. Similarly in the summer we can either hide under the Bimini cover or helm from down below with the air-con on.
The overhang from a flybridge makes the cockpit into a very usable space, covers are easy to set or remove as there will be a channel running round the underside of the flybridge. No need for bits of stainless steel or steeply angled canvas.
I would much rather have a child in the safety of a flybridge saloon and at the sort of length the OP is looking at there should be ample forward facing seating near the helm position whilst under way.
The flybridge also provides excellent all round visibility for close quarters manoeuvring (leaving and entering a berth).
Henry
sailorman
Well-Known Member
+ 3 other births
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
£750,000 asking. Princess own the boat so it will be fully guaranteed. Not a Princess and been in stock a little while so possibly keen to see a sale ?
I must say I'm surprised it hasn't sold already, possibly the fact that it's not the usual sort of thing princess sell.
http://www.princess.co.uk/used-yachts/used-aquastar-57-4917518/
So almost twice the price of the sunny.
Oh, and don't the smaller Aquastar ace aft cabin and raised deck?
Plus the no fly bridge thing is utter bollox. Last two points aimed at Bertrmdriver
Henry
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Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Sorry thats just plain wrong. In the Med, a flybridge is a godsend to catch the breeze whilst under way and at anchor. Apart from that a flybridge boat gives you far more deck space for sitting and sunbathing. Yes you do have to keep an eye on kids up there but so you do in the cockpit
henryf
Well-Known Member
Have I missed something Whitelighter?
You asked how much an Aquastar 50 would be, presumably because you thought it might be a good choice. I linked to one for sale by a motivated seller. A 2011 boat advertised at £750k. The original boat in question is a 2008 advertised at £500k
There are some wierd replies on here.
Henry
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
No, I asked the price precisely because I thought it was going to be way more than the original Sunseeker - which it is.
I think an Aquastar would be a cr@p med boat, or at least the more traditional ones like the 48. Narrow, dark, hot, little glass and a tiny amount of deck space.
If the op wants to go down the trawler route then something like a Fleming would be lovely but looking at the SS and assuming that gives a hint to budget then something less expensive and more modern is perhaps called for, hence my suggestion of the ST52.
Though I would thing the Manhattan 52 would suit the med just fine.
I think an Aquastar would be a cr@p med boat, or at least the more traditional ones like the 48. Narrow, dark, hot, little glass and a tiny amount of deck space.
If the op wants to go down the trawler route then something like a Fleming would be lovely but looking at the SS and assuming that gives a hint to budget then something less expensive and more modern is perhaps called for, hence my suggestion of the ST52.
Though I would thing the Manhattan 52 would suit the med just fine.
Flynnbarr
Well-Known Member
The budget given by the op is between 500k-£1m.
The Aquastar for sale with Princess is a cracker,by my maths that's bang in the middle
I believe jfm's brother trundles around the med in something like that.
The Aquastar for sale with Princess is a cracker,by my maths that's bang in the middle
I believe jfm's brother trundles around the med in something like that.
TwoHooter
Well-Known Member
Here's my two-penn'orth. I guess you bought your motorhome thinking it would take you to beautiful places and give you freedom, and you discovered the reality is a bit different. Obviously money isn't a big issue but that doesn't mean boating won't be just as much a blind ally as the motorhome if you aren't careful.
So here's what I would do if I were you. Talk with your wife about what you would like to do with the boat (wild camping on the water?), and where you think you might be able to do that sort of thing (have you thought about the French inland waterways?), then come back here and tell us; you'll get some useful responses (and you'll enjoy watching the arguments about flybridges and, eventually, anchoring). There are people on this forum who boat all over Europe. You'll need to be based in a good marina somewhere while you learn how to handle your boat, maintain it (boat maintenance is about to become a big part of your life), and speak boaty lingo - you'll get some good suggestions of suitable places, and what you might do there, what it will actually be like, and whether you stand any chance of finding a birth, sorry berth. Try and charter at least once to make sure you really do like it. And don't buy a boat until you are sure it's the right boat for the role you want it to perform. I'm not trying to put you off but you've clearly had a bit of a disappointment with the motorhome, best to make sure you don't get a much more expensive disappointment with the boat. If you get your skates on you could go through the whole process of defining your needs, finding a base, and buying a boat by May. You might even end up taking delivery of the Sunseeker but at least you'll have a plan for what to do with it when it arrives.
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
I think the used Manhattan 52 may have been a red herring ( see post #33)
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Greenhorn
Active Member
No, quite the opposite, we had a fantastic two month trip. I think this was mainly due to the fact that we were travelling off season and could park virtually wherever we wanted. When we did stay on a campsite due to servicing needs (water, emptying loo) I didn't enjoy it so much because they were generally in places that weren't walking distance to the town, restaurants, beach and other attractions.
We stayed in car parks of a few marinas and found this much better as all the facilities were on hand. I just can't see the motorhome being as practical in the summer months as there will be a lot more restrictions on where you can park and I think it would be uncomfortably hot.
I think a boat will be a much better proposition as you still have the freedom to travel, but you have much better accommodation and can reach inaccessible places, plus you're on the water. Couple that with the fact that you can have a real adventure. I've been watching some youtube clips of Tony Fleming travelling all over the world in his Fleming. Whilst I may not be attempting something like that, it's exciting to think that one day I could!
The deposit on the SS is returnable, I placed it because it has given me impetus to move forward, rather than just dreaming about it. Despite what it might look like, I don't enter into things lightly and will put a lot of research in and take advice from people like yourself and others.
AIDY
Well-Known Member
Good luck to you, you have to start at some point...
Portofino
Well-Known Member
Stick to plan "A" the Sunseeker .
All 1st boats you learn what you like ,what you don,t like and what you want in an ideal boat -Therefore there will never be a perfect boat -Allways some one on here suggesting this and that -ingnore them !
A new 50ftr or so Manhatten to spend extended months in the best Med anchorages /Marinas etc will blend in well .
You will need a decent tender -cos you will be going ashore to restock -shop etc -so,s the hi low platform will save messing with a crane and when calm you can lower it to play with the 2y old swimming -paddling pool .
It takes about 2/3 days of tuition to "park" it -that's the tricky bit -
Once you have masterd that and had a skipper for a week or so -you are away so to speak -start with simple calm anchorages .
I think you would like the Cote D Azur ,some interesting coast , islands ,and of course plenty of land based interests too -
SS team will help you find a berth either rent / buy
Have a look at La Napoule -they have a site there SS -great bunch of guys and the Tech centre is 10 mins away ( sort out glitches /new boat etc)
Berths expire 2029 so you can rent / return investment / - when you are not in -on your tour -or sell up later .
Great choice and nice folks to deal with SS France .
All 1st boats you learn what you like ,what you don,t like and what you want in an ideal boat -Therefore there will never be a perfect boat -Allways some one on here suggesting this and that -ingnore them !
A new 50ftr or so Manhatten to spend extended months in the best Med anchorages /Marinas etc will blend in well .
You will need a decent tender -cos you will be going ashore to restock -shop etc -so,s the hi low platform will save messing with a crane and when calm you can lower it to play with the 2y old swimming -paddling pool .
It takes about 2/3 days of tuition to "park" it -that's the tricky bit -
Once you have masterd that and had a skipper for a week or so -you are away so to speak -start with simple calm anchorages .
I think you would like the Cote D Azur ,some interesting coast , islands ,and of course plenty of land based interests too -
SS team will help you find a berth either rent / buy
Have a look at La Napoule -they have a site there SS -great bunch of guys and the Tech centre is 10 mins away ( sort out glitches /new boat etc)
Berths expire 2029 so you can rent / return investment / - when you are not in -on your tour -or sell up later .
Great choice and nice folks to deal with SS France .
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Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
The budget given by the op is between 500k-£1m.
The Aquastar for sale with Princess is a cracker,by my maths that's bang in the middle
I believe jfm's brother trundles around the med in something like that.
oh well fair enough.
Greenhorn
Active Member
Thanks for that. I was spending most of last night watching Fleming travel to Iceland, Norway and through the Inter coastal network in the US. The reality for us is, we'll spending all our time in the Med and no doubt to begin with close to wherever we keep it. Cote D'Azur would be really convenient for friends and family to visit.
How practical would it be for a newbie to travel from there down the east coast of Spain in October/November and back again? It's obviously warmer in Southern Spain in those months and would be good to extend the season a bit.
TwoHooter
Well-Known Member
Well, maybe not me so much, I'm almost as new to it as you are! But, yes, you do need to a do a bit more research......
.... but don't spend too long researching because Portofino is right, there is no such thing as the perfect boat and you might waste ages trying to choose and still feel the need to change after a year or two. We bought our first boat in 2014 and changed it after 15 months. There was no way we could have found out what we wanted without actually doing it. But I still think finding a good home port is important for a beginner, almost as important as finding the right boat. For our first 18 months it has been vital to be based somewhere which we loved going to (great views from the boat), with friendly helpful people in the yard (mechanic, electrician, glass fibre guy, rigger, upholsterer etc. etc.).
Not in a Sunseeker you couldn't. If you want to keep that particular dream alive you need a different kind of boat. Fleming, Nordhavn, DeFever, Kadey-Krogen, Selene, North Pacific. generally called Trawler Yachts. We bought one of those. Never even knew such things existed until we started boating, and never thought of having one until we discovered what we wanted to do and went looking for a boat that would do it.
Edit: Your most recent reply popped up while I was typing the above, obviously a Sunseeker is fine if you are staying in the Med.
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Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
That Aq57 and another Aq74 have been around the brokerage listings for an awful long time. They may be great boats but they only have a very specific market of punters looking for that type of rufty tufty SD boat. In terms of resale, the OP would probably be better looking at more mainstream boats like the Man52The Aquastar for sale with Princess is a cracker,by my maths that's bang in the middle
adey
Well-Known Member
I reckon so too, although I'd buy one that's already in the Med to save transport costs.
Consider fitting a Seakeeper stabiliser from the off. It'll make the whole experience much more enjoyable and you'll get most of the cost back when you come to sell.
If you are considering the Cote d' Azur, make sure you get a berth sorted. It's not so easy to find annual rental berths down there and buying a berth can be expensive.
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
I agree with the first bit of that, but I think the jury is out on resale at the moment.
I think with all optional extras its best to assume low or no extra value so make sure you want it for you
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Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Entirely practical in a 50ft+ boat. You will just have to watch the weather forecast a bit more closely than you would in the summer and be prepared to sit a day or two in port waiting for any inclement weather to blow through, should you be unlucky enough to encounter it. The weather you really do want to avoid is the northerly Mistral wind which can blow very hard in the Golfe de Lion and down the east coast of Spain. This really would be an issue if you were returning northwards along this coast because you'd be punching into a head sea but, as I say, if a Mistral is forecast just sit it out in a nice marina for a few days. The Med can be fabulous out of season if you're lucky with the weather. We've seen temps of 30degC+ in Majorca at the end of October. Apart from that you'll find the marinas more empty and the restaurants more welcoming. The sea temps will still be warm enough for swimming too
