Opinions on SS Manhattan 66

[Mr Proach]

we're in the process of seriously upgrading from a Sqn 52 and I've seen a couple of SS Manhattan 66's at a reasonable price. The Sqn 52 was a bit of a disaster and there are many learning points from that! things i like about the 66: the aft galley, the 4 cabin layout, decent sized engine room, well laid out Fly Bridge and from what I've read, it seems fairly economical with fuel when at cruising speed. Another option, but much more expensive, would be something like a P62. I'd also like to relocate to the eastern Med, possibly Greece, due to the cost of being in Denia and the attitude of the Spanish . Any and all opinions welcomed.

 

[Portofino]

Wise move up .
A lot of bang for your buck , meant in a complimentary way btw .
S/Skr that size from that date have Integrity.

 

[MRC]

We are currently on one at the moment. Not ours but charter in Mallorca.

Overall really nice Boat with some great features.

Aft cockpit feels very tight with having the bar in the cockpit.

Aft cockpit table is very small. We only have 4 on board so ok but for 8 it wouldn’t work.

Aft separate stair case to master cabin makes the saloon area feel smaller by the cockpit and also seems to encroach on spec in the master cabin.

Love the bathrooms along the bulk head between cabin and engine room.

Portugese forward seating is brilliant.

No internal dining area but this does make the saloon feel large and airy

Flybridge works well. Nice layout. Def needs the aft sun canopy on the back of the hard top

Fun stabs, side power, feel like they are positioned wrong on the boat we are on.

Platform shower is really nice option but looks like someone has left crew cabin door open ?

Because of the volume Into a 66 it can make the boat looks stubby from angles.

Overall really nice and be good to change a few bits on one.

Master wardrobe not great / full hanging.

Not much storage in guest cabins

 

[Mr Proach]

We are currently on one at the moment. Not ours but charter in Mallorca.

Overall really nice Boat with some great features.

Aft cockpit feels very tight with having the bar in the cockpit.

Aft cockpit table is very small. We only have 4 on board so ok but for 8 it wouldn’t work.

Aft separate stair case to master cabin makes the saloon area feel smaller by the cockpit and also seems to encroach on spec in the master cabin.

Love the bathrooms along the bulk head between cabin and engine room.

Portugese forward seating is brilliant.

No internal dining area but this does make the saloon feel large and airy

Flybridge works well. Nice layout. Def needs the aft sun canopy on the back of the hard top

Fun stabs, side power, feel like they are positioned wrong on the boat we are on.

Platform shower is really nice option but looks like someone has left crew cabin door open ��

Because of the volume Into a 66 it can make the boat looks stubby from angles.

Overall really nice and be good to change a few bits on one.

Master wardrobe not great / full hanging.

Not much storage in guest cabins

thanks for taking the time for such a comprehensive response, much appreciated as its so difficult to get a feel from limited photographs alone.

 

[jrudge]

Do bear in mind that this is the current model 66 and I am not sure which one you are seeking

 

[Mr Proach]

Do bear in mind that this is the current model 66 and I am not sure which one you are seeking

looking at a 2007 model in the 4 cabin layout

 

[Hardmy]

I'd also like to relocate to the eastern Med, possibly Greece, due to the cost of being in Denia and the attitude of the Spanish . Any and all opinions welcomed.

Switching from Spain to Greece will be a big change in many aspects. Infrastructure, service level, stubborn PP officers or rough weather (think Meltemi), etc. On the other side you'll find the most beautiful nature ever, very friendly and warm Greeks and thousands of years of culture. Which area do you mean with eastern Greece, the Dodecanese?

I keep my 50' mobo in Greece since 5 years. The first 2 acclimatizing years were used to discover everything between Corfu and Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. Year 3 we did the Corinth Canal and its gulf twice and also discovered the Argo Saronic Gulfs on the East of the canal. Year 4 was spent in the rough Peloponnese and this year we went to the Western Cyclades in the Aegean Sea.

Why do I tell you all that? Well, in working ourselves through Greece from West to East we started with the easiest cruising grounds and switched gradually to more demanding areas with less / or very few infrastructure and more demanding weather. If I would have started with the Cyclades in year 1, I could have ended doing my boating alone!

 

[Mr Proach]

Switching from Spain to Greece will be a big change in many aspects. Infrastructure, service level, stubborn PP officers or rough weather (think Meltemi), etc. On the other side you'll find the most beautiful nature ever, very friendly and warm Greeks and thousands of years of culture. Which area do you mean with eastern Greece, the Dodecanese?

I keep my 50' mobo in Greece since 5 years. The first 2 acclimatizing years were used to discover everything between Corfu and Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. Year 3 we did the Corinth Canal and its gulf twice and also discovered the Argo Saronic Gulfs on the East of the canal. Year 4 was spent in the rough Peloponnese and this year we went to the Western Cyclades in the Aegean Sea.

Why do I tell you all that? Well, in working ourselves through Greece from West to East we started with the easiest cruising grounds and switched gradually to more demanding areas with less / or very few infrastructure and more demanding weather. If I would have started with the Cyclades in year 1, I could have ended doing my boating alone!

i guess the truth is the Spanish are winding me up and i'm not allowed to 'tell them what i think' the attraction of the eastern med is the quality of marine life and the abundance of places to go. Denia is fine, but it's a minimum of 3 hours heading 090 to reach the islands to find a nice bay or cove, and then if you don't get your elbows out it can be pretty crowded. In terms of area, i'm not that advanced yet, I'd welcome ideas and suggestions, we'd be looking for ease of flights from the UK, nice marina and local facilities, half decent chandler or equivalent and lots of reasonable red ! a lot to ask i know and there will obviously be compromises but that's the starting point.

 

[jrudge]

I am in Mallorca and can understand your frustrations.

Mallorca is expensive and the recent anchoring limitations - weed - add hassle to the expense.

I am not sure Greece will be easier for you.

Just like everything life is a compromise but fortunately a boat can more from one compromise to another

 

[Mr Proach]

I am in Mallorca and can understand your frustrations.

Mallorca is expensive and the recent anchoring limitations - weed - add hassle to the expense.

I am not sure Greece will be easier for you.

Just like everything life is a compromise but fortunately a boat can more from one compromise to another

Agreed, just scoping what might be possible, another area of interest would be the Dalmation coast, Split and Dubrovnik are reasonably accessible. The Spanish are about to reap what they sow in my opinion, unjustifiable fees, taxes and corruption as well as their attitude. Some decent, well placed marinas in Croatia, Greece or Turkey could be the answer.

 

[petem]

A season in Sardinia perhaps?

 

[Mr Proach]

A season in Sardinia perhaps?

now that's a thought...

 

[Hardmy]

i guess the truth is the Spanish are winding me up and i'm not allowed to 'tell them what i think' the attraction of the eastern med is the quality of marine life and the abundance of places to go. Denia is fine, but it's a minimum of 3 hours heading 090 to reach the islands to find a nice bay or cove, and then if you don't get your elbows out it can be pretty crowded. In terms of area, i'm not that advanced yet, I'd welcome ideas and suggestions, we'd be looking for ease of flights from the UK, nice marina and local facilities, half decent chandler or equivalent and lots of reasonable red ! a lot to ask i know and there will obviously be compromises but that's the starting point.

I fully understand you, there are many reasons why we got stuck in Greece If you're interested, I've posted some pics here:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?472365-The-Greek-Ionian-cruise-report-with-lots-of-pics
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...aronic-gulfs-and-back-to-the-Ionian-with-PICS

Corfu might fit your requirements:
- there are many flights between the UK and Corfu (but last direct flight is mid-november)
- in comparison to other places in Greece, the only marina of the island is quite ok-ish, in terms of maintenance there are some good people in the area
- 15' taxi drive from the airport to Gouvia marina
- zillions of anchorages and islands right around the corner, gentle weather.
- and Corfu town is a vibrant place all around the year.

Preveza / Lefkas might also be an option, but the airport closes end of October.

Agreed, just scoping what might be possible, another area of interest would be the Dalmation coast, Split and Dubrovnik are reasonably accessible. The Spanish are about to reap what they sow in my opinion, unjustifiable fees, taxes and corruption as well as their attitude. Some decent, well placed marinas in Croatia, Greece or Turkey could be the answer.

After a couple of very happy years, we left Croatia 6 years ago. All nice anchorages disappeared one after the other because of mooring buoys, we also started to have some problems with the local mentality, tourists are seen like a walking cash till...

A season in Sardinia perhaps?

Sounds to be a very good idea, BartW and MapisM are based there and seem to be extremely happy!

 

[Mr Proach]

I fully understand you, there are many reasons why we got stuck in Greece If you're interested, I've posted some pics here:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?472365-The-Greek-Ionian-cruise-report-with-lots-of-pics
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...aronic-gulfs-and-back-to-the-Ionian-with-PICS

Corfu might fit your requirements:
- there are many flights between the UK and Corfu (but last direct flight is mid-november)
- in comparison to other places in Greece, the only marina of the island is quite ok-ish, in terms of maintenance there are some good people in the area
- 15' taxi drive from the airport to Gouvia marina
- zillions of anchorages and islands right around the corner, gentle weather.
- and Corfu town is a vibrant place all around the year.

Preveza / Lefkas might also be an option, but the airport closes end of October.


After a couple of very happy years, we left Croatia 6 years ago. All nice anchorages disappeared one after the other because of mooring buoys, we also started to have some problems with the local mentality, tourists are seen like a walking cash till...



Sounds to be a very good idea, BartW and MapisM are based there and seem to be extremely happy!

just looked at Porto Cervo near Olbia - it does look fantastic and well located for Corsica and the Italian coast. I think i can see where this is going....

great pictures, thanks for sharing.

 

[jrudge]

just looked at Porto Cervo near Olbia - it does look fantastic and well located for Corsica and the Italian coast. I think i can see where this is going....

great pictures, thanks for sharing.

Mooring there will make the boat cost irrelevant !

It is reputed to be the most expensive marina in the med

 

[petem]

just looked at Porto Cervo near Olbia - it does look fantastic and well located for Corsica and the Italian coast. I think i can see where this is going....

great pictures, thanks for sharing.

In the meantime, if you don't want a marina where they mess you about with extra charges move the boat the 25 miles down to Marina Greenwich where we are. It's also a lot easier to get to than Denia and there are English guys that can look after your boat.

 

[NGM]

In the meantime, if you don't want a marina where they mess you about with extra charges move the boat the 25 miles down to Marina Greenwich where we are. It's also a lot easier to get to than Denia and there are English guys that can look after your boat.

We stopped off in Greenwich on our way back this summer. I thought it was a lovely marina and some nice restaurants. Had a peek at you boat Pete and the big SS116.

 

[petem]

We stopped off in Greenwich on our way back this summer. I thought it was a lovely marina and some nice restaurants. Had a peek at your boat Pete and the big SS116.

Nice one :encouragement:!

 

[BartW]

I'd welcome ideas and suggestions, we'd be looking for ease of flights from the UK, nice marina and local facilities, half decent chandler or equivalent and lots of reasonable red ! a lot to ask i know and there will obviously be compromises but that's the starting point.

we were 3y in SOF
in winter boat was based in Toulon, in summer we moved between Marseille, Cassis, around les porquerolles, and Cote d'azur up to Menton,
I like the region very much, many flight connection, easy to reach by car from Belgium, good food and wine, we speak fluently french, many nice marina's,
negatives: booking a berth in summer is a challenge, very crowded on the water aswell on the road, fairly expensive.

then we were 3y in Porto Montenegro, and sailed Montenegro and the croation coast very intensively, up to Venice and back during one summer,
Montenegro is VERY affordeable, but the prices, in the Porto M. went up a lot during all these years. so far Porto Montenegro is the best and nicests marina we've ever been in.
there are a few new marina's in the region (Porto Novi + .. ) and taxi free fuel keeps the region attractive
flights from Tivat, Dubrovnic and Podgorica

we were one year in Salerno and Amalfi coast, Capri, .. region is wonderfull , but boating there is crazy
very few well protected anchorages, extremely crowded, crazy driving Italians, with heavy tourist boats or heavy Itama's ;-)
good enought for one season.
frequent flights from Naples.

yesterday we finished our second summer season in Sardinie, last summer we discovered Costa smeralda from Olbia,
very nice but posh region, super yachts play ground, some of the most expensive marina's in the med !
good for a one season discovery, but nothing more !
we did a few hop overs to Corsica Bonifacio, this is in our top5 of nicest marina's

at the end of last summer we sailed the east coast, to the south, and in winter boat was in Cagliari
this summer we discovered the south, Carloforte and villassimius,
cristal clear and turquoise water under the boat !!
and actually I'm not allowed to say that it is a wonderfull region, ;-) (we might encourage too many people to go there ;-) )
we booked another winter in Cagliari,
boat is moored right in the center of the city, 5 min walk to trainstation, and airport is at 6 minutes by train or 10 minutes by car.
Cagliari is the capital of sardegna, a nice old city with lots of good restaurants, shops, markets, etc...
all just across the street !

plan for next year is Sardegna west coast and Corse,

we would also like to go back to Montenegro - Croatia (new marina in Dubrovnic Gruz fe)
for us still the best boating region, and have many friends there
Sardinia is starting to become a very close
or go to Greece,
still enough dreams ;-)

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Agreed, just scoping what might be possible, another area of interest would be the Dalmation coast, Split and Dubrovnik are reasonably accessible. The Spanish are about to reap what they sow in my opinion, unjustifiable fees, taxes and corruption as well as their attitude. Some decent, well placed marinas in Croatia, Greece or Turkey could be the answer.

You will not regret basing your boat in Croatia. We spent 4 years there and the cruising possibilities are endless. Certainly the best cruising area in the Med I've done. I can recommend this marina https://www.marinafrapa.hr/en/rogoznica

If youre looking at Med boats in the 60-70ft range you really ought to look at Italian marques like Ferretti (I'm biased on this one) and Azimut