Opinions- Orion, Hylas, Tayana or Pearson yachts

Monique

Monique

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 Feb 2010
Messages
2,239
Location
Baleares
Visit site
Looking for a long distance, safe, solid passage maker with good speed. Length from 49-55 feet. Looking at Yachtworld, I found various vessels from the above manufacturers.

I also consider Amel Super Maramu or SM 2000. Not very pretty....(same hull)

The names above have some nice 80's / early 90's offerings which would satisfy my aesthetic needs better than Amel.

If anyone has owned or sailed on one, please advise.
 
Hello Nick,

you are correct regarding Trintella... looked at this very one on the net.

Being a VD Stadt design built by Anne Wever, this is a fabulous bespoke yacht.

Any one else care to address the subject directly?

TA:D
 
Monique said:
Looking for a long distance, safe, solid passage maker with good speed. Length from 49-55 feet. Looking at Yachtworld, I found various vessels from the above manufacturers.

I also consider Amel Super Maramu or SM 2000. Not very pretty....(same hull)

The names above have some nice 80's / early 90's offerings which would satisfy my aesthetic needs better than Amel.

If anyone has owned or sailed on one, please advise.
Click to expand...

Sailed a Hylas 44 back from Mahon to Brighton back in the early nineties about this time of year. It was an awful boat, poorly put together and the systems were just shocking, If you were going to cruise offshore long term in one I would advise ensuring that you put the boat together yourself. No idea what they are like now.
 
Thank you for your comment.

Looking at the (supposedly) better yachts... for instance, Oysters are not as well designed as their owners seem to think! Having seen then up close...:o
 
Love 'em or hate 'em I would have an Amel every time.

On board one with a Swiss guy (in his late seventies) a few months ago. He had continuously cruised for the past 28 years.

Just returned to Europe after 9 years in South Pacific.

The boat was better than new.
 
chinita said:
Love 'em or hate 'em I would have an Amel every time.

On board one with a Swiss guy (in his late seventies) a few months ago. He had continuously cruised for the past 28 years.

Just returned to Europe after 9 years in South Pacific.

The boat was better than new.
Click to expand...

I was invited on board one this summer, got to be one at the top of a blue water sailing list
 
Monique said:
Thank you for your comment.

Looking at the (supposedly) better yachts... for instance, Oysters are not as well designed as their owners seem to think! Having seen then up close...:o
Click to expand...

I cannot help you. Which is a shame possibly but hey ho, you clearly know quality of design AND construction enough to comment on Oyster but muse on the others in your list relative to what you own now? Hence my confusion.
By all means go buy say a Pearson, they have a very loyal following and owners association. They were value engineered and built using chopper guns and heavy fir cored plywood panelling. And I have owned and rebuilt one and sailed it quite hard. The bolt threads will mostly be non metric so you will need to carry two lots of tools, possibly a PITA, or not. Get my drift?
Your current boat would be fine, possibly much much better even despite the single shroud attachment point that I really really do not like on any boat ( any boat), but just get it all checked over before you set off. There, I've just saved you the price of a rebuild or a Super Amel:)
 
Last edited:
That Tayana 55 does not look too bad but the rear arch layout will shadow the solar. Ditch the wind generator move the radar or ditch it and add solar that can be tilted.

HOWEVER give me an Amel any day as a proper cruising boat. Henri Amel knew what he was about and by the time he got to the Mango his series of boats were just about the best cruising boat you could buy.

BTW what are sold as Amels today, the 64 and 55 are not his designs.
 
I like the Amels, a lot. Especially the earlier ones but this is currently one of mine and she is a beaut. The owner chose her over an Amel because he preferred the safety of the cockpit.

I think Bill Dixon was right on the money with these for a 55ftish cruising yacht. :cool:
 
jonic said:
I like the Amels, a lot. Especially the earlier ones but this is currently one of mine and she is a beaut. The owner chose her over an Amel because he preferred the safety of the cockpit.

I think Bill Dixon was right on the money with these for a 55ftish cruising yacht. :cool:
Click to expand...

I had a look at one a couple of years back ,your photos brought back memories the table is too far away from the seats to eat at and if I remember, the aft cabin had a sloping floor about 4 " out of level.

cheers Ibobt
 
jonic said:
I like the Amels, a lot. Especially the earlier ones but this is currently one of mine and she is a beaut. The owner chose her over an Amel because he preferred the safety of the cockpit.

I think Bill Dixon was right on the money with these for a 55ftish cruising yacht. :cool:
Click to expand...

Hello Jonic,

I looked at that particular Moody 54. TBH, the interior finish is quite a few cuts below IP 485 or Najad 490. and Tayana ...

I located a SUPERB Amel SM from 1990. Not a single scratch on the interior woodwork, all mechanicals are in good order and the AC/heat works. But, they just dont ring my bell. But they are fit for purpose for certain!:D
 
Monique said:
Hello Jonic,

I looked at that particular Moody 54. TBH, the interior finish is quite a few cuts below IP 485 or Najad 490. and Tayana ...

I located a SUPERB Amel SM from 1990. Not a single scratch on the interior woodwork, all mechanicals are in good order and the AC/heat works. But, they just dont ring my bell. But they are fit for purpose for certain!:D
Click to expand...

I agree the Amel is not everyone's cup of tea, but they are very, very well designed for distance cruising.

Years ago before we set off, I almost bought an Amel Sharki but changed my mind as I thought it was too quirky looking. Having now been some 25,000 miles in a cruising boat I can see it would have been a great choice, and I often wish I had bought it.

I have spoken with Bill Dixon re the Moody 54, and for a couple sailing, it is an excellent, easily handled and well behaved design.

....which is why I have one of his 38's :)

Good luck with the search.

When I was cruising in the States I always liked the look of the Pearsons.

The IP interior finish is a cut above most interiors to be honest.......just smell the cedar when you step aboard, its heavenly. :-)
 
Last edited:
They must have something going for them as St Tom Cunliffe has just bought one! A 45ft, not the same model but similar style.

Al Mason is a well respected designer of the traditional school, having worked for John Alden. Many of the boats of the type you are looking at were built in the Far East for the US market so will be big on hand finished interiors.

The drawbacks with this sort of boat is that it is difficult to keep them in the EU because they will not meet the RCD, plus, of course paying VAT. They are also built with US spec gear (such as 110v mains) which may not necessarily be poor but can present difficulties in servicing and spares outside US.

If you don't intend bringing it into the EU this may not be a problem, but when you come to see you have to find a buyer outside the EU as well. These are the reasons why such boats look attractively priced for what they are. Used boats of all sorts have always been relatively cheap in US, like used cars, but it is difficult for a non US buyer to take advantage of this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top