Quality Ocean cruising boats?

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wildmail

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We are seeking a good single hull for ocean passaging - it must be a well known brand and renowned for top quality and yet in the price range up to approx. 340000 USD

We know brands like Hallbarg Rassy and Swan What else should we look for?
 
You don't say what size of whethher new or secondhand, but the top brands are, not necessarily in this order:

Pure cruisers, inc deck saloons
Malo
Najad
Hallberg-Rassy
Nordship
Sunbeam
Wauquiez
Contest
CR Yachts
Arcona
Nauticat
Rustler/Bowman
Oyster

Performance cruisers
Swan
Baltic
Sweden Yachts

This is not an exhaustive list, but it'll get you started.
 
I think this question often reveals peoples favourites. I would agree with the list above but suggest you first decide whether you want GRP or steel or Aluminium or even wood. If I was cruising the pacific I think steel may be preferred for corals reefs etc. Aluminium is OK but often requires specialist welding which may not be available in out of the way places.

You may get good advice on the liveaboard forum
 
Nauticat 39 (Pilot house sailing hull/rig)
Nauticat 40 (Heavier pilothouse sailing hull/rig, generally a ketch rig)
Nauticat 43 (motorsailor hull/rig pilothouse)

Nauticat 42 I fear is greater than your budget but v nice if you can stretch to it.

rob
 
You do not say whether you think of a new or used boat, and whether that budget must include ftting-out costs or is just what you allocated to the boat's purchase.

As a general comment, be carefull not to underestimate fitting-out costs (and refurbishing costs if you buy used). Personal ideas about what is essential and what is not, and ability to reduce costs by DYI, can vary a lot, but it is easy to spend a lot of money equipping an ocean-going yacht!

Just to give my personal experience, I spent more than 50% of the initial boat purchasing price to complete kitting-out to a level that I consider satisfactory, not lavish!
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If the figure you mention is for a new boat, then you would be restricted to probably not more than, say 32- to 35 footers, if you insist on good-quality boats (as you should!).
 
Dont forget Moody - you could get a 44 in the UK or Europe for around £120,000 - £140,000, which would leave you a chunk for fitting out and probably some change.

I know I'm biased, and dont know what others might think regarding their blue water ability, but they seem tough enough to me.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Performance cruisers
Swan


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I fear we are really doing something wrong sometimes...
 
Why on earth don't you mention Vancouver - British built at Itchenor and leaves the scandanavian hyped products like Halberg Rassey, Najad etc far behind.
Why is it that the English always undersell themselves??
 
I've found the Swedes to be mostly hype and very little to justify it.
Build quality's gone downhill in recent years, but not the price.

Bavaria maybe gets a bit too much stick for being "build to a budget, drop keels, etc..." but the Swedes are the other extreme of the spectrum. Over-priced and over hyped. Badge snobbery.

Look for a design(er) instead of a badge. Sparkman & Stephens, Van Der Stadt, Gary Mull (I just had to slip him in),...

If I were buying in the US, and I had the money the Hinckley Southwester range would be top of my list.
 
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