recommend me an old mans boat

[barca nova]

I am looking for an old mans boat in the 30 to 34 ft range. Whilst I am fit, I am not as agile as I used to me and certainly no longer able to do major boat jobs as I once did. The boat , a sailing yacht, is likely to be used for a bit of geriatric friendly racing where finishing last doesnt matter and as a cottage down in the marina ie no long distance cruising.
For me an old mans boat means:
1/ low maintenance so likely post 2000
2/ all lines to cockpit
3/ steady not flighty
4/ reasonably wide side decks
5/ wheel steering if possible
6/ decent accommodation for over night sleep overs after club functions.

Wondering about the smaller Oceanis and Bav boats, but never had anything so lightweight before and worried about stability and bounciness. Maybe a Vancouver 34? Had to rule out the HR34 and 31 - teak decks- and there dont seem to be any solid build non teak deck boats post 2000

 

[Frogmogman]

You don’t say what your budget is.

How about a Maxi 1000 ?

More nineties than noughties, but nice solid Swedish built boat that sails well and could cope with a bit of club racing.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

I find having a yacht with low freeboard would be my first requirement .

 

[John_Silver]

Had to rule out the HR34 and 31 - teak decks- and there dont seem to be any solid build non teak deck boats post 2000

Teak decks were/are options on the HR31 & 310 and the HR34, 342 & 340. Not sure what LOA teak becomes standard fit (if indeed it does) on the HR's. But there are smaller HR's around, my 310 included, with teak cockpits and grp decks.

 

[Tranona]

This old man with similar requirements to you bought a 2015 Bavaria 33 Your fears about stability and bounciness are unfounded in the type of sailing you plan. What you will likely appreciate is the ease of handling and sprightly performance with the main biased fractional rig, mainsheet in the cockpit, well placed winches, everything to hand from the wheel which you can walk around plus all instruments close to wheel and excellent autopilot. I sailed mine single handed for 6 years along the S Coast from Poole. Even confident enough to fit and use an asymmetric on a furler. Good accommodation and well equipped

Two for sale at Clipper. If you don't want to spend that amount then the older 33 from 2006/7 is worth looking at. Not quite such a sharp sailing boats but strong and steady. yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boats/bavaria-yachts/33-cruiser

 

[Wansworth]

So a Macwester 26 won’t fit the bill ?

 

[dunedin]

I find having a yacht with low freeboard would be my first requirement .

Or perhaps one with a gate in the guard rails may be more important. It’s the height you need to lift your foot that counts, and a higher freeboard with a rail gate may be easier to get onto - plus much dryer when sailing.
Or even swap to stern to in marina and an open stern.

 

[Tranona]

Or perhaps one with a gate in the guard rails may be more important. It’s the height you need to lift your foot that counts, and a higher freeboard with a rail gate may be easier to get onto - plus much dryer when sailing.
Or even swap to stern to in marina and an open stern.

Yes, that was another feature on both counts that the Bavaria (and most of the competitors) have in some way or other.

 

[ylop]

I find having a yacht with low freeboard would be my first requirement .

A low freeboard usually means a low interior headroom. The freeboard issue is manageable in various ways (gates, steps, stern), if the OP is of average height, the headroom is an issue everytime he goes below.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Wondering about the smaller Oceanis and Bav boats, but never had anything so lightweight before and worried about stability and bounciness. Maybe a Vancouver 34? Had to rule out the HR34 and 31 - teak decks- and there dont seem to be any solid build non teak deck boats post 2000

Everything up until this last sentence makes a more modern boat a more obvious choice IMO .... mainly because they will not have as many age-related issues so fewer wallet-busting surprises, they will have sail controls lead into the cockpit, they will have wheel steering and, they'll have decent accommodation.

They won't dip their toe-rail in the water, stiffen up, and plough through a chop requiring no reefing and very little input from the soaked crew - modern boats sail differently - some see that as fun, some see it as flighty.

The real question is, how much of your self-image is tied up in the boat you own? What I mean by that is, would you feel happier with a traditional style over a modern one? Are your peer group more traditionally minded than modern, and will it be a problem to take a different path? If you choose something modern, how will you justify your choice when your peer-group are all die-hard traditionalists? Will you adapt to a modern boat, or get frustrated that it doesn't behave like a traditional boat? ....

Answer these questions first, then go looking for a boat.

Old boats can be found in excellent condition eventually, newer boats in good condition are easier to come by.

If you think modern may suit you, but have always sailed traditional boats, then get on an off-season charter in the UK and try out a modern boat before committing.

 

[doug748]

I am looking for an old mans boat in the 30 to 34 ft range. Whilst I am fit, I am not as agile as I used to me and certainly no longer able to do major boat jobs as I once did. The boat , a sailing yacht, is likely to be used for a bit of geriatric friendly racing where finishing last doesnt matter and as a cottage down in the marina ie no long distance cruising.
For me an old mans boat means:
1/ low maintenance so likely post 2000
2/ all lines to cockpit
3/ steady not flighty
4/ reasonably wide side decks
5/ wheel steering if possible
6/ decent accommodation for over night sleep overs after club functions.

Wondering about the smaller Oceanis and Bav boats, but never had anything so lightweight before and worried about stability and bounciness. Maybe a Vancouver 34? Had to rule out the HR34 and 31 - teak decks- and there dont seem to be any solid build non teak deck boats post 2000

Yes, One of the Victoria's, Vancouver, or Rustler 36. Bowman 40 if you are flush with cash though all are overkill unless they get at least some serious use.

What you don't need is anything with a deep, thin keel and spade rudder, unless you really only intend light day sailing

.

 

[fredrussell]

…What you don't need is anything with a deep, thin keel and spade rudder, unless you really only intend light day sailing

And off we go!

 

[dunedin]

Yes, One of the Victoria's, Vancouver, or Rustler 36. Bowman 40 if you are flush with cash though all are overkill unless they get at least some serious use.

What you don't need is anything with a deep, thin keel and spade rudder, unless you really only intend light day sailing

.

Nonsense of course - there are probably more deep fin keels and spade rudders sailing round the world than long keels these days.
But for the OP who wants a bit of local sailing and informal racing they will be perfect.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

The feature that makes most difference to me as old fartdom and gammy joints approach is electric winches. If a prospective boat does not have at least one it may be worth investigating if they can be fitted.

 

[Supertramp]

A Vancouver 34 or similar is not what I'd call suitable for club racing. If by any chance you hit anything, its likely to be catastrophic. For them!

Oceanis 31 or 34 would do just fine. Other makes available.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

A Vancouver 34 or similar is not what I'd call suitable for club racing. If by any chance you hit anything, its likely to be catastrophic. For them!

Oceanis 31 or 34 would do just fine. Other makes available.

To hit the competition, you'd first have to keep up ..... so not really a problem.

 

[oldbloke]

You won't hit anything in a Vancouver, they'll all be so far ahead you won't be able to see them, let alone hit them. Horses for courses

 

[doris]

The First 30 is perfect for an older person. Reverse it in, no probs getting off. No spinnaker poles or nasty vicious things like that. Very stable. Older people won't be going huge offshore and its quick enuf to avoid bad weather so pefect again.
I'm old and have just got a JPK so there you go

 

[doug748]

And off we go!

View attachment 206886

I shall leave the others to tilt at windmills .
It's nothing to do with the Forum fetish for "modern" boats, it's about sailing and handling.

The OP says he wants a steady boat , the antithesis of skegless hulls with spindly keels .
Many people may like boats that are 'fast, "responsive and sharp on the helm but my advice is that it would drive barca nova to take up fishing.

.

 

[Supertramp]

To hit the competition, you'd first have to keep up ..... so not really a problem.

We have been lapped.........which is a bit like hitting the bricks coming down as you're going up.