recommend me an old mans boat

OK, Totally random suggestion, what about a cornish crabbers pilot cutter 30?
Will confess never been on one so not sure of fit out but not mass produced and quite heavy for size possibly solud traditional fit below?
Only with tiller, however stands out in an anchorage as 'different' a talking point with others.
Had one berthed next to me a few years ago, owner very happy with her, cutter rigged very seaworthy and proved surprisingly fast in club (cruiser) racing.
Should I get my coat now and leave?
 
barca nova said:
Interestingly, three brokers have said the same thing - avoid the BenJenBavs built post roughly 2010 because thats when they were cheapened and fitted with IKEA style internals. Agrees?
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Perhaps - but not Bavaria with the range of Farr designed boats like the 33/4, nor the other 3 makes of similar size that I considered in 2015. It is more obvious in the larger boats because that is where the investment was in new designs. The reasons for the change was little to do with cost per se, but the ban on teak and shortage of other solid wood veneers. You see the same with household furniture. I don't agree with the brokers - they said the same in the 1990s when the Europeans first took over the market. Time will tell of course.

As a general point on "build quality". Of course an HR is "better" built - it costs anything up to twice as much. Does that make the production boats less good for your use? Absolutely not. Of course you will here of problems with boats - any boats, Thousands of mass produced boats are in use with delighted owners - most with saildrives as well. I cannot understand this concern about saildrives - HR use them, indeed they were developed mainly because of pressure from Swedish boat builders.

As I said if you are buying to enjoy your last few years sailing with minimal fuss the boat is just a means, not an end. At least that was the approach I took. I could have afforded a new HR - lovely little thing, but the Bavaria gave me 90% of what it offered for little more than half the price. In 6 years nothing went wrong or broke except problems with the Garmin software and blown motor in the Lewmar windlass (same thing fitted to the HR!). Much the same with my first Bavaria from 2001 which is still going strong.

Keep looking, your boat is out there. Have you looked at the ones I linked to?
 
SaltyC said:
OK, Totally random suggestion, what about a cornish crabbers pilot cutter 30?
Will confess never been on one so not sure of fit out but not mass produced and quite heavy for size possibly solud traditional fit below?
Only with tiller, however stands out in an anchorage as 'different' a talking point with others.
Had one berthed next to me a few years ago, owner very happy with her, cutter rigged very seaworthy and proved surprisingly fast in club (cruiser) racing.
Should I get my coat now and leave?
Click to expand...
For the racing, would the Crabber need to set off the day before the rest of the fleet? Suspect pointing ability off the line might be an issue.
 
mrming said:
Someone further up the thread recommended a Maxi. The 1000 or 1050 would fit the bill. Good build quality, nice interior, fast but stable, and very effective in the occasional race.
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I sailed a Maxi 999 from hamble to burnham in November and was very impressed. Early 90s boat i think but pretty modern. This one was very well looked after had a newish 35hp yanmar and new instruments. Very solid inside and sails very well. It was a delivery trip so we just cracked on with a stop in dover. I get the impression that scandinavian yachts are built to handle their tough environment



I think it also shows that a well looked after older boat, with regular investment through its life can be just as good a buy as a newer boat.
Imagine the later ones are even better.
 
Tranona said:
Perhaps - but not Bavaria with the range of Farr designed boats like the 33/4, nor the other 3 makes of similar size that I considered in 2015. It is more obvious in the larger boats because that is where the investment was in new designs. The reasons for the change was little to do with cost per se, but the ban on teak and shortage of other solid wood veneers. You see the same with household furniture. I don't agree with the brokers - they said the same in the 1990s when the Europeans first took over the market. Time will tell of course.

As a general point on "build quality". Of course an HR is "better" built - it costs anything up to twice as much. Does that make the production boats less good for your use? Absolutely not. Of course you will here of problems with boats - any boats, Thousands of mass produced boats are in use with delighted owners - most with saildrives as well. I cannot understand this concern about saildrives - HR use them, indeed they were developed mainly because of pressure from Swedish boat builders.

As I said if you are buying to enjoy your last few years sailing with minimal fuss the boat is just a means, not an end. At least that was the approach I took. I could have afforded a new HR - lovely little thing, but the Bavaria gave me 90% of what it offered for little more than half the price. In 6 years nothing went wrong or broke except problems with the Garmin software and blown motor in the Lewmar windlass (same thing fitted to the HR!). Much the same with my first Bavaria from 2001 which is still going strong.

Keep looking, your boat is out there. Have you looked at the ones I linked to?
Click to expand...
Yes I have.

I dont like sail drives because of the increased maintenance plus the prop location which is always further forward than with a shaft drive system and gives less wash onto the rudder.

Anyway, thanks to all the respondents. Cant buy for a few weeks yet thanks to NHS delays, but will do so as soon as things are clear.
 
barca nova said:
Yes I have.

I dont like sail drives because of the increased maintenance plus the prop location which is always further forward than with a shaft drive system and gives less wash onto the rudder.

Anyway, thanks to all the respondents. Cant buy for a few weeks yet thanks to NHS delays, but will do so as soon as things are clear.
Click to expand...
Possibly less wash over rudder, BUT less prop walk - 6 or 2 threes?
 
With a sail drive Bavaria it is often best to reverse into a berth which makes them ideally suited for Mediterranean- they go backwards in straight line which might not always be case with a prop at least on older Westerly I recall
 
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