Semi Flybridge Cruisers - what to consider

superheat6k

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Impressed with the Broom and Westwards at SIBS with their semi aft fly steering positions, but would like to consider all options for this style of boat ...

Features wish list ...
Max 40', preference around 35'
Aft cabin with double berth.
Semi displacement preferred with cruise at say 10-12 knots with max 17 knots.
Ideally at least 1990
Twin Shafts or Single with provision for decent outboard or Wing engine (obviously a bit slower)
Fenced all the way around with decent guardrails
Lower freeboard than the Turbo 36

Aquastar Ocean Ranger 33 or 38
Broom
Westward

Others I should consider - suggestions please

Or should I review this entirely and consider more modern sports boats with a family oriented cockpit & decent forward owners cabin ? Does anything actually exist in this size range with Shafts ?

Budget if I sell within the next year to £100k

Or do I stick with my obsession for the Corvette 32/320 or perhaps look at a Trader
 
Atlantic and Haines would be options and maybe Birchwood.

You won't find much in the way of wing engines and outboards aren't really an option. Most will have twin installations but some have singles, primarily those intended for the rivers. There are seagoing versions with single but they are not so common. I would be happy with a single and good fuel filter systems but not everyone would.....twins are a bit of a British obsession.

Not sure if you would get an Atlantic in your budget but you might find a Haines.
 
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The Atlantics are definitely worth looking at. Some of them were superbly finished inside. Take care with older Aquastars as some were sold as bare hull and engines only and were fitted out by other yards or even by the owners so interior quality may vary
 
You could do a lot worse than a Broom.....but then I am biased :)
 
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From your above wish list i would say a Corvette 32, or if budget allowed 320 is the ideal boat, and knowing you've got a soft spot for these seems case closed to me :) . The only big trade off i can see in comparison to your current Turbo 36 is that the saloon space is smaller.

Hope you don't mind me saying, but who ever ends with Oceanbelle when you come to sell her is going to get a cracking Turbo 36, having followed the improvements and works you've carried out on her.
 
I had a Fairline Sedan 36 so same hull as your current boat and I changed to an Aquastar 48 now 12 years old and 2x370 diesels. No stabilisers and no roof over the afterdeck so open in the same way as the Turbo.

Admittedly my current boat is much larger than the Sedan, the Sedan was a planning hull and AS is semi displacement, we actually changed because we wanted more accommodation and the extra cabin.

I do prefer the semi displacement and current boat is a very good sea boat, there was nothing wrong with the sea keeping of the Sedan but the AS48 is a different league and capability.

I understand the AS38 is a very good sea boat probably size for size better than the 48, all Aquastars are wet as are Nelsons.

Depending on your budget there are some good AS38's and AS48's around second hand.
 
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