Sigma or ? alternative

[BarryWhite]

Dear all,
Recently we visited a Sigma 35. We really like the boat, it looks strong and airy, however,
- I'm 1m87 (6.13 feet) and the headroom is slightly too low and fore cabin too short
- as there could be kids aboard, a friend told me it is better to take a boat with a wider beam as the "angle of list" could be high.
Our plan is the sail weekends in The Netherlands weekends / crossing the channel, and weeks / months of holidays on the boat.
I've been told about a Sunshine 38 but I saw that the headroom is too low :ambivalence:
Our budget is max 40K and we prefer max 38/40 feet to keep maintenance lower - do you have any recommendation?
Thanks in advance

 

[doug748]

Check this out:

https://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/classifieds.htm

Now down to 22k (though maybe sold?), it would be interesting to know the back story.

 

[TLouth7]

I can't comment directly on the 35, but do sail the better known 33. They do heel, but not excessively; this era of yacht was designed to have quite a few bodies on the rail so if you are not doing this you will have to sail somewhat conservatively.

The main disadvantage over a more modern cruiser of similar length/displacement is a woeful amount of storage. A family holiday for a couple of weeks need lots of stuff, and there is simply nowhere to put it. OTOH if you are willing to slum it then we managed up to 3 weeks at a time as a family of 6 on the 33 (with a bare minimum of yelling at each other). It looks like the 35 does at least have a separate quarter-berth cabin which would help somewhat with this.

 

[Quandary]

What about the Sigma 38, not all have been thrashed around the race course, some have been mainly used for cruising, I think Paracelsus did a circumnavigation. Probably as cheap as a 35, ten berths inc two aft cabins. We used the forecabin for boat storage, the two pilot berths for storing personal stuff and that still left us with 6 usable berths though most of the time there were only two of us. The rig is easily handled if you modify the cruising mainsail to keep the boom above head height and they are well specced with powerful winches and good deck gear.
I sold ours in 2007 thinking it was too big for two old folk, I continue to regret it.

 

[BarryWhite]

Thank you for your reply. Indeed the 35 is a bit bigger with one extra cabin

 

[BarryWhite]

What about the Sigma 38, not all have been thrashed around the race course, some have been mainly used for cruising, I think Paracelsus did a circumnavigation. Probably as cheap as a 35, ten berths inc two aft cabins. We used the forecabin for boat storage, the two pilot berths for storing personal stuff and that still left us with 6 usable berths though most of the time there were only two of us. The rig is easily handled if you modify the cruising mainsail to keep the boom above head height and they are well specced with powerful winches and good deck gear.
I sold ours in 2007 thinking it was too big for two old folk, I continue to regret it.

@Quandary: thank you for your recommendation about the Sigma 38. I have a few questions:
(1) how is the headroom of the Sigma 38?
(2) is it also suitable for singlehanded ?
(3) what about maintenance / port costs compared to a 35 feet ?
(4) had you the chance to compare it with a Dehler 38 or a J Sunshine 38?
Thank you

 

[Quandary]

@Quandary: thank you for your recommendation about the Sigma 38. I have a few questions:
(1) how is the headroom of the Sigma 38?
(2) is it also suitable for singlehanded ?
(3) what about maintenance / port costs compared to a 35 feet ?
(4) had you the chance to compare it with a Dehler 38 or a J Sunshine 38?
Thank you

(1) Headroom varies, most height in main cabin, I do not have statistics but none of my racing crew found her uncomfortable.
(2) wheel steered with the primary winches on platforms by the companionway so no, not without an autopilot.
(3) Durable construction, marinas charge by OA length (in Scotland usualy to the nearest metre)
(4) No, I had a Sigma 33 so when I stopped serious racing, I was looking for something fast and comfortable for North Channel crossings and the occasional race like WHYW but mainly cruising with two of us. I have massive confidence in David Thomas designs and Marine Projects build.

The 38 sold in big numbers as a one design racer/cruiser mainly to folk who had owned 33s. Very tough boats with a strong tunable rig and a lot of good deck gear, most are 30 years old by now.

 

[BarryWhite]

(1) Headroom varies, most height in main cabin, I do not have statistics but none of my racing crew found her uncomfortable.
(2) wheel steered with the primary winches on platforms by the companionway so no, not without an autopilot.
(3) Durable construction, marinas charge by OA length (in Scotland usualy to the nearest metre)
(4) No, I had a Sigma 33 so when I stopped serious racing, I was looking for something fast and comfortable for North Channel crossings and the occasional race like WHYW but mainly cruising with two of us. I have massive confidence in David Thomas designs and Marine Projects build.

The 38 sold in big numbers as a one design racer/cruiser mainly to folk who had owned 33s. Very tough boats with a strong tunable rig and a lot of good deck gear, most are 30 years old by now.

If I understand well you would recommend the Sigma 38 over the Sigma 35 ;-)

 

[Quandary]

If I understand well you would recommend the Sigma 38 over the Sigma 35 ;-)

No, I recommend looking at both plus anything else you fancy and can afford, pick the boat or boats you like then start searching for one that has been well looked after, the owner is a big factor in boats of this age. I have never owned a 35 so my superficial opinion of them is favourable but is not based on experience of ownership. 35s may not have been raced as much as 38s but that may not be relevant, many racing owners are as meticulous as cruisers and a boat that is out for two hours a couple of nights a week in summer is having an easy life.

 

[BarryWhite]

I've finally visited two Sigma 38 announced around 45-50K eur. This boat look strong !
Unfortunately both of them where really "abused" and they would need a good refit, my guess is that it would be too expensive.
I've also visited a Dehler 38, owned by the same owner for 20+ years, this boat looked new.