Sports cruiser with social cockpit

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intoodeep

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Hi guys,

Looking to get a sports cruiser in a few months. It will predominantly be used as a day boat but would like to overnight/weekend in it with the GF. I’d like to be able to take 8 people out and have a single social space we can all gather around.

I am trying to keep the size to a minimum.

I think I will struggle to find what I want and so far the boat I like the look of most is a FL targa 30… which can accommodate people around the table, with a couple sat on the sun bed still being involved in proceedings but still struggling to get to 8.

I love the seating layout of the late 80’s Sunseekers (with the U shaped seating wrapped around the transom) but I don’t want to go that old ideally.

Budget is roughly £75k.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
intoodeep said:
Hi guys,

Looking to get a sports cruiser in a few months. It will predominantly be used as a day boat but would like to overnight/weekend in it with the GF. I’d like to be able to take 8 people out and have a single social space we can all gather around.

I am trying to keep the size to a minimum.

I think I will struggle to find what I want and so far the boat I like the look of most is a FL targa 30… which can accommodate people around the table, with a couple sat on the sun bed still being involved in proceedings but still struggling to get to 8.

I love the seating layout of the late 80’s Sunseekers (with the U shaped seating wrapped around the transom) but I don’t want to go that old ideally.

Budget is roughly £75k.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've chosen well.
SS would give u what you want and Sealines are more towards larger below decks space than cockpit. FL positioned in the middle. Its the reason I'm FL and still very pleased after previous T34.
I also hated the couch cockpit seat design of Sealines and other brands preferring the L shaped seating of FL.

As always its each to his own.
Good luck
 
Princess V42 has to be the best party dayboat I have ever been on. Fantastic cockpit layout that looks lobsided and out of kilter until it's actually being used in anger and then its works magnificently, but you'll need to stretch your budget
 
BruceK said:
Princess V42 has to be the best party dayboat I have ever been on. Fantastic cockpit layout that looks lobsided and out of kilter until it's actually being used in anger and then its works magnificently, but you'll need to stretch your budget
Click to expand...

Was that the version with or without the sunbed? I do like the look of them, but really don’t want to go that big.
 
bluetooth said:
Sounds like you've chosen well.
SS would give u what you want and Sealines are more towards larger below decks space than cockpit. FL positioned in the middle. Its the reason I'm FL and still very pleased after previous T34.
I also hated the couch cockpit seat design of Sealines and other brands preferring the L shaped seating of FL.

As always its each to his own.
Good luck
Click to expand...

I had considered a 34 earlier on but wasn’t sure if you would get more people around the table because it has the two separate seating areas rather than just the one… how many could you get around the table? Thanks
 
Standard. As I said looks all wrong but whoever designed it knew the ergonomics of a crowded cockpit. This one just works
princess-yachts-princess-v42-layout.jpg
 
intoodeep said:
Hi guys,

Looking to get a sports cruiser in a few months. It will predominantly be used as a day boat but would like to overnight/weekend in it with the GF. I’d like to be able to take 8 people out and have a single social space we can all gather around.

I am trying to keep the size to a minimum.

I think I will struggle to find what I want and so far the boat I like the look of most is a FL targa 30… which can accommodate people around the table, with a couple sat on the sun bed still being involved in proceedings but still struggling to get to 8.

I love the seating layout of the late 80’s Sunseekers (with the U shaped seating wrapped around the transom) but I don’t want to go that old ideally.

Budget is roughly £75k.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Look at Fairline 29 better cockpit layout than30 no sunbed .Or even better Gobbi 345 real party boat
 
The OP wants 8 people. For 8 to be comfortable and not saying excuse me and starting a table shuffle as they get up to pee then anything under 34 foot is a waste of time. AT 34 you have 6 comfortable. It's simply just the beam of the boat. End of.
 
BruceK said:
The OP wants 8 people. For 8 to be comfortable and not saying excuse me and starting a table shuffle as they get up to pee then anything under 34 foot is a waste of time. AT 34 you have 6 comfortable. It's simply just the beam of the boat. End of.
Click to expand...
Gobbi 345! With a small table.
 
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intoodeep said:
I had considered a 34 earlier on but wasn’t sure if you would get more people around the table because it has the two separate seating areas rather than just the one… how many could you get around the table? Thanks
Click to expand...
The s34 comfortably seats 6 around the table, 2 on the helm seat and 3 on the side seat. I’ve also made a cushion for the step next to the fridge which is a comfortable option.
 
Do you really need to have 8 seated all the time? Usually somebody or two are up and moving about, cooking, getting drinks whatever.
I like the Cranchi Zaffiro 34. Might be an option?
 
I was going to say Sunseeker portofino 32 before I read that you didn’t want older sunseekers. I would say the old version of the princess v40, pretty much same cockpit as the V42.

The V42 is probably my favourite sports cruiser, regret not buying one a few years back.
 
How about Sealine S37
They made some with Mercruser engines which are not so popular in the UK (or Europe) so could be in your budget and perfectly OK engines (well the yanks seem to think so!)
There are 6 on board in this pic and hardly overflowing
You will only sit 6 round the table for outside meals (with a folding chair) which leaves the side settee and drivers double seat for others to lounge about and eat.

eg
7-B7-B11-D3-F656-484-C-8196-0-FDF2-DA0131-B.png
 
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Cranchi Zaffiro 34 or Cranchi Smeraldo 37.

I owned a Zaffiro 34 and now a Smeraldo 37. The 37 is basically a bigger version, same layout.

Huge, sociable cockpit... we've squeeezed 10 in for dinner. Huge bathing platform for their size, too.

Love my Smeraldo 37, only thing that'd make me change would be if I found the exact same boat but with a hard-top (I'm in Ireland, it rains a lot here).

Not sure if £75 sterling would get one. Most likely would in the Med, but then you've to factor transport / customs / VAT etc. - Personally I wouldn't be selling my Smeraldo 37 for £75k
 
alt said:
Cranchi Zaffiro 34 or Cranchi Smeraldo 37.

I owned a Zaffiro 34 and now a Smeraldo 37. The 37 is basically a bigger version, same layout.

Huge, sociable cockpit... we've squeeezed 10 in for dinner. Huge bathing platform for their size, too.

Love my Smeraldo 37, only thing that'd make me change would be if I found the exact same boat but with a hard-top (I'm in Ireland, it rains a lot here).

Not sure if £75 sterling would get one. Most likely would in the Med, but then you've to factor transport / customs / VAT etc. - Personally I wouldn't be selling my Smeraldo 37 for £75k
Click to expand...
Agree, another excellent 37 ft boat.
Check out Baveria as well
Can you up your budget?
 
I think you guys being Brits have got used to queuing too much. My 34 has physical seats for 10 in the cockpit but to be sociable all round one table the seating of 8 would be a tight squeeze indeed. 5 is comfortable. 6 is doable. 8 and it starts resembling and orgy. The ideal number is two couples.
 
Thanks for all your thoughts...they are much appreciated. I am finding it is very easy in this game to keep adding 10K to the budget to get to the next boat... but think I need to set myself a hard limit of £75k and post 2000. I am also reluctant to go over 30ft due to the added expense across the board and I also want to be able to nip out for a couple hours or on my own without it becoming a big thing or too daunting. I think what I am looking for really is the most well thought out cockpit space within these parameters... i.e a convertible helm position or other forward facing seating which joins the table/faces the rest of the cockpit when not underway. Basically, I am trying to avoid having 'wasted' seating which wouldn't be considered sociable to the main cockpit space. My last boat had seating for 7 but could not have been a less sociable layout, so trying to avoid that.

The SC29 looks very intriguing and the one above is for sale at the same place as the only targa 30 in the country, so will take a trip up there this weekend I think.

As a side thought and admittedly from very little actual experience, its a shame nobody seems to be building boats like the San Remo 33 or Portofino 32 any more, especially in this country where you aren't probably wanting to get in and out of the water every 5 minutes.
 
At 30ft I doubt you're going to fit 8 comfortably. Someone will always be standing etc.

On my 37ft, with 8 people in the cockpit, everyone has a comfortable seat, but it's at the limit.
 
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