Suggest a Yacht please

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pcatterall

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Our search for a group yacht in Spain continues. Any ideas about buying in UK and transporting to Spain have been dashed by considerations of VAT and RCD considerations. ( thanks for your advice on that!)
Our group considers that any of the following Moody yachts would fit the bill but they are few and far between in Spain/France ...Moody 36cc, 346 or 333 .
One consideration on the accommodation side is 2 owners and their wives often share the boat and group members are keen on 'proper' accommodation aft. Something one doesn't have to crawl into
or crawl over ones partner to exit.
We will value any suggestions about models offering similar accommodation but which are more common in the med. We do realise that these will be mainly cc yachts. Any sub 10m models would be great but squeezing a roomy after cabin in 10m is a challenge.
thanks all
 
I assume you have thought of posting on the moody owners site -my impression is many Moodys set off in ages past and ended up languishing at Lefkas unable or unwilling to travel back to uk etc lso another idea is to look to Greece say ?
 
Very few centre cockpit boats in the Med - really not ideal as the preference is for large cockpits and easy access through the stern. As already suggested Bavaria Ocean and Beneteau 36CC plus ancient Moodys and Westerlys left over from the 80s. However most of the Bavarias and Beneteaus were sold to N European owners or for ocean cruising so rarely found in Spain. I think you have to explain that what they would like is probably not achievable - and that thousands of others like them find the typical 35-40' aft cockpit AWB perfectly adequate for holiday use!
 
I didn’t like to say it but if the ideal vessel has to be sub 10m then any centre cockpit will be super cramped somewhere and might not look that pleasing to many. A moody 376 might be fine or if your prefer the country cottage look a Najad but you have to accept the stern cabins might be more suitable for hobbits with tight walk through. A two cabin Bav 34 from circa 2001 could be had for £35k ish and has the advantages of the aft cockpit but it’s 10.8m . You might find a roomy island packet or a US made Hunter if looking for US sized space below .
 
ashtead said:
I didn’t like to say it but if the ideal vessel has to be sub 10m then any centre cockpit will be super cramped somewhere and might not look that pleasing to many. A moody 376 might be fine or if your prefer the country cottage look a Najad but you have to accept the stern cabins might be more suitable for hobbits with tight walk through. A two cabin Bav 34 from circa 2001 could be had for £35k ish and has the advantages of the aft cockpit but it’s 10.8m . You might find a roomy island packet or a US made Hunter if looking for US sized space below .
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Touch of de ja vu here. When I first started to look at buying a boat for the Med my top choice was a Moody 37/376 - until I chartered one in Corfu and discovered that apart from all the berths it was totally impractical for holiday type use. Fine for a couple liveaboard who wanted a floating country cottage but small cramped cockpit, poor access to the stern for berthing or going for a swim. like going into a tomb down those steep steps and overpowering heavy wood and dark upholstery. Next year with 6 people rather than 5 we had a Bavaria 42 - what a revelation and the rest is history - bought a 37 which was similar layout but smaller and fine for 4 or 5 people for holiday type use or a couple liveaboard with occasional guests. OK the aft cabins are not as palatial and easy to get in and out of as the bed in the Moody, but small price to pay for all the rest. I sold that boat to a family with 2 teenage children who took it back to the Med and kept it in Spain for several years as a holiday home until the kids flew the nest.

The reality for the OP is that their preference is based on a UK view of what makes a good yacht - just as mine was all those years ago. while they may find one of those old boats in Spain taken there by brits when sailing to the med was popular chances are it will be knackered - apart from being impractical
 
Tranona said:
Touch of de ja vu here. When I first started to look at buying a boat for the Med my top choice was a Moody 37/376 - until I chartered one in Corfu and discovered that apart from all the berths it was totally impractical for holiday type use. Fine for a couple liveaboard who wanted a floating country cottage but small cramped cockpit, poor access to the stern for berthing or going for a swim. like going into a tomb down those steep steps and overpowering heavy wood and dark upholstery. Next year with 6 people rather than 5 we had a Bavaria 42 - what a revelation and the rest is history - bought a 37 which was similar layout but smaller and fine for 4 or 5 people for holiday type use or a couple liveaboard with occasional guests. OK the aft cabins are not as palatial and easy to get in and out of as the bed in the Moody, but small price to pay for all the rest. I sold that boat to a family with 2 teenage children who took it back to the Med and kept it in Spain for several years as a holiday home until the kids flew the nest.

The reality for the OP is that their preference is based on a UK view of what makes a good yacht - just as mine was all those years ago. while they may find one of those old boats in Spain taken there by brits when sailing to the med was popular chances are it will be knackered - apart from being impractical
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Yes. Hopefully the OP and his group have done a few charter holidays in the area they plan to locate the boat - and if not, that should be Step 01 of the plan.
Then Step 02 perhaps should be to research typical boats available in the location - probably Beneteau, Jeanneau, Bavaria, Hanse etc, and probably stern cockpit, to narrow down a shortlist of boats available in the location.
Imposing a UK centric boat make and model would be very restricting, and probably self defeating.
 
I guess it’s how wedded the OP is to centre cockpit. I was speaking to someone the other evening re a gunfleet 43 so somewhat upmarket from the OPs market but they had been round one and said it was rather cramped in saloon 🤣this might be a tad extreme views but certainly at 375 it’s going to be a issue. If the op suggested a budget maybe he can be convinced of aft cockpit examples as you do pay a premium for the country cottage najad or suchlike (even aBav 38 was a premium price)
 
Thanks all, you are working hard! We have had an after cabin Neptunian in the Med for 10 years now. Our group have spent time on board and we based our spec on our experiences.
No long keel! Saloon suitable for 4 persons to relax and eat in comfort. Cockpit suitable for 4 persons to work, sit and eat in comfort. 2 decent sleeping cabins with decent double beds.
Little call for party sized cockpit or swimming off the boat.
The Neptunian fails on most of the above! but considering the old fashioned hull design was a good attempt just needed 3 feet on the cockpit, walkthrough to the aft cabin. bigger wider saloon!!
ashtead said:
I guess it’s how wedded the OP is to centre cockpit. I was speaking to someone the other evening re a gunfleet 43 so somewhat upmarket from the OPs market but they had been round one and said it was rather cramped in saloon 🤣this might be a tad extreme views but certainly at 375 it’s going to be a issue. If the op suggested a budget maybe he can be convinced of aft cockpit examples as you do pay a premium for the country cottage najad or suchlike (even aBav 38 was a premium price)
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NOT wedded to centre cockpit but wants 2 spacious sleeping cabins and is prepared to do with less cockpit space!
 
pcatterall said:
Thanks all, you are working hard! We have had an after cabin Neptunian in the Med for 10 years now. Our group have spent time on board and we based our spec on our experiences.
No long keel! Saloon suitable for 4 persons to relax and eat in comfort. Cockpit suitable for 4 persons to work, sit and eat in comfort. 2 decent sleeping cabins with decent double beds.
Little call for party sized cockpit or swimming off the boat.
The Neptunian fails on most of the above! but considering the old fashioned hull design was a good attempt just needed 3 feet on the cockpit, walkthrough to the aft cabin. bigger wider saloon!!

NOT wedded to centre cockpit but wants 2 spacious sleeping cabins and is prepared to do with less cockpit space!
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Sirius 35.

If like me you can only dream of one then a Nauticat 35 or similar. Other makes offering similar are available.

I think your approach is right - think what you need and want to make living aboard comfortable and special.

Such a shame the mainstream builders don't offer more diversity in configuration and layout.

For what its worth after 5 years with an unusual layout similar to your requirements I would not want to change to the mainstream. Except perhaps for a Sirius.....
 
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Let’s not forget the nauticat43 -rather long in tooth but we walk past one at Haslar and looks impressive but stern access issues remain but seems this isn’t a concern. If budget a concern a westerly discus or 33 as they became I believe.
 
pcatterall said:
Thanks all, you are working hard! We have had an after cabin Neptunian in the Med for 10 years now. Our group have spent time on board and we based our spec on our experiences.
No long keel! Saloon suitable for 4 persons to relax and eat in comfort. Cockpit suitable for 4 persons to work, sit and eat in comfort. 2 decent sleeping cabins with decent double beds.
Little call for party sized cockpit or swimming off the boat.
The Neptunian fails on most of the above! but considering the old fashioned hull design was a good attempt just needed 3 feet on the cockpit, walkthrough to the aft cabin. bigger wider saloon!!

NOT wedded to centre cockpit but wants 2 spacious sleeping cabins and is prepared to do with less cockpit space!
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I don’t understand why the OP is focused on boats that are so wildly unsuitable for Med use. Buy an ex charter boat as big as you can afford.

Saloon -,why would you want to sit or eat below?

Sleeping, yep ok, so what about a Jeanneau DS43? Two excellent cabins. But that’s only at the end of the day and you’re asleep anyway.

Cockpit size, that’s where you live in the Med surely?
 
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Sticky Fingers said:
I don’t understand why the OP is focused on boats that are so wildly unsuitable for Med use. Buy an ex charter boat as big as you can afford.

Saloon -,why would you want to sit or eat below?

Sleeping, yep ok, so what about a Jeanneau DS43? But that’s only at the en for the day and you’re asleep anyway.

Cockpit size, that’s where you live in the Med surely?
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Yes i am.also surprised, as outside living space is key.
Perhaps the length thing is also a factor. 10m / 32 feet is often too small to get a decent stern cabin with a stern cockpit. But 11m/ 36 feet to 11.9m / 38 feet and suddenly the stern cabin is much more spacious, especially if can find twin cabin ("owners") version.
Sometimes going above 12m increases berthing costs, but masses of great boats in the 11-12m range with lots of space for 2 couples.
 
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pcatterall said:
Thanks all, you are working hard! We have had an after cabin Neptunian in the Med for 10 years now. Our group have spent time on board and we based our spec on our experiences.
No long keel! Saloon suitable for 4 persons to relax and eat in comfort. Cockpit suitable for 4 persons to work, sit and eat in comfort. 2 decent sleeping cabins with decent double beds.
Little call for party sized cockpit or swimming off the boat.
The Neptunian fails on most of the above! but considering the old fashioned hull design was a good attempt just needed 3 feet on the cockpit, walkthrough to the aft cabin. bigger wider saloon!!

NOT wedded to centre cockpit but wants 2 spacious sleeping cabins and is prepared to do with less cockpit space!
Click to expand...
Your "problem" is twofold. First there is not enough volume in a sub 38 hull and aft cockpit to get a second big sleeping cabin and second even when you get to a hull size that can provide that very few buyers of production boats are prepared to pay the premium. There are some such as the Jeanneau DS range mentioned earlier but they only sold in small numbers and mainly in N Europe rather than the Med. If you move into the premium end of the market you will find more choice in theory, such as Nauticats, Sirius Regina Nordship as examples where their deep hulls and deck saloons allow space for a large aft cabin under the cockpit. However, once again they are N European boats (although some make it to the Med), only built in small numbers so expensive.

There is a reason why aft cockpit AWBs from the big builders are almost universal in the Med - they do the job well. You may not want to go swimming but you will want to moor stern to and board your dinghy when at anchor. The cockpits are usually right for 4 people, the saloons are light and airy. Galleys are big enough to cook for 4 with big fridges. Most have excellent ventilation with plenty of opening hatches. In short everything needed for comfortable living. Don't forget the bimini for shade during the day and the good anchoring gear!

You can only buy what is available and as ever ones ideal does not exist. If you go with the flow there is a huge choice. This is a Bavaria 37 like the one we had uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/2001-bavaria-37-cruiser-9795272/ Spent many weeks on board both as a couple and with 2 or 3 guests. Very comfortable. Beneteau and Jeanneau have similar in the 34-38' size from the late 90s early 2000s and many available because of the volumes that were built in that period.
 
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