Thinking of going to the dark side

[Magnum]

After 6 years of cruising on planet destroying, wash creating Gin Palaces, I have finally persuaded my wife to consider a vessel with sails and string. I said consider mind so the battle is not yet won.

Having got used to a bit of space, we are looking at something a bit smaller than our current Predator 72, so around say 56-62 feet. I have my Day Skipper and have some UK but fairly extensive med experience including a trip last year from Antibes to Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and Tunisia. But I am most definitely not an experienced sailor, although I learn quickly.

I was drooling over the Oyster 625 website this morning and as usual seem to have noticed the most expensive option first. Are they that good?

I really like the deck saloon layout although the Moody 62 DS seems a little prominent in that area.

How about the new Jeanneau 57? Yes it's no Oyster, but the price!

Useage could be med or UK southwest.

I'm also a tall chap (6ft7in), like to cook on board, so headroom is important.

Any suggestions gratefully received

 

[Searush]

Err, you have got it all wrong, you are thinking of coming over from the dark side. We are all goodness & light & eco-friendly (ish).

I would suggest that you start with something a little smaller & more easily handled - say a Hurley 22. You will be able to kneel up quite comfortably in that. The big benefit is that you will have only spent a couple of grand when SWMBO decides it is not for her. Probably less that your accountant's annual bill.

Sorry, couldn't resist a tease.

 

[Magnum]

Haha

Enough advice regarding a tender. What about the yacht?

 

[Boomshanka]

Whatever end of the market you're at, you're much better off chartering a few times to see a) if SWMBO likes it and b) what you're really looking for. Could save a whole load of hassle in the long run. Yours sounds like a nice problem to have though

 

[AIDY]

After 6 years of cruising on planet destroying, wash creating Gin Palaces, I have finally persuaded my wife to consider a vessel with sails and string. I said consider mind so the battle is not yet won.

Having got used to a bit of space, we are looking at something a bit smaller than our current Predator 72, so around say 56-62 feet. I have my Day Skipper and have some UK but fairly extensive med experience including a trip last year from Antibes to Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and Tunisia. But I am most definitely not an experienced sailor, although I learn quickly.

I was drooling over the Oyster 625 website this morning and as usual seem to have noticed the most expensive option first. Are they that good?


I really like the deck saloon layout although the Moody 62 DS seems a little prominent in that area.

How about the new Jeanneau 57? Yes it's no Oyster, but the price!

Useage could be med or UK southwest.

I'm also a tall chap (6ft7in), like to cook on board, so headroom is important.

Any suggestions gratefully received

Great stuff Magnum ! Mmmm Oyster. great choice especially if you want a go any where boat and something that's going to hold it's value and sell easily.

Moody's are great but recently the Big one's don't seems to sell / hold there value, there's been a few 64 on the market that have not sold. An older 54 or 56 would be a much better bet. made by Moody when they had a yard... not these Hanse build moodies

Not sure on these Moody DS's

Have you looked at a southerly 57RS made by Northshore in itchenor, nice solid build boat. http://www.northshore.co.uk/Default.htm

Or a swan 60 or a http://www.bordeauxyachts.com/index_uk.php if you like something racier and quick... or an x yachts 55

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Here's a couple more at the top end of the scale.

Rustler 58
Discovery 55 and 67

Both are semicustom builds so you can have lots of headroom and swmbo features.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Suggest that the next time you visit the UK you go to Oyster Brokerage at Fox's Marina in Ipswich. They usually have a very well prepared selection of pre owned Oysters to drool over! At least you then have a marker against which you can compare other contenders, like the Discovery.
In regards to the Jenneau, don't neglect taking displacement into account. A lower priced new boat is usually built with less scantlings and is therefore much livelier in a seaway than one of heavy displacement; and not necessarily faster, except in light winds.
Remember, too, "fools build boats for wise men to buy"! A good well sorted second-hand (sorry, pre-owned) Oyster, Halberg Rassy, Najad, Malo can be as good or more likely better value than a new mass produced yacht.

 

[Searush]

Seriuosly then, take a look at Nauticats. Pilot house yachts, inside is just like a MoBo but outside like a Yacht - the best of both worlds. SWMBO won't know the difference until you start trying to beat up hill.

Big Southerlies are another option & have a hydraulically lifting keel that allows you to dry out safely without falling over.

Catrmarans offer massive cabin space & relatively flat sailing (but motion can be really "odd" after a mono) and they do suffer if heavily loaded.

Just remember you pay for the fuel economies with much longer passage times, so make sure you are comfy. Chartering a few to try them out is an excellent idea. Some of the better makers may let you have a trial charter on their demo boat if you ask.

 

[photodog]

Ahh! "A good what boat should I buy thread?"

Like powerboats... the yacht you buy will say a lot about you....

So, if you want to make the same statement that your predator makes... then you are gonna have to shop around....

Now, in your shoes I would be thinking something a bit more interesting and preformance oriented than the SO or the Oyster...

How about this...

http://www.northshore.co.uk/Default.htm

That 49 looks the biz... and you can park it on the beach as well...

The 57 I suspect will be spectacular.

The Discovery's as previously mentioned are the business...

http://uk.yachtworld.com/boats/2005/Discovery-Discovery-55-08-2203359/United-Kingdom

Or maybe one of the Farr Deck salons?

http://uk.yachtworld.com/boats/2000/Farr-50-Pilot-House-2184698/United-Kingdom

 

[rwoofer]

After 6 years of cruising on planet destroying, wash creating Gin Palaces, I have finally persuaded my wife to consider a vessel with sails and string. I said consider mind so the battle is not yet won.

Having got used to a bit of space, we are looking at something a bit smaller than our current Predator 72, so around say 56-62 feet. I have my Day Skipper and have some UK but fairly extensive med experience including a trip last year from Antibes to Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and Tunisia. But I am most definitely not an experienced sailor, although I learn quickly.

I was drooling over the Oyster 625 website this morning and as usual seem to have noticed the most expensive option first. Are they that good?

I really like the deck saloon layout although the Moody 62 DS seems a little prominent in that area.

How about the new Jeanneau 57? Yes it's no Oyster, but the price!

Useage could be med or UK southwest.

I'm also a tall chap (6ft7in), like to cook on board, so headroom is important.

Any suggestions gratefully received

As with Mobo's every boat is a compromise, so you really need to give us a hint as to what you want to do with it and where you will sail it. For example if SoF med based you can get away with a deep keel at that size but will want to make the most of the light breezes with a fairly lightweight boat (Shipmans etc). If UK based something with a shallower draft (eg. Northshore 57) and a bit heavier will work well.

Also re headroom, you do have to really try them out. I'm 1 inch less than you and have found boats in the mid 60s that I was touching the roof on. All down to the specific model and design as to whether it will work for 6'7".

Do recommend trying a charter, just to give yourself a sense of what works for you. Oyster do charters, so I would definitely try one of those for a week.

 

[xyachtdave]

This is a joke?

We are talking buying a 60 footer with pretty much zero sailing experience and a non sailing spouse as crew for a first sailing yacht?

I admire the no nonsense approach to jumping in at the deep end with a big powerful yacht, but the forces involved in the sail handling are enormous. I don't think there is much difference between a 36 foot and 70 foot powerboat (except close quarters, berthing) The respective differences of sailing boats of this size is huge. If you then add downwind sails in, it all adds up to crew who know exactly what they are doing.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck magnum, if I had your budget, Spirit Yachts is where I would be heading.

 

[Magnum]

Thanks for the replies. All useful information.

As I said in my opening this is just at the consideration stage.

xyachtdave, I'm interested in your comments. Yes, as I also stated I have very little sailing experience but a fair amount of tidal and non-tidal mobo experience that certainly hasn't been confined to the usual mobo short jaunts. We know of people who sail similar sized modern vessels short-handed and wouldn't consider anything that was dangerous or that we couldn't obtain good training for.

Very interested to hear more about the different types of yacht design and their pros and cons.

 

[V1701]

Another vote for having a look at Cats, the lady will probably prefer it...

 

[Divemaster1]

After 6 years of cruising on planet destroying, wash creating Gin Palaces, I have finally persuaded my wife to consider a vessel with sails and string. .........

Now, you cannot be truly green unless you consider a reconditioned wooden boat driven by the wind...

Surely driving up the demand for new GRP builds (fossile fuel derrived), whilst considering the energy going into producing the vessel cannot possibly considered a "green alternative".

...like the one I have some connection with..

 

[rwoofer]

Thanks for the replies. All useful information.

As I said in my opening this is just at the consideration stage.

xyachtdave, I'm interested in your comments. Yes, as I also stated I have very little sailing experience but a fair amount of tidal and non-tidal mobo experience that certainly hasn't been confined to the usual mobo short jaunts. We know of people who sail similar sized modern vessels short-handed and wouldn't consider anything that was dangerous or that we couldn't obtain good training for.

Very interested to hear more about the different types of yacht design and their pros and cons.

Given you have come from a fast mobo, I would definitely take a look at the Shipmans. The smallest is just 1 foot over your limit, but you get a 63 footer weighing only 16.5 tonnes!

http://www.shipman.dk/yacht-range/63-general-overview.asp

According to the VPP you will get over 12 knots with two sails in a force 4.

 

[Sgeir]

Not sure if the Annihilator 57 has the headroom, but otherwise sounds about right.

 

[Marsupial]

if you want a proper boat you wont beat an AMEL Maramu in the size you are looking at.

 

[masterofnone]

power/sail

Have a look at a cat. Comfortable, stable and loads of room. TCM is the guy to have a chat with about this; I recollect he had similar issues with his good lady but managed to persuade her with a lovely big cat (with loads of power showers).

 

[colvic987]

if i were you i would charter a couple of different boats of the size you where looking at, and you will soon realise that sailing a boat (putting the sails up type of sailing), isnt just something you do with the wife, you will need crew, especially if she doesnt want to break her nails. seriously most big yachts are always in marinas as the owner can never get the crew and is/has been inexperienced to safely sail the boat, a salesman will be very happy to sell you a big boat, but wether you could handle it would be a totally different scenario, a 34 ft yacht would be a place to start on a charter or flotilla holiday whilst your contemplating your move.

Do you see the racing boats of 60ft with any less than 8 to 10 crew and maybe ask yourself why that is ?, a cruising boat

If you dont mind me asking why are you looking on moving away from the big mobo, have you been a frustrated boat owner wishing to be the eco friendly pottering chilled out yachtsman, and not the go getting fast fast faster mobo owner.

Good luck in your search, you will have plenty of choice.

 

[Magnum]

if i were you i would charter a couple of different boats of the size you where looking at, and you will soon realise that sailing a boat (putting the sails up type of sailing), isnt just something you do with the wife, you will need crew, especially if she doesnt want to break her nails. seriously most big yachts are always in marinas as the owner can never get the crew and is/has been inexperienced to safely sail the boat, a salesman will be very happy to sell you a big boat, but wether you could handle it would be a totally different scenario, a 34 ft yacht would be a place to start on a charter or flotilla holiday whilst your contemplating your move.

Do you see the racing boats of 60ft with any less than 8 to 10 crew and maybe ask yourself why that is ?, a cruising boat

If you dont mind me asking why are you looking on moving away from the big mobo, have you been a frustrated boat owner wishing to be the eco friendly pottering chilled out yachtsman, and not the go getting fast fast faster mobo owner.

Good luck in your search, you will have plenty of choice.

Yes I think the charter idea is excellent and this is something I would certainly want to do before any decision was made.

I'm not sure the crew size of a racing boat is a fair comparison as they are trying to get every last fraction of a knot out of the vessel without concern for manpower. Nevertheless, this is something I'll make a priority of exploring in detail.

I've always wanted to sail. It's SWMBO who hasn't been keen, until now