Trintella 38 or Contest 36S or something else?

[LindsayP]

I am looking for the possible - I think and closing in - any thoughts.
Hoping to find an under 40 ft boat that will be safe if I want to set off for the Canaries, be accommodating for a live aboard with occasional guests (separate cabin) and not a tub. Budget around 50 k (leaving an additional 10 k for nasty surprises). Close at the moment I think with a Trintella 38 or Contest 36S though others include Moody (34, 346, 35) Westerly (Discuss, Corsair). Thoughts? - Particularly anyone currently aboard a Trintella or Contest....

 

[Tranona]

Welcome to the forum

Any of those boats (and many others) will do the job. Key at that price point for that kind of boat are condition and equipment related to your plans as upgrades etc are now out of proportion to market values of the boats.

 

[LindsayP]

Welcome to the forum

Any of those boats (and many others) will do the job. Key at that price point for that kind of boat are condition and equipment related to your plans as upgrades etc are now out of proportion to market values of the boats.

Good point thanks, my focus is on prior-owner evidence of love, hull and rigging soundness, engine condition - deep water / foul weather credibility - does that sound right?

 

[Tranona]

In my experience (for what it is worth!) owners tend to love their boats and rare to get anything other than endorsement of their qualities. Both of the boats you mention are typical older style heavier conservative cruisers from good builders and are commonly used for extended cruising. Less common in the UK, particularly the Trintella so you are unlikely to find much direct owner experience here. Presumably you are looking at the ones for sale on Apolloduck. When new they were positioned above the Moody/Westerly price point and closer to the HR/Malo types but have not held their values quite as well, perhaps because of unfamiliarity. This means they are probably better value than the equivalent British made boats.

As I said, the important things (after whether you warm to the boat in terms of design, layout ambience etc) is condition and equipment. These are big, complex boats that have already had a long and probably busy life and you are planning maybe having 5 -10 years' further use out of them so view them from that perspective against your budget of £60k. Based on what is in the ads not difficult to spend £10k on either preparing for long distance warm water sailing. (Canvas work bimini cockpit tent, extra sails, solar power, increased battery capacity, windvane, communications etc. not all essential but the sort of things most cruisers aim to have.) If you have a thorough survey (particularly the teak deck on the Contest) there should not be any nasty surprises! Looking at the ads, I think i would lean more toward the Contest, although its accommodation is not as large or spacious particularly the aft cabin. However it seems to have a fair amount of up to date gear and personally I like the looks and style. Heart and head - you will only buy one and you will know pretty quickly after looking at lots of boats which one is for you.

 

[LindsayP]

In my experience (for what it is worth!) owners tend to love their boats and rare to get anything other than endorsement of their qualities. Both of the boats you mention are typical older style heavier conservative cruisers from good builders and are commonly used for extended cruising. Less common in the UK, particularly the Trintella so you are unlikely to find much direct owner experience here. Presumably you are looking at the ones for sale on Apolloduck. When new they were positioned above the Moody/Westerly price point and closer to the HR/Malo types but have not held their values quite as well, perhaps because of unfamiliarity. This means they are probably better value than the equivalent British made boats.

As I said, the important things (after whether you warm to the boat in terms of design, layout ambience etc) is condition and equipment. These are big, complex boats that have already had a long and probably busy life and you are planning maybe having 5 -10 years' further use out of them so view them from that perspective against your budget of £60k. Based on what is in the ads not difficult to spend £10k on either preparing for long distance warm water sailing. (Canvas work bimini cockpit tent, extra sails, solar power, increased battery capacity, windvane, communications etc. not all essential but the sort of things most cruisers aim to have.) If you have a thorough survey (particularly the teak deck on the Contest) there should not be any nasty surprises! Looking at the ads, I think i would lean more toward the Contest, although its accommodation is not as large or spacious particularly the aft cabin. However it seems to have a fair amount of up to date gear and personally I like the looks and style. Heart and head - you will only buy one and you will know pretty quickly after looking at lots of boats which one is for you.

Thanks again Tranona for such a considered reply - thinking about cost p.a. for a ten year spell is very helpful, agree about the decline in values - I think fishing in this pool that has mostly happened. Will look at both as I agree feel is helpful - also aware that more cabin space reduces useable storage for actually important things is the sacrifice. Certainly hoping to hear from those with experience of living with these sorts of boats (of course I forgot to consider there will be fewer in a UK forum) - cheers

 

[geem]

We have the Trintella 38s bigger sister, the Trintella 44. We have over 37,000nm in her in 11 years. Fantastic sea boat. It will take you anywhere. Superb build quality. Being a 1980 boat, we have done a huge amount of work to her to keep her in tiptop condition. Something I am happy to do as I enjoy keeping her ready to go.
We have met a few owners of the .Trintella 38. They seem to generate the same affection.

 

[KompetentKrew]

Trintella 38 has very good build quality. Awesome bow locker, good all round. I put an offer on one, but ultimately didn't proceed due to state of teak decks.

I think it was Contest 38's I looked at - I think I saw a couple (I spend 2 or 3 months in Netherlands) - and they felt small to me, perhaps due to lack of headroom (I'm 6'2").

 

[Tranona]

We have the Trintella 38s bigger sister, the Trintella 44. We have over 37,000nm in her in 11 years. Fantastic sea boat. It will take you anywhere. Superb build quality. Being a 1980 boat, we have done a huge amount of work to her to keep her in tiptop condition. Something I am happy to do as I enjoy keeping her ready to go.
We have met a few owners of the .Trintella 38. They seem to generate the same affection.

This is the boat and it is not like yours. Same designer but different design
yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boats/trintella/38
sailboatdata.com/sailboat/trintella-38/

 

[geem]

I have been aboard several over the years. Well aware of the design differences.

 

[Tranona]

I have been aboard several over the years. Well aware of the design differences.

But you said your boat was a bigger "sister" which it is not. Same designer, different design.

 

[dansaskip]

Based on what is in the ads not difficult to spend £10k on either preparing for long distance warm water sailing. (Canvas work bimini cockpit tent, extra sails, solar power, increased battery capacity, windvane, communications etc. not all essential but the sort of things most cruisers aim to have.)

I would just like to endorse what Tranona says. Having been through the process myself it is easy to spend more than £10k. Of course it does depend on the boat, what it has already and condition of the items. If I were you I would do a bit of research on costs of replacing or fitting new equipment that might be lacking and up your "surprise" budget accordingly.

 

[geem]

But you said your boat was a bigger "sister" which it is not. Same designer, different design.

Of course it's a different design. It's a different size hull. Do you think designers just change the measurements on the same drawing?
The 38 and the 44 /45 and the 53 all share the same Trintella look. They all have the same hull portlights, the same flush deck, the same stripe through the portlights. It would be hard to not recognise then as the same family.

 

[LindsayP]

We have the Trintella 38s bigger sister, the Trintella 44. We have over 37,000nm in her in 11 years. Fantastic sea boat. It will take you anywhere. Superb build quality. Being a 1980 boat, we have done a huge amount of work to her to keep her in tiptop condition. Something I am happy to do as I enjoy keeping her ready to go.
We have met a few owners of the .Trintella 38. They seem to generate the same affection.

Really good to hear - the build quality looks great though teak decks of that age are a worry - much like the Contest mentioned it is whether the cabin space is useable underway or becomes a luxurious sail locker?

 

[geem]

Really good to hear - the build quality looks great though teak decks of that age are a worry - much like the Contest mentioned it is whether the cabin space is useable underway or becomes a luxurious sail locker?

We had our teak decks removed. We replaced the teak on the high level deck in front of the sprayhood and also in the cockpit. The teak is now 3/4" thick and 1" thick in the cockpit.
The main deck had two layers of 7oz cloth applied to fill the 2500 holes. No regrets losing the teak and th3 cream decks are way easier to live with in the Tropics

 

[LindsayP]

Certainly sounds like a top end fix - not sure that would be covered by the contingency I have put aside - really pleased you are enjoying the boat

 

[Graham376]

From personal experience, I'm not sure about your budget. We bought a Moody 376 20 years ago for £66k, the going rate then. Immediately spent extra on dinghy, outboard, life raft, electric windlass, radar, new heater and various other bits. Later added solar, gantry, cockpit tent and a new engine. Rough estimate I guess we've spent around £25 over the years and that's with virtually all work DIY.

As many sellers have removed equipment to use on their new boat, I would suggest your purchase budget should include the items you will need to buy straight away and maybe new rig and reserve the £10k for possible future problems.