Wanted - 38' Flybridge

[DazzyWoo]

After 3+ happy years we decided to put our boat on the market, expecting it to take 12+ months to sell. To our dismay, it appears to have sold in the first week. This means we're in the market for a new boat.

We're looking for a 38' flybridge - with a Princess 38 or a Fairline Phantom 38 our preferred weapons of choice. If anyone knows of any likely to come on the market - please let me know

DW

 

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This looks good in the pictures:

https://uk.boats.com/power-boats/2002-fairline-phantom-38-4003512/?refSource=similar listing

 

[Whitelighter]

Other boats I’d put on the list (or at least go have a look at) would be:

Rodman 38
Cranchi Atlantique 40

 

[volvopaul]

After 3+ happy years we decided to put our boat on the market, expecting it to take 12+ months to sell. To our dismay, it appears to have sold in the first week. This means we're in the market for a new boat.

We're looking for a 38' flybridge - with a Princess 38 or a Fairline Phantom 38 our preferred weapons of choice. If anyone knows of any likely to come on the market - please let me know

DW

Sadly your in a price and size bracket that barely exists , both myself and another forum member are quite keen on your preferred models, the Princess 38 wasn’t made in big numbers because it just didn’t sell very well, soon after the 40 took over as it had 2 heads and more space for very little extra length . I missed a good one in Plymouth last year , wish I’d have gone for it now .
There is less stock coming on the market now I’d guess the price of new boats in that size are way out the reach of the new comer to boating or people upgrading . Good luck with your search , if you do find anything I’d keep it quiet.

 

[DazzyWoo]

Other boats I’d put on the list (or at least go have a look at) would be:

Rodman 38
Cranchi Atlantique 40

Thanks - Just been looking...at first sight both look like very plausible alternatives - though my sleuthing is slightly hampered by the lack of photography skills of so many boat brokers - that I am struggling to get to grips with the flybridge layouts.

Re: Cranchi Atlantique - as far as I can tell there is no 'proper' table - so would not be able to easily eat on the fb - is that correct?

DW

 

[Whitelighter]

rodman 38 FB:

The Cranchi 40:

The cranchi has a very 'med' flybridge. mine is the same, no table but lots of sun lounging. I think this is because frankly its often too hot to eat without shade so you dine in the cockpit (where also its not a total pain in the arse to drag stuff up from the galley). Even on the Phantom 38 you take food from galley, up steps through saloon, through cockpit, up more steps to windy rocky table at the back of the FB.

OK for snacks, not so great for dinner. You might do it once or twice. The Phantom 38 does have a very small cockpit though comparatively. The Cranchi is much bigger and more suitable for dining, but the fly bridge layout would not be my choice either to be honest.

What about also the Azimut 39? A good boat but not common.

 

[DazzyWoo]

Thanks Jez - we will add the Rodman to the list.

Re: Azimut 39 - we would be keeping the boat in SW UK. They all seem to be on Cats and Cummins, and I'm a bit nervous (perhaps unnecessarily?) about maintenance.

 

[DazzyWoo]

Spending the afternoon surfing and looking at boats and talking brokers. These look a bit tatty to me - but could just be the poor camera work. Am I being too picky?

 

[DazzyWoo]

Thanks FP - looks nice, but seems a bit toppy price wise. Obvs the market will decide if that is the case or not

 

[kashurst]

Spending the afternoon surfing and looking at boats and talking brokers. These look a bit tatty to me - but could just be the poor camera work. Am I being too picky?

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It does look a bit unloved, however often times an unloved engine bay can come up beautifully with a few afternoons and some elbow grease, a wire brush and some hammerite on the rusty engine mounts. Potentially sound but scruffy engine bays can be a negotiating point.

edit re Rodman 38 flybridge dining - the table looks bigger than it really is, its OK for drinks and snacks but a bit small and low for a proper meal - the cockpit is much better and bigger for dining.

 

[rafiki_]

Thanks Jez - we will add the Rodman to the list.

Re: Azimut 39 - we would be keeping the boat in SW UK. They all seem to be on Cats and Cummins, and I'm a bit nervous (perhaps unnecessarily?) about maintenance.

I’m a very happy owner of a 39 with twin Cats. Never been a problem with spares or maintenance. Quite a lot I do myself, specialist stuff I get a good technician in.

 

[DazzyWoo]

I’m a very happy owner of a 39 with twin Cats. Never been a problem with spares or maintenance. Quite a lot I do myself, specialist stuff I get a good technician in.

Thanks for the feedback Rafiki

 

[DazzyWoo]

Hi - I've got a list of half a dozen prospects, scattered across the UK, France and Spain.

My standard questions to sellers are can you provide :
- Proof that VAT was paid?
- The original builders certificate?
- The Bills of Sale?

What service history can does the boat have ?
When was the boat last anti-fouled?
When were the anodes last changed?
When was the boat last surveyed? Is this available?
Have there been any accidents / insurance claims?

My experience is that sellers/ brokers have rose tinted glasses when it comes to the condition of their boats. Is there anything else I should be asking to avoid spending the summer driving around looking at lemons?

DW

 

[Whitelighter]

You’ll find the Europeans are less obsessed with VAT and original invoices than we are.
Many have compulsory registration schemes which detail vat status etc, so you may need to be flexible a bit and get motorised copies of registration certs so you can demonstrate vat status when you sell (assuming it’s to another Brit).

Depending on age, builders certificate should be present.

Again a bill of sale is a very UK thing. Boats under formal registration will often have the previous owners or transaction history noted on the registration - this is true for France and Spain and I think also Italy.

I don’t have a builders certificate (didn’t exist in 94) or original invoice. I do have copies of the french registration, the second owners import invoice and a certificate stamped and marked TVA aquitte so that’s good enough for me. Never in 15 years of owning boats and taking them abroad have I ever been asked to prove VAT status, even by the Greeks (and they want to see everything)

 

[Whitelighter]

Last surveyed is irrelevant. Last thing you want to do is rely on a survey given by the owner. Totally pointless.

I’d add to you list ‘does everything on board work/function as it should’
Generator may well be present, but does it work. Ditto AC etc

 

[MapisM]

I don’t have a builders certificate (didn’t exist in 94) or original invoice. I do have copies of the french registration, the second owners import invoice and a certificate stamped and marked TVA aquitte so that’s good enough for me.

J, I fully agree that what you've got is more than enough to not lose any sleep.
That said, just FYI, during my boat search I came across a 1992 Ferretti whose maniac owner managed to get from the factory a notarized copy of the original invoice signed by Alessandro (Norberto's brother), issued to the first owner.
He got that in 2013, and while I can't swear that they are still willing to provide such service to owners of their "old" boats, you might try to drop them an email, if you fancy the idea of adding it to your boat doc folder.
I wouldn't go as far as asking a notarized copy anyway, because it's neither worth the cost nor the hassle, imho.
But maybe if you just send them a proof that you are the current owner, they don't mind scanning and sending you the original invoice...

 

[kashurst]

If a boat has been on the Spanish 7th list (privately owned boats) it HAS to be VAT paid and this will be recorded in great detail on the Spanish registry documents - so really easy. It will also list previous owners etc too. If the boat has been on the 6th list for business/charter boats VAT has not been paid, however the payable VAT is worked out in a rather bizarre (there is a list with valuation ranges) but owner beneficial basis. So don't discount non vat paid boats in Spain - could be a bargain, just pay the vat in Spain not the UK.

 

[Whitelighter]

If a boat has been on the Spanish 7th list (privately owned boats) it HAS to be VAT paid and this will be recorded in great detail on the Spanish registry documents - so really easy. It will also list previous owners etc too. If the boat has been on the 6th list for business/charter boats VAT has not been paid, however the payable VAT is worked out in a rather bizarre (there is a list with valuation ranges) but owner beneficial basis. So don't discount non vat paid boats in Spain - could be a bargain, just pay the vat in Spain not the UK.

Exactly. Which is why the idea that you would keep some bit of paper printed by a dealer from 10 years ago that show he CHARGED VAT (not that it was paid) so many EU owners/brokers find completely laughable.

 

[Seastoke]

We wanted a rod an 38 but later ones are ips and we wanted shafts

 

[DazzyWoo]

thanks - for the advice.

I'm a little bit hazy about what I would need for, each jurisdiction if I was to bring the boat back to the UK and want to sell it, but feel optimistic this can be resolved with some professional advice at the time