Philiz
Well-Known Member
The only one of these we have looked at is the Moody 346, we didn't like the lack of headroom when accessing the aft cabin. Will take a look at the others. Thanks.
Westerly Riviera
- Thread starter Philiz
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The only one of these we have looked at is the Moody 346, we didn't like the lack of headroom when accessing the aft cabin. Will take a look at the others. Thanks.
Robin
Well-Known Member
I don't know your budget, but size matters in a lot of ways, not least in the access to a stern cabin on a centre cockpit. One of the things about the Seahawk and its stablemates that makes it so high is to get that headroom to reach the bonking bunk. A twin keeled one of these is not my choice either as the fin even suffers from lack of lateral area on it's keel to help prevent leeway and it does sideways quite well upwind. Corsair would have more headroom and altogether nicer at 36ft (38ft with the extra tail stuck on to make it an Oceanranger)
The Conway (available also in combinations with different names twin keel and in centre or aft cockpits, sloop or ketch, Solway is one can't think of the others) has headroom in the walk through, even has a couple of stacked sea berths on some there. These are a bit older but were excellent boats, built like the proverbial annd very capable world girdlers. There was a seemingly very good one for sale in Poole for very little money last year, under £30,000 IIRC.
Storyline
Well-Known Member
Agree with Robin's comments on the Conway except to say the walkthrough has not quite got full standing headroom for a 6' male - fine for most females though. The cockpit on a Seahawk is very high above the waterline for a 34/35' boat.
Philiz
Well-Known Member
Thanks Robin, Budget is around £45k to £50k. Saumar2, that'll be plenty of headroom for me then!
Some good suggestions here everyone, thanks for all the input.
Some good suggestions here everyone, thanks for all the input.
Philiz
Well-Known Member
Although we like centre cockpits for the aft cabin you usually get, the height of the cockpit does concern me as I would imagine it magnifies any rolling sensation. I'm I worrying unduly?
Duffer
Well-Known Member
Moody 34/346 sails better than you might expect (I sailed one for a few years) though I will admit that I have never sailed a Riviera so can't compare the two myself.
Robin
Well-Known Member
I had a quick look at Yachtworld listings and there is not much about that seems to stand out. I don't know how much you are prepared to do in TLC type work or more? The ones I saw with original engines, ancient instruments are not very impressive when they seem to expect top dollar.
The Westerly Discus, Westerly Corsair, Westerly Conway are good but the ones around are not seemingly brilliant. Smaller would be the Fulmar. Another might be the 37ft Typhoon, not seen any listed.
Moody 346 likewise, the one you looked at I think is odd in having air horns and a microwave so maybe another ex mobo?
Doesn't have the usual island double either.
First 38 is an outside chance, these are very nice and sail like a witch, yet have I think 50hp Perkins engines as original. I chartered one years ago over New Year for a company do and went prepared to criticise yet loved it.
Jeanneau Sun Fizz 40 if you find a good one (not the lift keeler which is the older plastic interior), we have friends with one that is superb but not for sale!
I don't know the Bavarias, but wouldn't rule them out especially the older ones if they have been kept up to date.
The Westerly Discus, Westerly Corsair, Westerly Conway are good but the ones around are not seemingly brilliant. Smaller would be the Fulmar. Another might be the 37ft Typhoon, not seen any listed.
Moody 346 likewise, the one you looked at I think is odd in having air horns and a microwave so maybe another ex mobo?
Doesn't have the usual island double either.First 38 is an outside chance, these are very nice and sail like a witch, yet have I think 50hp Perkins engines as original. I chartered one years ago over New Year for a company do and went prepared to criticise yet loved it.
Jeanneau Sun Fizz 40 if you find a good one (not the lift keeler which is the older plastic interior), we have friends with one that is superb but not for sale!
I don't know the Bavarias, but wouldn't rule them out especially the older ones if they have been kept up to date.
Coaster
Well-Known Member
Our Seahawk cockpit has never seemed to magnify the effects of roll. Perhaps the substantial beam has a beneficial effect. So far as pitching is concerned, the centre cockpit seems to have less motion than an aft cockpit boat where the helm is further from the centre of gravity.
Philiz
Well-Known Member
We have our eye on a Sun Fizz 40, but it is a lifting keel, the interior as had a full high quality refit. Any problems with the hydrualic lifiting keel arrangement you are aware of?
We're also interested in a Bavaria 38, I'm beginning to think you're reading my mind
Philiz
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that, never thought of the reduced pitching effect.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
We have our eye on a Sun Fizz 40, but it is a lifting keel, the interior as had a full high quality refit. Any problems with the hydrualic lifiting keel arrangement you are aware of?
We're also interested in a Bavaria 38, I'm beginning to think you're reading my mind
Your budget would get you an early 2000's Bavaria 37 like mine, or a similar age 34 or 36, all of which surprisingly are about the same volume, but different layouts. If you like CC boats a Moody 37/376 is just a bit more expensive, but significantly bigger than a 346. If you fancy going older and can tolerate the MFI interior the earlier Primrose Moody 39/40 is a fine boat both for space and capability.
Robin
Well-Known Member
We have our eye on a Sun Fizz 40, but it is a lifting keel, the interior as had a full high quality refit. Any problems with the hydrualic lifiting keel arrangement you are aware of?
We're also interested in a Bavaria 38, I'm beginning to think you're reading my mind
I saw the lift keel one on Yachtworld but didn't check it out as I assumed it would be the one with the formica interior whereas later ones like our friends were all teak. Maybe the one you saw has been updated? Sailing Today did a write up on a lift keel one IIRC that was run by a sailing school, and they rated it. It was our friends (1985) boat that got us looking at Jeanneaus back when we bought our 1988 Sun Legende 41 which was the replacement for the Sun Fizz. The layouts are very similar but the hulls are quite different, from different designers, with Philipe Briand doing the SunFizz 40 and Doug Peterson the Sun Legende 41. The Sun Fizz 40 was designed for the then 'Transat' transatlantic race, IIRC for single handed or two up crew and the race expected to be all upwind stuff. The original Sun Legende 41 was the 2 ton cupper 'Legende' that won SORC down under and was in the French Admiral's Cup Team. Sun Fizz sold over a thousand, many for Med charter, the Sun Legende also but sold less, I think over 400 still mind. Roberto on here has one and sailed his to Brazil, ours did the AZAB Azores and Back two handed race and took 6th place. Our friends are retired and sail two up only on the Sun Fizz and we were the same only a year or two older, these boats are delightful to sail although the Sun Legende will be a little bit above your budget I suspect.
I'm afraid I have no experience of hydraulic lift keels at all!
Philiz
Well-Known Member
Interesting stuff, yes the SF we're looking at has been refitted in solid maple throughout.
Searush
Well-Known Member
The whole point of Centre Cockpit design (or pilot house boats) is that you are at or close to the centre of gravity (or maybe movement?) of the boat & should be far less affected by bad seas than in an aft cockpit design.
FWIW, if you stand in SR's hatchway & brace yourself, the whole boat seems to pivot around you while you just seem to go up & down a bit. It's a bit of a bloody nuisance with novice crew as they always stand there in your way - but it does mean they aren't hanging over the side vomiting & can be put on the wheel if I need to go below.
VO5
Well-Known Member
Exactically so !
In addition that is why the best position for taking sights is at the main hatch.
But additionally anywhere in the cockpit is comfortable and particularly tucked under the sprayhood in heavy seas.
chrisclin
Well-Known Member
I ran a Riviera for 8 years and deeply regret selling her. Yes, she wasn't that great in light winds, but give her a F4 or upwards and she went fine. Otherwise, you've got an engine!
I had no fears about the safety of the windows - however, that wasn't to say there were no leaks. The sheer size of the windows meant that there was a large length of seal and you only needed a small leak somewhere for a drip to appear a long way away.
However, the good points outweighed these issues. The best bit was the ability to sit in an anchorage with a glass of wine and be able to see out. The same applied to the galley. We didn't do much steering from inside but it was easy to run under autopilot while having a 360 degree view from out of the rain. The heads are very large, as is the forecabin. We had the bilge keeler which meant we were able to take the ground on many occasions during our two years in Brittany.
Altogether, an ideal boat for one or two couples, each with their own en-suite. Don't believe anyone who claims that a Riviera is 6 berth.
I had no fears about the safety of the windows - however, that wasn't to say there were no leaks. The sheer size of the windows meant that there was a large length of seal and you only needed a small leak somewhere for a drip to appear a long way away.
However, the good points outweighed these issues. The best bit was the ability to sit in an anchorage with a glass of wine and be able to see out. The same applied to the galley. We didn't do much steering from inside but it was easy to run under autopilot while having a 360 degree view from out of the rain. The heads are very large, as is the forecabin. We had the bilge keeler which meant we were able to take the ground on many occasions during our two years in Brittany.
Altogether, an ideal boat for one or two couples, each with their own en-suite. Don't believe anyone who claims that a Riviera is 6 berth.
Philiz
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your info Chrisclin
