Which boat? Version 2

[ingenious]

Well,
Having spent three weeks lounging about in Gran Canaria and a few days looking around the Catalonia coast, I’m now starting to look seriously at some boats. Looking for hard top, diesel, comfort over speed, around 9-11m, two double berths. Nominal budget around £150k but might stretch for something I really like

I was very taken with the Nimbus 305 i was invited onboard in Mogan by its Swedish owners who had travelled all the way from Karlskrona over a period of 2 years. They said they had no problems with at all and coped well with open seas even though it only had a single 220HP engine. I've had a look at sale sites and most seem to have that although there is one with twin engines for sale in Monaco (very expensive). Nothing down in this part of the world although several elsewhere in France and Netherlands

Other ones I have seen here or online that appeal-
Jeanneaus of various types:
- NC9
- NC11
- Leader 10
- Prestige 34/36/38
The only one I've actually been on up to now was an NC9 which was moored in Las Palmas the first night I was there and I chatted to the German owner. Seemed nice although the second cabin was snug
There’s one of each of the others for sale in Empuriabrava/Roses area and a Prestige 38 here in Sitges although the vendor hasn’t returned my call as yet. There’s an identical one in Barcelona
Edit: No sooner than I had posted this and the guy phoned about the 38 so I am seeing it tomorrow.

Sealine SC35
These seem to be very popular around here. Saw several in Empuriabrava including two for sale and others in most of the marinas I’ve visited. Certainly very pretty.

Beneteau Flyer 38GT
One of these for sale here in Sitges although it seems to be a private sale rather than through an broker (For sale sign on it in English with a phone number although it is Polish registered). Maybe a bit big. Cheaper than ones online elsewhere.

Anybody got strong opinions on any of these? I realise they are nearly all stern drives which seems to divide opinions. All have Volvo engines except the Prestige 38s which have Cummings QSD4.2

I only had half a day in Empuriabrava this week but I’m renting an AirBnb next week for 3 days to get a feel for if I’d like to buy there and base a boat there. Will have a look at these boats as well. As far as I can tell none will fit under the 2.8m bridges so would have to berth in the outer areas. The AirBnb is right beside the Marina

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Out of those I’d go for the Nimbus if you want a trad boat, or the SC35, (assuming Volvo not Mercruisers) for something that feels a bit later. Easy resale on either. That’s just my view though, this is your money not mine.

You need to find a berth too. In fact, without a berth, you can’t keep a boat so that’s arguably the more important bit. That will also dictate the max size of boat you can keep on it,

 

[Sticky Fingers]

If you can go to 12m that opens up a few more options eg Sessa C35, Bavaria Sport 38 hardtop, Beneteau Antares 36.

 

[ingenious]

Out of those I’d go for the Nimbus if you want a trad boat, or the SC35, (assuming Volvo not Mercruisers) for something that feels a bit later. Easy resale on either. That’s just my view though, this is your money not mine.

You need to find a berth too. In fact, without a berth, you can’t keep a boat so that’s arguably the more important bit. That will also dictate the max size of boat you can keep on it,

This Nimbus is certainly my pref at the moment but would mean bringing one down from elsewhere The SC35 looks very attractive so looking forward to seeing it. A few berths available for buying or renting at Empuriabrava and a few other places I have researched but, to jump to your other reply, 12m berth might be a problem as well as the physical size for solo handling which I will be. Isn't the Sessa c35 open? I saw one of them in Barcelona.
You mentioned Mercruiser, are they a problem? The boat I am looking at tomorrow has them

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Also, on the SC35, note that the master cabin berth is a bit short, so if you’re over 6’ tall you need to try it for size / comfort before you buy.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

This Nimbus is certainly my pref at the moment but would mean bringing one down from elsewhere The SC35 looks very attractive so looking forward to seeing it. A few berths available for buying or renting at Empuriabrava and a few other places I have researched but, to jump to your other reply, 12m berth might be a problem as well as the physical size for solo handling which I will be. Isn't the Sessa c35 open? I saw one of them in Barcelona.
You mentioned Mercruiser, are they a problem? The boat I am looking at tomorrow has them

No difference between 11m and 12m in handling terms, the bigger boat is easier in some ways as heavier and less affected by wind - get the biggest boat you can fit on your berth. Mercruisers not popular all and wil be harder to resell.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Sessa C35 is open, sorry.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Also, I know it’s not a hardtop but the classic masterpiece at that size is the Fairline Targa 34 or 38.

 

[roa312]

I would recommend you also take a look at Marex. Good quality boats with lots of smart solutions - see reviews on YouTube where this is often highighted. I think that Marex 310, 320, 350, 375 could potentially be relevant to you. I don't know about the availability in your part of the world though, but some of these have a size where they can be transported by lorry etc.

 

[ingenious]

Also, on the SC35, note that the master cabin berth is a bit short, so if you’re over 6’ tall you need to try it for size / comfort before you buy.

That's a very good point. I'm 6ft 1.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

That's a very good point. I'm 6ft 1.

Right, that’s potentially a serious issue for you. I’m 5’9 and I thought it was a bit short.

 

[ingenious]

Also, I know it’s not a hardtop but the classic masterpiece at that size is the Fairline Targa 34 or 38.

Yes, I saw one of those in Sant Carles. The marina manager there recommended them. Think it was bigger (42?)
You mentioned Bavaria earlier and there is a 33HT at one of the French ports I am thinking of going to on the way home.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

…
You mentioned Bavaria earlier and there is a 33HT at one of the French ports I am thinking of going to on the way home.

My previous boat was a Bavaria S40HT - a Hardtop sports cruiser, brilliant use of space, definitely worth a look.

 

[ingenious]

First two boat viewings done.

No 1 Beneteau 38 Gran Turismo 2011
This is a private sale by a Polish/Russian owner. It started out in Gdańsk from new and has travelled in the summer months all the way to Benidorm
Likes:
Cheap
Plenty of space
Two good size sleeping cabins and OK beds
Central helm position
Opening side windows
Has Dockmate!
Scrupulously maintained ( receipts for everything, log in Russian) up until last Sept.
Pretty fast by all accounts

Dislikes:
Awkward sales conditions ( Polish law/ bank)
Older than I was really looking for.
Blue hull has white blooming, needs polished, teak very dried out, some rubber seals look brittle
Stainless handrails have surface corrosion at welds
Roof creaks when opening
Signs of wear on hinges and catches on storage
High engine hours (2868 and 2869)

Conclusion: I like the model in principle but this one probably not the one to buy. I will keep a look out for others.

No 2 Jeanneau Prestige 38s 2009
Sale through broker locally owned, 3 owners from new, the last only 2 years.
Likes:
Huge amount of space
Big bed
Tender ‘garage’
Massive engine room
Outside grill
Generator
Engines very quiet.
Possibility of sleeping up to 8

Dislikes:
Mercruiser engines/drives with masses spent on them in 1000 hrs use. One outdrive replaced, other completely rebuilt
Fuel consumption seems very high
Outside seating leatherette brittle, teak needs work. Inside leatherette looks and feels cheap.
Too big? Three separate seating areas I would probably never use and a lot of the storage space is used with cushions and covers.
Old.

Conclusion: Didn’t like it. Apart from the issues above, it felt like an appliance rather than something to enjoy. It’s a lot of boat for the money but feels old. I may have had a bias because of the Mercruiser engines but not for me. Another user of the marina thought it was chartered for parties at one point.

Four more on Monday/Tuesday then I have to go home for a while and get my cottage ready for the AirBnb season.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Benefit of doing this is that you now start to build a benchmark for what you want and don’t want. They’re all going to have their bad points. Question is, which can you accept and which are deal breakers?

 

[ingenious]

Benefit of doing this is that you now start to build a benchmark for what you want and don’t want. They’re all going to have their bad points. Question is, which can you accept and which are deal breakers?

Yes, it was very interesting. From your post I remembered to check bed lengths. The Beneteau was just about as tight as I'd like _ length fine in the middle but obviously narrowed at bow. Jeanneau had plenty.
My current feeling is I'd rather have a shorter, newer boat than a longer older one. These two a touch under 12m and felt a bit big whereas the NC9 felt a bit small. We'll see how I get on with the ones next week. One of the brokers also messaged today to say he has something not up on the website that he'd like to show me. I'd mentioned I was interested in the Nimbus 305 so hope it might be one of those.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

You’ll know it when you find it. Keep going

 

[ingenious]

I have to say Empuriabrava is a great place to come to look at boats. Apart from the four I had arranged to see, I have looked at another four that the brokers had on their books and thought might be suitable. Walking around I would guess at there being over 100 for sale, likewise dozens of flats but I'm not convinced I’d want to live here

In order of viewing:

Monday
Sealine SC38 2011 and 2008
I saw two of these . One with a white hull and blue/grey upper works and a standard bathing platform and the other blue hull with white uppers and a long bathing platform. The interior upholstery on the first was burgundy Alcantara, on the second dark brown leather. I have to say the first was by far the more attractive looking boat. The long bathing platform did nothing for me except take it into a higher berth cost bracket! The brown upholstery made the interior dark
I so wanted this to be the one, it is a gorgeous looking boat and so much of it is very nice but the bed issue mentioned by @Sticky Fingers is a show stopper. It's exactly 182cm at its longest point but tapers away sharply both top and bottom. At my 187cm, I could just about use it if I lie in the middle but if, for instance, either of my sons and partners join me, I’d probably let them have the master cabin and they would struggle.
The other thing that hadn't occurred to me but would really piss me off is this:

Who the **** thought it was a good idea to split this window between solid and soft top? At my height, my natural seating position puts the huge join right at eye level so I’d find myself having to stoop forward to see out to the right, Even with the soft section off there is a frame.

Jeanneau Prestige 34 2009
Quite nice really but didn't fire my imagination. A decent amount of space and good bed cabins although the galley/dinette area is small. Cheap and, if I was struggling for budget i’d consider it BUT - exactly the same issue but worse with side visibility because of style over function (and not even very nice style IMHO).
I guess its so they use the same mould as the open version but its crap ergonomics

Jeanneau Prestige 36 2007
I think I had a brain fart when I asked to see this one. It's older than I would consider and it's a flybridge which I don't want. I think I must have assumed it was a slighter bigger version of the 34, but it's a very different beast - shaft drives rather than stern drives and an older design. Having asked to see it, felt obliged to look around. Layout actually quite good although small heads. I did think it might do for a fleeting minute but I really couldn't see me using the flybridge if sailing solo. It also rules out taking it on canals which is something I would still like to do

Beneteau Antares 36 2012
This was moored alongside the Jeanneau 36 and the broker suggested I might like (I still hadn't told him my mistake with the flybridge). Felt very much like a more modern version of the Jeanneau, finish very good (better than Jeanneau), visibility excellent, opening side windows. If I wanted a fly, this would be the one


Tuesday
Jeanneau Leader 10 2012
This felt a lot like the NC9 I had been on in Las Palmas. but with the galley downstairs and an overall more sporty feel to it. Bedrooms OK, second a bit tight. Much bigger, more powerful engine which seemed noisier than other boats Id seen, even with the same D4’s. I Liked it a lot and it was well up the possibles list until I saw the next one

Jeanneau NC11 2011
As might be expected, this was just like the NC9 but bigger, it was even the same colour (a dirty grey/green which was one of only two things I didn't like about it). Really clean, almost Scandinavian styling (actually Italian apparently), lots of clever ideas, lots of storage and a double bed that has an extender infill for the tall people in the world like me. Even with the infill in place the end section can be lifted for storage underneath or slid over the infill piece to give more room to stand on to get dressed. The second bed was less innovative but still good being able to be made as a double or two singles. Mattresses quite thin put could add toppers. Heads/shower is really nice. A look at the (huge) engine bay confirmed they are the later type D3 engines, they were immaculate and the outdrives were serviced last year. Straight to the top of the possibles list. Oh, the other thing I didn't like is that the helm is on the port side. Don’t know why but it seems wrong!

Nimbus 335 2015
This was the surprise the broker for the NC11 had for me. Very much a larger version of the 305 I had been on in Puerto de Mogan and which had been my “most likely” up until now. Everything I liked about the 305 was there with the same superb build and comfort and a few other nice things like a TV that pops up out of the copilot /chart desk and, on this one, air con. Funny thing is, having seen lots of boats with a central, walk round bed, I’m not sure about the V -berth on this (although it does have an infill and the legs of the V are plenty long enough for me). The other problem is the price - 220,000 Euro. It is the newest boat I looked at but by far the most expensive.

So, where I have left it is that I am going back to England for a week or so and will let them know. There are two newer NC11’s, a slightly older, cheaper 335 and two 305s in Southern France within range so I might come back and have a look at them. I also need to get my Level 2/CEVNI sorted before I can actually drive the thing!

 

[ingenious]

One for me to have a look at next week?
France to auction superyacht seized in Belarusian money-laundering case

 

[Sticky Fingers]

One for me to have a look at next week?
France to auction superyacht seized in Belarusian money-laundering case

Definitely. She has a transparent flagpole. A must have