Yacht suggestions please

[Philiz]

If I can sell my mobo in 2012 I'll be joining you rag and stick merchants, so I'm after a few suggestions on what might be a good boat for us. Requirements are;

Easy, safe access at transom for climbing in and out of dinghy, dog included.
Good sized and comfortable main cabin, aft cabin preferred.
Safe cockpit with a good bit of space in it.
All lines coming back to cockpit.
Good seaworthiness
Reasonably easy to handle for two
Would be good if it could take the ground but not essential.
Views on shaft drive v saildrive would also be useful.
Preferred length 34-36' ish

Budget £50-£55k.

Anybody want to swop

 

[temptress]

If I can sell my mobo in 2012 I'll be joining you rag and stick merchants, so I'm after a few suggestions on what might be a good boat for us. Requirements are;

Easy, safe access at transom for climbing in and out of dinghy, dog included.
Good sized and comfortable main cabin, aft cabin preferred.
Safe cockpit with a good bit of space in it.
All lines coming back to cockpit.
Good seaworthiness
Reasonably easy to handle for two
Would be good if it could take the ground but not essential.
Views on shaft drive v saildrive would also be useful.

Budget £50-£55k.

Anybody want to swop

How long is a bit of string?

What is you sailing experience like?
What sort of sailing do you want to do?

 

[Sandy]

More string...

Where do you want to sail?

 

[Judders]

http://www.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=221116

Would be perfect.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Your requirements describe just about every AWB made in the last few years. You'll be spoilt for choice.

 

[minkysailing]

It sound to me like you need a no frills modern GRP production yacht made by Beneteau, Jenneau or Bavaria. They meet all you requirements and offer good value sailing. Depending on your layout requirements and cabin numbers, you can then match size & age to price.

Best of luck.

 

[Philiz]

Sailing experience limited, I would say I'm reasonably capable, will be used mainly for cruising around North Wales area with occasional trips to Ireland and I.O.M.

Ah, forgot to say, would like something 34-36' ish.

Judders, thanks for your input.

 

[Philiz]

Your requirements describe just about every AWB made in the last few years. You'll be spoilt for choice.

Mmm, I know. But I was trying to steer clear of them and explore any alternatives I've not thought of yet.

 

[E39mad]

I think the choice is more limited than people think - the shallow draft element has not been taken into account - not many 34-36 foot modern lift keelers around at that price range.

Full Circle of this parish has a Jeanneau 35 iirc. Beneteau may do some lift keel versions but not seen many above 32 foot in recent years. Feeling (aka Kirie) do lift keelers.

Going older - Westerly/Moody's with bilge keels or even a Southerly 115 - although all of the above have smaller cockpits being predominately centre cockpit.

 

[Champagne Murphy]

Sounds like a Southerly to me. Not my personal preference but does seem to tick the boxes.
http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=220236

 

[Tranona]

Mmm, I know. But I was trying to steer clear of them and explore any alternatives I've not thought of yet.

If you relax some of your criteria you can widen the choice. For example if you can do without easy boarding from the transom then you have a wide range of British boats from Westerly and Moody, both aft and centre cockpit. However, they will all be much older than if you go for "modern" boats. For example my Bavaria 37 from 2001 would match exactly (as would similar age Benny 351, Jenny 36 etc) but you could also get a mid 80s Corsair/Moody 346 or 37 - however, likely to need more work/replacements.

Difficult to fault modern boats for what they are - they sell in huge numbers because they satisfy owners' needs. So, if you are looking for something different chances are they did not meet enough needs to be sold in volume!

Shaft or sail drive are both good, although the benefits of saildrive seem to be winning as more an more manufacturers are changing. More refinement, better packaging and easy handling tend to suit modern hulls better. Downside is potential high cost of replacement if they fail.

 

[fireball]

Mmm, I know. But I was trying to steer clear of them and explore any alternatives I've not thought of yet.

Yup - first thought was AWB ... we have similar requirements - easy access from a tender at the transom - all lines to the cockpit and easily sailable by two. Size was up to 38' ... we now have a Bav ... and happy with it

Thing with an AWB is you need to be choosy - find one with nice sails and if older variety preferably under equipped as you'll spend the money on upgrades so might as well not have instruments that need ripping out ...

If you want to go older then the other sort of vessel we were investigating was the Westerly Falcon - the later ones (I think) had sugarscoop sterns - which is what you need for easy boarding.

Careful with the newer Bavs (although above your budget) as these have folding transoms - some on hydrolics - IMHO the platform is fine for getting on and off pontoons, but you'd need a larger RIB type tender for stability if you want to do this at a mooring.

 

[photodog]

A lot of this is down to how DIY competent you are...... if you want something reliable thats gonna work out of the box... then something early 00's from the big boys... single owner, non-charter.... decent rep... would probably hit the nail.

I would rather avoid a saildrive if the choice was easy.... they need work every decade or so that is quite expensive.... versus a prop shaft which doesnt....

50-55k is not a bad price range.... but will exclude the best Bene 361's and SO 37's..... but would be bang on for a Bavaria 37 or 34 circa 2000-2001... which are straightforward and reliable machines.... but no lift keel....

A SO 35 with a lift keel will be more than 55k..... and a Southerly at that price will be a dog to sail.....

Something to look at would be a Moody 336 with a bilge keel.... That is a good spacious boat... should be pretty close on the money... but you will need to be carefull with the condition. You might also find a nice 346 for that cash in a bilge keel as well...

Neither of these have great transoms for dingy action.....

 

[rotrax]

If I can sell my mobo in 2012 I'll be joining you rag and stick merchants, so I'm after a few suggestions on what might be a good boat for us. Requirements are;

Easy, safe access at transom for climbing in and out of dinghy, dog included.
Good sized and comfortable main cabin, aft cabin preferred.
Safe cockpit with a good bit of space in it.
All lines coming back to cockpit.
Good seaworthiness
Reasonably easy to handle for two
Would be good if it could take the ground but not essential.
Views on shaft drive v saildrive would also be useful.
Preferred length 34-36' ish

Budget £50-£55k.

Anybody want to swop

We have a boat which meets many of your criteria. Transfering from the dinghy to the transom is possible without too much trouble but we find it much safer to use a fender step and get aboard at the side. It is possible for the raised counter to push the side of the dink under in a swell-this cant happen at the side.You might want to consider a Legend-many have bilge keels.

 

[cliffdale]

I came out of powerboating to join the rag and stick brigade. Used to own a targa 34. It was a difficult decision to make but fuel costs killed the power for me.

So, the Targa would burn around 60 to 80L per hour. We bought the sailing boat last May. We motored from Swanwick to Falmouth our home berth. June, July, most of August and September the boat was well used.

2 weeks ago we filled up for winter. £80.00 fuel. I could hardly believe it!
Fill up the Targa £350 for 4 hours/ 120 miles.

I miss the speed. Falmouth to Channel islanda 4 hours. I gain out on the water all day, £1.00.

Best wishes for the rag&stick

Cliff

 

[WestwardBound]

I have to put in a word for Maxis, you could get a Maxi 34 for that price. I liked mine and I got a different Maxi to replace it.
There's a review in a recent Sailing today, I think it's a great pocket cruiser. Others have mentioned the worthy Westerleys and Moodys and Southerlies. There are many more great boats, take your time and look at a lot.

 

[photodog]

I have to put in a word for Maxis, you could get a Maxi 34 for that price. I liked mine and I got a different Maxi to replace it.
.

Nice boat... well spotted!

 

[Searush]

Modern boats tend to have higher freeboard to improve space inside, but this can make access at the side harder. I don't think you'll find any sailing boat as easy to board as you current MoBo, nor will there be as much shelter when using it in poor weather.

The Southerlies (lift keel) have a pilothouse steering position & so do Evasions (shallow long keel) & the Westerly Riviera (fin or twin). That way you have the comfort of motoring from inside or the fun of sailing outside depending on the weather & conditions.

Keep trying different boats - it's lots of fun & will help you understand what is important & what it essential!

 

[alahol2]

What you may not have thought about is a cat. Coming from a mobo you may find flat sailing more comfortable.

 

[Twister_Ken]

What you may not have thought about is a cat. Coming from a mobo you may find flat sailing more comfortable.

For any US readers for word 'flat' substitute 'apartment block'.