Centre cockpit cruisers

[bg9208]

I am planning, in the next couple of years to buy a centre cockpit ketch to sail to and around the Eastern med. I hope to then spend my time, 80% sailing and 20% o0n terra firma. My present short (sic.) list is, in no particular oder, as follows:
Tai Chaio42, Vagabond 47, Tucker 39,Trewes, Salar 40,Nicholson 38,Westerley Oceanlord, Colvic Victro, Buccaneer, Victory 40, Wauquiez Amphitrite, Amel Maramu, Amel Sharki,Morgan Outisland, Oyster 39, Elstrom 48.
Any comments regarding any of these pro or con would be appreciated.
YIA

[NigeL]

Personally as I cannot afford any of them - I'd have any one of them !

Sorry to joke ... couldn't resist.

[bg9208]

I'll certainly be digging deep "burning my boats" you might say but every boat which I have bought in the past, I have sold for more than I paid, I think that's probably against the usual trend! It's either a big house and a small boat or vice versa and small properties in the Greek islands and Turkey cost peanuts compared with the UK. Looking at the magazine ads, my aspirations are quite mundane. I would never buy anything new.
I still have a couple of years to save up my cents!

[Barr Avel]

The only centre cockpit ketch I have sailed was an old Bowman 36, can't really compare it to the models you have listed, so I will not even try.

Always like the look of the Amel Maramu, along with OVNIs they seem to be the boat of choice for serious French bluewater liveaboards.

Not very familiar with the Eastern Med, but with stern to mooring is a centre cockpit ketch the best configuration? Would the mizzen not always get in the way?

Marc.

[NigeL]

Stern to always seems to be norm in Meddi ... but over here in Baltic - Bow to is the norm. That way you keep privacy in the cabin / cockpit.

I would think a Ketch with "Baltic-bow plank access" would be ideal in Meddi .... if casual cruiser - tyhen Stern to may be ok - but as a live-aboard / serious cruising ? No I think I would prefer the bow to arrangement.

It also makes "parking" so much easier ..... good steerage control going in, kedge out astern to give good control over fwd motion. Departing is easy ... as the boat is pulled out on the kedge, with only guidance of midships hands to keep boat banging others ...

My thoughts anyway.

[bg9208]

Much of the time I will probably be anchoring or in small harbours and away from the major Marinas. I would prefer bow-on mooring but the alternative only requires lots and lots of practice. A bow thruster would be useful!
I quite like the look of the Bowmans (Bowmen?) but the OVNI doesn't do a lot for me, not sure about lifting keel boats.
Centre cockpit because thats what "her indoors" wants.

[Barr Avel]

OVNI's are not to everyone taste, and I wasn't suggesting them as they are very different to the types you listed above, I was just commenting that once you leave Europe & the Med, half the French flagged monohulls I come across seem to be Amels and the other hald OVNIs...

Of course if I were to answer off-topic, I would say that if you are not aiming to spend much time in marina then a catamaran would....... But I shall not start that one off again!

Are you planning to go to the Salon Nautique in Paris in December? I went last year and was very impressed (I appreciate you are not looking for a new boat...).

Marc.

[bg9208]

I like the idea of a cat. but "HI" wants a "proper boat like we had before only bigger". Certainly can't afford a new boat and I get the feel that most of the newer ones are much lighter and more highly engineered. Sue's car is a 30 year old Reliant Scimitar which still runs a treat, cheap to service and turns heads whilst I have been through numerous other more modern cars which have either rusted to bits or so sophisticated that only the main dealers have the electronic wizardry to fix BUT at what a price.
I'd like something in which I could cross an ocean but not necessarily get there first.
Don't think I will go to Paris, I've got out of the habit of dealing with crowds, London, Paris, New York, Fort Worth give me rural france or the open sea. I'll do my boat shopping over the internet.

[NigeL]

The two boats in your list that I know about ... Nich. 38 and Westerly Oceanlord. Two different but excellent boats. The Salar 40 is one I've looked at on-line on a number of occasions.

I was recently invited on a Nich 38 by a cruising couple. I have to say and Svet was with me - yes ! I could quite easily have a Nich 38 ..... to me a sensible design, not the big fat volume hull of some of the modern jobs - but for 2 people ? Excellent.
They'd improved the aft cabin by designing and fitting their own infill to the bed. Otherwise it was a bit strange. Truly a worthy contender.
The Oceanlord comes from a line of successful cruising boats, it's a Westerly ... says it all really.

Surprised that Moody is not on the list ... considering that loads were sold into the Med .... Some of the older large Moodys .... excellent boats ..... Halberdier for example ?

I do detect a vast range in pricing of your list though !!

[bg9208]

Have looked at the Halberdier, and a Moody or two, should real;ly have included on the list. If I could get a larger Halderdier I think that would suit us perfectly. The large range in pricing gives me leeway in doing necessary work and adding bits, rigging, sails, electronics etc.
and keeping a reasonable pied a terre property. Like all theings at the moment, we don't know where the world will be financially in a year or so's time,

[NigeL]

If you are not against ferrocement - there are some excellent live-aboards / blue-water jobs around at good prices.

With regard to financial matters at moment - you don't want to know how much has been struck of my "valuation" with todays financial markets ...

[kilter]

I have only got experience of the Oceanlord, having said that I'd be very happy to own one! Well put together and well thought of boat with lots of fans.

The idea of a cat would also appeal to me and with an engine in each hull they are easy to park! Prout maybe?