Opinions on MY Boat Buy

[max-on]

Originally Posted by amirault

Considering a hull upgrade from a 1981 Tanzer 8.5. Sailing for two with some single handing. River water to start (max 26mi. long and 2 mi. wide) with 1-2 night cruises, with move to the Great Lakes in 5 years with a max of 7 day cruising (retirement).

New boats Bavaria 30, Catalina 309 and Hanse 315. Used boats Bavaria 32 and Cataina 320 (both 2004). This is a broad range of capabilities but the captain wants to sail while the mate wants to cottage-on-the water. He wants to race while she is heel averse; beyond 15 degrees causes quiet panic. He is active while she has minor mobility problems requiring ease of entry and exit.

I will now lower my head and let the comments fly!

Brian

Brian, I also would consider the Dehler 29, it has many of the qualities you are looking for, quality build, performance oriented hulll and rig, a comfortable cockpit and interior, walk through transom, and a comfortable motion with a neutral balanced helm. We have a 1997 Dehler 33, which is also a JV design, and the mate enjoys the boat very much, although she was adamant she wanted a wheel, she's now glad we have the tiller as it opens up the cockpit and, as she says, is just more fun sitting outboard steering the boat.

Quoting Bob Perry: "This is a really good-looking boat. When you pull into a harbor, people will make value judgments about you based on the boat you are sailing. It's not fair, but it is inevitable. I think this 29 will satisfy the most demanding sailor when it comes to performance — and to performing in style. "

There is more info on the web site www.dehler.us and PM me offline if you want further information.

[Giulietta]

max-on is right.

The Dehler is very very good. A litle "german" austerity and sharp angles inside, but a very very good boat.

German built, the "old" way. Like the main sheet location at end of boom and the door.

[blt2ski]

There are a number of the european built boats like the Dehler or Jeanneau's that I am more familiar with, that you can get tiller steering. Most of them have a racing bent to them. In the Jeanneau brand, the sunfast vesions vs the sun odysea versions. THe SF's are availible both in europe and N America with tiller std, and wheel optional. IIRC there is a 32 availible onthe ecoast for about $90-100K right now. The SO's are availble with both tiller and wheel in europe, but only wheel in the states. ALtho there may be a dealer or two that would try to get a tiller version.

The SO's and SF versions have the same hull and interior, the SO a smaller sail plan, shallower keel, more wt in the keel etc, vs the SF a deeper keel, cockpit mounted main traveler vs cabin top mounted on the SO's.

The 32I is still built, the 35, 37 and others are currently on their last legs or out of production, with some of the newer SO 's coming out with performance pkg's, ie the bigger sail, deeper keel plan like the SF, but cabin top travelers and other more cruider aspect of sail plan, THe non performance rigs have the smaller sail plan, shallower keels etc.

There is to be a new 3200 debuted at the paris show this week with twin rudders and all assorted go fast stuff, as Jeanneau is supposed to be upgrading the SF versions to a more race bent vs a cruiser race bent set up.

I have an 85 Arcadia made by Jeanneau, of the 6 ot 7 I know of in NA, I am the only one with tiller steering, the rest are wheel. I know of locally puget sound of a SF35 with tiller steering that was on teh market ayr ago. Tillers do exhist, but I personally have found the european marketed/built boats have tiller option vs NA marketed/built boats, excepting J boats, have wheel steering more common in 27-28' and larger boats. I am sure someone will prove me wrong here, but just my observations.

Marty