Why not a Beneteau?

[welshwind]

As an owner of a Beneteau 36CC, I love it. We do no blue water cruising, just what folks would term coastal cruising. It is perfect for that and for the fact that the features and space meets the needs of my Admiral and my crew.

[bubb2]

I have owned a Beneteau for 10 years witch we bought new. We have sailed her from the Chesapeake to Halifax. She is not as big as you are looking at. A bennie will serve you well!!!

[Cruisingdad]

THere are many things to consider.

First, I own a production boat (Catalina 400) and just helped my dad pick out his Tayana 42. I agree that I would certainly take a hard look at the Catalina 400 and 42 before signing on the Beneteau. Not that one is better than the other, but you may find some things about each boat that appeals to you. What I like aboput my 400 is that she is a nice performing boat and fun to sail. Most important for us, especially with kids, is that she is very sure footed. We have two heads and a nice spac in the aft berth for mom and dad to escape the kids. She is a very comfortable "live aboard". Most of the systems are pretty accesible. The cockpit is awesome and one of the biggest sailing points.

Negatives: Storage - of both goods, fuel and water. THe Beneteau is no better (and maybe worse). When you go to live aboard, you will need a LOT of space. Finding a spot for a washer dryer is a challenge that we will probably give up on (though you can do it on the 42). Some of our systems are hard to access also, like some of the water and septic runs. Another negative is the rudder is not very well protected. Any boat with a spade rudder is exposed, but most production boats are especially susceptible.

The Tayana 42...

WHat I like: Lots, and lots, and lots of storage. You cannot imagine all the storage on these boats. Stuff will get lost. Want a Washer/dryer?? Not a problem. Also, if you get the aft cockpit version, you will be able to walk through from the galley to the lazarette. ALL of your systems are VERY easily accesible, without any exception that we could find. The rudder and keel are exceptionally strong and the rudder very well protected. At 37,500 lbs dry, she will take a beating. She is a beatuful boat down below with lots of teak, and very comfortable in a rolling sea. In essense, this boat is built like a tank (and drives like one).

The Negatives...

Many of the things which make her "positives" come at a cost. For example, the cockpit is very small, as are the cockpits on most boats of this purpose. This is by design in case you take a breaker in the cockpit. Also, all the weight that makes her very steady and sure also makes her pretty slow. I have to blame some large portion of that on her displacement. Where my Catalina likes to run in the low 7's comfortably, you will push it to get her over 5.5 kts except in a blow. All of the storage takes away from living room down below. However, given the very easy access to systems and large tankage, it is a worthy trade-off for a cruiser.

I do not regret my purchase of the Catalina, however, give what I know now of the Tayana 42, I would have to sit down and think long and hard which one I would purcahse. The underlying issue for us is the kids and that fact that they need more space (and their own head, per their mother). Many/most cruisers do not have those concerns.

In the end, I would urge you to at least look at a Tayana 42 (or similar) before signing on with any production boat. You will like (and not like) many things that you will see. Whether the trade offs are worth it is up to you.

- CD

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by Cruisingdad

(refering to the Tayana 42 )you will push it to get her over 5.5 kts except in a blow.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Start a 100 mile trip with a new young wine...sell it as vintage wine on arrival!!!!!!

That's my point....exactly..these tanks are designed to take beatings...not to sail....

[Bene505]

Is there something to be said for sailing faster to get out of the way of weather? Or is that just an advertising scheme?

[Bene505]

By the way, I was pleasantly surprised with the parts supply service for my Beneteau. They were courteous, and relatively inexpensive. The guy on the phone also emailed me some schematics that I wanted.

[bubb2]

Originally Posted by Bene505

Is there something to be said for sailing faster to get out of the way of weather? Or is that just an advertising scheme?

It is not advertising if you are out of the weather!!

[johnshasteen]

Originally Posted by Bene505

Is there something to be said for sailing faster to get out of the way of weather? Or is that just an advertising scheme?

I hear that from the fin keel, spade rudder, fairly fast production boats and it's true, they might get out of the way of the weather. My experience, in two Force 10 storms, is that providence is never that kind to you. In the first storm, by the time we learned that the storm might hit us, we were 300 miles in any direction from safe harbor. In the second storm, in March of this year, same deal, no safe harbor that you could reach in a sailboat - regardless of how fast it was - even if we had made it into the ICW, we would have taken a terrible beating. Enduring those two storms over the years, I'm a firm believer in a strong bluewater boat if you are venturing far from harbors.
On the other hand, if someone is going to do the kind of sailing that probably 95% of all boat owners do, I think a production boat is probably the best choice.

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Start a 100 mile trip with a new young wine...sell it as vintage wine on arrival!!!!!!

That's my point....exactly..these tanks are designed to take beatings...not to sail....

I have no doubt that in a stiff breeze that boat will run hull speed. SHe just does not do it in the typical 10-15 kts.

I actuallylike those boats a lot. There is a lot of storage and it is a very sea kindly and very comfortable boat down below. I also strongly feel that for any long distance passage, it is the better choice.

Just my opinions, as someone that has weekly experience with both.

- CD

[Faster]

Without a personal weather router AND a fast boat I doubt the "run away from weather" factor is significant.

However if the faster boat will do a passage in 10 days less time than a "tank" that leaves the same day, statistically the quicker boat's risk of exposure would be reduced (depending on the weather systems' whims.)