Newbie's first thread :) (((follow up questions)))

[DavidB.UK]

Hello everybody,

Firstly let me thank you all for all the insightful advice recieved in my first thread.

I have been busy scouring the classifieds, particularly

Boats for sale | TheYachtMarket

And little by little i'm narrowing my choices.

I have taken on-board the advice that for a single man 36ft should have enough room as a full-time live-aboard and the fact that marinas seem to have this size as the biggest boats in the lower end of the cost bracket this is also a persuader.

I have been reading up an various cruising and live-aboard threads and many questions have presented themselves there and have subsequently been answered, however I do still have a few specific questions I would like answers to.

Also I have listed some interesting features that I think have merit but I am yet to graduate to this kind of boat so and so many of the features are new to me and if anybody can chime in with thoughts on pros/cons of the things listed below I'd be very grateful...

Air con?

There seem to be very very few boats with air con fitted

Do I need powered winches?


Auto pilot/self steering options?


Proper flushing toilet? [INDENT]Are they ever fitted/can they be retro fitted?/INDENT]

I've seen the pump type toilets that seem to be fitted to most boats and they seem to be pretty pants

Twin rudders?

I hadn't ever seen twin rudders before but they are fitted to the new BAVARIA range and they think they make a certain amount of sense for steering when heeled over...?

Bow thrusters?

Again something I hadn't heard of before a few days ago. These do seem like a clever idea particularly for manoeuvring in confined spaces such as a marina berth (and/or) in adverse conditions

Fold out swim platform?

again on the new BAVARIA range, this seems like a good idea too, but I wonder whether they are beneficial over a built in (fixed) swim platform?

Security?

What provision do any of you take to protect your boat from break ins?

Pilot house Vs. Spray hood?

Although it has been suggested that a live-aboard (for the UK) would be better to have a pilot house, i have realised that as I work from home (I'm a writer) I could do that from anywhere and so my plans to venture forth from UK waters to head south for the winter might be brought forward significantly. But... How many boats come with a full awning rather than a spray hood for when the weather is bad, I have so far only found a fraction of yachts that have a full awning rather than a spray windscreen

Also...
I am considering upping my budget and subsequently delaying my purchase (6-9months) to go for a new (or newer) boat rather than second hand.

Is buying a brand new boat good value? I mean I wonder whether to take the same view as buying a car in that respect. You'll get a lot more car for your money by buying a young second hand car over a brand new one for the same money.

That said...
I have been noseying at both and so far my two favourite boats are these two...

Moody 36CC


and this one; Bavaria cruiser 36


Both mean delaying my purchase to make up the difference in purchase funds but the Bavaria is brand new and cheaper than the 12 year old moody!

What gives?
Is the Moody a SIGNIFICANTLY better boat or is the Bavaria a cheap quality boat?

[WDS123]

Welcome !

Twin Rudders ? They are useful and necessary on high performance racers with extreme wide flat aft sections, when going upwind. On typical cruising boats, they are a bit of a gimmick.

Pilot House ? How many days a year does it rain/mist/fog in your location in sailing season ? If more than 30% of the time, then pilot house.

New vs Used - somewhat similar to cars.

A/C ? Not needed in Northern Europe

Powered Winches ? Unlikely necessary on a 36ftr

Autohelm - useful

[Ulladh]

Southampton Boat Show all this week.

Go have a look and compare offerings from many builders.

[DavidB.UK]

that would be wonderful except i'm in France until Spring.
I'm from the UK but im over here helping my mother.

Thinking of taking a trip to La Roschelle, nearest boaty destination I believe.

[Ulladh]

Boat shows in France;
The IBI Boat Show Calendar

[Ulladh]

Boat shows in France;
The IBI Boat Show Calendar

[mitiempo]

A proper flushing toilet - as in a house - will not work when the head is near or sometimes below the waterline. Hence the pump type. Many UK boats will have a Lavac, one of if not the most reliable manual toilets available.

Whether you end up with a canvas spray hood or a solid one the aft part of the cockpit can be closed off with canvas for inclement weather - always optional.

Security systems can be retrofitted to any boat - seldom standard.

On a 36`boat you do not need electric winches or a bow thruster. Anchor windlass excepted.

As posted twin rudders are useful on a boat with a wide powerful stern but not on most cruisers - a bit of a marketing fad in many cases.

Air conditioning in the UK - not necessary. You will find the boat is cooler than just about anywhere else because of the cooler water temperatures.

A Moody is better built than a Bavaria.

Used can be the best value as in cars. Not used up but old enough that the first owner equipped the boat over the standard specification and took a lot of the depreciation hit.

[imagine2frolic]

If you're considering buy a new Bavaria, and are asking these questions. I suggest you take the extra months to do more research, and possibly some sailing lessons? I am not knocking your choices. I do think it financially wise, and boat ownership wise to know a wee bit more about how you will spend your money. BEST WISHES in making the right decision for yourself with the boat!........i2f

[Fiasco1]

A lot of Bavaria's at charter locations, Might be a good idea charter one and see if you like it and how its holding up.

[DavidB.UK]

Thank you to everybody for posting

Yes I realise that i'm, asking novice questions, but that is why I joined this forum so that I can connect with people who have done what I am intending to and/or already own/sail the kind of boats i'm looking into.

I am a reasonably confident sailor and have been sailing for 15years with smaller craft, dinghies and Solings latterly. I spent two summers at an outdoor activity centre and sailing school a few years back whilst having a career change and it was great fun, lots of time spent on the Solings (27ft) but I freely admit the biggest adventure was rescuing a panicing couple who had taken a boat out for a hire in light winds, the weather changed and they were struggling with the boat to come back up-wind and pick up the mooring in 4ft waves! Got absolutely soaked through as I was teaching archery at the time and whizzed out on the safety boat to help them. jumped on board and battled the thing back upwind and onto the bouy. That may not sound that big but 4ft waves on a 27ft boat was certainly exhilerating!

That said, bigger boats of the kind i'm looking at is very much uncharted territory for me, I'm sure that the basic principals are the same but that's half the reason I joined this forum. It's all very well reading stuff in magazine I find it difficult to trust what is genuine unbiased journalism when so many of the same magazines are getting paid huge sums of money for advertising by the same people who's products they are reporting on.

I am 'considering' a new boat over second hand and I was very surprised to find (what seemed to me) a comparable boat for less money brand new than a 12 year old! I guess one could elaborate on the car comparasin for Bavaria Vs. Moody. Would it be fair to say that an older moody Vs. a new Bavaria would be like buying a 3year old BMW vs a new FORD?

but I am not one for spending frivolously it will be spring time (at the earliest) before I make a purchase and so have given myself 6months to get through some additional training courses, get some experience sailing these kinds of boats and educate myself about the kind of boats that will suit best and life-style I'm looking forward to and I freely admit there are lots of equipment (things like bow thrusters) that I have never heard of! But that all part of the reason i've given myself 6 months minimum before I make my purchase.

Perhaps this may sound a little naive to some but one of the biggest factor that has pushed me toward the two boats mentioned is their interior layout. I have looked (only online so far) at hundred of boats now and many seem to have rather cramped cabins.

Now as a holiday boat that would be fine but because I plan to live aboard year-round I have found myself looking at things a little differently, so I'm looking at good sized space in the master cabin, good sized space for sleeping and erm... other activities grown ups engage in... (((i don't plan on being single forever)))





Also I have been trying to imagine an interior that I would be happy to come back to day after day after day and or to bring a date home to.

Air con, hadn't thought about it like that I must admit.
Though in the UK I do plan to visit southern Europe within a the first year or so and beyond that I would like a boat that I could go to Australia in of sail to the states etc?

Again if that is a little beyond the capabilities of the two boats posted please chime in and tell me that. but there is always the school of thought that say that I could always buy a different/bigger boat when ready to set sail for bigger adventures...