brittep
new user
Reged: 20/05/2008
Posts: 3
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I am looking to sail from Asia to the uk taking in Pacific,Panama Canal, carribean and med, what are your thoughts on the perfect boat for a couple?can buy elsewhere as travel a lot with work.
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Tranona
regular
Reged: 10/11/2007
Posts: 1549
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This is a how long is a piece of string type question! There are literally hundreds of boats that are suitable, but none that will be perfect for all situations. For example, traditional ocean going yachts (long keel, small cockpit, flush deck, sturdy rig) are less than suitable in the Med where a big cockpit, lots of ventilation, large sail area and powerful engine are preferred.
This is not to say that you can't compromise and overcome shortcomings in particular situations, but if you do get any responses from other forumites thay will reflect their views which may not be the same as yours.
You also need to give much more information such as your experience, crew, preferred lifestyle etc to give somethiong for respondents to hang their advice on.
For example, my immediate response would be a Moody 376 for a well organised couple. However they are a "down below" boat and far from ideal in hot climates, but very seaworthy, comfortable and well built. In the Med however, I prefer my Bavaria 37 - great cockpit, stern bathing platform, good light airs performance, good motoring - but not a good choice for long distance cruising even though structurally quite capable.
Hope this gives you something to think about - and by the way there is no such thing as a perfect boat, only the best compromise for you!
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csail
regular
Reged: 24/08/2005
Posts: 4085
Loc: Rhoose/Cardiff Bay,UK
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Motor torpedo boat would be ideal for the canal bit 
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Reduced price for you guys seeing as it is only a hobby. http://www.h2o-marine.co.uk/
(mention this forum)
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Troutbridge
regular
Reged: 19/03/2007
Posts: 333
Loc: Cruising, mon, cruising
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I'd rethink your routing if I was you. The logical route from Asia is either via Indian Ocean & the Cape or via the Red Sea to the Med. If you go the other way you're against the prevailing winds OR you're going via Japan, Alaska & down the west coast of the States. Get Jimmy Cornell's World Cruising Routes.
The ideal boat is the one you're cruising in! I personally wouldn't go any smaller than 35ft LOA and there's nothing wrong with modern plastic boats before anybody else starts banging on about needing long keels , heavy displacement etc etc. Make sure you have a good survey done and the point about living in warm climates is a good one, you'll need plenty of ventilation. Good luck & enjoy.
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Some see the glass as half full, some see it as half empty. I see it as too damn small.
http:/blog.mailasail.com/troutbridge
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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 1150
Loc: the Med
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Quote:
This is a how long is a piece of string type question! There are literally hundreds of boats that are suitable, but none that will be perfect for all situations.
I agree, it is impossible to answer that question. You have to be more specific in your req's, brittep. Your question is similar to asking 'what is the perfect house for south east England?'.
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brittep
new user
Reged: 20/05/2008
Posts: 3
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Yes your right it was quite vague I guess I have many thoughts in my mind
having cruised all my life and done a lot of racing from Int 14 through to TP52's I am extremely confused about what to get, I really want to look at getting something that sails well but is comfortable to live aboard as a couple and will look after us, ideally a swan 39 with the ventilation and ease of living of a beneteau would be ideal and aroun 38 foot, I would definatly sacrifice internal volume for a better sailing boat if necesary but like the idea of a Moody 376 living qtrs, but concerned that they dont sail so well.
Living in China refurbishing boats is much cheaper as well so i dont mind taking on a bit of a project.
I have been looking at old contests 368s as well as a dawn class 39, catalina 38, Swan 38,
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nickrj
regular
Reged: 21/07/2006
Posts: 411
Loc: Long Island, New York
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My Contessa is the perfect vessel, and will safely take you from Asia to the UK. She loves going upwind, and will enjoy a trip in the wrong direction. For only £20k she's yours, meaning you'll have £50k over for yachtclub dinners and endless cocktails (you won't even have to wait for happy hour!). For upfront payment, I'll sail her to your doorstep.
nick.
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My Blog, singlehanded from Europe to Australia http://www.bigoceans.com
the new Boating Mobile Social Network http://www.bluemapia.com
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Tranona
regular
Reged: 10/11/2007
Posts: 1549
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Depends on what you mean by "sails well". Surely for long distance voyaging the ability to eat up the miles comfortably is the main criterion.
Your rather eclectic selection of possible boats in a way confirms that many different styles of boat will do the job.
I think your biggest problem will be finding a 37/8 footer of the style that you are looking at within your £70k budget, particularly if you are expecting anywhere near ready to go condition. Remember these boats are 20-30 years old and probably well used. Also if you are looking to buy in the Pacific basin your choice will be very limited. The biggest supply will be in northern Europe, mainly UK, Med (mainly west) and eastern seaboard of US including Caribbean.
Do a search on Yachtworld.com
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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 1150
Loc: the Med
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Thanks brittep; that was a lot more information. If I read you correctly, you are really looking for what is called a 'cruiser/racer'. There are not many good ones in this class of boats and the Swan you mention is indeed one of the good examples. Other boats you should look at apart from Swan are Grand Soleil, X-yachts and Sweden Yachts (which I own). They are all superb sailing boats that you can both race in any 'round the cans' regatta and win; at the same time as they are very seaworthy boats that will go anywhere in the world (fast) in any condition. As you can probably guess: this is my personal boat type favourite.
The only problem you might have with this choice is your budget. These boats are very well built indeed and finding one for 70k GBP means that you have to search in the 20-30 years old category. Not really a problem as such as the quality is timeless, but you should know what you are looking for.
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trouville
regular
Reged: 10/06/2004
Posts: 2847
Loc: crusing with an Arpège
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you are really looking for what is called a 'cruiser/racer'. There are not many good ones in this class of boats and the Folkboat are superb cruising liveaboards
I might have one for sail!
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liveaboard
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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 1150
Loc: the Med
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second that trouville. I grew up sailing a Folkboat and they are amazing performance boats, still very difficult to beat today some 60 years after their initial design. However, 'modern' people used to the caravan type of cruisers will find them cramped though. If you are looking for that adrenaline rush type of sailing performance and at the same time a yacht than can take you around the world safely; it will still be very difficult to find a boat that can better the Folkboat. Just don't expect a lot of modcons.
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brittep
new user
Reged: 20/05/2008
Posts: 3
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Wow, I think you have absolutly hit the nail on the head, The sweden 38 looks perfect I have long had a love affair with sweden yachts but not the wallet to match, though this does fall in to my budget (just) Also the Grand Soleil 38 and 42 look like really viable options. Does anyone have any experience spending time sailing and living on these boats as I have never real come that close to them? what is their build quality like, how do they sail, what sort of stowage do they have, any other comments about them? thanks for this folks I am really pumped now
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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 1150
Loc: the Med
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I have sailed several Sweden 38 and can report that they are wonderful: very fast even in light winds but also very stable and seaworthy in heavy weather. A 'go anywhere fast yacht'. A real dream yacht. They are built for long term cruising and hence have a lot of stowage room, but that will make them feel somewhat 'cramped' if you come from a Ben/Jen/Bav type of boat where max cabin volume is the design criteria.
In summary; go for a Sweden! One of the true great performance sailboats. (and yes I am partial.... I do own one.)
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blue_elephant
regular
Reged: 05/02/2007
Posts: 67
Loc: southern spain
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Be careful of buying older boats if intending to use it for the rigours of long term cruising. You could well spend 70k putting such a boat into good order. Rig, sails, rudder bearings, engine, gearbox, water system, electronics. All can fail unexpectedly (expectedly). Small - simple - new are factors that can reduce frustration. Read other threads to be convinced that if it can go wrong - it will.
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Jock89
regular
Reged: 02/12/2006
Posts: 125
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"Be careful of buying older boats if intending to use it for the rigours of long term cruising. You could well spend 70k putting such a boat into good order. Rig, sails, rudder bearings, engine, gearbox, water system, electronics."
Please, tell me all about it.! 
I think if you went for the likes of a Sweden you'd have a good chance of recovering a fair portion of your outlay when you sold her.?
Spending that amount on an old-ish & much less salubrious boat would be crazy. 
Jock
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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 1150
Loc: the Med
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You are absolutely correct. Even a 20-30 year old Sweden or Nautor/Swan will still have a build quality that is solid. That is why they are somewhat more expensive to buy; you get what you pay for and you will have significantly fewer maintenance issues than if you bought a lesser yacht. Everything on these boats are just built to the highest standards possible and built to last; as opposed to built to a price where mediocre materials might do.
BTW, this is not a putdown on the Bav/Ben/Jen type of boats. They are built for a different purpose; Med vacation boats and they are excellent boats for that and a lot of boat for your money. They are just not designed for cruising the world and racing the occasional regatta's, that is not what their owners' wants to do. Horses for courses, or whatever that English expression is....
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