PDQ 44i Versus Privilege 495

[Dakota450]

Hi all, I am reading and researching these two cats. I am about 5 to 7 years away from being able to purchase a boat for possibly living on with my wife. It seems that a privilege 495 used is roughly around 200k more than the PDQ 44i used. I am going to the boat show">Miami boat show in February and I assume that both boats will be there. Why is the privilege so much more than the PDQ? I am really sold on the galley down arrangement that both boats have. The master on the Privilege owners version is really nice but its only a queen bed, same as PDQ(bummer my wife and I are used to sleeping on a king). I figure that the boats I will be looking at in Miami next year will most likely be the boats I will be in the market for when I am ready as I don't think a brand new one will be in my budget. I would really appreciate any input some of you may offer.

Thanks,

Mark

[Catalysis]

Mark:

Both are great cruising/liveaboard cats. The Privilege is about 20-25% bigger which may have a bearing on the price.

The other factor is the poor (and declining) dollar/euro ratio. Privileges are made in France and the Antares were made in Canada and now Argentina.

Our short list came down to Antares, Catana, Privilege and St Francis. We chose the Antares and have been very pleased with the boat and delighted with the after sales support.

Liveantares.com has lots of details and links to other owners cruising the world.

Paul and Maureen

[Dakota450]

I know the 495 is a little larger than the PDQ. I think they are about 47 ft not 50 if I have read right so not much bigger. I am talking about the used market and it doesn't seem to matter as far as exchange rates. No matter what currency you compare them in, the Privilege is always a good bit more than a comparable year PDQ. The Privilege 435 has the galley up and I don't think that will work for us. The Privilege boats are very nice looking as are the PDQ's. I just can't figure out why they are so different in price. I see several, well not several, but a few used PDQ's in the 600k-700k price range with a couple listed as "sale pending". I wander how much they actually sell for.

[SeaKing]

Check out the new Voyage 520 in an Owner's version it has a King size bed

[Jeannius]

Privilege has long been the cat of choice for the serious offshore cruiser. The brand has been around for a long time and continues to be strong. The boats are bulletproof and also luxurious. A very desirable combination.

PDQ's are well thought out boats but no longer made (as far as I know) and that always hits resale value a little.

By the way... You may revise your opinion of galley-down when you have to cook in a bad sea. Galley-up is much easier on the cook in those circumstances. You'll find Privileges with both though as the choice was available definitely in the 495. Don't think I've ever seen a galley down 435 though.

[Southern Star]

Mike, the PDQ Anatares 44 is still being produced as the Antares 44, although as already mentioned, in Argentina and not Canada. Interestingly, I have found a galley-down to be superb for use when underway in boisterous conditions. It is narrower with higher sides and the cook tends to be better braced than in many of the L-shaped or C-shaped galleys up. Furthermore, in boats under 45 feet there also tends to be more storage/counter space and the placement keeps the heaviest part of the accomodation (and stores) down lower, dropping the center of gravity.

Neither location would be a deal breaker for me, however, so long as there is adequate counter and storage space - and the Privilege certainly meets that requirement (and is much better than many French boats that are designed primarily for the Charter industry).

In terms of price, I suspect that there is much less difference between the Privilege 435 and the Antares 44 and, I suggest that it is these two boats that are the closest and therefore fairest for the sake of comparison.

Brad

[Dakota450]

I think you are right about the 435 being closer in price to the 44i but I haven't seen any 435's with the galley down. I have not personally been on either boats yet. There is supposed to be a 44i at the Miami boat show next year. I don't know if any privilege boats will be at the show too. From the pictures I have seen, the galley up in the privilege looks to be very small and hardly any counter space. I am hoping that both a 435 and 495 will be at the show in February.

[gbanker]

hopefully you have cooked, at sea, in a galley down multihull and that's why you want that configuration. IMHO, if you haven't you might want to buy before you buy.

[Dakota450]

Is the motion in the galley different on a cat than a monohaul? I would think if galley down in a cat is bad, it would be really bad in a monohaul, which is all of them. Am I missing something?

[gbanker]

I have about 6,000 miles offshore in a multihull and about three times that in monohulls. To me, the motion of a monohull at sea is akin to gently bouncing on a waterbed, while heeled at 5 to 15 degrees. The motion in a multihull is quicker but no or little heel.
I have a weak stomach and find I do better cooking and doing dishes on a multihull where I can look out the windows and there is no heel to deal with which, among other things, is a potential safety hazard while working in a galley at sea.
Your experience may vary. That is why, IMHO, one should try and gain experience before buying.

[Dakota450]

I got you but this thread was not a question of galley up versus galley down but rather a question as to price difference between a Privilege 495 and a PDQ 44i. I don't have any experience with the galley down motion. I do have a weak stomach also but passages are a small part of what I plan to do with the boat so I will get through it. With that in mind, back to the original question???????

[Tom and Maje]

What is the head room in the Privilege?

Maje

[Southern Star]

Dakota, if you look at somewhat older boats, the difference in price doesn't seem to be that great. I did a quick search on 2hulls.com and found:

2002 Privilege 45, $430.00.00
1999 Privlege 45, 285,000.00 Euro
2000 Privilege 42, $270,000.00
1997 Privilege 42, $320,000.00

And on multihullmaven.com:

2005 Anatres 44, 299,934 pounds sterling
2001 PDQ 42 (essentially the same as the 44), $226.636.00
2000 PDQ 42, $212,686.00

These are roughly comparable boats from each manufacturer and while I cannot speak to inventory or condition, one of the Privilege 42's (the 2000) is listed for only about 57K more than a PDQ 42 of the same vintage; and the 45's, while a bit older, bracket the price of the PDQ Antares 44.

You have to bear in mind that a much larger number of Privilege boats in that size range have been built and that the PDQ is virtually unknown in Europe; since more people are familiar with the Privilege it shouldn't surprise that the demand (and hence re-sale values) are going to be a bit stronger. Furthermore, as has been mentioned, the fact that PDQ went out of business would also tend to cause concern in the minds of some potential buyers.

Brad

[Catalysis]

Brad:
The prices you shared from multihull maven for PDQ 42 and 44 are all sterling prices. In dollars they are 425 to over 900k
Paul

[Catalysis]

Originally Posted by Catalysis

Brad:
The prices you shared from multihull maven for PDQ 42 and 44 are all sterling prices. In dollars they are 425 to over 900k
Paul

The 900k is on yachtworld .

Also the 44 is now made in Argentina by Antares who is made up of ex PDQ employees (I think they are on hull 5 or 6 at present)

I have seen some of their work and it is very good.
Paul