Can Jeanneau , Bavaria or Beneteau Be Good as Ocean Crossing Boats ?

[goboatingnow]

I'd spend more time worrying about the attributes of the boat than the brand.

Attributes tend to be very personal and specific. You may have a set of attributes for a boat that I dont agree with or consider important. Its hard to compare attributes.

[kb79]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Attributes tend to be very personal and specific. You may have a set of attributes for a boat that I dont agree with or consider important. Its hard to compare attributes.

exactly - better to pick what's right for you than worrying about differing opinions on production boats.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by meyermm

I have yet to walk on any boat at any boat show that the decks flexed

Well, next time you are at a boat show, go on one of the 30-40 ft Hunters or Beneteaus and ask a large person (I'm over 200 lbs) jump up and down a few times on the side deck and cabin roof.

Then go try the same thing on an Island Packet (it doesn't flex).

I'm sick and tired of hearing this stuff about "space age materials" and "modern production techniques." Cheap is cheap, and there is no getting around it.

[Emma Rose/Cal36]

I sold Bavarias for a while,as a broker. I enjoyed sailing them. The 37' was stable and fast. They are short on fuel and water. They,being flat bottomed, like to Pound if the sea conditions are right. They all sail really well,but I think you need a heavy diplacement. The 38' Alueala double ended with a steering vane and you are on the way around the world! Capt. Al

[Bash]

Originally Posted by meyermm

I have yet to walk on any boat at any boat show that the decks flexed

I'm 6'3" tall, 225 lbs, and have been to a lot of boat shows. I've never yet felt the decks flex on a boat-show boat.

I'm amazed at the lengths some people will go to disparage production boats. Which is why my philosophy has always been that the only snob worse than a beer snob is a boat snob.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Bash

I'm 6'3" tall, 225 lbs, and have been to a lot of boat shows. I've never yet felt the decks flex on a boat-show boat.

.

Stuff boat shows! Anyone that gets on any boat of mine and wants to jump up and down on the deck will get an interesting response! No matter how trim about the personal amidships ...

Hatches are another one too... are we meant to walk all over the lexan glass hatches?

We don't!

[Ex-Calif]

These threads always end up being one of "degree"

Not many would consider crossing an ocean in an optimist although 1 in a thousand might decide we are all poor sailors because we won't.

A few more might go in a 22-30 foot boat and many would disparage that choice.

Lots of us would go in a 35-45 foot boat of many kinds.

Some of us would not go in anything less than this...

[Curmudgeon]

As I said in another thread, someone circumnavigated in a Catalina 27. I have great respect for that person. I have great respect for those who circumnavigate in cheap boats. I wish you all good luck.

Just don't ask me to do it.

[meyermm]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Well, next time you are at a boat show, go on one of the 30-40 ft Hunters or Beneteaus and ask a large person (I'm over 200 lbs) jump up and down a few times on the side deck and cabin roof.

Then go try the same thing on an Island Packet (it doesn't flex).

I'm sick and tired of hearing this stuff about "space age materials" and "modern production techniques." Cheap is cheap, and there is no getting around it.

Obviously you never fly also because the wings on aircraft flex. Modern F1 cars are made out of space age glue and fibre they are lighter stronger and safer. The accidents that drivers are able to walk away from today would have been fatal twenty five years ago. Space age material

[GeoPowers]

... I had to do a lot of intense research (i.e. Googled it), and came up with definitive proof that Beneteaus, Jeanneaus, and Bavarias flex! I think you can also safely conclude from this new information that they are indeed poorly constructed, flimsy, and lack character!




I feel sooooo fortunate I have a very rare Bene that doesn't flex!!! I feel sorry for all of you other owners. Mine must have been made in Taiwan.

[Curmudgeon]

Sorry, but I remain unconvinced by aviation examples. When you look at some of these boats at a boat show, the bad quality jumps out at you, starting with the fit and finish. And these are the specific boats that someone in the marketing department selected to represent the brand.

[Liam Wald]

Hi Curmudgeon,
How do you feel about the Open 40's that sail the Whitbread? How about the Santa Cruz boats that sail Transpac.
How about Webb Chiles circumnavigating in his 1 Ton racer?
How about carbon fibre masts? Or aluminum for that matter? Couldn't possibly be as strong as a tree!
While we are at it, how about the space shuttle? Shouldn't that be built like a bank vault so it could fall from orbit to earth and not get hurt?

How do they do it? Are they all just really lucky?

The more I think of it the more that I agree with you. All this space-age modern stuff is a bunch of crap.

[Curmudgeon]

Since when do production Hunters and Beneteaus have carbon fiber masts? They have aluminum spars with in-mast furling. For carbon fiber you have to move up to a Tartan or one of the expensive semi custom boats (e.g. Morris). I believe some of the more expensive boats also use carbon fiber for the rudder posts.

There is nothing wrong with space age materials, but don't use that argument to perfume a pig.

[Liam Wald]

Hey Curmudgeon,
I just looked at the picture of your boat on your profile. Nice lines. Very classic. Looks like a hard-chine wooden boat. Is it made of plywood? I have never heard of Sam Devlin. Is he a local guy in Boston? Did he build a lot of custom boats?

[Randyonr3]

Perfume a Pig.... well, at almost 14 feet in the beam, I could see that she might resemble a pig.. Gives me a good reason to take here out for a work-out today..