1986 Duncanson 34 v's 1979 Duncanson 37

[bronto13]

Hi everybody,

I am currently looking for a boat that I can sail single handed and also liveaboard. I work away so it will be in a Marina/ Mooring while I'm at work and then I will live and sail on it while back. I am having lessons on Dinghy sailboats at the moment and will move onto keelboat training. Then I will get lessons on my own boat when purchased.
I live on the Gold Coast, Australia, I plan to sail north to the Whitsundays during Winter and then down towards Tasmania during the Summer. Eventually I will sail SE Asia and across the PAcific.

Now the question, I like the look of the 1986 Duncanson 34's which are an Aft cockpit, and there is the 1979 Duncanson 37 which is a center cockpit.
Which would you recommend out of these two boats, or are they not even suitable for offshore cruising? They are both about the same price point.

Cheers, thanks for reading.

[Fore and Aft]

I surveyed a Duncanson 37 last year and I don’t see why you could not take it offshore. The biggest problem is the aft cabin is pretty small and to get into the cabin is a bit tight. That’s for me at a 100kg, but if you are built like a jockey then it’s going to look like a palace.
The other issue is that the Duncs are fairly narrow designs by today’s standards. Still they are good boats and are fairly capable.
Cheers

[Reefmagnet]

Fore and Aft hit the nail on the head. They are a very small 37 footer. In fact, we looked at one when last boat shopping and ended up with a 33 foot centre cockpit which is huge in comparison. On the other side of the coin, they should be capable enough offshore.

[Jim Cate]

Lots of 34s down here in Tassie, for what that's worth (strong winds are pretty common in the area). Further, I've always thought the 34 was a handsome vessel... not so much the 37. As said above, neither design is roomy for its length by modern standards, but folks live aboard much smaller vessels. All depends on you...

But I have to wonder why you, as a pretty inexperienced sailor are focusing on one specific marque at this stage? Getting such a narrow point of view can be kinda constrictive to your eventual search.

Jim

[bronto13]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I am openly looking at all vessels at the moment but sort of just had questions regarding these. I would love some feedback on other vessels that would be more fitting for my needs at the 30-40k AUD price.
Thanks again.

[Fore and Aft]

Bronto13 the South Coast 36 is a nice aft cabin design in that price range........30-40g is a tough bracket to find something decent that is not going too need lots of work.
Cheers

[bronto13]

Thanks again for the replies, I have added the South Coast 36 to my list, along with Cole Bounty 35 and Swanson 36, any thoughts on these?

[Fore and Aft]

The Swanson 36 is another narrow older design, nice yacht but getting very old. I think you should be looking for a low hour engine and good rig which is going to be a big ask in your price bracket. Most yacht designs will do what you want to do.
Cheers

[bronto13]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

The Swanson 36 is another narrow older design, nice yacht but getting very old. I think you should be looking for a low hour engine and good rig which is going to be a big ask in your price bracket. Most yacht designs will do what you want to do.
Cheers

The Swanson is only 5cm less beam width or is there more to it than this. I am very inexperienced with all this. I was going to wait until I retire to buy a yacht but that is a long way away. I would rather get something now and upgrade to a larger better yacht later. Just really keen to get started with something. The yacht I would like would be mid 80's and with fin keel and skeg rudder. 30-40ft with 3m+ beam with and as stated a decent motor and rigging. And your not wrong, its very hard to find something in this price range.

[Fore and Aft]

Bronto13 just go on any production yacht designed and built after 1990 and you will see what I mean about these older designs being so much smaller. I see the Swanson 36 is 3.29 meters wide, our 32 foot yacht designed and built 3 years ago is 3.5 meters wide and carries that beam right to the transom.
Good luck with your search and remember if you find your dream yacht far from home it’s not that hard to sail her home.
Cheers

[bronto13]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

Bronto13 just go on any production yacht designed and built after 1990 and you will see what I mean about these older designs being so much smaller. I see the Swanson 36 is 3.29 meters wide, our 32 foot yacht designed and built 3 years ago is 3.5 meters wide and carries that beam right to the transom.
Good luck with your search and remember if you find your dream yacht far from home it’s not that hard to sail her home.
Cheers

Cheers, I would love a post 90's yacht, but I'm afraid the budget will not cut it. I think I am discarding the Swanson now, the one I was looking at which was cheap might not have been built by a professional boat builder. So still on the search. Thanks for the tip about how far the beam can go. I wasn't actually evaluating this.

[Fore and Aft]

Have you seen this yacht? Low hour diesel sounds good.
https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats...tige-34/219345
Cheers

[bronto13]

Yes, I was looking at this, my concern was the winged keel, any thoughts on this?

[Fore and Aft]

No problems with a wing keel. Keels are just an owners taste and there are so many different types.
Cheers

[bronto13]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

Have you seen this yacht? Low hour diesel sounds good.
https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats...tige-34/219345
Cheers

It has now been sold.