Want To Buy: 40-45ft looking for Beneteau, Hunter, Catalina, bavaria

[SailingAussie]

Really interested in this length and ideally a 3 cabin layout.

I am zeroing in (i think) on the Beneteau 400 circa early to mid 90’s and our budget is no more than $80k.

Pls help!

[Zzmeyer]

The builders listed all build great boats. What is your all in budget? Do you actually plan to cruise it? If so, I bet there are about $20k of upgrades you's need to do on a boat of that age. For example, I bet the standing rigging has never been replaced. I'd replace every hose, fluid, etc I could on the engine. Bet the batteries are more than 3 years old and should be replaced. Anchor package often needs updating. The one disadvantage of the three cabin as it cuts into valuable storage space. The survey will come up with lots of stuff, but you can often split the cost of those fixes with the seller. Don't let folks tell you that a Beneteau is not a Blue water boat. They are the most common make cruising.

[gmakhs]

Stay away from Catalinas... The rest are good and reputable builders .

Preferably buy a beneteau they have better thought sail managing design, old Bavaria's are ok , hunters are kind of great boats but sail handling is not well thought , Catalinas are the worst in my opinion , some of them well build some light build sail handling is not as well thought as the others.
That's my personal opinion .
Beneteau and Bavaria are cheaper in Europe way cheaper .

[Zzmeyer]

gmarkhs - have you owned a Catalina? In addition to owning a Beneteau and a Jeanneau I've owned two Catalinas. Both were excellent. Frank Butler, the man behind Catalina, takes quality (given the limitation of mass market) very seriously.

[gmakhs]

No I haven't own a Catalina , but you don't have to own one to.judge the design .

[Zzmeyer]

Do tell. Do tell. What is it about the Catalina design that you think makes it a bad boat? Having had two I'd like to know what I missed. You are also correct, you do not have to own a brand to have an opinion.

[gmakhs]

Originally Posted by Zzmeyer

Do tell. Do tell. What is it about the Catalina design that you think makes it a bad boat? Having had two I'd like to know what I missed. You are also correct, you do not have to own a brand to have an opinion.

This is a subject that can't be discussed in depth through the forum, and has to do a lot with the personal perspective on how a Ocean going vessel has to be .

[letsgetsailing3]

Catalina gets beaten up a lot, but it's definitely in the same class with Beneteaus, Hunters, and Bavarias.

Those are all decent boats for a reasonable price.

Some models and years are better than others, with the latest models being the best.


The recent Catalina x55 series (315, 355, etc) are nice boats.

[gmakhs]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

Catalina gets beaten up a lot, but it's definitely in the same class with Beneteaus, Hunters, and Bavarias.

Those are all decent boats for a reasonable price.

Some models and years are better than others, with the latest models being the best.


The recent Catalina x55 series (315, 355, etc) are nice boats.

They do look good but hand laid fiberglass can't surpass the modern layup processes from the other builders .

[sailorboy1]

I can speak highly of a Hunter 410 having lived and cruised full time on mine the past 2.5 years. Owned it for 8+ years and still like it and have never had an issue with any part Hunter built

I’ll expert part of the discussion to the ........ others

[sv1wildchild]

You should look at our C&C 40 just full refit in 2018 for sale 65KUSD you will have the full details on our website sv1wildchild.com

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by gmakhs

This is a subject that can't be discussed in depth through the forum, and has to do a lot with the personal perspective on how a Ocean going vessel has to be .

Of course it can be discussed, you just said Catalinas are crap, at least justify your claim with some facts.

What Catalina are we talking about, let's be specific, what's your experience in regards to Catalinas?

When I was looking at upgrading I looked at a number of the bigger brands in the 47 foot range, I purchased a C470 over a beneteau etc based on what I believed by researching, climbing through them and talking to knowledgeable people that the C470 was a well built boat and fitted out with larger hardware (over spec's compared to equivalent priced equivalents). The last 14,000nm which includes a Indian ocean crossing suggests that I chose well.

Opinions on public forums should be backed by facts not hear say.

[boatman61]

https://m.apolloduck.com/boat/benete...97?rid=aa&z=aa

Beneteau Beneteau Oceanis 400 | Mediterranean Yacht Sales

https://www.boattrader.com/listing/1...dard%20listing

[Junglebike]

Originally Posted by SailingAussie

Really interested in this length and ideally a 3 cabin layout.

I am zeroing in (i think) on the Beneteau 400 circa early to mid 90’s and our budget is no more than $80k.

Pls help!

I have a 1987 Beneteau First 405 in San Diego that I'm considering selling - one of the best boats Beneteau ever built. Let me know if you're interested.

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by gmakhs

They do look good but hand laid fiberglass can't surpass the modern layup processes from the other builders .

I don't even know what that means. Either of those methods can produce an excellent results if the quality control is good.

I've spent time sailing boats by several of those manufacturers, and I'd consider them competitors in the same market. I'd look to features of the specific boats to make any kind of comparison. But I do feel that this is a different topic than that of someone searching for a boat.