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Originally Posted by Caleb_Grey
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ohdrinkboy
These were designed for charter boats. So likely great for coastal. Don't forget all of that white can be painted.
Although not the prettiest, seems darn functional.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skipmac
Well let me put the emphasis on all fiberglass vs white. Mostly white interior with wood trim and highlights is actually a classic boat interior look but the inside of the Dufour in the photos looks like the inside of a prefab shower stall. Not sure if I can live with that long term.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wingssail
Actually, I think the boat is Butt-Ugly
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skipmac
Well I can't disagree but at this point I'm trying to force myself into the mindset that function is beauty.
If no other options present I might have to sacrifice looks for a boat that will solve the sun exposure problem.
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I think from an exterior point of view the Dufour Atoll 6 (
https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/200...cabin-3698174/) looks sufficiently ok - for the type of boat it is - as described "'monomaran'... having the features that people like in a
catamaran, in a monohull", and in general as a
deck salon / pilothouse type design it really doesn't look too bad.
Also it seems to hit almost ALL of the requests in your OP, which almost all of the other various boats do not.
The only other boat posted that truly meets your requirements is the Moody DS, which is a good looking boat, but as you said at $500,000+ it's out of your budget of around $300,000.
I agree that the interior of Dufour Atoll 6, to use your words, "looks like the inside of a prefab shower stall..."
But at an asking
price of USD $159,000 (for the boat posted for sail in VA, USA), negotiable I guess for this unusual boat, what about considering a full interior
refit with the remainder of your budget (another 150,000 give or take) to 'normalise' the interior and modernise overall?
Some
paint, vinyl wrap, trim, furnishings, sole,
headliner, etc, could go a long way to changing the interior appearance and feel of the boat depending on what look you prefer.
There is also that huge hardtop ready for a vast amount of
solar panels which is normally difficult to acheive on a
monohull. And if you were to fit some
dinghy davits as well then both more
solar panels and additional sun protection could easily be extended further out to the transom too.
On this boat your wife could easily feel totally protected and safe from the sun and yet be comfortable up at
deck level almost all of the time, part of the sailing and social life whether underway or at
anchor.
Some UV blocking side curtains behind the cockpit seat coamings that can stay in place all the time would also be a useful addition for her.
And for cooler
weather the deck salon could easily be fully enclosed and heated too without having to live down below like on most monohulls.
If you don't need quite so much accomodation, then for
live aboard cruising some of the space could also possibly be better utilised for an office, nav station, workshop,
storage,
galley pantry, clothes wardrobe, etc, etc.
The Dufour was also available in the smaller Atoll 3 and 4 models too but I suspect the 50ft is the better boat overall for your purposes.
Also, no
teak decks on those models, as requested.
Accepting the design aim of the Atoll 6 personally I see merit in the
concept as well as enormous potential for further improvements as a private owner's boat rather a charter yacht.
Food for thought maybe?
PS: I've also seen them for closer to $100,000. Maybe those boats are tired after years of charter, but if you are going to
refit everything maybe that's actually helpful? Here's a bunch of cheaper listings:
https://boats.waa2.com/for-sale/dufour-atoll-50
Maybe steal some of the Moody DS ideas and incorporate them into the refit of the Atoll.