Bavaria vs Jeanneau vs Beneteau

[tsenator]

Originally Posted by Cold_sailing

Yeah, I don't want a big boat, but I know that my admiral will be miserable in a small one, so I'll go in between, around 50 feet.

50 feet is the "go between" LOL My how times have changed. just a short 20 years ago a 50' boat would be considered a monster !!

Also be aware, that in some areas, the second you go above 50' boat you are limiting yourself in options and locations to get dock space and moorings .

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by tsenator

50 feet is the "go between" LOL My how times have changed. just a short 20 years ago a 50' boat would be considered a monster !!

Also be aware, that in some areas, the second you go above 50' boat you are limiting yourself in options and locations to get dock space and moorings .

We went from 37' to 51'. Dock and mooring access were greatly limited. In our regular cruising ground between the Great Lakes and Bahamas We also lost many of our favourite anchorages.

Now that we've been back to 38' for the last 9 years ... We got back everything that we'd lost.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

We went from 37' to 51'. Dock and mooring access were greatly limited. In our regular cruising ground between the Great Lakes and Bahamas We also lost many of our favourite anchorages.

Now that we've been back to 38' for the last 9 years ... We got back everything that we'd lost.

14’ boat length difference made it impossible to anchor there? I wouldn’t dare to anchor in those tight spots regardless of boat length !

Edit: our marina minimum slip length is 55’

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

14’ boat length difference made it impossible to anchor there? I wouldn’t dare to anchor in those tight spots regardless of boat length !

Edit: our marina minimum slip length is 55’

There are many hundreds, maybe thousands of small, tight anchorages in the Great Lakes, Eastern seaboard, ICW and Bahamas where 1,2,3 or 4 36-38' boats fill the anchorage. 51' just does not work in those and we prefer them to the 200 boat anchorages. We've been anchring in those places for 30 years without issue and without obnoxious neighbours.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

There are many hundreds, maybe thousands of small, tight anchorages in the Great Lakes, Eastern seaboard and Bahamas where 1,2,3 or 4 36-38' boats fill the anchorage. 51' just does not work in those.

So 14’ extra length doesn’t fit? Don’t you find that risky with a 38 footer?

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

So 14’ extra length doesn’t fit? Don’t you find that risky with a 38 footer?

It's just not necessarily the length but also weight and draft. Weight becomes an issue when, in a tight spot, you can't hold or turn the boat with man power. Some solid rock coves as an excample, a lot of them in some places like Baltic coasts in FInland and Sweden.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

It's just not necessarily the length but also weight and draft. Weight becomes an issue when, in a tight spot, you can't hold or turn the boat with man power. Some solid rock coves as an excample, a lot of them in some places like Baltic coasts in FInland and Sweden.

Do you have actual examples of coves where 38’ boats can go but 50’ boats can’t? In close quarters maneuvering most will use an engine, springs or even an anchor or launch a dinghy.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

So 14’ extra length doesn’t fit? Don’t you find that risky with a 38 footer?

No. There are many factors included in choosing a safe anchorage. For 30 years and over 20,000 hrs. underway our judgement has worked. We are quite satisfied.

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Do you have actual examples of coves where 38’ boats can go but 50’ boats can’t? In close quarters maneuvering most will use an engine, springs or even an anchor or launch a dinghy.

Sure they can if the draft allows (which excludes most coves) but the risk of things going south goes up exponentially. Of course all this depends of your cruising gounds. I reckon you dont know what baltic post ice age shores look like. It's solid rock covered with boulders and more rocks. Did I mention it's shallow? Have a look here examples https://www.vastavalo.net/meri-merim...aa-851266.html

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Sure they can if the draft allows (which excludes most coves) but the risk of things going south goes up exponentially. Of course all this depends of your cruising gounds. I reckon you dont know what baltic post ice age shores look like. It's solid rock covered with boulders and more rocks. Did I mention it's shallow? Have a look here examples https://www.vastavalo.net/meri-merim...aa-851266.html

Ah it’s about draft. Many boats under 40’ have equal or more draft than us but this makes it clear.

I don’t understand what rocky shores have to do with it… those rocks would puncture small boats just as well as large boats. It all sounds a bit like stories from small boat owners who need to find reasons why small boats are better. I still only found one reason and that’s the cost that is lower.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Rohan

However 54 - 55' is a lot of boat for a couple, especially if you don't have experience! You really don't need one that big. A larger boat is more difficult to handle and repair. Plust costs are all higher - not just the price of the boat, but repairs, haul-outs, marina fees, etc and sometimes taxes. If it's just the two of you with no children, no pets, I would go with 40 - 45' range. You two would even be fine in 36' range but for liveaboards the extra space would give you much needed storage.

Something like this then. You could almost day sail it to the Med learning along the way.

https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/yacht/2...assic-9197054/

Originally Posted by Cold_sailing

We had the opportunity to check out a couple of 50-footers at Annapolis this year, and I would say that if we can't find a good 55 boat within my budget, I'll most probably start looking for a 50-foot boat.

However, if you do want 55ft then this is more local:

https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/yacht/2...dy-54-8370136/

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

It all sounds a bit like stories from small boat owners who need to find reasons why small boats are better. I still only found one reason and that’s the cost that is lower.

Less time spent cleaning inside and out..
Can reach the kettle and make a brew without leaving bed..
Less tendency to hoard stuff you'll likely never use..
Less tendency for friends/family wanting free/cheap holidays..
Lotsa reasons..

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Less time spent cleaning inside and out..
Can reach the kettle and make a brew without leaving bed..
Less tendency to hoard stuff you'll likely never use..
Less tendency for friends/family wanting free/cheap holidays..
Lotsa reasons..

Yes you always find good reasons I didn’t think of… that said, do you know how much more Tanqueray a big boat can carry?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Yes you always find good reasons I didn’t think of… that said, do you know how much more Tanqueray a big boat can carry?

Bigger Tanq's for sure..

[Selkie Sailing]

If you want to live aboard and spend 'living the life' in the Mediterranean I would certainly go for a smaller yacht. Unless you are a hardcore anchor man. You will have huge problems finding a berth during summer. And if you find a harbour AND they have this size berths available you will find that all are booked year in year out by the regular sailors in the med.
Most (of the beautiful) harbours in France & Italy I know you need to pay and reserve 4 to 6 months in advance especially at the tourist season (almost 6 months). Again, if you primarily want to anchor and go with your dinghy ashore to visit, wine & dine that's something else.

In February I have planned my trip for this summer from Tuscany to Naples, Sorrento & Capri and most marinas were already fully booked. Check on the internet the experiences on this.

If you want to get the real Med experience and sail along the beautiful French, Italian, Croation, Greece coasts etc. and you dont want to anchor almost every day you really need to think twice on the size of the boat.
And if you do anchor outside of summer period a more heavy built bluewater boat is not a luxury. Weather can be brutal in the Med due to the winds like mistral, tramontana etc. From zero to 50+ knots in 20 minutes with a lot of rocks around you when anchoring.

You said you dont want to rent for 3 weeks but that is exactly what you should do. Go rent a 55 footer this summer, plenty of them available and experience the Med in all its unbelieveable cultural beauty but also the downsides. A good book to prepare is Mediterranean Cruising handbook from Rod Heikell. He sailed years in the Med.