Honest and knowledgeable opinions, keep current boat or change to older heavier?

[davethedog]

Hi all,

Seen a 1991 year 47 foot boat we like and looks to be ideal for us as in good condition and a "blue water" type vessel. Large fuel and water tanks, decent sails and rigging, semi skeg hung rudder, decent keel etc

We currently own a 2004 Hunter Legend 41AC that we have fitted solar, wind gen, etc but we are finding her a little small now as we could really do with a bunk room for storage etc

So, we are wanting to sail across the Atlantic (from here in the Canaries) this time next year and then have a few years in that sort of region.

Now, we could outfit the current boat with a hydrovane, watermaker, inner forestay etc and spend about 20K Euro doing that....but it will still only be 41ft and a light displacement boat.

Or, we could get this other boat, fit a hydrovane, watermaker, etc then sell the current boat and I calculate the cost to change to be about 70K euro/. This would give us a bigger, heavier, more tankage, boat (centre cockpit) but it would be 13 years older!

So, what do people think, as we are erring towards the bigger older boat as we could do with the extra space and just got this feeling that IF (that is IF) we were caught in really bad weather the current boat would not handle it as well as the older heavier boat.

DTD

[Bowdrie]

Make, Brand, Model of "looking at" boat?

[JBP]

How often are you going to do ocean passages? If it's a one time thing and you will only be doing coastal cruising once there, you are better off with the fast light displacement boat. Just be careful about picking your weather window for your crossing.

On the other hand, if you think you are going to become a world wanderer perpetually crossing oceans, the comfort of the heavy but slow boat will be worth it.

[davil]

Originally Posted by davethedog

Hi all,

Seen a 1991 year 47 foot boat we like and looks to be ideal for us as in good condition and a "blue water" type vessel. Large fuel and water tanks, decent sails and rigging, semi skeg hung rudder, decent keel etc

We currently own a 2004 Hunter Legend 41AC that we have fitted solar, wind gen, etc but we are finding her a little small now as we could really do with a bunk room for storage etc

So, we are wanting to sail across the Atlantic (from here in the Canaries) this time next year and then have a few years in that sort of region.

Now, we could outfit the current boat with a hydrovane, watermaker, inner forestay etc and spend about 20K Euro doing that....but it will still only be 41ft and a light displacement boat.

Or, we could get this other boat, fit a hydrovane, watermaker, etc then sell the current boat and I calculate the cost to change to be about 70K euro/. This would give us a bigger, heavier, more tankage, boat (centre cockpit) but it would be 13 years older!

So, what do people think, as we are erring towards the bigger older boat as we could do with the extra space and just got this feeling that IF (that is IF) we were caught in really bad weather the current boat would not handle it as well as the older heavier boat.

DTD

================================
https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/hunter-41-ac

you have a very nice boat, the only negative? could be the smaller fuel tank?
personally like Hunters and do not have any doubts about construction and seaworthiness.
13 years on the life of a well constructed boat and well surveyed is not much of an issue in my view.
100 gallons of water seems adequate, but I tend to be very careful on the use of water.
But you are thinking on a watermaker.
I always found the outfitting of an old/new boat to be much more expensive and time-consuming than any estimate.
Good luck
either way your plans are great.

[davethedog]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

Make, Brand, Model of "looking at" boat?

Northwind 47, year 1991.

[davethedog]

Originally Posted by JBP

How often are you going to do ocean passages? If it's a one time thing and you will only be doing coastal cruising once there, you are better off with the fast light displacement boat. Just be careful about picking your weather window for your crossing.

On the other hand, if you think you are going to become a world wanderer perpetually crossing oceans, the comfort of the heavy but slow boat will be worth it.

That is my thoughts also, and plan to circumnavigate so more than just one ocean crossing will be required. Main little doubt I have about our present boat is the rudder but I guess that could be sorted by the fitting of a Hydrovane as that will give us not only wind steering but also an emergency rudder. the keel.....well not much you can do about that is there!

[davethedog]

Originally Posted by davil

================================
https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/hunter-41-ac

you have a very nice boat, the only negative? could be the smaller fuel tank?
personally like Hunters and do not have any doubts about construction and seaworthiness.
13 years on the life of a well constructed boat and well surveyed is not much of an issue in my view.
100 gallons of water seems adequate, but I tend to be very careful on the use of water.
But you are thinking on a watermaker.
I always found the outfitting of an old/new boat to be much more expensive and time-consuming than any estimate.
Good luck
either way your plans are great.

As standard these boat sonly come with a 150l fuel tank but ours has an additional 60l fuel tank and can not see anywhere I could realistically install another one as ideally want about 500 l fuel if not more.

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by davethedog

That is my thoughts also, and plan to circumnavigate so more than just one ocean crossing will be required. Main little doubt I have about our present boat is the rudder but I guess that could be sorted by the fitting of a Hydrovane as that will give us not only wind steering but also an emergency rudder. the keel.....well not much you can do about that is there!

A warning: Hydrovane is a small rudder and relies on proper setting of main rudder. If main rudder moving freely or if somehow jammed away from neutral/0° setting, Hydrovane may not be powerful enough to act as emergency rudder.

I know. I've been there. In a gale, with failing main steering (seals on hydraulic ram failing). Rudder slipping/moving with any weather helm. Hydrovane was inadequate.

I like the Hydrovane and still use it. But I no longer expect it to work well as emergency rudder. But better than nothing.

[AiniA]

Originally Posted by davethedog

As standard these boat sonly come with a 150l fuel tank but ours has an additional 60l fuel tank and can not see anywhere I could realistically install another one as ideally want about 500 l fuel if not more.

I assume your circumnavigation will be in the trade winds predominantly Don't think you need that much fuel capacity since winds are so reliable. In our four year rtw I think we put about 400 hours on the engine, mainly going into and out of anchorages and harbours. I would lean to a bigger boat myself. Another option would be sail the Hunter to the Caribbean after spending as little money as possible. Likely get a better price selling it there where it is better known than in Europe. Lots of really well-equipped cruising boats for sail in places like Grenada, Antigua and so on.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by davethedog

Northwind 47, year 1991.

Do you really think there is going to be more room on that than your 2004 Hunter 41? Other than the length I bet it isn't.

[psk125]

The galley on the NW47 looks smaller than the Hunter's. It also seems tucked away under the cockpit, which might be somewhat dark and hard to ventilate. The NW47's outboard-facing nav station does not seem well-suited to being used under way, though perhaps that only takes getting used to. The Hunter has the head close to the companionway so that wet foul weather gear can be readily hung in the shower. Where is there such stowage on the 47? The head is rather small on the 47, despite the added length. The extra cabin for crew (two bunks!)that the 47 offers is nice, but over time is that space going to simply become a big half-full closet?

[sailingfarmer]

Originally Posted by davethedog

Hi all,

Seen a 1991 year 47 foot boat we like and looks to be ideal for us as in good condition and a "blue water" type vessel. Large fuel and water tanks, decent sails and rigging, semi skeg hung rudder, decent keel etc

We currently own a 2004 Hunter Legend 41AC that we have fitted solar, wind gen, etc but we are finding her a little small now as we could really do with a bunk room for storage etc

So, we are wanting to sail across the Atlantic (from here in the Canaries) this time next year and then have a few years in that sort of region.

Now, we could outfit the current boat with a hydrovane, watermaker, inner forestay etc and spend about 20K Euro doing that....but it will still only be 41ft and a light displacement boat.

Or, we could get this other boat, fit a hydrovane, watermaker, etc then sell the current boat and I calculate the cost to change to be about 70K euro/. This would give us a bigger, heavier, more tankage, boat (centre cockpit) but it would be 13 years older!

So, what do people think, as we are erring towards the bigger older boat as we could do with the extra space and just got this feeling that IF (that is IF) we were caught in really bad weather the current boat would not handle it as well as the older heavier boat.

DTD

Anything beats a Hunter... That's the YUGO of sailing boats... get the better made boat...

[davidmilne]

hello,
i think you should stop thinking of 1991 as an old boat. if that is the best boat in terms of space and capability and handling, thats the one you should buy and sail. the one warning i have is that you will be stepping up to more expense... more expensive sails, gear, rigging., etc. but if that is not a problem. then go for the bigger one.

[MultiCountryDon]

"Anything beats a Hunter... That's the YUGO of sailing boats... get the better made boat..."

Ever own one?
I have, 2, and Beneteau (4) and Jeanneau, and Catalina (4), and Nonsuch,and Morgan, and Corsair, and----
Get the message ? Some actual experiance here.
Hunters are just fine, thank you very much. Friend went Los Angeles to Hawaii, then to Vanuatu 2 years ago-Hunter Passage 45. Not one problem.

Don

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by sailingfarmer

Anything beats a Hunter... That's the YUGO of sailing boats... get the better made boat...

Ouch!