"Capt. Rob" wrote in message

We have three new hunters at the yard and I'm not aware of any service
issues.

Well duh. Doncha think service issues tend to show up after a boat has been
in its owner's hands for a while?

I'm also selling a 1997 Hunter 43 and have access to it's
service history, which shows very little in the way of trouble. What
type of problems have you seen?

Hunter 410--keel pulling loose from the hull, despite tightening the keel
bolts. (Hunter's fix: "slap some flexible caulk in there.") Numerous
electrical problems. Hunter 320--this boat has hatches (the sort that
typically are found on a relatively level deck) attached to near-vertical
house sides, and they've cracked and leaked, even after being replaced
twice. Electrical problems. Poor design of the various cubby holes in the
cockpit, the weep-hole drains of which don't seem to drain the water that
accumulates in them. Older Hunters--softening of the *pine* mast step,
which is encased in glass and sits on a reinforced hull member, but doesn't
stay water-tights and eventually softens and allows the base of the mast to
sag into the wood. This has been a problem with older Catalinas as well.
And wet decks are almost ubiquitous on older Hunters and Catalina, and even
on some newer ones. Also, those numerous fixed deck windows on older
Hunters generally leak after about 7 years in the sun and rain. One 37.5
Hunter we inspected in a driving rain literally had a waterfall cascading
down the face of the power panel. Nice. The hull liner was almost
completely black with mildew.


I'd take the Swan, but not the Wauquez or J. We could have had either,
but the designs were not comparable to the 35s5. In the case of the
Wauquez we looked at one in CT in very good shape. Bunks were too
short, head was tiny, no swim platform.

A swim platform is a necessity for a sailboat to be worthwhile?

Teak decks may be nearing the
end of their life cycle on boats so fitted.

Or, if maintained properly, they might be just fine. Best non-skid
available.

Look at the prices on
Yachtworld...

Hmmm. I thought you were criticizing me for reading yachtworld.com. Now
you are suggesting I do so. Which is it?

pretty much the same as the 35s5. The J 34C was in the
running for a while. We really liked sailing it, just as much as the
35s5 in fact. But the fit and finish below was inferior. No aft cabin,
no swim platform and another head designed for short people. J-boat
does seem to understand that people over 6 feet also need to sleep. We
could have bought the beautiful 34C, but the cabin was not even as well
done as our C&C 32.
The features we wanted are important to us as we'd tried them on other
boats and could see their practicality. Because of the failings of the
Wauqiez and Jboat, they can't compete with the 35s5 from a design
standpoint. I'd take the Swan I suppose, but are you so certain that
lofty build quality would still make a boat the right fit for everyone?

I don't know about everyone, but it would for me.

Max

"Capt. Rob" wrote
..... Because of the failings of the
Wauqiez and Jboat, they can't compete with the 35s5 from a design
standpoint.

???

That's probably true if you're a moron.

... I'd take the Swan I suppose, but are you so certain that
lofty build quality would still make a boat the right fit for everyone?


It's not "just" build quality (whatever you take that to be). Swans are
always among the prettiest, most comfortable, and fastest boats in
production.

Maxprop wrote:
I don't know about everyone, but it would for me.


How about one of the new NYYC 42s? Sweet boat, except for the name of
course.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Wauqiez and Jboat, they can't compete with the 35s5 from a design
standpoint.

That's probably true if you're a moron.


Yeah, one of those Mooron's who's 6'3 and wonders why anyone would make
a bunk 6'4 or even 6'6. When my wife saw the Wauqiez sleeping quarters
she laughed. Funny how even premium builders now match many of the
appointments and features of the 35s5...15 years later.
Doug, you sure know boats!

RB
35s5
NY

Your wife is a 6'3" moron?
S.
"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
ups.com...
:: Yeah, one of those Mooron's who's 6'3 and
wonders why anyone would make
: a bunk 6'4 or even 6'6. When my wife saw the
Wauqiez sleeping quarters
: she laughed. Funny how even premium builders now
match many of the
: appointments and features of the 35s5...15 years
later.
: Doug, you sure know boats!
:
: RB
: 35s5
: NY
:

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
ups.com...
Wauqiez and Jboat, they can't compete with the 35s5 from a design
standpoint.

That's probably true if you're a moron.


Yeah, one of those Mooron's who's 6'3 and wonders why anyone would make
a bunk 6'4 or even 6'6. When my wife saw the Wauqiez sleeping quarters
she laughed.

Interesting how you seem stuck on berth length as the primary criteria in
selecting a boat. Then again, if one uses his boat as a dockside condo, I
can understand your reasoning. Personally I'll put up with quite a bit of
inconvenience below in order to have a beautiful, fast, great-sailing
machine.

Max

Maxprop wrote:
"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
ups.com...

Wauqiez and Jboat, they can't compete with the 35s5 from a design
standpoint.

That's probably true if you're a moron.


Yeah, one of those Mooron's who's 6'3 and wonders why anyone would make
a bunk 6'4 or even 6'6. When my wife saw the Wauqiez sleeping quarters
she laughed.


Interesting how you seem stuck on berth length as the primary criteria in
selecting a boat. Then again, if one uses his boat as a dockside condo, I
can understand your reasoning. Personally I'll put up with quite a bit of
inconvenience below in order to have a beautiful, fast, great-sailing
machine.

Max


Not!

Interesting how you seem stuck on berth length as the primary criteria
in
selecting a boat. Then again, if one uses his boat as a dockside
condo, I
can understand your reasoning. Personally I'll put up with quite a bit
of
inconvenience below in order to have a beautiful, fast, great-sailing
machine.

I'm afraid I can't agree and never met anyone who would. Being able to
get a reasonable night's sleep aboard is pretty important even for a
weekend cruiser. Sleep is pretty important to sail a boat safely the
next day. I can't imagine anyone buying a boat with such a critical
shortcoming. Of course most people aren't 6'3, so they have no problem.
I also don't think it's asking too much for a boat to have a head with
legroom for a tall person to be able to use the toilet. Sadly, too many
boats, including some highly touted models are poorly designed. If a
Catalina 350 or Beneteau 35s5 can manage to hit the right notes, I
don't see why I should accept less because a premium name is stamped
somewhere. When it comes to choosing a boat, DESIGN is where the search
begins....not subjective beauty or performance. In other words, if the
boat don't fit, I aint buying.

RB
35s5...a boat that fits...and looks and sails great!
NY

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message

I'm afraid I can't agree and never met anyone who would. Being able to
get a reasonable night's sleep aboard is pretty important even for a
weekend cruiser. Sleep is pretty important to sail a boat safely the
next day.

I'd agree completely.

I can't imagine anyone buying a boat with such a critical
shortcoming. Of course most people aren't 6'3, so they have no problem.

That's the point. My son-in-law is 6'4", and the berths on my boat are all
about 6'3", so he isn't comfortable. But then I bought the boat before my
daughter married him, and I'm not about to trade a wonderful boat to
accommodate someone who stays aboard one or two weekends a year.

I also don't think it's asking too much for a boat to have a head with
legroom for a tall person to be able to use the toilet.

Again agreed. I once owned a boat with "standup" headroom in the head, but
that spec must have been written by the Japanese gent who built the thing.
I could stand up, but only with my head bent forward. Not pleasant. My
current boat has enough headroom for a 6 footer to stand with ample
clearance.

Sadly, too many
boats, including some highly touted models are poorly designed. If a
Catalina 350 or Beneteau 35s5 can manage to hit the right notes, I
don't see why I should accept less because a premium name is stamped
somewhere.

This is were we diverge. Boat manufacturers don't build yachts for people
who are a standard deviation or two above the norm in height. They build
for the universal "average man" of 5'7" to 6'1", roughly 160 to 200 lbs. If
your boat's berths can accommodate a 6'3" man comfortably, so much the
better. But most boats aren't built to do so. The Catalina 42, for
example, has a pullman berth which will accommodate taller people sleeping
alone (diagonally), and many newer designs from various manufacturers have
aft doubles which will do similarly. But don't plan to sleep with your
spouse in such berths if you're much over 6'. My son-in-law sleeps
diagonally in our pull-out double with our 3 y.o. grandson, and our daughter
sleeps in the single across from him.

When it comes to choosing a boat, DESIGN is where the search
begins....not subjective beauty or performance. In other words, if the
boat don't fit, I aint buying.

That may be a significant decision for you, especially with your height. I,
OTOH, look for sailing characteristics, aesthetics, quality of construction
and integrity of design first and foremost. THEN I look below, and if the
boat meets my needs there--I'm 5'11"--I'll buy it. I'm different than most
at boat shows: 99% of the people go below immediately. I spend most of my
time topside, and if the boat seems intelligently designed and well laid
out, then I'll go below. If it's an abortion topside, I'll skip the
interior. Examples of the latter were the larger Morgan Out Island series
of cruisers. They were arguably among the ugliest, poorest sailing boats of
all time. But they were amazingly commodious below, ostensibly built for
the charter trade. One acquaintance who owned a 34 OI claimed he had to
start the engine to tack in light air, and I believe him. But he was a big
dude and the berths were long and wide. You'd have loved it. g

My current boat is a classic, CCA-type boat with a fairly narrow beam and
the interior space of a smaller boat. There are many other 34' boats that
would be far larger below, but not come anywhere near her in terms of
quality, seaworthiness, seakindliness, general sailing ability, sail
handling, boat speed, etc. I routinely leave a friend's brand new Catalina
350 in my (almost indiscernible) wake on all points of sail except to
weather in under 3kts. of wind. That boat is huge below, but drags its
transom like a powerboat, leaving a wake that rocks boats in nearby marinas.
It isn't fast by any definition. You'd love it. g The point is--I'm
quite pleased with my current boat. I've sacrificed some space and perhaps
some comfort below--although it's acceptably comfortable for my wife and
me--in order to have a boat that sails beautifully, gives a very comfortable
ride in all conditions, is strong enough to take anything thrown at it, and
still draw comments of admiration from everyone who sees her. I wouldn't
exclude the 35s5 from my list if searching for another boat in that size
range (I'm not--the next boat will be 40' or longer) but it would be a
disappointment to own a boat that resembles the current genera of bleach
bottles churned out en masse these days.

Max

Swans are
always among the prettiest, most comfortable, and fastest boats in
production.

Doug is such a complete idiot. Comfortable for who? Doing what? You
mean a Swan is more comfortable than a big PDQ? Holy crap.

RB
35s5
NY

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message

Swans are
always among the prettiest, most comfortable, and fastest boats in
production.

Doug is such a complete idiot. Comfortable for who? Doing what? You
mean a Swan is more comfortable than a big PDQ? Holy crap.

My wife and I spent a weekend on a new 44' Nautor Swan in '99, soon after
the owner took possession. Nothing--absolutely nothing-- could even
remotely be termed "uncomfortable" on that boat, below or topside. It was
diligently designed, beautifully executed, and sailed like a dream. Sad
part was its price: around $800K. I can't afford one.

Max