Looking for comparative advice regarding beneteau, Bavaria and Catalina in the 42ft range. Thanks.
Hi,
Early Beneteau's like, say a 25 year old First series are great boats, built very strong and tough, the same can be applied to early Bavaria's. Not being a great fan of American yachts I can't comment on the Catalina but I guess due to the fact that there are lots of people out there sailing them they have redeeming features.
Have a look and a long read in this forum, www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f47/can-jeanneau-bavaria-or-beneteau-be-good-as-ocean-crossing-boats-34218.html you will find that most of your questions will be answered.
Harry
I had a good look at Bavaria Yachts at a Sanctuary Cove Boat Show some years ago.
They gave me a copy of their brochure.
The quality of their manufacturing is impeccable and the company has remained strong without borrowings.
The Bavaria 42 3 or 4 cabin retailed for $359,000 and that would have been over 10 years ago.
I have heard several stories of inferior quality in Beneteaus and Jenneaus but never a bad word about Bavarias of Catalinas.
The Americans rarely build inferior qualtity products.
I assume you are at Airlie Beach looking at ex charter fleet yachts.
G,day B I. Long time no here from. Now do tell, are you sick of the cat's already 
. The last couple of years, we have sailed a 40 ft Sun Odysey and a 42 ft Bavaria. Both are very comfortable boats in swell and wind. When I say swell I,m talking no more than the occasional 8 to 10 foot. My question is what,s going on that you,re looking at mono,s.
Cheers
Ken
Having sailed all my life at least three times a week, winter or summer, owing over 50 yachts and sailed on some of the most famous boats around. And of course hearing all the bagging about production boats.
I did sail from Fremantle to Bali and return and we used a Beneteau oceanis 40ft and was quite frankly supprised.
I must say that it was without doubt the best boat I have ever been on for cruising. It would be blowing 35 knots and you would lie in your bunk and wounder we were stopped. It really was that stable, even coming into steep point, was no issue and the breeze had increased to over 40 knots with very lumpy sea.
The other thing that really impressed with the fact that everything was in the right place. If you are going to cruise (the racing yachts I have sailed have been very good too) then I would have to choose a Benneteau, it was that good. I am hard to impress.
Hi all
thanks for the input received and apologies for not acknowledging sooner. Life is a whirlwind at this time of year as we all know...I just want to get off and run away to someplace where the people are nice
!!!
I shall pass it all on to the appropriate person, a friend who is interested in living aboard and eventually cruising. A pipedream methinks but...mind my own business
Which, I guess answers your question Ken. No, I'm not returning to the Dark/Light Side just yet, however, I do think about it every time I need to punch to windward. I'm sorry to my brother and sister multihullers for being a dreadful traitor, but it's a fact of life that some times one needs to sail to windward and, I'm only speaking for my boat of course, but I'm over it. I'm in a Catch 22 situation where it's just not viable for me to pour any more cash (hahahaha, even if I had any, being the impoverished student that I am) into my old girl to modify her to improve her windward performance.
We're stuck anyway for a few years until I finish my degree and the girls have finished school. When I grow up and get a job, who knows what boat I'll end up with? One thing is for certain though and that is I won't be moving ashore
Once again, thanks for the advice and help.
Health and happiness for the festive season
Trace
