Go to part 3: Boat selection criteria
The list
Based on the use cases and criteria I compiled a list of potential boats. The list includes Beneteau Antares 980, Jeanneau Merry Fisher 925, Jeanneau Merry Fisher 10/ Beneteau Antares 30, Tristan 315 Fly, Aquador 32C and Nord Star Patrol 31 Fly.
Many boat models were left out. All Sealine and Princess boats were left out because they were just so much out of the budget (considering the criteria). Bayliner and Carver boats were left out either because many of them had gasoline engines, or because of their relatively bad reputation locally (which makes getting rid of them very hard). Many others were left out because of limited deck space and lack of a flybridge. All boats with outboard engines were also excluded.
Beneteau Antares 980
| Length: 9.95 m Width: 3.35 m Draft: 0.82 m Air draft: 4.3 m Weight: 5 660 kg | CE category: B-8 / C-10 Engine: twin, Nanni or Volvo Penta Drive: shaft drive Years build: 2003 – 2009 |
Antares 980 is seaworthy twin-engine cruiser with two cabins and a flybridge. It has the galley untypically for this size of a boat in the front. You can find a brochure here and a datasheet here and a video here.
Good
- two engines with separate tanks and fuel lines,
- low fuel consumption in speeds under 18 knots (especially with Nanni engines),
- flexible speed range,
- reliable shaft drive,
- sizeable flybridge,
- CE category B boat
Bad
- no navigator’s seat (the galley is in the front),
- over 3.5 m air draft with radar arch,
- impossible to find locally
Jeanneau Merry Fisher 925
| Length: 9.76 m Width: 3.16 m Draft: 0.85 m Air draft: 3.24 m Weight: 4 670 kg | CE category: B-8 Engine: single or twin, Yanmar, Nanni or Volvo Penta Drive: shaft drive Years build: 2004 – 2009 |
MF925 is a nice, a bit trawler-like semi-planing, semi-displacement cruising boat. It is a predecessor of Merry Fisher 10 presented below.
Good
- low fuel consumption in speeds under 16 knots,
- flexible speed range,
- reliable shaft drive,
- flybridge,
- navigator seat,
- CE category B boat
Bad
- only one bunk bed in the second cabin,
- smallish flybridge,
- hard to find locally
Jeanneau Merry Fisher 10 / Beneteau Antares 30
| Length: 10,22 m Width: 3.33 m Draft: 0.9 m Air draft: 4.3 m Weight: 5 200 kg | CE category: B-8 / C-10 Engine: single (or rare twin), Yanmar or Volvo Penta Drive: shaft drive Years build: 2009 – 2012 |
Jeanneau Merry Fisher 10 and Beneteau Antares 30 are in most parts the same boat. They have the same hull and basic features. The largest differences are the window shape, the shape of the radar arch / mast, and the navigator seat (which is stationary on Antares 30, but folds as part of the U-shaped sofa on MF10). MF10 is the successor of MF925 and was made only 2009-2012 and was continued as Beneteau Antares 30 after that.
This boat model meets most of the criteria. The photos and layouts below are from MF10.
Good
- two cabins with beds for 4,
- reliable shaft drive,
- very large flybridge for this size of a boat,
- large salon,
- walkable side deck due to asymmetric design,
- navigator seat,
- CE category B boat
Bad
- air draft over 3.5 m with mast,
- impossible to find locally
Tristan 315 Fly
| Length: 9.60 m Width: 3.15 m Draft: 1.0 m Air draft: n/a Weight: 4 000 kg | CE category: C Engine: single Volvo Penta or Yanmar Drive: stern drive Years build: 1997- |
Tristan 315 is a single engine cruising boat with a flybridge, which is very rare on Finnish boats. It is of a classical, but a bit old fashioned, design.
Good
- lowest fuel consumption in 8-30 knot range (partly due to low weight),
- sizeable flybridge,
- some versions have a 3rd cabin (although very tiny),
- pretty stylish interior,
- navigator seat,
- easy to find locally
Bad
- seaworthiness not it the same level as in others on the list,
- worse stability due to lower weight than other boats on the list
- CE category C boat,
- most narrow side decks,
- small cockpit
Aquador 32C
| Length: 9.7 m Width: 3.45 m Draft: 1.1 m Air draft: n/a Weight: 5 200 kg | CE category: B Engine: single Yanmar or Volvo Penta Drive: stern drive Years build: 2000 – 2016 |
Aquador 32C is the only non-flybridge boat accepted on the list. It was accepted because it has good walking side decks, side doors and large roof hatches.
Good
- good driving capabilities,
- quality build,
- good resale value,
- walking side decks,
- CE category B boat,
- navigator seat,
- easy to find locally
Bad
- expensive,
- small cockpit,
- high fuel consumption,
- no flybridge
- less outdoor space than on others
Nord Star 31 Patrol Fly
| Length: 10.1 m Width: 3.15 m Draft: 0.85 m Air draft: n/a Weight: 5 000 kg | CE category: B Engine: twin Volvo Penta Drive: stern drive Years build: 2003 – 2012 |
Nord Star 31 has a utility boat design, but it is actually also pretty well designed for leisure use. It reminds the other high-quality Finnish boats from Targa and Sargo, but separates itself from those being the most family and leisure boating oriented.
Good
- two engines with separate tanks and fuel lines,
- large deck area,
- great walking decks on both sides,
- CE category B boat,
- great driving capabilities,
- good resale value,
- quality build and finish,
- stylish interior with a lot of wood surfaces,
- great visibility from the lower helm station,
- navigator seat,
- flybridge (although a very small one)
Bad
- expensive (slightly over the budget),
- high fuel consumption in 8-20 knot range,
- very small flybridge,
- small salon (walking decks take a lot of space),
- small galley