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77Gypsy
Captain

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USA
356 Posts
Initially Posted - 03/21/2004 :  14:03:20  Show Profile
As Gypsy sleeps in the cold, I have been making honeymoon plans in italy for next June. I am chartering a Beneteau for 20 days and sailing the islands off the coast between Rome and Naples. there is a series of about 6 islands. The sea does not get that big there and it will only be me and the wife. I have a choice between a Beneteau FIRST 311 and a Beneteau Oceanis 323. my question is, which would you recommend? My longest leg should not exceed 12 hours. I will be anchoring or mooring at night. I know that there are difference between the First series and the Oceanis series but am not sure of them. If you had to, which would you choose for this trip?
Steve
78 C25 SR/FK - Gypsy
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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2004 :  17:52:49  Show Profile
Congratulations, and have a great trip.

The First series are racers, the Oceanis is a cruiser. However, I would doubt that either of them will be set up for optimum results (i.e. sails and controls) since they're rentals.

Firsts are generally smaller below, with dark wood and a single round useless sink. The Oceanis will be bigger and lighter down below.

Don't you have the cabin drawings from the rental agency? You could also go on line and find out more about them at beneteau.com (I'd guess).

Have a great trip.

Stu
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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts
Response Posted - 03/22/2004 :  08:32:08  Show Profile
Several members of my sailing club have chartered Beneteaus in the 30~36 foot size range in the BVI's and have reported that their boats had surprisingly poor pointing ability: "Our boat couldn't sail closer than about 80ยบ to the wind" was what one skipper told me. And he thinks that this might be a deliberate design built in at the factory specifically for charter boats, to somehow make them "safer" or less likely that a novice charterer will get in trouble and have a knock down in gusty conditions. Or it might just be blown-out sails that needed to be replaced. I can't say from personal experience, having never sailed anything larger than a Catalina 25, just passing the info along FYI, for whatever it's worth.
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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts
Response Posted - 03/22/2004 :  16:27:58  Show Profile  Visit JimB517's Homepage
certainly a boat that won't point can't possibly be safer. You never see charter skippers going onto the upwind rocks. They have to point to get off those downwind ones.

I'd assume dirty bottom, blown out sails, big huge 3 blade fixed prop, no rig tuning .... those charter fleets don't do any more maintenance than is absolutely necessary to get the next charter group out on the water.
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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts
Response Posted - 03/22/2004 :  19:09:40  Show Profile
"those charter fleets don't do any more maintenance than is absolutely necessary to get the next charter group out on the water."
Jim, with all due respect, I'm not sure about that. We chartered a bareboat Beneteau 38 a few years ago - she was 6 years old and apart from a lack of polish was excellently maintained (i.e. everything worked fine!). Remember that most of the charter boats are in a lease/buy program, and the Charter Company is contractually obligated to do maintenance.
My yacht club charters a flotilla of sail/power boats every other year in the B.V.I.'s and I've never heard a complaint about a "crappy" boat.
Derek
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jheard
1st Mate

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USA
49 Posts
Response Posted - 03/22/2004 :  20:46:51  Show Profile
I chartered an Oceanis in BVI and it was big and slow as a dog, barely making 4 knots upwind. I would get the fasted boat possible, probably the First.
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77Gypsy
Captain

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USA
356 Posts
Response Posted - 03/22/2004 :  20:53:37  Show Profile
I'm so torn, the two are basically the same price. I'm kind of leaning towards the first because it will be a 2004, they don't even have it yet. the oceanis is a 2002. but since it's a honeymoon i thin the oceanis might have a more comfrtable cabin for the 2 weeks. I'm a little worried though that neither come equiped with radar.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.