Choosing next boat to buy: Part 2, Which Boat?
Welcome back, this week it is about which boat we selected and why.
If you have not read Part 1 I think it is worth the read.
At first we thought two, Figaro 2’s were the way to go. Figaro 2 is a great boats and now off the circuit, replaced by the Figaro 3. Some boats are still around, and their prices are high ($110-130K Euro landed in US) and then they need full refits. After hunting and finding some, through the class and promoter we had a few discussions on the subject.
Our conclusion, the Figaro 2’s entered the market in 2002 so most of them have been run very hard for 15-17 years. That makes major refits a must and expensive. Along with no trekking interior, this is big, we don’t want or need a full cruising interior, but enclosed head, simple galley, sit down nav station (they have), comfortable bunks, and storage are important. We go off on our boats for weeks and months at a time. I did a cost estimate to add a very light interior, and it is minimum $15,000. That along with a major refit, and the age of the boats just made it clear to us the smart decision was to move on.
This led us to the boats I love, and have sailed some of them in France. On our list are the Archambault 31 & 35, JPK 960, 1010, 1030, SunFast 3300, 3200, 3200 MK2, Pogo 30, Pogo 8.50, Class 950, they all have great interiors, are fast, well built boats, and we found all of them intriguing.
Most are outside our budget, but that is part of keeping the search wide. And purchase cost is just one factor. To run a shorthanded race boat properly each year is about 10% the cost of the boat. And the first year you own the boat will be closer to 20% the cost of the boat if no major work is needed. These numbers include, launch & haul, storage in and out of the water, moving the boat on land, spreading out sail purchases, repairs, safety gear, and maintenance. The cost of sails for a 35′ boat can be as much as 50% more compared to a 30’ boat. So taking all of this into account the boats had to land in the US for our budgets, then after the first year sailing, we start to dial them in over the winter.
Here is a quick rundown on the boats on our list:
Archambault 35 is great price used, but is a high running cost. I have talked with an owner in Spain who sold his boat due to the running cost, and loads while sailing singlehanded. It can be done but three to five feet smaller is significant and where I want to end up. And even with the great prices some of the A35’s go for it is still over our budget. If not I would have looked a lot closer at a specific one at Sea Ventures.
JPK 960, great boat and I have looked into these in detail. Right size, sail well on all points of sail, built by JPK so you know it is built well. Being an older design I still like it a lot. But higher purchase cost makes me move away from it. The fact that JPK boats hold their value is impressive. And they built a lot of these, but outside what I think we have to spend.
JPK 1010, I love this boat, and sailed on one of the top JPK 1010 out of Lorient, France in 2013 and was hooked. It is high on running cost. They do hold their value just like the 960. Fast on all points of sail, we sailed in 15-20 kts, and it was a dream to sail. The JPK 1010 is the only boat design to win the Fastnet Race overall doublehanded. That is impressive for the boat, and father/son team of Pascal and Alexis Loison. So very close to one of my dreamboats, but the #1 item (budget) on the list takes this one off, too bad.
JPK 1030, well we just had to look, I think this is the best boat in this size, but way outside my budget. Won the doublehanded division of the Fastnet first try with Jean Pierre Kielbert sailing with same crew Alexis Loison that sailed with his dad winning in the 1010. Fast, well built, and could easily be picked over the 1010. But the cost is way out of budget. We talked a lot about this boat over the winter. This boat will shine for years to come. Besides there is over a year waiting list, good for JPK they deserve it.
SunFast 3200, nice but there is a reason they built the MK2. The 3200, takes a lot of breeze to sail well, it will sail in light stuff, but over 15kts and it starts to shine. I sailed on the boat with the Daniel Andrieu designer in La Rochelle, which was a treat. I am also not fully into the twin tiller arrangement. And even with all of this it is too expensive used, and imported, since there are only a few in the US and those dealers never responded to my inquires.
SunFast 3200 MK2, nice upgrade to the boat, not many built, more money then the 3200 so still to expensive. Sails better in the lighter wind being 800 lbs lighter with 2’ taller carbon rig, and better cockpit layout. You can pick it out over the 3200 on how it sits in the water. At the right price would seriously consider, but way over budget.
SunFast 3300, we all know about this with their huge marketing budget, and shows that the 3200 reached then end of its market. The 3300 is all the things you would expect from a great competitor for the JPK 1030. To me I would have to sail both for days to determine which would be my choice. But if I had to choose it now it would be the JPK, there is a reason it has over a year waiting list. It is similar price to the JPK 1030, but still way over budget, at $250,000. With both the 1030 and 3300 they are new boats, and just putting sails and electronics on these boats is most of our budgets. Maybe one of them some day when there are lots of used on the market, and owners understand how physical they are to sail well singlehanded.
Pogo 30, These are great boats, so well thought out and sails well in light and breeze. I sailed this in 15-20 kts of wind and it just made me smile. And trekking or cruising with swing keel will let you can go places even old keel/centerboard boats can’t go. Not much of a racer, upwind it struggles with all the other boats on this list, and down wind it is competitive, but not the same. The price used is well, again too expensive.
Pogo 850, Now this boat is in the budget and sails well. Impressed seeing them in person. The design is old, but still competitive. Problem is I don’t want to go smaller, and silly some of the local clubs with their shorthanded races, will not allow boats under 30’. And John wants something bigger also, so this is out. But if you are looking and have a smaller budget, check it out. It was a comment by one of my show viewers to used this to make the one design fleet at a lower cost.
Class 950, these are great boats, and have sailed with Marc Lombard on his Aklaria 950 prototype in La Rochelle. Marc also designed the Figaro 2. Ripping fast boats, really a rocket, with high loads, and running backs for the square head mainsail. They would easily give the 1030 and 3300 a run. I came close to buying the prototype from Marc, but it was again just outside my budget. Also there are not many, and they would be hit very hard with PHRF or ORC rating. And 7.83’ draft cuts down some cruising grounds. They really are mini a Class 40.
Archambault 31, so back to the same search I did in winter 2015 on the A31. They are great all around boats, excellent value for the used cost, enough built so they are available. Sure the builder is out of business, what a shame. I also like the single rudder, IRC keel option for all around sailing. They did twin rudders, which I had on a Quest 30 and not the best for coastal sailing in New England. And there was a bulb keel option but that had structure problems. They did offer a carbon mast option but I have never found one without the bulb. Again we talked about the A31 through the whole search. John was concerned it might not work for Bermuda 1-2 I think it will be fine. Just need to adjust the sail plan, which we will do, it is a Cat A boat and designed for the TransQuadra. So we both agreed to go this route, still the best boat I have owned by far.
When I was looking there were five A31 on the market. The one in Spain with bulb keel and carbon rig I tried to buy last time. I would stay away for many reasons. The others I contacted all of the selling brokers. One Archambault 31 advertised at Grassi Bateaux in La Rochelle, I started the process to make sure this boat was up to snuff and at the right price. Grassi Bateaux is well known for their business in La Rochelle. The owner races his Class 40 and they are dealers for a lot of nice manufactures. They had taken this boat in trade for an owner who bought through them a SunFast 3300. Also they had all the records of work performed each season at their yard. The boat seemed set up pretty well, and after a great survey we made a deal.
OK, let me state, first off I did not close on this boat during the Pandemic it was very early days when we were all still traveling. If I knew, I might have held off knowing work was shutting down, and other priorities would take over. But at the same time life has to go on, and I would go crazy with out shorthanded sailing.
I planned on going to La Rochelle, France one of my favorite spots in Europe, and do shorthanded racing. But that option faded quick after the purchase. La Rochelle is a sailing town on the West side of France with huge amount of boats in the marinas, 4,600 slips, and mostly sailboats. When you leave the harbor and sail out into Pertuis d’Antioche body of water you cross a hot spot for windsurfers. As a mater of fact 24-time world champion and speed record holder Antoine Albeau grew up in La Rochelle. I met Antoine racing Formula boards and he is open with information and a fun person. The town has very talented boat yards, home of a lot of Mini 6.50, Class 40’s, nice beaches, great food, wonderful people, it is a sailors dream.
So the boat is currently on a ship coming to the East Coast this month. The next part of this is how do you get a boat sitting on a yard cradle in France to the US. Sure you can hire someone to do all the details, but that is very expensive. I will let you know how I went about importing and shipping a Archambault 31 for the second time. Last boat came from Canada.
Thanks for reading. Be safe, be kind to everyone, and make the most of each day.
See you soon, Paul