Quote:
Originally Posted by Whoosh
Can we agree these boats are on offshore passages?
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Ok, Jack or Whoosh. As a first time poster, what is your situation with Beneteau, what brings you to post in support? Do you own one? Introduce yourself and why your initial post is ST videos.
I don't consider the Bahamas offshore or running up the East Coast when you're never more than a few hours from shore really to be a challenge. What I saw on the videos was a boat that made the conditions look much worse than they really were. I stick to my opinion that they are not a boat for true rough water but a fine boat for coastal cruising and the Bahamas. As to the trip to
PR and VI, I'd see them capable with the right window but it would have to be perfect and doubt I'd want to go further.
A true offshore rough water boat would make the conditions in those videos look milder rather than rougher. They clearly were offshore, but not a pleasant ride and looked very much like a light boat being tossed around. Now I think it handles the conditions in video 1 better than in the other two videos.
Now, my agenda. None. I don't own a ST. I think they fill a nice niche that others have turned away from. I also like the Antares. I've read all the posts about them and seen a mix of positive and negative but generally happy owners. I would personally prefer them over a "true trawler" because of the added speed. I keep hoping to see US production of them stepped up. I'm a limited supporter of them. Good choice for loop and Bahamas. I would not choose them as my choice for the Caribbean any more than I would Sea Ray, but plenty of Sea Rays there. Oh, and for comparison, I do think a Sea Ray Sundancer would handle the conditions shown slightly better.