USED CLASSIC BOAT | 5 boats for the weekend, or touring the world

The landscape relating to Classic Boats-that is, production boats over twenty-five years old and launched since 1967-is a vast and ever-expanding one, made up of hulls of all shapes and sizes and, perhaps, not as easily “navigable” as one would often like. In light of this, in addition to the section on Your Classic Boats and the new Classic Boat Club, we have created a series of articles, aimed, boatyard by boatyard, or intended use by intended use, at exploring some exceptional hulls, key projects in the evolution of boating. Following on the heels of the previous 30 articles, it is now the turn of 5 exceptional boats, selected from a pool of hulls that, whether by stroke of genius or blissful inspiration, are as perfect as a weekender as they are for setting off and circumnavigating the Globe. The only criterion besides design and construction quality? The (arbitrary) limit of 15 meters overall, because. it’s not just ‘flagships’ that can take us anywhere. Here, then, are 5 boats that are ‘compact’ but perfect for traveling the world.

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5 compact boats perfect for the weekend, but also for traveling the world (9 – 15 meters)

Sailing around the world can be a dream for many. Having even the right boat to do so, however, seems much less straightforward. In fact, people often think of large hulls, flagships, 50+ and 60+ footers as the most suitable hulls. Some you want because they are more comfortable, some because they are faster, some, who knows, by suggestion perhaps. Fortunately, however, this is not the case. Without having to think necessarily of the small minis or the well-equipped Rustlers of the lonely around-the-world, there are actually plenty of hulls, even in the 9-15 meter range, that can take us anywhere. You just need to equip them properly and have common sense. In this article, we have selected 5 of them, a difficult selection that leaves out a lot of hulls, not for that reason, however, any less deserving. Some choices, perhaps, will be obvious, others, perhaps, will surprise you, but you will see, there are good reasons behind them.

HALLBERG RASSY 312

specifications: Hallberg Rassy; 9.42 x 3.08 m; 1979; Olle Enderlein & Christoph Rassy

Produced in as many as 690 examples (in just 15 years), the Hallberg Rassy 312 is perhaps the most successful model of the entire HR production. Small, solid and marine like few hulls in its range, it is literally a masterpiece, turning out, not for nothing, among the most coveted bluewater despite its size. Merit, in addition to the build quality and capacious volumes, must be given to the water lines, which are not sleek, but powerful and capable of imparting exceptional course stability to the ensemble, resulting in a vessel that, virtually, can take you anywhere. In this case, it is the compact choice, the miniature way to globe-trotting under sail. And, after all, it is still a Hallberg Rassy, bluewater par excellence. Arguably, the yard’s ‘compact’ starter-pack.

• Learn more about the boat, its value, and the yard’s production

DUFOUR 35

specifications: Dufour; 10.75 x 3.54 m; 1971; Michel Dufour

The hull that is, perhaps, most surprising in this list. But there are valid reasons. Designed by the brilliant and pioneering Michel Dufour, the Dufour 35 is a great little masterpiece of the 1970s, produced, in fact, in over 450 examples. It is probably not even the most beautiful hull signed by the French master, but it is certainly among the most marine and versatile to have left the yard. Designed to sail the ocean, strong in clean lines and soaring, in their own way, important, this 10.7-meter is in fact a hull capable of tackling busy seas, strong in a beam to say the least and extremely generous volumes, capable of always offering a safe place, a nearby foothold. Docile at the helm and protected in the cockpit, she is a hull that knows her stuff, as valid for day sailing as she is for tackling the world’s oceans, even short-handed. The confirmation? Look at the picture below. There’s a Dufour 35 that, having departed France, is now in Chile, passing through the Beagle Channel, just south of the Strait of Magellan, a few miles north of Cape Horn… on board, two young Frenchmen exploring the world (@lthiault)… and it’s not the first 35 to do so…

• Learn more about the boat, its value, and the yard’s production

MARAMU 46

specifications: Amel; 13.8 x 3.99 m; 1978; Henry Amel & J. Carteau

With the Maramu 46 we go up in size. At 13.80 meters overall, in fact, she was designed by Amel and Carteau to be a very versatile hull, with all the characteristics of the best bluewater, reliable and easily manageable, yet relatively compact. The overall recipe is a winner, making this 46-footer one of the great classics of the Amel yard. Easy to run short-handed, comfortable and ready to sail in any conditions, it was built in no less than 288 units, which is no small number in gender or size. Not for nothing did it inspire the 1989 Super Maramu, the brand’s great bluewater.

• Learn more about the boat, its value and the yard’s production

OVNI 455 (CC)

specs: Alubat; 14.61 x 4.39 m; 2000; Philippe Briand We enter the new millennium and find, finally, an aluminum hull as well. And it is certainly not just any hull. If in 1994, in fact, Alubat launched his Ovni 455, an aluminum cutter, angled and with a canting keel, earning him enormous success, in 2000 he decided to do the encore. Again Briand behind the signing, who thus put his hand to the winning design of 6 years earlier, this time giving birth to the center-cockpit version, as marine as its predecessor, but set to be even “drier.” The Ovni 455 CC was born, a variant that consecrated the model among the largest offshore hulls. In both versions, it will remain in production until 2007–marine like few.

• Learn more about the boat, its value, and the yard’s production

NAJAD 490

specs: Najad; 15 x 4.5 m; 1997; Judel & Vrolijk We are on the posted size limit, 15 meters, and to close this short list appears the hull of another Scandinavian dedicated offshore: Najad. In fact, it was 1997 when this one presented its new bluewater, the 49-foot Najad 490. A step beyond, a milestone. The concept was simple and simple it remains. An easy but successful recipe: with the 490 we are confronted with a comfortable, safe cruiser designed to go anywhere and, specifically, designed specifically for long crossings. All promises kept by the design’s signature pairing; Judel & Vorlijk – Eric Segerlind. In short, a boat that, really, knows its stuff.

• Learn more about the boat, its value, and the yard’s production

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