Rank the different boat brands

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by CarlF

This summary of monohulls by John Neal is very good. See the list of boats at the end.



https://www.mahina.com/cruise.html

This begs another question of the OP, which is the prime question for any boat selection: "What is your intended use?"

The referenced link gives some great options for offshore boats and you could look to that list as a partial answer to your original question, but mostly only oriented to the high and mid range of your list.

However, if you plan to do day sails on a lake then most of these boats would be a rather silly choice when a smallish Catalina or even McGregor would fill that need just fine.

So...what is your intended use?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Adelie

To get an a thread deleted,:
A. It needs to be an ad for something that sold or is no longer for sale.
B. No responses.
C. A rules violation in the first post so bad that the mods are willing to delete that first post.

If you create a new account the mods will likely catch you, the accounts will be merged and they will start paying more attention to you. People creating multiple accounts is a big problem and isn’t tolerated.

SaltToSea, I suggest you go for option C...you might as well go out in a blaze of glory at this point! [emoji6]

[mglonnro]

It's just impossible to tell! No, really. There can be endless (and pointless?) discussions about whether a Jeanneau 410 built in 2018 is better than a Hanse 418 built in 2018 so broadening that to include all models and all (recent) history, it's just impossible.

Maybe a market based approach would be easier? Get statistics of similar sized (?) and aged boats, and see, comparatively, how much people are prepared to pay for them?

Comparing car brands is easier, although I guess that might have been difficult in the start of the 20th century as well.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Salt to Sea

I’ll probably be looking for a 20-30’ (I know that’s a huge range) used boat for under $10k and maybe even under $5k.

In that boat buying world "brands" are meaningless. All that matters is the condition of the boat and it is extremely doubtful that there is any way to sort them other than going to look at them.

good luck

[ohgary]

best for what. The best boat is the one that works for you

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

In that boat buying world "brands" are meaningless. All that matters is the condition of the boat and it is extremely doubtful that there is any way to sort them other than going to look at them.

good luck

I think that's taking things a bit far. Certainly condition does matter but so does brand. Some brands are built to extremely high standards and some just aren't. The boat with "good bones" but in less than stellar condition will more likely be worthwhile spending time and money to get it back into good condition and once you do that you'll have a great boat. But if your boat is a mediocre brand, it's pretty hard to improve its basic structure so the best it will ever be for ocean cruising is mediocre and maybe not even that good. That may be perfectly OK and even desirable for weekend coastal cruising or if it's all your budget will allow at the time, but if you want a boat that's worth spending your time/money on for bluewater cruising, I think it's worthwhile to look for a semi fixer-upper with good bones rather than just buying a cheap brand that's in good condition. But of course that approach takes more knowledge and judgement and do it yourself ability than does buying a cheaply built boat that's in good condition.

So, in order to make a good decision it's well worthwhile to take the time to learn as much as possible about all sorts of boats just as you are trying to do here and in your "real life" and to be very honest with yourself about just how you plan to use your new boat as well as your ability to work on it and sail it. Good luck!

[Salt to Sea]

Originally Posted by ohgary

best for what. The best boat is the one that works for you

I don’t think I ever use the word best. I assumed, incorrectly, that there would be clear distinctions between brands as there are in most consumer products.

I was overwhelmed by the hundreds of different brands and wanted to quickly eliminate some if there was a general consensus that brands a, b, and c were garbage. But, I’ve learned that may not be the case with boats.

I’ll be back with more dumb questions in a few months as I get closer to actually buying a boat and have narrowed down what I think I want/need.

In the meantime, I’d like to offer my sincerest apologies to anyone who was offended by my insinuation that their boat brand may be lesser than another sailors’. I’m sure all of your boats are special in their own unique ways. Fair winds and may the odds be ever rising tides for all ships.

[jamhass]

https://www.cruisingworld.com/sailbo...est-sailboats/

[Stu Jackson]

You may not be amazed thast this question has been asked before.


One of the better responses I've seen to this in the past was something like:


It's like asking your mother what girl to marry before you've had a first date.


Good luck.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

It's like asking your mother what girl to marry before you've had a first date.

That's pretty easy. It's the rich and pretty one that doesn't talk much

[Whosails]

And, of course it all depends on what you plan to do with it.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by ohgary

best for what. The best boat is the one that works for you

And there maybe more than 1🙄
Cheers
SV Cloud Duster

[Dooglas]

Originally Posted by CarlF

This summary of monohulls by John Neal is very good. See the list of boats at the end.

https://www.mahina.com/cruise.html

This demonstrates just how hard it is to answer the OP's question in a generic way. The above link is John Neal's advice on boats suitable for offshore cruising. Is that what the OP wants to do? He didn't say so.

[Salt to Sea]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

That's pretty easy. It's the rich and pretty one that doesn't talk much

Stu has obviously never met my mom. She had my major picked for me, and a list of qualities my future wife had to meet before I finished middle school.

[Scaramanga F25]

Too much diversity...Too much prejudice...too many variations within the same Brand.
Over 100 Manufacturers plus custom builts.