Beneteau’s Oceanis range continues reinventing itself to appeal to a wider audience and the new Oceanis 35.1 epitomises this approach with a revamp of this Finot-Conq hull originally launched in 2015. The main changes to this twin-rudder cruiser is the sail plan moved aft, to balance the boat better, plus inside, where in addition to the longitudinal galley there is a now an L-shaped galley on the port side.
LOA: 10.45m / 34ft 3in Hull: 9.97m / 32ft 9in Beam: 3.72m / 12ft 2in Weight: 5,533kg / 12,195lb Fuel: 130 litres Water: 130 litres Cabin(s): 1-2 Head(s): 1 Engine(s): 1 x 20-30hp 15-22hw.
Chris Craft Capri 21
Chris Craft, the US brand that inspired the iconic Rivas of the 1960s, has long been recognised globally for its beautiful designs. The familiar vertical bow design of the Capri 21 is a modern interpretation of the 1930s runabouts that defined the timeless style of a company founded in 1874 and whose boats have been sold to the likes of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and President Franklin Roosevelt.
LOA: 6.45m / 21ft 2in Beam: 2.41m / 7ft 11in Weight: 1,950kg / 4,300lb Fuel: 117 litres Water: 34 litres Engine(s): Mercury V8 6.2L 300hp / 224kw Top speed: 50 knots.
Beneteau Barracuda 9
Part of Beneteau’s hugely popular range of fishing boats, the Barracuda 9 is almost a metre longer than its sister 8 model and much more powerful, with a single outboard or twin engines providing up to 500hp for a top speed of 45 knots. The chined hull gives great grip and uses Beneteau’s Air Step technology, while fishing equipment includes four rod holders and a live bait well.
LOA: 8.78m / 29ft Hull: 7.98m / 26ft 2in Beam: 2.98m / 9ft 9in Weight: 3,200kg / 7,055lb Fuel: 600 litres Water: 100 litres Cabin(s): 1 Heads(s): 1 Engine(s): 2 x 250hp Top speed: 45 knots.
Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895
An ideal starter boat? Merry Fisher is Europe’s best-selling range of cabin cruisers, with Jeanneau building more than 1,000 units of the seven models (6-9m) in 2016. The flagship 895 launched at Cannes last year, showed at this year’s Singapore Yacht Show and is available for about HK$1 million including delivery to Asia. However, it’s so popular that it’s sold out until late 2017, with at least two hulls sold to Thailand.
LOA: 8.89m / 29ft 2in Hull: 7.98m / 26ft 2in Beam: 2.97m / 9ft 9in Weight: 3,060kg / 6,746lb Fuel: 600 litres Water: 160 litres Cabin(s): 2 Head(s): 1 Engine(s): 2 x 200hp 149kw Top speed: 35 knots.
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349
A deservedly popular boat that sails beautifully, Jeanneau’s Sun Odyssey 349 has been described as the world’s best-selling cruising sailboat, with 500 units built since its launch in 2015. On deck, there are twin helms and a spacious cockpit, with controls at the binnacles for the simple sail plan and an in-mast reefing mainsail for easy handling.
LOA: 10.34m / 33ft 11in Hull: 9.97m / 32ft 8in Beam: 3.44m / 11ft 3in Weight: 5,430kg / 11,773lb Fuel: 130 litres Water: 206 litres Cabin(s): 2-3 Head(s): 1 Engine(s): 1 x Yanmar 21hp 16kw.
Sea Ray Sundancer 260DA
For those looking for a weekender, Sea Ray’s Sundancer 260DA is an attractive buy thanks to four berths and lots of options to create your very own comfortable cruiser. Options include air conditioning and submersible swim platform, all in a 26-footer, making it a cheap boat for dry storage or – at a push – towing.
LOA: 8.1m / 26ft 7in Beam: 2.59m / 8ft 6in Weight: 3,024kg / 6,667lb Fuel: 261 litres Water: 76 litres Cabin(s): 1 Head(s): 1 Engine(s): 1 x MerCruiser 300hp 224kw Top speed: 38 knots.