ocean yachts reviews

Log in or Sign up

You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser .

What Do you Think About Ocean Yachts?

Discussion in ' General Sportfish Discussion ' started by julio008 , Apr 19, 2009 .

julio008 New Member

Hello, my name is Julio, i am from Mexico and i would like to buy a fising yacth between 42 or 48 feet, we have rough seas where i live and have to run around 25 milles before we start fishing, i know hatteras and viking are one of the best yachts for fishing, but what do you think about ocean yachts??. Can you help me to decide what brand of yacht shold i buy??. (I am looking for a convertible model) THANKS, julio008

NYCAP123 Senior Member

julio008 said: Hello, my name is Julio, i am from Mexico and i would like to buy a fising yacth between 42 or 48 feet, we have rough seas where i live and have to run around 25 milles before we start fishing, i know hatteras and viking are one of the best yachts for fishing, but what do you think about ocean yachts??. Can you help me to decide what brand of yacht shold i buy??. (I am looking for a convertible model) THANKS, julio008 Click to expand...

Tank you, i would use it in Tampico Mexico, that is located in the golf of mexico 250 miles down from south padre island, i don`t know what to buy jet, i have many options and want to choose the best one, i am between, and Ocean, Riviera or Lhurs, what do you think navegates better??. Thanks, for taking your time on helping me out. Regards, Julio

CaptainMoto New Member

Have you looked at Mikelson? They are in San Diego and have a great reputation in your part of the world.

I am on the east side, and are looking for something to do some marlin fishing.

Capt J Senior Member

julio008 said: I am on the east side, and are looking for something to do some marlin fishing. Click to expand...

Capt J said: Oceans are a lot of boat for the money. But they are an average built boat for average seas. I would not even consider a Luhrs. Riviera's are ok. I would honestly look for a used Cabo, or Viking or Hatteras if it were me...... Click to expand...

Julio, I agree with the Capt J and NYCAP123 but don't miss the opportunity to look at a Mikelson. They make a 43 that has the space and ride of many 50s with lots of unique design features by Tom Fexas. Not too many on the East coast but there are several fishing out of California and Mexico.

What do you think about egg harbor are the ass good as ocean and riviera???

sorry but i want to make the best decicion, what about silverston yachts?? tanks,

julio008 said: What do you think about egg harbor are the ass good as ocean and riviera??? Click to expand...

Manny Senior Member

a Bertram 42' would be a very good option as well.

i like bertram, the problem is that all of them comes with volvo engines, and we don`t have dealer down here, so i`d rather stay with cummins or caterpilar.

I beg to differ. There are 2 42' Bertrams here in PR with Detroits. Not sure if you would want one with detroits, but they're better than volvo's in any case.

i all ready saw them but i`am looking something around 2005

simmikie New Member

julio, i guess i'll be the lightening rod. you appear (to Me) to be resisting the very advise you had asked for. is there a reason you appear to be hesitant (to me) to look in the Cabo or Viking direction? just don't want to see you work against yourself, and make a purchase that is not best suited for you. Mike

simmikie said: julio, i guess i'll be the lightening rod. you appear (to Me) to be resisting the very advise you had asked for. is there a reason you appear to be hesitant (to me) to look in the Cabo or Viking direction? just don't want to see you work against yourself, and make a purchase that is not best suited for you. Mike Click to expand...

capttommy Guest

Stick to the Ocean Yacht in your price range Of all the boats you mentioned, the newer Ocean Yachts are a good choice. Older Ocean yachts had a lot of problems including many of the handling problems you have heard here. The newer ones are much better. I am currently running a 54' and in the process of helping someone buy a 50' which I was very impressed with . we sea trialed it in 3-6' seas and ran 25 knots + right into it. However, we drifted side to and it rolled pretty badly. As long as we kept moving it handled very well. (I have run at least 7 diffferent older models of Oceans as well). Keep in mind, Ocean is not as strong a quality as Viking Bertram Hatteras, but for the money you get a lot of boat. Capt Jay loves his Cabos but I have run 2 31', a 35' and 2 45' Cabos and I would not let any of my customers who fish rough water buy them. They are very hard riding and extremely wet although well built.

capttommy said: Of all the boats you mentioned, the newer Ocean Yachts are a good choice. Older Ocean yachts had a lot of problems including many of the handling problems you have heard here. The newer ones are much better. I am currently running a 54' and in the process of helping someone buy a 50' which I was very impressed with . we sea trialed it in 3-6' seas and ran 25 knots + right into it. However, we drifted side to and it rolled pretty badly. As long as we kept moving it handled very well. (I have run at least 7 diffferent older models of Oceans as well). Keep in mind, Ocean is not as strong a quality as Viking Bertram Hatteras, but for the money you get a lot of boat. Capt Jay loves his Cabos but I have run 2 31', a 35' and 2 45' Cabos and I would not let any of my customers who fish rough water buy them. They are very hard riding and extremely wet although well built. Click to expand...

Thanks, for your information it was really helpfull, i am looking on the new 42, have you been on that boat???????. I used to have a 35 cabo and i have the same opinion you do. Thanks, Julio

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

• 2024 BOAT BUYERS GUIDE
• SHALLOW WATER FISHING
• Email Newsletters
• Boating Tips
• Boating Safety
• Electronics
• Baits & Lures
• Fishing Tackle
• Fishing Travel
• Conservation
• Fishing Knots
• Women in Fishing

• Boat Reviews

Ocean Yachts 42 SS First Glance

• By John Brownlee
• Updated: June 8, 2006

The original Ocean Yachts 42 Super Sport hit the market in the early ’80s and became an overnight success. It combined a large cockpit with a stable hull design, and like all Oceans the boat ran fast with relatively small engines. It also happened to be one of the better-looking boats the company ever built.

With this illustrious history in mind, I looked forward to running the new version of the 42 SS. I tested the boat in Naples, Florida, courtesy of Florida Yacht

||| |—|—| |   Specifications | |  LOA|  42′ 1″| |  BEAM|  15′ 4″| |  DRAFT|  3′ 11″| |  WEIGHT|  34,151 lb.| |  FUEL|  430 gal.| |  WATER|  100 gal.| |  POWER|  T 510-hp| |  BASE PRICE|  by request| Sales, and as I walked down the dock toward the new Ocean, approaching from astern, I initially thought I was looking at a much larger boat. But Tom Butz of FYS assured me that we were looking at the right one.

The new 42-footer boasts a spacious cockpit and a sumptuous interior (another Ocean trademark) in a very well proportioned package. The sleek lines that are the hallmark of Ocean Yachts’ current styling create a handsome look overall and an extremely functional design in the real world, something every Ocean Yacht possesses. This 42 represents yet another chapter in the company’s ongoing success story.

Ocean Yachts

Egg Harbor City, New Jersey

609-965-4616

www.oceanyachtsinc.com

• More: Boat Reviews , fishing boats
• More Boat Reviews

Sailfish 316 DC First Glance

Robalo 266 Cayman Boat Review

World Cat 260CC-X First Glance

Solace 32 CS First Glance

Fishing the Mid-Atlantic Cobia Run

Make Mine a Jumbo

Sport Fishing’s Deals of the Week

Tracking Texas Tarpon

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Sport Fishing may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2024 Sport Fishing Firecrown . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

• THE PRINCESS PASSPORT
• Email Newsletter
• Yacht Walkthroughs
• Destinations
• Electronics
• Boating Safety
• Ultimate Boating Giveaway

Ocean 50 SS

• By Scott Shane
• Updated: October 4, 2007

Ocean Yachts’ 50 Super Sport has some very big shoes to fill. The sportfisherman replaces Ocean’s extremely popular flagship 48 Super Sport, a boat noted for packing in a lot of comfort and performance at a reasonable price.

“The 48 has been one of Ocean’s most popular models, and we are well-known for that boat. It is an excellent family boat that worked and was affordable”, said Doug Finney, vice president of sales and marketing at Ocean Yachts. “But it was due for a facelift.”

The slightly larger sibling offers the same benefits of the 48, but with an updated bridge design and new hull. She proved to be a stable stage that fishermen will immediately appreciate, and has a stylish interior that upholds the strong reputation the builder has developed among the cruising sector.

Part of the facelift started from the bottom. Ocean felt they struck gold with the solid ride of David Martin’s hull on the 57 Super Sport (“Getting Ahead, September 2003) and wanted to spread the wealth throughout the line.

Under way, the new 50 SS feels solid and her acre of foredeck gives her the feel of a larger than 50 LOA yacht. As in the 57, the builder achieves performance without overburdening the design with excess horsepower. Twin 825 hp MTU Series 60 engines lift her effortlessly from the hole and to top speed in about 18 seconds. Engine options up to 1,015 hp each are available.

Her steering is responsive and smooth, though I hardly needed to correct her stance at 26 knots in the 4-foot following sea. Backing down into the sea-simulating a fish-fighting experience-the 50 SS proved to be nimble and dry. Going into a head sea was impressive. Although the seas were stacked and steep, we were able to make a comfortable way at 19 knots. Only in a head sea did the occasional spray find its way to the EZ2CY enclosure. I pegged a 28.4 knot cruising speed at 2050 rpm while burning 60 gph of fuel.

The 50 SS also benefits from a redesign of her fuel tank placement, eliminating saddle tanks by placing one tank forward and one aft. As a result, the engines look lost in the abundant engineroom space. There is 29 inches between the engine stringers and 12 inches of clearance between the top of the engines and the overhead. The 11.5kW Onan generator tucks away nicely in the after end of the engineroom. And the entire area is finished with Awlgrip, making cleaning up a little easier.

Crewmembers will like the 50 Super Sport. Going to the bow is a cinch thanks to a small step that assists crew up to the side deck, and grab rails along the house are where they need to be. The forward bow pulpit is placed so it does not extend beyond the rub rail.

Up top, the flying bridge also benefits from the update and offers good lines of sight, a ladder that is easy to climb and stowage for rods and gear. Our test boat had the optional cooler box, certainly a good choice. The helm has pullouts and pull-downs for the 12-volt panel, electronics, radios and teaser reels. You will run out of electronics before you run out of room.

The business end of the Ocean features a 123-square-foot cockpit (including lockers) that will embrace a large fighting chair. Multiple coolers complement the two in-sole fish boxes. Gunwales are 30 inches off the deck, allowing for easy retrieval of a fish. The step to the saloon has an insulated stowage compartment for easy drink access. Molded into the bulkhead that separates the cockpit from the saloon are a freezer, drawer-style stowage, a bait center with sink, and the door to the engineroom. Side doors hide stowage compartments on either side of the cockpit for lines, gaffs or brushes and the like. A simple but valuable touch is a removable tray that sits inside and atop the freezer, allowing for quick access to bait. A large livewell is molded into the transom.

But to relegate the 50 Super Sport strictly to fish would be sinful. Ocean again has deciphered the code and has accommodations that are somewhat surprising for a 50-footer designed to raise fish. The saloon, for example, has an L-shape settee, a four-person dinette with elbowroom and a galley with stowage for long-range provisioning. The joinery has a soft satin finish with distinctive inlays, highlighted with high-gloss trim. The open feeling is accentuated by 6 feet, 6 inches of headroom. Amtico covers the sole in the galley and dinette area. Overhead on our test boat was the optional and handsome Ostrich Oats headliner and a grab rail for a safe hold.

The galley does not short change the chef on counter space or stowage. Fiddles in the cabinets help secure dishes and dry goods. Within the galley sole is a hinged hatch leading to a large compartment that houses the water heater and Cruisair air conditioning units but still has plenty of room for bulk stowage.

Down five steps you’ll find three-staterooms and two heads. A washer and dryer are stacked to starboard behind a door in the companionway. Opening a hatch in the companionway sole reveals a peek into the guts of the 50 SS. The plumbing fittings are sturdy and uniformly double clamped, her wire runs are neat and bulkhead protrusions sealed.

The master cabin sports an athwartships berth that utilizes the maximum area the cabin will allow without being restrictive. All doorways are positioned to avoid overlap and banging into one another. The en suite head is reasonably sized, though the swing on the shower door is a bit tight. With the wind blowing at the dock, the only sound that resonated through the hull was a gentle lapping of the sea and not a keep-you-up slap.

There are two guest cabins. The forward has an island berth and is nicely finished with radius edges, some well-placed high-gloss trim and attractive side panels. Upper and lower berths are an option for this cabin. The second cabin has side-by-side berths, and each will fit an adult just fine.

After spending the day with the folks of Staten Island Boat Sales on their 50 SS, I walked away a fan. But one of the most impressive traits was the value Ocean packs into each of its hulls.

“The Ocean buyer is one that looks for good quality and appreciates value”, said Finney. To that end, Ocean uses modular construction and out-sourcing. Finney attributes these systems with keeping Ocean’s costs in line.

“This method allows us to incorporate modular construction techniques into a big boat built in a production environment. At Ocean we can use fewer people, control costs and turn inventory more quickly”, he said.

It also doesn’t hurt to have a hull design that works well with smaller engine packages and still achieves 30 knots with the range needed for today’s fishing and cruising enthusiasts. Ocean Yachts continues to deliver yachts with extensive standard equipment, comfortable interiors and capable handling. The 50 Super Sport is all that and perhaps a bit more.

Contact: Ocean Yachts Inc.; (609) 965-4616; www.oceanyachtsinc.com . For more information, contact: (866) 922-4877

• More: Sportfishing Boats , Tenders
• More Yachts

Discover the Top Power Catamarans for 2024

Coming Next Year: Tiara Yachts 56 LS

Top Nine Fishing Tenders For 2024

First Look: Meet the Apreamare 88 Motoryacht Flagship

Simrad Unveils Game-Changing NSX Ultrawide Displays

Benetti 108 Superyacht For Sale

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

• Forum Listing
• Marketplace
• Advanced Search
• The Bass Barn Forums
• Offshore Fishing Forum

Opinion on Ocean Yachts?

• Add to quote

ASK 100 PEOPLE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT A 2004 27 FT. BAYLINER AND PROBABLY 1/2 OF THEM WILL SAY THEY HAVE ALWAYS BUILT JUNK.FOR A GUESS OF AT LEAST 6 YEARS BAYLINER HAS BEEN BUILT BUY BRUNSWICK,THE LARGEST BUILDER OF BOATS IN THE WORLD.I THINK BAYLINER STARTED TO FIX A LOT OF THERE PROBLEMS IN THE EARLY 90'S BEFORE BRUNSWICK AND THAT IS WHEN BRUNSWICK BECAME INTERESTED.WE HAD A 23'BAYLINER 1991 OR 2 TROPHY WITH 2 125hp FORCE FOR TWO YEARS IT WAS GREAT AND WE TRADED TO A 25' 94 TROPHY THAT WAS GREAT WE HAD THAT 2 YEARS THEN MOVED UP.MY POINT IN THE VERY BEGINNING OCEAN HAD SOME PROBLEMS,DO YOU THINK THEY JUST LEFT THEM ALONE?? THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF BISSNESS YEARS AGO IF THEY DID. THERE ARE A FAIR AMMOUNT OF TOURNEY WINNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEY.AFTER THE MUFF-DIVER SANK PEOPLE USED THAT AS AN EXAMPLE OF OCEAN'S BEING NO GOOD.YET EVERYTHING POINT THAT IT WAS A FREEK LARGE PIECE OF ROPE THAT SANK THEM IN CALM WATER.TH E MUFF-DIVER WAS A 84 OR 86 OCEAN RUN BY ONE OF THE BETTER CAPTAINS OUT OF OC MD. HE BOUGHT ANOTHER SLIGHTLY BIGGER OCEAN AND I THINK HE IS STILL RUNNING IT TODAY.ARE THEY A VIKE NO BUT I DON'T THINK THEY ARE JUNKK EITHER.WE HAVE A FEW OCEAN OWNERS ON HERE AND MAYBE THEY WILL POST ON HERE.  

Oh boy, looks like another doozy, Ok, here is my take on the Ocean Yachts. I will do the glass is half full approach. They have succesfully built boats since 1980, and their customer base for the most part, are repeat buyers. The nitch for these boats is truely out there, not everyone has Viking or Custom boat money. Most of everything you find on an Ocean Yacht, is top of the line components, like motors, interiors, set-ups, etc. They have always been fast, for the most part, comfortable fishing boats. From 1984 to 1992 I have been captain of every model over 42' some off the top of my head, 44' 46' 48' 55' 57' 63' and in 1992 a 42'. I won plenty of times with these boats against the biggest and the best of competition here on the East Coast and Bahamas. So they are serious fishing boats. So with that in mind, if you want to get in the action, at a price you can afford, and compete with the best of them, Ocean Yacht does the job. Have there been problems - yes there have been, I also think Ocean Yachts, for the most part, has stood firmly behind their products, and have worked hard to make themselves better at manufacturing these boats. As with these and all boats, you have to learn and understand the inherent problems an older vessel will have, and deal with them accordingly. I want to finish my post with one last thought, please don't turn this into an Ocean Yacht bashing contest, please. Dr. Mike, a 1990 boat has a lot of water under its bow at this point. My first question would be, how well did the owner of this vessel take care of her? I am sure this vessel will take a repair and be in service another 16 years. Captn Joe [ 01-14-2006, 11:55 AM: Message edited by: Captn Joe ]  

I have run several Ocean yachts over the years and they are sound, well made boats that serve well either fishing or just kickin bacK!  

They are a basic good boat. I've fished one for years, I've also fished Viking, Hatteras, Bertram, Trojan, Post.etc. Ocean is not at the top of the list, but then again, it doesn 't cost like the top of the list.  

Phil from the little debbie runs a 55 Ocean. She's always run smooth as glass when I've been on her.  

This is second hand information, however, I talked with a salvage diver who worked for the coast guard and he said the ONLY (his words) boats he got called in to patch during heavy weather so they could make it back was Ocean Yachts. Apparently he said the hulls woudl split while getting pounded in a good sea. I fished a tournament on a 55 Ocean in 8-12 foot seas when only 4 boats left the dock on day one and it was OK, but they sure are pretty, and quick  

Blisters are not a structural defect, and they are not caused or prevented by the relative structural rigidity of the hull. If you look around, you will find that that most brands (including Bertrams, Blackfins, etc.) have had blister problems on some of their boats. Not every boat, but if you get one that absorbs some water, you gotta get it fixed. Fix it right and it's a one time fix. The best way to avoid unexpected boating expenses is to not have a boat. [ 01-14-2006, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: algillen ]  

Over the past 15 years we have owned 7 Ocean Yachts a 1985 46', 1986 46',1988 48',1989 48',1989 44',1995 48' and currently a 1997 48'. We have never had blisters on any of them. For the money an Ocean Yacht is the best production boat you can buy. You get great accomodations and speed for half the price of a Viking. The ride may not be as good as some other production boats but an Ocean Yacht will always get you home no matter how crappy it gets. [ 01-14-2006, 05:00 PM: Message edited by: ANDY L ]  

I worked for Viking and they use solid glass from the water line down and balsa up past the water line. I think what happened maybe the glass under the water line devolped stress cracks in the glass and water had found it's way to the balsa core like what was said above.That's if they use balsa below the water line.  

Originally posted by algillen: The best way to avoid unexpected boating expenses is to not have a boat. Click to expand...

the fact that ocean yachts are all over the world and found fishing in every big game tourney on the planet speaks for the product. It is not fair to judge an entire company based on one story. maybe they are not for everyone, but stand at the weigh stations next time and count how many come backing down to weigh a fish.  

Although I haven't owned or ridden in one I think they are the perfect combination for the family and fishing trips. I really doubt moving up is in the near future but I would certainly consider Ocean Yachts. They are everywhere, factory is local (for me at least) and the interiors really are sharp. Could be a major plus in selling the wife on a bigger boat. --JK  

Have run a 1985 38 for a few years - solid boat. Yes she has had her fair share of problems; blisters, leaky salon windows... but she has gotten me home every trip. Stop by I'm on E dock Seaview Harbor, come to think about it you may want to wait until April- 5" of snow this morning, and I'll show her off. Don't buy into the flexible flyer crap - old problem. Do your research and feel free to email any questions you have - you will get an honest answer here. Good luck  

I had a 1982-42'. Bought it used in 83. Had that boat from the Bahamas to Newport RI. Been in some heavy weather (up to 18') and never had a problem getting home. I did have a delamination problem on both sides of the keel that came up in 84. Ocean had the boat hauled and sent a couple of guys from the factory to repair at n/c. Never had a problem after that. Had the boat about 8 years. Also never had a blister problem.  

I've only fished on one Ocea Yacht- the Little Debbie - I think she is a beautiful boat!!!!!!!  

I know I guy who owned a early 46 in Tuckerton. He had most of the same problems that were listed here. He sold the boat and always talks about buying another one. He always said though, he got what he paid for. [ 01-15-2006, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: Fishin4ever ]  

We'll have a new 42 Ocean at the AC Boat Show. This is a brand new model for 2006. Come by and take a look first hand. I think most will be impressed. Ask for me when you get there. Brian  

I've fished on a few Oceans they're decent boats far from the top of the list of best boats out there. I did see one sink in I believe it was 1991 it was around 42' 5-7' sea's and it wasn't from hitting anything. I believe the owner boat a Vikeing with the insurance check.  

bEING THE OWNER OF A 55' OCEAN YACHT, AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN A SLEW OF OTHER BOATS INCLUDING A 47 AND 55 VIKING, THE OCEAN IS AN OUTSTANDING BOAT, DOES RIDE LIKE A VIKING PRETTY DARN CLOSE, BUT THE VIKING HAS HER BEAT IN WEIGHT HANDS DOWN. ABOUT BLISTER PROBLEMS, THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF MY BOAT WAS A FANATIC, HE SAW A FEW BLISTERS STARTING AND HAD THE BOTTOM RE-DONE COMPLETELY. DO I THINK THAT IS A DESIGN FLAW, NO. I NEVER HAD BLISTERS ON MY 1973 36' HATT., BUT I HEARD HORROR STORIES ON OTHER 73' HATTS. I THINK THE BLISTER PROBLEM STEMS FROM AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE WATER, THE PREP THAT WAS TAKEN ON THE GLASS WHEN IT WAS LAYED, WHO LAYED THE GLASS, THE HUMIDITY, THE PREP OR A HOST OF OTHER THINGS. IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS WE DO ALOT OF FIBERGLASS DECKS, AND MOST DO NOT BLISTER, BUT SOME DO, WHY WHO KNOWS BUT I THINK IT IS USUALLY ATTRIBUTED TO ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED. THE BOTTOM LINE, IS ALL BOATS CAN DELVELOP BLISTERS AND I DON'T THINK A BOTTOM THAT DEVELOPS BLISTERS IS NECESSARILY A BAD BOAT.  

I am the owner and operator of Mega Bite 2, it is a 1979 ocean yachts 40SS. This boat is in the "flexible fyler" time period, and i'll tell ya; WHAT A BUNCH OF BS! The boat is solid as a rock with no blisters and a good design, some of the boats did have some tabbing issues but ocean recalled those ones and were fixed. As far as blisters go, that is purley a matinence thing, if the boat sits in water and the guy uses cheap bottom paint and hasnt put a barrier coat on, that is the reason for the blisters. Ocean is a highly reputable builder started by the long time boat building family the leeks. They have put a great combination of style performance and economy into a sweet package that no ocean yachts owner can deny. About that boat sinking, EVERY BOAT THAT SIZE CAN SINK, AND ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN. Hope it helped, G.S. Mega Bite 2, Bouns Check, and The Grady  

i heard that in following seas the boat tends to be sloppy? i have seen a few in the yards and it looks like the keel kinda ends and it flattens out from the shaft outlet to the stern. Is that a real concern when the boat slides down a wave face.  

Reel Force - Following sea performance varies by model. Some were better than others. Current models are actually darn good and carry a lot of deadrise to the transom.  

The older Ocean Yachts did have a problem in following seas due to the flat stern but they corrected the problem when they came out with the "New Generation" hulls in 1990. [ 01-22-2006, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: ANDY L ]  

I have fished the canyons in some real crap and had Ocean's right next to me and they handled the seas as well as our boat. I think the rep they have is way over kill and I certainly would not be embrassed to own one. They will get you out and back with the best of the offshore boats in their class and save you quite a bit of money versus the high end battle wagons. I have known some Ocean owners that did have the blister problems and Ocean stood by these customers and repaired the problems even after the boats were over 10 year old. One thing is no new boat is cheap these days and that label pertains to all offshore boats when bought new. I would not put Ocean near the top of my personal list of top end offshore boats but I think you get a lot of boat for your money. I know a whole bunch of charter capts from MD to Florida that would disagree with this but I like Oceans and would fish on one any day. Our new 55 Carolina Custom will cost probably 1 million dollars less than a new Ocean of the comparable size but it takes every bit of almost two years to get one built. Capt John  

Dr. Mike, any boat has it's problems, to give you an idea, some new 48 Vikings have the engines laying on the hull. They are now revising the layout and are raising the engines on about 6 of them as i speak. By the way they were delivered before they found out about the problem. Talk about quality control.  

• ?            
• 42.7K members

Top Contributors this Month

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Greek Ocean Star 51.2 Exclusive review: from the archive

• June 2, 2021

There will always be a market for a big volume, people-carrying cruiser with modest looks and just enough style to make it easy on the eye. One such 50-footer is the Greek Ocean Star 51.2

She's a big. safe, dependable cruising boat that seems to be built with great care. Credit: Malcolm White

Product Overview

Manufacturer:.

What do yo get if you aim to create a 50 footer that can carry plenty of people, is still stylish enough to appeal to the eye and has been carefully built? The Ocean Star 51.2 Exclusive.

Ocean Yachts were launched seven years ago by brothers Emmanuel and Costas Anargyrou. After running a successful yard in Brazil building powerboats, the brothers returned to Greece and set up Ocean Yachts in premises just outside Athens.

The company now build 14 yachts a year, many for the domestic charter market. Recently they have been looking at the owner market and the Ocean Star 51.2 Exclusive is the result.

Based on the existing Ocean Star 51.2 model, she features a new layout, a souped-up three-spreader rig and a new keel and spade rudder.

The building process is in stark contrast to the mechanised efficiency of the German or French mass production yards.

There is a maximum of five boats in production at any one time – it lakes 5,800 man hours to build an Ocean Star 51.2 Exclusive.

All boats are built to order, which means semi-custom requests can easily be accommodated. The boats are laid up in a split mould allowing a large internal flange to be formed for the hull to deck join.

The hulls are a solid laminate below the waterline with Coremat used above while the decks use balsa core. But laminated into the hulls while still in the mould is the most elaborate stiffening grid I’ve ever seen.

It stretches from the forward watertight bulkhead to a metre or two short of the transom and is almost 2ft deep in places. Overkill? Maybe, but the hull is certainly stronger for it.

Deck details

The Ocean Star 51.2 Exclusive is not a particularly sleek boat. The high coach roof running all the way forward to the chain locker gives her a bulky appearance, and a raised section ahead of the cockpit, while improving shelter and providing stowage for the dodger, does little to reduce this.

But her appearance is hardly offensive and there’s not a lot to set her apart from many other European production cruising boats.

The Exclusive version of the Ocean Star 51.2 sports a triple-spreader mast, cutter-rigged with a self-tacking staysail.

Genoa and staysail are both roller-furled while the main is fully battened with single-line reefing.

The mainsheet track spans the whole coach roof giving plenty of control over the boom, but its position well ahead of the companionway puts it very far forward.

Apart from the considerable stress this must place on the boom, it also has the inevitable result of taking the sheet out of reach of the helmsman. One solution would be to move the traveller controls aft, something that could very easily be done.

By contrast, the primary winches, mounted well inboard on ‘buttresses’, are within easy reach and in a good position for grinding. Not that we had to do much of that: the test boat had electric primaries and one electric halyard winch too.

Two large electric motors within inches of the wheels would play havoc with the steering compasses so a centrally mounted compass sits at the aft end of the cockpit table with fluxgate displays at each wheel.

This boat has loads of space for all the necessities of cruising.

You could graze a small herd of goats in the lazarette, which has access via a hatch in the cockpit sole and another under one of the helmsman’s seats. Another Ocean Star 51.2 has an occasional bunk for extra crew fitted here, right alongside the generator. Nice.

There are another two large lockers on the swim platform and a huge forward locker too. This is usually fitted out as a crew cabin but would make a fantastic workshop for long-distance cruising.

Ahead of this is the chain locker.

The Ocean Star 51.2 has an impressive interior

Although the Ocean Star 51.2 had few surprises on deck, the interior impressed us. There’s nothing in particular that stands out as daringly different, but somehow you know this boat wasn’t built by machines.

Descending a very secure companionway, flanked by strong handholds above and below deck, you enter a spacious saloon.

The test boat was finished with a cherry veneer and satin varnish with a pale headlining broken up by strips of dark trim. Ocean Yachts also offer a beautiful teak interior, seen on another Ocean 51.2.

The woodwork is solid and nicely finished all round, the odd uneven gap being the only qualm. The doors in particular are beautifully made and feature quality fittings with a heavy, solid action.

There are magnetic catches on all doors to hold them open, and extra catches so they can be left slightly ajar.

That immense under-floor grid seems to work too: there are no creaks or groans anywhere.

Unusually, the saloon table is mounted athwartships, making room for the chart table to tuck in abaft it. This in turn allows the longitudinal galley to extend the full length of the saloon.

It has plenty of workspace with a neat Corian-style counter top and high wooden fiddles.

Also a large chest freezer, front-opening fridge and separate icemaker should keep the supply of refreshment flowing. But with no saloon ‘island’ there’s nothing to keep the cook in place on starboard tack.

I found the chart table short of legroom but then not everyone is 6ft 4in and it did make it easy to stay wedged in.

The table is a reasonable size if a little shallow, but there’s the option of having a wider table with an extended instrument binnacle.

Hinged switchboard panels here make access to the electrics simple and gave me a glimpse of very neat wiring looms inside.

The layout features a large owner’s cabin up forward and two double guest cabins aft.

The owner’s cabin is particularly comfortable, with a large island bed and spacious dressing table/desk. Leecloths would be essential if this bunk is to be used at sea, though.

All cabins are ensuite with separate shower stalls in all but the port aft head. The aft cabins are comfortable enough, with room to stand up and get dressed, but a little stark and short on natural light.

Hull ports, available as an option, were fitted to another boat we saw and make a big difference.

Huge removable panels on either side give excellent access to the 100hp Yanmar. With these removed and the companionway lifted, the engine is easy to get at.

Sailing the Ocean Star 51.2

It was a blustery day off Athens when we sailed the Ocean Star 51.2, with an icy breeze reaching 30 knots at times.

We set off under full sail on a broad reach and were soon doing over nine knots, hitting a high for the day of 9.5 knots in 22 knots apparent.

The Ocean Star 51.2 felt stable and controllable even when flirting with a gybe dead downwind.

The Jefa rod-linked mechanical steering system, with self-aligning bearings, gives the helm a beautifully light and direct feel, with none of that slack ‘sogginess’ often associated with twin wheels.

I thought the wheels felt a bit low initially, but they just took a bit of getting used to. And were a good height if you tend to do most of your driving sitting down – not a bad thing for a cruising boat.

The position is comfortable with lots of things to brace against and it’s great having the genoa sheet an arm’s length away. But a wider coaming outboard for the helmsman to sit out on would be good.

Hardening up onto a beat, it quickly became apparent that we were over­canvassed.

With the mainsheet and traveller controls far away from me, not to mention the language problems with the Greek crew, it was too late to do anything about it when we started rounding up.

The helm remained light so there wasn’t much warning either, but fortunately the boat came back on course without much fuss. We eventually settled down under single­reefed main and staysail.

The helm remained light and responsive and the log quickly crept up to over 7 knots, staying there with little attention.

Under this sail plan the boat felt secure and the self-tacking staysail, rather than an inefficient half­furled genoa, meant I could tack when and where I wanted with no help from the crew.

This was a good thing, because with the staysail sheet on the coach roof, along with the main.

I was left with no control of the sails. Still. the boat went through a series of quick tacks very smartly.

Heading back to the marina, the grunty 100hp Yanrnar made quick work of motoring into 30 knots of breeze.

Not surprisingly, with that deep spade rudder she was quick to turn under power too but a bowthruster is a popular option.

Ocean Yachts are a good example of how a small yard can build production boats the old fashioned way and still be competitive.

The Ocean Star 51.2 is a big. safe, dependable cruising boat that seems to be built with great care.

Overall the boat’s performance was impressive too and with a decent set of sails should be a lot better.

But the Ocean Star 51.2 is not cheap and mass-produced boats are getting better; their builders have been at it for a long time and know what they’re doing.

You could save money by being less of an individual, but then again it’s difficult to put a cost on having something slightly different.

First published in the May 2005 issue of YW.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

• 2024 BOAT BUYERS GUIDE
• SWS ADVENTURES
• Email Newsletters
• Fishing Boat Reviews
• Fly Fishing
• Marine Electronics
• Fishing Tackle
• Fishing Destinations
• The Bahamas Fishing Guide
• Boating Safety
• Ultimate Boating Giveaway

Ocean 43 Super Sport

• By John Brownlee
• Updated: September 21, 2007

Ocean’s latest Super Sport model is a sleek-looking 43-footer with plenty of standard goodies that will make fishing and/or cruising a breeze. As with all Oceans, the 43 is fast, but there’s more to this boat than just speed. If you haven’t checked out a Super Sport lately, you may be surprised at how much this boat has to offer for the money.

Take the cockpit, for example. There’s lots of room for even the most tournament-hardened fisherman, along with serious fishing features such as a live well in the transom and an oversized transom door that opens under a hinged covering board. Fish storage is handled by a large, in-deck fishbox with hatches that open on either end. It’s drained by a macerator pump and is big enough to hold even the largest wahoo or tuna. The bait-prep center forward has everything you need for serious rigging, including a sink with tackle drawers below, a cockpit freezer with a lift-out tray, and an ice/drink box with a dry-storage compartment beneath it.

After ascending the angled bridge ladder, we found a centerline helm arrangement with the gauge cluster strategically located above the wheel, and a large electronics surface to starboard. A lounge seat along the port side of the bridge contained racks for storing rods, and we found more dry storage beneath the forward lounge seat. There’s outstanding visibility all around.

Our 43 came with twin 480-hp Volvo Penta TAMD 74P EDC diesels (Caterpillar and Yanmar options are available), complete with Volvo’s new electronic controls. The controls take some getting used to, since the handles are small and quite close together, but the response is almost instantaneous and you can make the 43 spin on a dime.

Stable, Fast and Dry

The big Volvos pushed the 43 easily and it got on plane with almost no smoke at all. Ocean’s own speed numbers indicate a cruise of 27.8 knots at 2250 rpm, and a wide-open 32.5 knots at 2700 rpm. From the beginning, Ocean has striven to make all of its boats exceed the 30-knot barrier, and this boat certainly passes that test with flying colors. It ran well in the small chop we encountered on our test day, never pounding and throwing up a minimal amount of spray, even in the worst quartering sea.

With plush fabrics and wood accents galore, the interior of the 43 can only be described as plush. The salon features blinds with valances, recessed halogen lighting, and a port couch with a set of rod racks hidden beneath it. You can tell that fishermen designed the rod storage on this boat, because there’s plenty of it. The galley is up and features a counter with Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer beneath it. The Corian countertop forward contains a two-burner electric stove and a sink. Dry-storage areas are tucked into every nook and cranny, so getting all of your stuff aboard for a long fishing trip shouldn’t be a problem.

Two staterooms below provide sleeping space for four: two in the transverse double berth in the master stateroom forward and two more in side-by-side single berths in the guest stateroom aft and to port. The guest head is to starboard and has a real shower stall with an acrylic door. It even has a washer/dryer system. The master head is forward, in the forepeak, and the master stateroom comes with two cedar-lined hanging lockers.

Keeping with the Ocean tradition, the 43 SS comes with an incredibly complete standard-equipment list that includes an 8 kW diesel generator, an icemaker, air conditioning, a central vacuum system, an entertainment center, all ground tackle and fresh and raw-water washdowns, among many other items. About all you need to add is a top and outriggers, and you’re ready to fish!

The 43 features a very high level of fit and finish, and has a very solid feel to it when underway. But perhaps the best part is that Ocean has managed to bring all of this together at a remarkable price, making the 43 SS a deal that just might be too hard to pass up.

Ocean Yachts Inc., Egg Harbor City, NJ; (609) 965-4616; www.oceanyachtsinc.com

• More: Boat Reviews , Boats

Scout 357 LXF

Electric Outboard Steering

Best Dredge Fishing Tips for Center Consoles

EdgeWater 208CC Watchman

Birds Lead the Way to Trout and Reds

Best Boat Trolling Motor Features for Saltwater Fishing

Spotlight on Quantum

Fishing for Lingcod with Large Saltwater Swimbaits

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

• Boat Reviews

Boat Review: Ocean 52 Super Sport

• By Dean Travis Clarke
• Updated: October 12, 2001

The season had just started in earnest in Palm Beach. Homeowners suddenly stored the summer shutters, gardeners freshened up all the landscaping, and the hustle and bustle of Worth Avenue’s shops decried declining stock prices. Most of the slips at the Sailfish Club were filled with gleaming hulls, and the first serious cold front hit town with brisk northeast winds guaranteed to start the denizens snapping in Sailfish Alley. We, too, hit the town to run Ocean’s newest 52-foot Super Sport, compliments of John Staluppi’s rapidly growing South Florida Yachts.

Performance According to Ocean’s VP of sales, Doug Finney, the majority of the earliest Ocean 52 SS buyers have opted for the standard power package – CAT 3406E diesels of 800 horses each. And our fuel flow figures below reflect those engines. However, the boat we got to run offshore for the real test boasted twin 10-cylinder MAN diesels rated at 1,050 horses each.

With one engine in neutral at idle speed (the only way to produce an acceptable harbor wake), the boat moved along at 6 knots. Outside Lake Worth Inlet we ran at 25 knots dead into the 4-foot seas in perfect comfort, though there was some delay before the engines spooled up – 22 seconds to be exact. Turning off with the seas 10 degrees off the bow showed the 52 had no problem running at 29 knots while staying smooth and dry. Naval architect David Martin, who draws all of Ocean’s hulls, does some masterful blending of a fast running surface combined with exceptionally roomy interiors.

The Ocean 52 running down-sea gives the sensation of riding a fast horse. As you come up on the back of the next wave, there’s just the slightest hesitation, as when a horse is in full gallop and has all its hooves off the ground. Then a fraction after it hits the wave it accelerates, just as when a horse touches the ground again. It’s a subtle but exhilarating sensation. It banks gently into turns and scribes a fairly large arc at cruising speed. But don’t let this stately demeanor fool you. Hook up to a fish, and it can back and spin with the best of them.

Cruising with the MAN engines, I found comfort in running 1,700 rpm at 27 knots. Top speed was 38.8 knots at 2,335 rpm. See the accompanying fuel flow chart for speeds with the CATs.

Cockpit Ocean provides most everything in the cockpit you’d expect. A deep freeze just to port of the engine hatch has a lift-out tray on top while just outboard of that is the sink and rigging station with tackle drawers beneath. Hidden in a cabinet to starboard is a set of cockpit controls. Perhaps the only thing I’d change on this boat can be found in the under-gunwale storage compartments. There really aren’t any. When you open the hatch on each side, you find the fiberglass liner comes out to within an inch or so of the hatch, precluding storing anything other than wafer-thin mints inside. And those always fare better when kept in the bait freezer. The starboard-side fish box boasted an optional cold plate to turn salt water into briny slush – the best possible way to care for fresh fish – and you’ll find a second optional, lift-out baitwell in the cockpit sole on centerline as well as another standard one in the transom.

Fishability The wide-open cockpit proved as easy to fish as any, with fish boxes, baitwells and rigging station logically placed. Of course, what every fishing captain does when he takes delivery of an Ocean is remove the life ring on the rail behind the bridge helm seat. It blocks what is otherwise an exceptionally good view of the cockpit, fighting chair and transom. Ocean leaves toe space under the gunwale cabinetry so you can more easily keep your center of gravity inboard when gaffing or releasing fish. But I’d still like to see that cabinet space opened up for gaff and mop storage.

Flybridge Ocean provides comfort commensurate with the best four-star hotels. For example, precious few production builders make optional air conditioning available on the flybridge. And whether at the dock or running to the fishing grounds, the flybridge has been designed for entertaining as well as navigating. A large, molded-in table on centerline along the forward brow breaks up the almost 360 degrees of seating in front of the helm console. Another straight settee along the portside ends with an optional built-in drink refrigerator on the aft end.

Ocean Yachts enjoys a reputation for consistently producing some of the best and most creative interiors of any production boat builder. All one need do to sell an Ocean Yacht is to take the family down below. Mission accomplished. In the case of this 52 SS, the living quarters consist of four separate levels. Enter the salon on one level, where the bulk of the seating consists of an L-shaped settee portside. To starboard, a single swivel chair lets the captain hold court. Step up to the galley with its beautiful teak joinerwork and satin-finished cabinets that give a warm, lustrous ambience. Waist-high, Corian-topped counters house cabinets and a refrigerator/freezer beneath. Opposite the galley is a dinette perfect for four super models or two people of my size. Descend the stairs for’ard, and you’ll find an over/under double cabin to port with a head and shower opposite. The forward cabin consists of a full-width cabin with a queen-sized island berth and a private head with shower in the forepeak. But if you walked aft at the bottom of the s’airwell, you’d have taken several steps farther downward and entered the full-width master stateroom. This compartment features an athwartship queen berth and its own private head with shower. If you cruise with two’couples, you’ll appreciate the buffer zone between the two main staterooms.

**Engine Room **You won’t stand upright in this engine ro’m, and there’s no room outboard of the engines. But everything you need to access from valves to dipsticks all rest within easy reach of the centerline passageway. Ocean has placed a large, diamond-plate box at the forward end of the compartment in the center alley to house all batteries. Certainly this makes battery maintenance a dream, but it also limits access to the items on the forward bulkhead.

So if you have your heart set on a top-quality sport-fishing boat but are having trouble convincing your other half to go along, just take her aboard an Ocean 52. And bring a deposit check.

• More: Boat Reviews , Convertibles , Ocean , Ocean Yachts , Sport Fishing Boats

Free Email Newsletters

Sign up for free Marlin Group emails to receive expert big-game content along with key tournament updates and to get advanced notice of new expeditions as they’re introduced.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

By signing up you agree to receive communications from Marlin and select partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy . You may opt out of email messages/withdraw consent at any time.

• More Boat Reviews

Scarborough Boatworks 72 Review

Valhalla 55 Outboard Boat Review

Viking Yachts 90 Review: New Flagship Boat Replaces the 92

F&S Boatworks 82 Review

2024 costa offshore world championship: presented by costa & instituto costarricense de turismo.

White Marlin Tagged off Morocco Recaptured during White Marlin Open

Thrilling Finish at the 33rd MidAtlantic Tournament

Bipartisan Legislation Seeks to Balance Right Whale Protection and Economic Impact

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Tournaments
• Expeditions

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Marlin may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2024 Marlin. A Bonnier LLC Company . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Sign up for free Marlin Group emails to receive expert big-game content along with key tournament updates and to get advanced notice of new expeditions as they’re introduced.

Subscribe to Marlin

Subscribe now to get seven keepsake print editions of Marlin per year, along with instant access to a digital archive of past issues, all for only $29 per year.

• Bermuda Triple Crown
• Los Cabos Billfish Tournament
• Offshore World Championship
• Scrub Island Billfish Series
• Marlin Expeditions
• Guatemala – Ladies Only
• Kona, Hawaii
• Nova Scotia
• Dominican Republic
• Galápagos Islands
• Expert Instruction
• Corporate Retreats
• Our Sponsors
• Newsletters

Boat Reviews

• Boats Specs
• Marine Pros
• Boat Insurance
• Boat Warranties
• Boat Transport
• Boat Towing
• Marine Forecasts

Your Ultimate Boating Resource

Ocean Yachts

• 2014 Ocean 37 Billfish CP
• 2014 Ocean 37 Express
• 2014 Ocean 42 Super Sport
• 2014 Ocean 46 Super Sport
• 2014 Ocean 50 Super Sport
• 2014 Ocean 54 Super Sport
• 2014 Ocean 58 Super Sport
• 2013 Ocean 37 Billfish CP
• 2013 Ocean 37 Express EX
• 2013 Ocean 42 Super Sport SU
• 2013 Ocean 46 Super Sport SU
• 2013 Ocean 50 Super Sport SU
• 2013 Ocean 54 Super Sport SU
• 2013 Ocean 58 Super Sport SU
• 2012 Ocean 37 Billfish CP
• 2012 Ocean 37 Express EX
• 2012 Ocean 42 Super Sport SU
• 2012 Ocean 46 Super Sport SU
• 2012 Ocean 50 Super Sport SU
• 2012 Ocean 54 Super Sport SU
• 2012 Ocean 58 Super Sport SU
• 2011 Ocean 37 Billfish CP
• 2011 Ocean 42 Super Sport SU
• 2011 Ocean 46 Super Sport SU
• 2011 Ocean 50 Super Sport SU
• 2011 Ocean 54 Super Sport SU
• 2011 Ocean 58 Super Sport SU
• 2010 Ocean 37 Billfish CP
• 2010 Ocean 42 Super Sport SU
• 2010 Ocean 46 Super Sport SU
• 2010 Ocean 50 Super Sport SU
• 2010 Ocean 54 Super Sport SU
• 2010 Ocean 58 Super Sport SU
• 2009 Ocean 37 Billfish CP
• 2009 Ocean 42 Super Sport SU
• 2009 Ocean 46 Super Sport SU
• 2009 Ocean 50 Super Sport SU
• 2009 Ocean 54 Super Sport SU
• 2009 Ocean 58 Super Sport SU
• 2008 Ocean 37 Billfish CP
• 2008 Ocean 42 Super Sport SU
• 2008 Ocean 46 Super Sport SU
• 2008 Ocean 50 Super Sport SU
• 2008 Ocean 54 Super Sport SU
• 2008 Ocean 58 Super Sport SU
• 2007 Ocean 42 Super Sport SU
• 2007 Ocean 46 Super Sport SU
• 2007 Ocean 50 Super Sport SU
• 2007 Ocean 57 Super Sport SU
• 2006 Ocean 46 Super Sport SU
• 2006 Ocean 50 Super Sport SU
• 2006 Ocean 52 Super Sport SU
• 2006 Ocean 57 Super Sport SU
• 2005 Ocean 40 Sport Fish OF
• 2005 Ocean 40 Super Sport SU
• 2005 Ocean 43 Super Sport SU
• 2005 Ocean 46 Super Sport SU
• 2005 Ocean 50 Super Sport SU
• 2005 Ocean 52 Super Sport SU
• 2005 Ocean 57 Super Sport SU
• 2004 Ocean 40 Sport Fish OF
• 2004 Ocean 40 Super Sport SU
• 2004 Ocean 43 Super Sport SU
• 2004 Ocean 50 Super Sport SU
• 2004 Ocean 52 Super Sport SU
• 2004 Ocean 57 Super Sport SU
• 2003 Ocean 40 Sport Fish OF
• 2003 Ocean 40 Super Sport SU
• 2003 Ocean 43 Super Sport SU
• 2003 Ocean 48 Super Sport SU
• 2003 Ocean 52 Super Sport SU
• 2002 Ocean 40 Sport Fish OF
• 2002 Ocean 40 Super Sport SU
• 2002 Ocean 43 Super Sport SU
• 2002 Ocean 48 Super Sport SU
• 2002 Ocean 52 Super Sport SU
• 2002 Ocean 56 Super Sport SU
• 2001 Ocean 40 Sport Fish OF
• 2001 Ocean 40 Super Sport FS
• 2001 Ocean 43 Super Sport FS
• 2001 Ocean 48 Sport Fish OF
• 2001 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 2001 Ocean 52 Super Sport FS
• 2001 Ocean 56 Super Sport FS
• 2001 Ocean 60 Super Sport SF
• 2000 Ocean 40 Sport Fish OF
• 2000 Ocean 40 Super Sport FS
• 2000 Ocean 44 Super Sport FS
• 2000 Ocean 49 Sport Fish OF
• 2000 Ocean 49 Super Sport FS
• 2000 Ocean 53 Super Sport FS
• 2000 Ocean 56 Super Sport FS
• 2000 Ocean 60 Super Sport FS
• 1999 Ocean 40 Sport Fish FS
• 1999 Ocean 40 Super Sport FS
• 1999 Ocean 44 Motor Yacht
• 1999 Ocean 45 Super Sport FS
• 1999 Ocean 48 Cockpit Motor Yacht
• 1999 Ocean 49 Sport Fish FS
• 1999 Ocean 49 Super Sport FS
• 1999 Ocean 53 Super Sport FS
• 1999 Ocean 56 Super Sport FS
• 1999 Ocean 60 Super Sport FS
• 1998 Ocean 40 Sport Fish FS
• 1998 Ocean 40 Super Sport FS
• 1998 Ocean 44 Motor Yacht
• 1998 Ocean 45 Super Sport FS
• 1998 Ocean 48 Cockpit Motor Yacht
• 1998 Ocean 49 Sport Fish FS
• 1998 Ocean 49 Super Sport FS
• 1998 Ocean 53 Super Sport FS
• 1998 Ocean 60 Super Sport FS
• 1995 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1995 Ocean 42 Super Sport FS
• 1995 Ocean 44 Motor Yacht
• 1995 Ocean 48 Cockpit Motor Yacht
• 1995 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 1995 Ocean 53 Super Sport FS
• 1994 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1994 Ocean 42 Super Sport FS
• 1994 Ocean 44 Motor Yacht
• 1994 Ocean 48 Cockpit Motor Yacht
• 1994 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 1994 Ocean 53 Super Sport FS
• 1993 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1993 Ocean 42 Super Sport FS
• 1993 Ocean 44 Motor Yacht
• 1993 Ocean 48 Cockpit Motor Yacht
• 1993 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 1993 Ocean 53 Super Sport FS
• 1993 Ocean 56 Cockpit Motor Yacht
• 1993 Ocean 58 Super Sport FS
• 1992 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1992 Ocean 42 Super Sport FS
• 1992 Ocean 44 Motor Yacht
• 1992 Ocean 48 Motor Yacht
• 1992 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 1992 Ocean 53 Super Sport FS
• 1992 Ocean 56 Cockpit Motor Yacht
• 1992 Ocean 58 Super Sport FS
• 1991 Ocean 35 Sport Cruiser
• 1991 Ocean 35 Super Sport FS
• 1991 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1991 Ocean 42 Super Sport FS
• 1991 Ocean 44 Super Sport FS
• 1991 Ocean 48 Motor Yacht
• 1991 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 1991 Ocean 53 Motor Yacht
• 1991 Ocean 53 Super Sport FS
• 1991 Ocean 56 Cockpit Motor Yacht
• 1991 Ocean 58 Super Sport FS
• 1990 Ocean 29 Super Sport FS
• 1990 Ocean 32 Super Sport FS
• 1990 Ocean 35 Sport Cruiser
• 1990 Ocean 35 Super Sport FS
• 1990 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1990 Ocean 44 Super Sport FS
• 1990 Ocean 48 Motor Yacht
• 1990 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 1990 Ocean 53 Motor Yacht
• 1990 Ocean 55 Super Sport FS
• 1990 Ocean 58 Super Sport FS
• 1989 Ocean 32 Super Sport FS
• 1989 Ocean 35 Super Sport FS
• 1989 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1989 Ocean 44 Super Sport FS
• 1989 Ocean 48 Flybridge Motor Yacht
• 1989 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 1989 Ocean 53 Flybridge Motor Yacht
• 1989 Ocean 55 Super Sport FS
• 1988 Ocean 35 Super Sport FS
• 1988 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1988 Ocean 44 Super Sport FS
• 1988 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 1988 Ocean 53 Flybridge Motor Yacht
• 1988 Ocean 55 Super Sport FS
• 1987 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1987 Ocean 44 Super Sport FS
• 1987 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 1987 Ocean 55 Super Sport FS
• 1986 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1986 Ocean 44 Super Sport FS
• 1986 Ocean 46 Sunliner FC
• 1986 Ocean 46 Super Sport FS
• 1986 Ocean 48 Super Sport FS
• 1986 Ocean 55 Sunliner FC
• 1986 Ocean 55 Super Sport FS
• 1985 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1985 Ocean 42 Sunliner FC
• 1985 Ocean 44 Super Sport FS
• 1985 Ocean 46 Sunliner FC
• 1985 Ocean 46 Super Sport FS
• 1985 Ocean 55 Sunliner FC
• 1985 Ocean 55 Super Sport FS
• 1984 Ocean 38 Super Sport FS
• 1984 Ocean 42 Sunliner FC
• 1984 Ocean 42 Super Sport FS
• 1984 Ocean 46 Sunliner FC
• 1984 Ocean 46 Super Sport FS
• 1984 Ocean 50 Super Sport FS
• 1984 Ocean 55 Sunliner FC
• 1984 Ocean 55 Super Sport FS
• 1983 Ocean 42 Sunliner FC
• 1983 Ocean 42 Super Sport FS
• 1983 Ocean 46 Sunliner FC
• 1983 Ocean 46 Super Sport FS
• 1983 Ocean 50 Super Sport FS
• 1983 Ocean 55 Super Sport FS
• 1982 Ocean 42 Sunliner FM
• 1982 Ocean 42 Super Sport FS
• 1982 Ocean 50 Super Sport FS
• 1982 Ocean 55 Super Sport FS
• 1981 Ocean 40 Flybridge Trawler
• 1981 Ocean 42 Sunliner FM
• 1981 Ocean 42 Super Sport FS
• 1981 Ocean 55 Super Sport FS
• 1980 Ocean 40 Flybridge Trawler
• 1980 Ocean 42 Super Sport FS
• 1979 Ocean 40 Flybridge Trawler
• 1979 Ocean 40 Super Sport FS
• 1978 Ocean 40 Flybridge Trawler
• 1978 Ocean 40 Super Sport FS
• 1977 Ocean 40 Super Sport FS

Don't Miss

Overview of the 2024 sea-doo rxp-x 325, overview of the 2024 parker offshore 2900 cc, what your boat’s beam is and why it matters, power cats of 2024: ultimate guide to the top power catamarans this year, navigating the heat: 10 safety tips for a safe boat ride in the summer heat, what type of wood is used for pier pilings, what is the difference between a dock and a floating pier, what is the proper technique for pulling a beginner wakeboarder, what does ‘no wake’ mean on a lake, what is the difference between wash and wake, highs, lows, and tidal know-how: a deep dive into ocean currents, 10 essential tips for fishing near private property, the benefits of using a drift sock: guidance for anglers, lure fishing: secrets for imitating live bait and attracting fish, explore the untapped depths of america’s best bass fishing spots, outboard motor maintenance: tips for keeping your engine in top shape, the essential boat tool kit: tools every boater needs, diy boat building: 8 tips and tricks for building your own vessel, the art of miniature maritime craftsmanship: ship in a bottle, antifouling paints: a guide to keeping your boat shipshape, beginner’s guide to standup paddle boarding: tips and techniques, boating for fitness: how to stay active on the water, kayak safety: how to stay safe on the water, anchoring in a kayak or canoe: how to secure your small boat, overview of the 2024 yamaha 252sd, overview of the 2024 tiara yachts 48 le, overview of the 2024 bass cat jaguar sts, 2024 pursuit os 445: an overview, 2024 aquila 47 molokai review, 2024 sea-doo switch 13 sport review, gear reviews, megabass oneten max lbo jerkbait review, fortress anchors fx-7 anchoring system review, fortress anchors fx-11 anchoring system review, fortress anchors commando anchor kit review, fortress anchors aluminum anchors review, stay in touch.

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

• Privacy Policy

• Articles and Guides

Best Ocean Boats: Types and Brands to Buy

15th nov 2023 by samantha wilson.

What makes a good ocean boat ? It’s a valid question, commonly asked, but as with many boating questions, there is no one answer. In fact, there is no best ocean boat either. Only the best ocean-going boat for you and what you want it to do. Whether it’s offshore fishing, sailing around the world, coastal cruising, or extended voyages, there will be good boats for the task—and others, not so good. 

Of course there are many characteristics that ocean-going boats will need to have that are different from those designed to ply gentler inland waters where breaking seas, long distances, and inclement weather rarely if ever are a factor. Here we’ll take a look at the types of boats that are designed for the ocean and also look at some of the best ocean boat brands on the market today. 

What Characteristics Do the Best Ocean Boats Have?

Seaworthy in open water and stormy weather: A boat tackling ocean waters needs to be sturdy enough, large enough, and/or nimble enough to navigate the bigger seas and stronger winds that can arise. If you’re tackling oceans, you’ll typically want a boat that is 20 feet long or larger and built with strength. It’s important to know your boat’s limitations, to check the weather carefully before venturing out, and prepare accordingly. Knowing your boat’s range—is it a long-distance, bluewater voyager or a day-sailing coastal boat?—is also key to staying safe. 

Deep-V hulls and deep draft: Most ocean-going boats have deep-V hulls and adequate draft to provide extra stability in turbulent waters, high waves, and bad weather. An exception to that are multihulls, which can offer excellent stability thanks to their multiple hulls and wide shape. In addition to a deep V hull, ocean-going boats are often designed with strakes—molded lines running down the hull of motorboats that help them reach planing speed and reduce the slap from large waves. If you don’t plan to venture offshore or undertake long voyages, a shallow or modified V hull is often ideal for more coastal ocean cruising in shallower waters. 

Corrosion resistance : In contrast to fresh water, salt water is highly corrosive and damaging to boats, and they need to be designed for and maintained to cope with those damaging effects (see our guide to the differences between saltwater and freshwater boats for more advice). Boats designed for salt water will have marine-grade metals such as stainless steel, and must be built with corrosion-resistant hardware.  

Power and fuel capacity : If you’re going to cruise farther, it makes sense that your boat will need a fuel-efficient engine as well as a larger fuel tank to allow you to carry on longer without refueling. Fast boats such as those used for offshore fishing commonly have large powerful engines, allowing you to get to the offshore fishing grounds in less time. For those crossing oceans, sailboats have long been the boat of choice since wind-power is free, if occasionally finicky. 

Sleeping and storage capacity: If you’re cruising long distances, you’ll need to ensure that you have enough cabin space, living space, and storage space for supplies to accommodate all those on board. Bunks will typically be fitted with lee cloths to securely hold sleeping crew members in their berths. Ventilation is also critical, allowing fresh air below decks without bringing sea water along at the same time.

The Best Types and Brands of Ocean Boats

Ocean sailboats.

Sailboats bring the romance to cruising the oceans, and are able to sail motor-less for thousands of miles, making them the top choice when it comes to long range ocean cruising. The choice of sailboat is endless, but it depends how far you want to travel as to how big a sailboat you’ll need. Coastal sailing can be done in most sizes and styles of sailboat, while you’ll ideally be looking for a strong and sturdy sailboat over 35 feet to travel long distances (see our guide to bluewater sailboats under 40 feet for some exciting small sailboat options and what to look for in an ocean sailboat). 

The best ocean sailboat brands

• Hallberg-Rassy has been producing quality ocean-going cruising boats in Sweden for more than half a century. The company’s current lineup of comfortable, seaworthy, premium-priced yachts from 34 to 69 feet LOA.  Hallberg-Rassy boats for sale
• Beneteau ’s impressive range of Oceanis cruisers ranges from 31 to 60 feet and offers spacious, versatile layouts and sound performance at a moderate price.  Beneteau boats for sale
• Jeanneau has produced ocean-capable sailboats for more than 60 years and has a good reputation for building innovative boats that perform well. The company’s current range includes large yachts, small ocean racers, and 35- to 49-foot cruising models.  Jeanneau boats for sale

Hallberg Rassy 400. Hallberg Rassy photo.

Trawler Yachts

Known for their long-range capabilities and excellent fuel efficiency, trawlers are becoming increasingly popular as ocean-going liveaboards. Unlike the fishing vessels from which they draw their name, this new breed of power-cruising yacht typically offers extensive living space, home comforts, and even luxury living, which is highly regarded among many cruising great distances or spending extended periods of time living aboard.  

The best trawler yacht brands

• Nordhavn is a long-standing, all-American brand producing some of the best trawler yachts on the market today. Ranging from 41 feet all the way into superyacht classification sizes, Nordhavn trawlers balance robustness with comfort.  Nordhavn yachts for sale
• Selene is a Dutch brand, building up to 100 world class boats every year. Their impressive inventory includes boats from 40 feet to 128 feet, with their mid-sized models in particular offering excellent use of space and a classic styling.  Selene boats for sale
• American Tugs is one of the best smaller shipyards, with 20 years’ experience producing high quality coastal cruisers under 45 feet.  American Tugs boats for sale

Nordhavn 475. Nordhavn photo.

Center Console Boats

  Center consoles boats are high-powered vessels, commonly used for offshore fishing due to their open deck layout allowing for 360 fishability. Fast, stable, roomy, and well-equipped, they are wonderfully versatile and are available from trailerable 17-foot models up to 45 feet and longer, with cabins and heads. They are typically able to handle big seas and weather, but don’t have the sleeping, living, and storage space of longer-range types of ocean boats. 

The best center console boat brands

• Boston Whaler have been around since 1958 and have one of the best reputations in the center console industry for both their fishing and recreational boats.  Boston Whaler boats for sale
• Everglades is a brand offering 23- to 45-foot center consoles with a clear focus on fishing offshore. It is known equally for premium quality finishings and strong hull construction using high-density foam core to offer a smooth ride in waves. https://www.rightboat.com/boats-for-sale/everglades Everglades boats for sale
• For more check out our article on the best center console boat brands and the best center consoles over 40 feet . 

Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless. Boston Whaler photo. 

Sport Fishing Yachts

Powerful, robust, and equipped to take anglers on deep sea fishing adventures, sport fishing boats are more than capable when it comes to big ocean conditions. They’re capable of cruising up to 100 miles offshore where the big pelagic creatures such as bluefin tuna and marlin live, allowing anglers to fish for several days at a time in comfort. With all the equipment needed for fishing, storing, and living, sport fishing yachts aren’t inexpensive, but you can buy a seriously high-performance yacht for the money. 

The best sport fishing yacht brands

• Viking Yachts has a huge range of world-class sport fishing yachts ranging from towable 38 footers all the way up to 90 feet, although the majority fall within the 45 to 70 feet range. Impeccable finish and extremely high performance is the norm throughout the fleet.  Viking Yachts for sale
• Hatteras Yachts bring elegance and innovation to sportfishing with their four convertible sport fishing yachts from 45 to 70 feet. For more than 60 years, the firm has been creating high-performance sport fishing boats that ooze luxury.  Hatteras Yachts for sale
• Bertram has a long history of building fishing yachts focused on seaworthiness, stability, and safety. The company offers serious blue water fishing machines, as well as smaller, capable boats ranging from 28 to 61 feet.  Bertram boats for sale

For more top fishing boat brands, see Best Offshore Fishing Boat Brands .

Viking 68C. Viking Yachts photo.

Cabin Cruisers

Cabin cruisers make up one of the most versatile and popular of ocean boats as they are multifunctional, seaworthy, and well-designed for coastal cruising. While not normally suited to prolonged periods at sea or long-range cruising, this style of boat features home comforts, modest galley areas, and cabins that can be used for extended trips.

The best ocean cabin cruisers

• Sea Ray are masters in producing small, luxurious cabin cruisers that offer weekends at sea, plenty of home comforts, and reassuring seaworthiness. Their Sundancer range is from 26 feet to 37 feet, and the SLX series goes up to 40 feet.  Sea Ray boats for sale
• Chris-Craft has been producing elegant, traditionally styled cabin cruisers (as well as center consoles) for decades, and their range of boats certainly turn heads. Offering pocket-sized luxury and packed with amenities, they remain one of the best brands in the industry.  Chris-Craft boats for sale
• Grand Banks Yachts is a brand that has shifted over the years from producing what was the iconic ocean-going trawler yacht to a higher-performance luxury motoryacht that fits better in the cabin cruiser category. Design and construction attend to hull shapes, weights, and materials to produce a capable, quiet boat in rough conditions.  Grand Banks Yachts

Grand Banks 54. Grand Banks photo.

Cruising Catamarans

Cruising catamarans are fast gaining popularity for their long-range capabilities as well as their stability and huge amounts of extra living and storage space compared to monohulls of the same size. With salons and cockpits that stand well above the water line you get wrap around sea views, as well as huge cabin and galley space. They’re extremely capable blue water cruisers, but also perfect for coastal adventures with larger groups than you could comfortably get on a monohull. They don’t keel over in the same way as sailboats, offering impressive stability and speed, and are fast becoming a popular choice for around the world cruisers and charter companies. 

The best cruising catamarans

• Fountaine Pajot is one of the biggest names in the cruising catamaran world and are instrumental in shaping this new industry of long range, high performance blue water multihulls.  Fountaine Pajot Catamarans for sale
• Lagoon Catamarans have a huge inventory of cruising catamaran models throughout the size ranges, and are one of the top choices for charter companies.  Lagoon Catamarans for sale
• Leopard Catamarans offer a huge range of top-of-the-range sailing and motor cruising catamarans through boat builders Robertson and Caine. In their 50 years of business they’ve delivered an impressive 2,500 vessels, making them one of the most popular cruising catamaran brands out there.  Leopard Catamarans for sale

Leopard 40 Powercat. Leopard Catamarans photo.

Written By: Samantha Wilson

Samantha Wilson has spent her entire life on and around boats, from tiny sailing dinghies all the way up to superyachts. She writes for many boating and yachting publications, top charter agencies, and some of the largest travel businesses in the industry, combining her knowledge and passion of boating, travel and writing to create topical, useful and engaging content.

More from: Samantha Wilson

Related Articles and Guides

6th Sep 2024

The Best Mini Yacht Brands for Cruising and Luxury

16th Aug 2024

Best Luxury Pontoon Boat Brands Have it All: Glamor, Speed, Fishing, Waterslides...

10th Aug 2024

Deck Boat vs. Bowrider: Which Runabout is Best?

19th Jul 2024

The World’s Best Yacht Brands

• Explore Rightboat
• Boats for Sale
• Boating Articles
• Buyers Guide
• About RightBoat
• Sell Your Boat
• Boat Selling Advice
• All manufacturers
• All categories
• Are you a broker/dealer?
• Learn more about the Rightboat:HUB

Enter your email to keep up to date with the latest news

Join for free

Sign up now for free and discover how easy it is to keep up to date with THE latest boats for sale. Find your right boat, and tailor your voyage to finding your next boat.

Benefits of becoming a member:

• Set up tailored alerts
• Personalise your experience
• Download full specifications and broker details
• Keep tabs on your favourite boats

Are you a broker? Join as a Broker

Rightboat - join for free.

Do you have an account already? Login

Save this search

Save your search and receive new boats in your email..

You can unsubscribe from your alerts whenever you like. By pressing the button you accept the Legal Terms and conditions

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Nicholson 32: an ocean-going pedigree that lasts

• Duncan Kent
• March 8, 2021

Built entirely out of GRP, the Nicholson 32’s ocean-going pedigree remains desirable to this day, says Duncan Kent

A long keel and heavy displacement makes the Nicholson 32 ideal for coastal and offshore cruising. Credit: Genevieve Leaper

Product Overview

Manufacturer:.

The primary design considerations for the Nicholson 32 were to produce an easily handled yacht of moderate dimensions, capable of a sea-kindly sailing performance in all conditions.

She was to have the classic looks of a traditional wooden yacht but was in fact one of the first offshore cruisers to be built entirely out of GRP, to a high specification and enviable build quality.

A little history of the Nicholson 32

The Nicholson 32 was a development of the successful South Coast One Design (SCOD) and other proven Charles Nicholson designs like the nine-tonner, Jolina .

Charles’ son, Peter, believed demand for custom yachts was dwindling and glass-fibre production yachts were the future.

The Nicholson 32 had to meet three criteria.

It had to be about 32ft (9.7m) long, easy to build and cost less than £5,000 at the time.

The hulls were moulded by Halmatic in Portsmouth and mainly fitted out by Camper & Nicholson.

For maximum strength and integrity, the hull, deck, ballast, bulkheads and furniture were all bonded together.

Most have suffered from osmosis over the years and many will have been peeled, dried and re-gelled.

The Nicholson 32 was one of the first yachts designed for GRP production. Credit: Simon Braunholtz

Make sure the cost of any osmosis remedial work is reflected in the price.

The marque went through 11 model upgrades, including some quite major redesigns.

The 1963 Mk I models (1-6) had mahogany joinery and individually built furniture.

A few changes were made for the Mk II (7-10), most importantly aluminium spars.

A good many more additions were made to the Mk III (11-40) and the Mk IV yachts (41-87), including a cockpit sole engine hatch, U-bolt chainplates, aluminium framed windows and a teak interior.

By 1966, the Mk V boat (88-111) was in production with numerous enhancements to the engine compartment and a stainless-steel fuel tank.

Further refurbishments to the interior, including replacing the pilot berth with a pull-out double, denoted the Mk VI (112-147) and Mk VII (148-190) yachts, while the Mk VIII (191-236) models had new windows and hatches.

There was no Mk IX but the Mk X (237-329) underwent major modernisation and restyling.

The freeboard was raised 3in/75mm, enabling the coachroof to be lowered and the windows redesigned.

Her cockpit was enlarged by removing the afterdeck, increasing her length to 10m/33ft, and the offset companionway was moved to the centreline.

Myriad other modifications were incorporated, including new scuppers, bow roller, locker drains and handrails, a better 12-volt electrical system and the interior was again updated.

In 1977, Halmatic built another 40 Mk XI models, after modifications to make it cheaper to build.

They introduced GRP furniture modules, a restyled galley, a quarterberth behind a forward-facing chart table and optional wheel steering.

Down below on the Nicholson 32

Early models had a basic layout.

The positioning of the water and fuel tanks above the keel left plenty of stowage beneath the bunks.

She had comfortable twin berths in the forepeak and two 1.93m/6ft 4in straight settees in the saloon, plus a pilot berth above the port settee.

From the Mk IV the latter was removed and replaced by a double, formed by sliding a board out from under the settee.

It wasn’t until the Mk X model that she gained a quarterberth.

The heads were forward of the saloon, with a sink opposite.

Sliding both forecabin and saloon doors closed gave privacy and plenty of room for washing.

The galley on older models is basic with a single sink. Credit: Bob Aylott

The original galley was pretty rudimentary, with a non-gimballing Primus stove and a single sink with hand-pumped cold water.

Stowage was reasonable, though, and most will have been upgraded by owners.

Headroom is 1.83m/6ft throughout the saloon/galley area.

The chart table was originally a longitudinal, stand-at affair, but was later (Mk X+) moved to port, turned sideways and used the settee as a seat.

That allowed the galley to be enlarged to take a gimballed cooker. On deck Her cockpit is roomy and high coamings keep the spray out and crew in.

Stepping out onto the side decks is safe as they are wide and uncluttered.

The coachroof-mounted handrails are well within reach as far as the shrouds and her raised, teak-capped gunwales provide good foot bracing.

There were originally difficulties with moulded-in stanchion sockets, causing the decks to craze if any substantial sideways pressure was put on them.

The MK IV has a teak interior. Credit: Bob Aylott

Separate metal bases were used in later models.

The foredeck is roomy thanks to her broad shoulders and pre-1972 models have a moulded recess to accommodate a Danforth anchor.

This intruded into the forecabin quite noticeably, along with the chain pipe taking the rode down to a chain locker beneath the bunk.

The recess was finally removed in the Mk XI and replaced with a self-stowing, stemhead anchor roller for a CQR.

Her running rigging is simple, with long genoa tracks atop the bulwarks leading to large primary winches aside the helm.

Pre-Mk X models had the mainsheet track along the afterdeck, which was later moved to just abaft the rudder stock.

Rig & sails

All models were masthead rigged with a relatively short mast and a full set of stout shrouds.

Silver anodised masts from Proctors were installed from the Mk II model onwards and had a single set of straight spreaders.

Every model is masthead rigged. Credit: Genevieve Leaper

She came with several hanked-on headsails at first, but a furling genoa was later provided as standard instead.

Some had an optional inner forestay (often removeable) for rigging a storm jib.

Her well-balanced seakeeping qualities and comfortable motion were accomplished by giving her a heavy displacement, long overhangs, a full keel and a 50% ballast ratio.

A 24ft waterline, broad shoulders and high wetted surface area means she isn’t particularly quick in modern terms, especially in light airs, but that said she is stiff, stands up well to full sail, is relatively light on the helm and exhibits very little leeway.

Her bluff bows and relatively broad shoulders can make her baulk sailing close-hauled in heavy seas, but usually freeing her off a few degrees cures the problem.

The stepped coachroof on the Mk IV gives extra headroom. Credit: Bob Aylott

Her buoyant bow sections can produce a tendency to yaw downwind, so many advise adding some ballast up forward.

The combination of her short mast, hefty lead ballast, full keel and buoyant hull means she rarely heels beyond a comfortable ‘lean’.

Her barn door-style rudder can induce a little weather helm when pushed, but in mitigation the rudder never loses its bite, meaning she’s unlikely to broach in big seas.

Under power

Originally a 29hp diesel Watermota Sea Panther provided the power.

Like all long-keelers the Nicholson 32 was awful going astern under power.

The trick was to build up a little speed some way off where you wanted to end up and then knock it out of gear using the speed through the water to steer.

Too much speed, though, and the tiller would be ripped out of your hands!

Owners’ experiences

S/Y Fals Cappa (Mk VII, HN 171, LD 1969)

Alan Thorne, 63, has owned the five berth Mk VII model for 10 years and says she’s a delight to sail.

Under his ownership he has carried out numerous improvements, including upgrading the headsail winches to self-tailing, adding spinnaker winches and Aries wind vane steering, plus many of the usual upgrades to modernise the electronics.

He has also removed the furling headsail in favour of hank-on sails.

Fals Cappa has hank-on sails. Credit: Alan Thorne

Fals Cappa had already had her engine replaced when he purchased her.

‘I have found no faults in the design or construction,’ he notes.

Now widowed, he sails singlehanded along the East and South Coast, as well as to France, Belgium and Holland.

Asked how she sails, Alan says: ‘Wonderful! She sails like a dinghy, beautifully balanced, secure and reassuring in all sea conditions that I’ve encountered. Cuts through waves while other yachts are slamming or rounding up.

‘With an autopilot and wind vane a Nicholson 32 is a delight to sail single-handed. During the past couple of years, I have raced her single-handed too and thoroughly enjoyed it, although changing hank-on headsails mid-race is a tad exciting on short legs!’

S/Y Ballyhoo (Mk VIII, HN 203, LD 1970)

Sandy, 76 and Josephine, 72 Tyndale-Biscoe have owned Ballyhoo since 1999, and now keep her in Falmouth.

The couple both learned to sail dinghies as children.

Sandy also sailed the RNE Manadon college’s Morgan Giles 43 yachts when he was in the Royal Navy.

‘We were given an Albacore after we married, but found that small children and large, high-performance dinghies do not really mix. So, after some years canalling in a narrowboat, we bought Vin Rosé , a British Folkboat with a doghouse,’ says Sandy.

The couple have also owned a Fisher 25 Freeward before buying Ballyhoo at the Lymington Used Boat Show.

The Nicholson 32 had 11 model upgrades. Credit: Sandy & Josephine Tyndale-Biscoe

‘She is, I think, unique in having a deck-stepped mast. We replaced her engine with a 24hp Beta Marine in 2014. Otherwise,’ Sandy says, ‘she is original. We have found no faults beyond the usual wear and tear common in any boat of her age.

‘ Ballyhoo has plenty of sail for the conditions where we sail. I generally use the Nº1 jib and take a reef above 12kts true wind. Once, during a Channel crossing in a westerly Force 6, the jib furler jammed, so we dropped the main and proceeded under genoa alone.

‘Unable to cross the Chichester Bar for three hours forced us to beat up the Solent for shelter. Discovering that Ballyhoo would sail to windward under genoa alone in such conditions gave us enormous confidence. I like the security of knowing that she is able to stand up to practically anything the weather can throw at her.’

S/Y Hy-Brasail (Mk IV, HN 85, LD 1965)

Simon Braunholtz, 62, has owned Hy-Brasail for eight years, in which time he has fitted a removable inner forestay and a diesel heater.

Before crossing the Atlantic, her previous owner led all lines into the cockpit to simplify reefing.

‘When I bought her there were leaky deck fittings and windows, which we fixed. Hy-Brasail has the pilot berth behind the port settee, which Simon says, ‘is an excellent berth for off-watch crew and extremely useful for stowing bags on passage.’

A flexible water tank in the forepeak feeds a foot-pump at the galley and the previous owner fitted a fridge.

She has a wind generator to keep the batteries topped up.’

For several years Simon kept Hy-Brasail in Scotland before moving her to Falmouth and finally Devon.

All lines on Hy-Brasail lead into the cockpit to simplify reefing. Credit: Simon Braunholtz

‘The Nicholson 32 is a lovely boat to sail. Her deep long hull with over three tonnes of lead ballast takes her through seas without bouncing around or slapping the water, although her low freeboard means the toe-rails sometimes get wet. She is comfortable for two, although comfort is a relative term. She was built at a time when people wanted adventure on the water, rather than a chilled Chardonnay tied to a pontoon.

‘The Bukh 24 engine has proven reliable, with regular maintenance. Motoring backwards is “interesting”, but I’ve become accustomed to it.’

Simon also owns a 1970 Mk VIII model, Splashdown (HN 212), moored on the west coast of Scotland.

‘The main difference is she has no pilot berth so the settee is set further back. The additional space makes her more comfortable than Hy-Brasail and the cabin table is larger.

‘She is equipped with radar, AIS, a chartplotter, wind generator and an Aries wind vane, which I have rebuilt. Being previously kept in the Mediterranean, she also has a hatch in the main cabin to improve airflow.’

What the experts say about the Nicholson 32

Nick Vass, Marine Surveyor B,Sc B,Ed HND FRINA MCMS DipMarSur YS

www.omega-yachtservices.co.uk

A proper-looking yacht with more freeboard (and therefore dryer) than other Folkboat-inspired yachts such as the Contessa 32 and Twister.

A handsome boat with grown up gunwales and a proper long keel.

Joinery was made to a very high standard and these up-market yachts were equipped with good quality seacocks and deck furniture.

The Nicholson 32 enjoyed a very long production run and evolved through many models and updates.

The defect that I discover most frequently on them is osmosis.

Full-blown, proper inter-laminate osmosis and not the ‘almost osmosis’ that you find between the laminate and layers of gelcoat on a Westerly, for instance. I commonly find osmosis with other Halmatic boats, such as Nelson motor cruisers and pilot boats.

It could be that Halmatic used the same resins as Westerly at the time, which also suffer.

Continues below…

Contessa 32: A brand new classic

Theo Stocker visits the Jeremy Rogers yard to see the latest Contessa 32 take shape

USED BOAT: Nicholson 35

Designed in the late 1960s by Peter Nicholson, the Nicholson 35 quickly earned a reputation as a steadfast ocean cruising…

Offshore sailing skills: All you need to know

Will Bruton finds out what coastal cruisers should consider before taking their small yacht on an offshore adventure

Rustler 33 – Yachting Monthly review

She’s an absolute stunner, but does she sail as well as she looks? And what’s it like to spend the…

Another theory is that, whilst obsessed with attaining and keeping Lloyds A1 Scantling Certification, Halmatic tended to over-consolidate the resins into the chopped strand glass-fibre matting and cloth, leaving them a little dry.

Saying that, just about all Nicholsons and Halmatic yachts that have suffered from blistering will have been treated by now.

If buying one, look out for blistering as epoxy treatment only tends to last around 10 years.

The last Nicholson 32 I surveyed still had its original Watermota Sea Panther 30hp engine.

It wouldn’t start so the broker called a young marine engineer to get it going.

He looked at me in disbelief when I told him it was a Ford Consul/Cortina petrol engine with a diesel cylinder head!

He thought that I was messing with him when I further explained that the starter motor was not powerful enough to get a diesel going so there was a special switch to join the batteries in series so they whacked out 24 volts.

Although Watermota engines are actually very good (the company is still making engines in Devon), most of these will have been replaced by now.

Deck joints and stem head fittings have been known to part on some models, but most are likely to have been rectified already.

Ben Sutcliffe-Davies, Marine Surveyor and full member of the Yacht Brokers Designers & Surveyors Association (YDSA)

Ben Sutcliffe- Davies has been in the marine industry for over 40 years as a long- time boat builder, has been surveying craft for over 20 years and is a Full Member of the YDSA.

www.bensutcliffemarine.co.uk

I’ve had the pleasure of surveying many of these well-built yachts.

The issues of moisture are common in all of them although the ones I’ve dealt with haven’t been particularly deep, as most of the boats built by Halmatic had clear resins that generally don’t absorb moisture in the same way as pigmented resin.

As they are predominantly laminated from chop strand, any moisture will be held longer due to the short glass filament strands.

I’ve had no issues with the encapsulated fin keel and ballast incorporated within its lower forward production.

The GRP rudder was hung from the end of her keel moulding and suitably supported.

But I have had a few loose bronze cast shoes, and fastenings should be checked for moisture ingress.

Lastly, be aware that some older boats I’ve surveyed have had a gas locker that drains below the waterline, which will need a rethink.

Enjoyed reading this?

A subscription to Yachting Monthly magazine costs around 40% less than the cover price .

Print and digital editions are available through Magazines Direct – where you can also find the latest deals .

YM is packed with information to help you get the most from your time on the water.

• Take your seamanship to the next level with tips, advice and skills from our experts
• Impartial in-depth reviews of the latest yachts and equipment
• Cruising guides to help you reach those dream destinations

Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram.

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Conservation and Philanthropy
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• BOATPro Home
• Superyacht Insight
• Global Order Book
• Premium Content
• Product Features
• Testimonials
• Pricing Plan
• Tenders & Equipment

Designer insight: the new features on board Ocean Alexander’s latest entry-level yacht

Following the recent launch of Ocean Alexander’s new 28L model, BOAT' s Hannah Rankine sits down with designer Evan K. Marshall to explore the latest innovations featured on this entry-level superyacht.

Taiwanese yacht builder Ocean Alexander has unveiled its latest model in its Legend series, the 28L. Designed both inside and out by the renowned Evan K. Marshall , a long-time design collaborator with the shipyard, the 28L represents a fresh iteration of the series. “I am responsible for two Ocean Alexander series: the Revolution series, known for its Eurocentric, contemporary design, and the Legend series, which includes the 28L,” Marshall explains. “The Revolution series comprises three models - the 27R, 30R, and 35R. We recognised the need for a similar lineup in the Legend series, leading to the creation of the 28L, an entry-level yacht designed for new clients looking to begin their ownership journey with Ocean Alexander.”

At 28 metres, the superyacht retains the core design philosophy of its Legend predecessors while incorporating new elements tailored to the preferences of today's yacht owners. “There wasn’t a formal design brief for the 28L as the Legend series already has a well-established identity,” says Marshall. “With its raked bow and classic styling, the series appeals to a more conservative clientele that favour traditional features. The design isn't about competing with modern trends but staying true to what many consider a ‘proper’ yacht.”

Versatile social areas

With accommodation for eight guests across four cabins, the 28L merges the beloved features and design elements of the existing Legend series models - the 32L and 37L - in a more compact size, offering a more accessible entry point into the Ocean Alexander brand. “One of our signature features has always been the generous social spaces we include on board. While many European manufacturers opt for a raised pilothouse on tri-decks of this size, we often choose to incorporate a skylounge instead,” notes Marshall. The upper deck offers panoramic views and access to the yacht's expansive exterior aft deck. This outdoor area includes an al fresco dining/lounge space, a buffet bar with barbecue, and sun loungers. Downstairs, there is a spacious main saloon complete with a bar.

A standout element of the 28L is its main deck forward dining room connecting to the spacious galley. This unique layout allows for both formal and informal dining experiences through a versatile pocket door system. "We have noticed that American yacht owners, with their large families and groups of friends, prefer casual social spaces, especially in the galley and dining areas,” says Marshall. “This contrasts with European yachting, where guests and crew are often more separated. To create the best of both worlds, we designed large pocket doors that can open to connect the galley and dining area for a casual setting or close to create a more formal separation. We introduced this feature on smaller yachts, which are typically owner-operated, to provide flexibility between casual and formal settings.”

Refreshed styling

In terms of materials and finishes, the 28L introduces two new Ocean Alexander styling options - Eden Dusk and Eden Mist. “The Legend series is undergoing a complete interior styling refresh, including updates to the built-in furniture, door hardware and fabrics,” Marshall explains. “The new 28L will be the first model to showcase these new styles, which will gradually extend across the Legend and Revolution series. While not a drastic change, it’s a refined approach to furniture detailing. Typically, these styles last for around two years before we update again.”

The refreshed designs feature real wood veneers, Italian leathers and premium loose furniture from internationally acclaimed brands such as Poltrona Frau, Piliform, Loom, Foglizzo leathers and Cambria Stones. “We have found that owners generally prefer either a light or dark wood veneer interior, each paired with corresponding lacquer colours, countertops and fabrics, to name a few,” says Marshall.

“What I enjoy about designing production boats is the challenge of creating a product with broad appeal,” he adds. “Much like with cars, where success hinges on selling in high volumes, a production yacht must be designed to attract a wide range of boaters. This requires us to adopt a production designer's mindset, focusing on features that will resonate with the majority of potential buyers. Balancing these diverse preferences can be quite challenging, but it’s a crucial part of ensuring the yacht's success.”

The 28L is set to debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2024 . For more information or to schedule a viewing, contact the team at Ocean Alexander today .

More stories