ABout to buy a new one, anything you would recommend? Options that are must haves? THings to think about and add? Or delete? WOuld you buy one again if you had that chance? Looking for any guidance before I make the plunge. Thanks!
PROS & CONS of SENSE 50
- Thread starter Sailborabora
- Start date
I was pLanning on skipping the docking go, now after reading about French kiss I definitely am. Any input on performance quality integrity compared to the other Bene? I'm a little hesitant, I am a A fan of classic older sailboats but my other half the love with this boat. So compromise is the word.
Wow! What a boat. I have a couple of thoughts for you:
What are your sailing plans? This is a whole lot of boat. Are you going out single-handing or do you plan on a crew? Yes, you can single-hand a 50 footer, but there are a lot of forces on the boat and rigging, so it takes an experienced Master.
I'd still consider the Dock and Go. I bet they have a great fail-safe on it now (or will retro-fit one for you). This docking system makes handling a whole lot easier. Yes, French Kiss was a tremendous screw-up, but technology moves foreward. I imagine this is an unpopular position, but I'm ok with that.
Well, I'm sure you've thought about these things, but they were of interest to me. In any case, have a great time with your new boat!
What are your sailing plans? This is a whole lot of boat. Are you going out single-handing or do you plan on a crew? Yes, you can single-hand a 50 footer, but there are a lot of forces on the boat and rigging, so it takes an experienced Master.
I'd still consider the Dock and Go. I bet they have a great fail-safe on it now (or will retro-fit one for you). This docking system makes handling a whole lot easier. Yes, French Kiss was a tremendous screw-up, but technology moves foreward. I imagine this is an unpopular position, but I'm ok with that.
Well, I'm sure you've thought about these things, but they were of interest to me. In any case, have a great time with your new boat!
Love or Infatuation? 50 feet of sailboat is a lot of boat for two people. In my experience the quickest way to go from infatuation and right past love to pure hate is to scare the crew with an out of control boat. Look for something that 1/2 the crew ALONE can sail with confidence.
We are about a month away from taking possession of our new Sense 50. We just returned from the factory in Saint-Gilles-Croix-De-Vie and am further impressed with the quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail that is put into each of these yachts. Our plans are to live aboard. The layout of the boat (technical area aft, living forward), roomy salon and great kitchen area as well as the sailing stability locked us in.
Enjoy the journey.
Enjoy the journey.
I agree with Scotty, here. One bad story related to software shouldn't define the boat. Far more quiet stories out there of people loving there boats...with Dock n Go. We just came out of the market with a used 473 but took a look at the Sense 50 along the way. I love the layout. The open air in the cockpit and down below is pretty amazing. The only concern I would have is if you are at the dock a lot in the heat the aircon may not be able to keep up with all that awesome big glass. Also, handling a boat this size will require some more attention around the dock especially on windy days but you'll get used to it.
Thank you for your comments. I was staying away from the Dock N Go due to the price...thought a bow thruster and my boating prowess will be enough. Is it worthwhile trying to get stern thrusters as well? Very reassuring Captain Ag, that you liked what you saw during your visit.
Very reassuring Captain Ag, that you liked what you saw during your visit. I was concerned about the quality...constantly hear stories of these production boats slapped together....buckling boards, etc.
So, if I get all the electric winches, etc...any concerns single handling it (with my spouse) to the Caribbean? Also, thoughts on the furling main or classic? I prefer performance, but the ease of management is a high consideration. Is a 50' too much for 2 people traveling...mostly Bay sailing, but I do expect in the future a haul down south. Want the size for speed and the 3 staterooms.
Thanks all!
Very reassuring Captain Ag, that you liked what you saw during your visit. I was concerned about the quality...constantly hear stories of these production boats slapped together....buckling boards, etc.
So, if I get all the electric winches, etc...any concerns single handling it (with my spouse) to the Caribbean? Also, thoughts on the furling main or classic? I prefer performance, but the ease of management is a high consideration. Is a 50' too much for 2 people traveling...mostly Bay sailing, but I do expect in the future a haul down south. Want the size for speed and the 3 staterooms.
Thanks all!
I am also focused on ease of sailing and handling with just my wife and I. I'm the sailor and she's the helper. I have also been a racer and always favor performance. However, for this size of a boat, being able to just furl the main away will save a lot of headaches. Same with the jib. We are getting a full suite of electric (2 speed) winches and even upgrading the Primary winches to include electric rewind. Now that's performance cruising...
I currently have a 2 year old Beneteau Oceanis 41 and have been very pleased with the quality and handling.
I currently have a 2 year old Beneteau Oceanis 41 and have been very pleased with the quality and handling.
I recently spent a day sailing a late model Jeanneau with the dock and go gizmo. As we approached a fuel dock the helm engaged the DnG system which promptly went into failure mode, locking the prop over at some odd angle. It would not reset or respond. I pulled the freewheel dog loose on the windlass and we inelegantly dropped the hook in the middle of the fairway, swinging 50' of boat just past the dock. Our crew of IT systems experts descended into the DnG control panel and in end did a hard reset on it's computer brain. After 5 minutes or so the system returned control of the saildrive propulsion and we were able to regain our composure. That experience convinces me that the DnG is beyond stupid, it is dangerous. You have to be able to handle your boat with the basic propulsion systems - prop and sail. Just this spring some guy with more boat than he could handle slammed my dock neighbor - bow thruster churning to no avail. It was an ugly scene that continues.
The sense 50 looks like an amazing boat, to me the only downsize of the concept is that it competes with cats, which are different but more proven. I would look into that if you have space to dock them and can use shallower draft, even more light, etc. Two comments:
- I also thought about the DnG but was talked out of it by my dealer. Wise advice, I can handle it just fine with the help of the bow thruster when something doesn't go as planned (I only fire it up maybe 1 out of 10 times we dock). Saved a bunch, simpler maintenance, I learned to do it right and can handle other boats this size.
- I think the furling main is mixed for single handling. It is really easy to unfurl and to sail with reduced area. Furling it back is hard, in general I think that dropping sails completely is much easier and faster with lazy jacks since gravity does it for you. My wife can't furl without help and we don't like to use the electric for that.
- I also thought about the DnG but was talked out of it by my dealer. Wise advice, I can handle it just fine with the help of the bow thruster when something doesn't go as planned (I only fire it up maybe 1 out of 10 times we dock). Saved a bunch, simpler maintenance, I learned to do it right and can handle other boats this size.
- I think the furling main is mixed for single handling. It is really easy to unfurl and to sail with reduced area. Furling it back is hard, in general I think that dropping sails completely is much easier and faster with lazy jacks since gravity does it for you. My wife can't furl without help and we don't like to use the electric for that.
With the boat shows and so much boat sale activity in Annapolis I have watched a growing trend in the "average" sailboat being sold by the dealers. A 30' to 38' boat used to be considered a full size sailboat. When roller furler main came along, "average" boats grew into the mid 40' range. Dealers began putting entry-level sailing couples into 46' - 48' boats. Everything was fine as long as the complex control systems worked well. However there is no getting around the physics of wind and waves against a large boat. Incorrect or panicked sail and boat handling can leave a short handed crew in a bad place. I have never had a traditional slab reefed sail refuse to drop, I have seen MANY roller furling sails jam and refuse to stow. Everything was easy for a short-handed crew until it was not. Moving up in boat size is not a linear effort. The power of a +50 boat sail plan, and the momentum of her hull is much greater than that of a 38' boat. Now we have electric winches there to tempt older short handed boaters into believing that they can manage these 50' behemoths. I see them snapping halyards and binding roller mains and jib furlers in an attempt to control their big sails. At one prominent dealer I slipped next to a couple who had just bought a 48' boat as the FIRST sailboat! The guy had done a few charters as crew and the wife had never sailed. She sat anxiously below, comforted by her accommodations, while they awaited their instructor, and first sailing lesson. There would soon be no comfort in that space when it was rocked 25degrees and she was hanging onto the sink fiddles. I felt sorry for her, like she had reached accommodation with her husbands passion and poor judgment. For sure the salesman got a nice reward, but that couple got a lot of stress and an expensive life lesson. There is no doubt in my mind that with a better broker-coach and some careful consideration new boater couples would be much happier with a 35'-38' boat, even if did not have the accommodations of a spacious downtown apartment. These days a 50' boat can be marketed as an affordable family cruiser, when something more modest would provide more family fun, and less stress. To gain the full experience of sailing you will at some point find yourself enjoying the full majesty of nature and finding yourself contending with squally, rowdy conditions, those tests are empowering and the essence of how you fall in love with sailing. You become the master of a powerful machine. I see the confidence and mastery transform people in all their life pursuits. If you never trust yourself to take on those conditions and simply dart between safe harbors on glassy water you might as well have not bothered with the expense. But if you don't choose wisely you can well find your former sailing partner finding every possible excuse to not go sailing. It may be the 21st century, but crews still need wise and experienced captains to make prudent decisions and assume the burden of leadership. *steps off soapbox*
Thanks all, I was looking for owners who have the SENSE 50 for guidance. Was a great sailing vessel, especially with the hard chines. And their perspectives. I appreciate the responses, as well as the concerns of purchasing a 50' boat for the first time. I hope others heed that advice. For the record, I personally have sailed since a child, and have sailed and raced boats (J-class, Tartans, C&C, sunfish) my whole life. Looking to appease the other half with the luxurious accommodations. For closure, I have decided NOT to purchase the SENSE due to several functional accommodation reasons, and am looking now between the Jeanneau 509 and Beneteau Oceanis 48. And I will now add, I am the woman, the "admiral" is the husband.
SO, thank you. If you have comments on the 509 or the Oceanis 48, would love to hear them. The specs demonstrate better satiability curves on the 48, and both LWL are the same. Leaning Oceanis 48, by the "admiral" like the Jeanneau.
SO, thank you. If you have comments on the 509 or the Oceanis 48, would love to hear them. The specs demonstrate better satiability curves on the 48, and both LWL are the same. Leaning Oceanis 48, by the "admiral" like the Jeanneau.
I have a sense 50 on order. My admiral vetoed the 509 because the cockpit was too small. I currently have the jeanneau 42 ds. The cockpit and the salon being just three steps down were big considerations. We didn't go with dockngo because of failure concerns. I have the polar curves and she is not all that fast in light air off the wind compared to the oceanis 48 or 509. Ordered most options including furling main. An acquaintance of mine says he sails his sense 50 most of the time with main and staysail or code zero. I got neither. The genny is small and I went with asymmetrical spinnaker and sock to help with the off wind sluggishness. I considered top down furler but passed as spinnaker tack is quite close to Genoa tack.
Zzmeyer: we have admirals of similar taste. The open stern, large cockpit, and the shallow and short step down to the salon were what pushed us to the Sense 50 over the Jenneau 50DS and 509.
I am still struggling with which big sail to add; code 0 or asym spinnaker. In the end, it may be both. With our shortened mast (5'), we will probably go with the code 0 to gain back the light wind boat speed. The asym will have to be a sock since the top down curler will be even closer to the forestay on our rig.
I am still struggling with which big sail to add; code 0 or asym spinnaker. In the end, it may be both. With our shortened mast (5'), we will probably go with the code 0 to gain back the light wind boat speed. The asym will have to be a sock since the top down curler will be even closer to the forestay on our rig.
I may add the code 0 later, but will do a season of cruising first. I got quotes for the asymmetrical from $2,000 to $9,200. Went with a US loft made one at about $2,600. Seemed cheap enough that if I go with the Code 0 later and seldom use the Asymmetrical I'll not have invested much. I have a 1,000 mile DDW sail each fall and in addition to the cost of the Code 0 I was concerned about its effectiveness so far off the wind. Ease of use once rigged, however, would be great. The Asymmetrical at more than 2,000 square feet should be interesting. However, I don't carry a chute in more than about 15 knots apparent as I find the genoa and main are fine above that.