Sense 43
- Thread starter stevemylescarinosa
- Start date
Our friends and slip neighbors took delivery of a 2014 in June and I helped them out with some commissioning items and had a chance to sail her. I have heard the Sense line categorized as a 'Monomaran' and I would agree. I don't mean that in a bad way. It has the light and airy feel in the saloon as it is pretty much all on one level and it has a huge beam for a 43 footer--14'. She sails extremely well and you can feel it when she gets on the chine.
I know many people who see these at boat shows consider them dock queens designed for entertaining due to the huge cockpit, but I would disagree. It is a lot of boat if just using as a weekender. Our friends have outfitted it with long term cruising in mind. They added an extra fuel tank, generator, SS custom arch etc. One interesting feature is you can furl the Genoa to a mark point and clip on another set of jib sheets to making it self-tacking.
The systems are also seem well put together. I would strongly suggest a Bow Thruster, especially if you plan on keeping her on a slip (not the dock and go)...
Good luck!
How are you planning on using it?
It is a very comfortable boat while on the hook and daysailing. Its sailing performance and passagemaking is mixed. Overall good but:
1) The sheeting angle on the head-sail is wide, and therefore the boat does not point particularly well.
2) All of the staterooms are forward, and the owners is in the vee. Mind you it is a VERY NICE cabin, but would be a crappy place to sleep while passagemaking.
3) The (spectacular) cockpit is very wide, and when heeled you are a long way up. Not as much as say the Pogo 12.5, but if you are sitting on the windward rail and it powers up, you'll be wondering how to climb down.
Skip the dock'n go.
Personally I think it's fabulous boat and would own one in a minute it it fit my sailing program. For someone looking for a fast and comfortable boat for weekending on anchor it's ideal.
It is a very comfortable boat while on the hook and daysailing. Its sailing performance and passagemaking is mixed. Overall good but:
1) The sheeting angle on the head-sail is wide, and therefore the boat does not point particularly well.
2) All of the staterooms are forward, and the owners is in the vee. Mind you it is a VERY NICE cabin, but would be a crappy place to sleep while passagemaking.
3) The (spectacular) cockpit is very wide, and when heeled you are a long way up. Not as much as say the Pogo 12.5, but if you are sitting on the windward rail and it powers up, you'll be wondering how to climb down.
Skip the dock'n go.
Personally I think it's fabulous boat and would own one in a minute it it fit my sailing program. For someone looking for a fast and comfortable boat for weekending on anchor it's ideal.
I wonder who does buy this boat, or any of the Sense models? I can't imagine taking one offshore for any extended period, using the galley while underway, anchoring on a regular basis with that plumb bow and basic anchor roller. The ballast to displacement is light and broad open areas that look sexy at the dock look like bumps, bruises and stitches while underway. Could it be an athletic daysailer where the crew suit up in knee pads and harnesses? No, the 100 gallon fuel tank, small winches and dock'n'go tell me there is a different audience. People who think stern tailgates, twin helms and sail drives are the way all boats are built. Beneteau says they are selling a lot of them, I just don't get it. What I do like, the twin rudders and that hull chine. My advice; take your crew out on a bumpy raucous sailing weekend and see if this is the boat for you.
Who buys ANY new boat?
Well to do couples in their late 50s to early 60s. That's who. And Beneteau knows that.
Now Beneteau could sell you three boats...
A First 40, spectacular and fast, but it takes a special breed of cat to sign up for that.
The Oceanis 40s, now looking MUCH like the Sense. Less light and air but more cabins. For sure more blue water ready. But more end up in charter than in private ownership.
So we come to the Sense line. And they are selling like crazy. The average owner will never go blue water sailing, although the boat could. They'll entertain another like couple for nice weekend sails. Listen to Neil Diamond while sipping cocktails in the lounge and on the cockpit deck on anchor in some pretty cove. They'll love it.
As a lifelong long distance cruiser I just ordered a Sense 50. A compromise sure but we spend 90 percent of our time in the cockpit. Both the cockpit and salon have centerline furniture which I consider much better at sea than overhead handholds. At sea I don't sleep in the master stateroom as the berth is too big so having it up front is fine. The motion at sea is comfortable which makes for a safer passage. I agree with the comments about getting experience - important no matter the boat.