sailor11767
Member II
I hope this is the right forum section for this. I've posted a few times, with lots of good responses, and today my G/F and I actually went aboard an E35-II for the first time. This one is a sad example of extreme neglect, but we knew that going into it -- we wanted to actually see one, and she was local.
So, after looking her over, we have some questions and comments.
Pluses:
* That cockpit is a virtual party site. WOW! An easy 6 in the main cockpit, plus another 2 aft of the wheel. Nice, especially for a 35 footer.
* The chainplate locations are nice. Many a 30-35 footer is hard to walk forwward. These are easy to work around.
* Below decks, the cabin is large, airy, and VERY bright. That large center cabintop hatch is great for both light and ventilation.
* This one is the settee model, and while we are leaning toward the dinette model (of course, we haven't seen one yet), we were really taken with the table and the in-built storage.
* The head seemed nice and large.
* The drawer stack in the galley is nice.
* The engine access is a bit awkward to do, but once done is wide open!
* The two cockpit lockers are huge! You could hide a half dozen bodies in them. Big plus.
Ok, so now I've made nice with the denizens of the site. Now I have negative comments/questions. Remember, the E35-II is very high on the short list (probably #1 right now) so don't get too mad at me.
* The galley seems short on storage. Like, where do you put pots and pans? And dishes -- the cubby along the hull doesn't seem wide enough for plates. And food?
* The refer seems REALLY thin on insulation. The lid was 3/4" thick. Of course, that's about industry standard. Have people found insulation to be an issue?
* The shelves behind each settee seem like a sad use of very valuable space. Have people re-worked this to something with doors or cubby's or something?
* There appears to be ONE drawer in the forepeak, to port. Is there something under the starboard side that keeps a second drawer out? Also, given that, where do you put clothing? The two hanger lockers are a plus, but not good for undies and sweaters and such.
* The galley is wide open in the traffic lane. While this contributes to the openness of the boat, it makes it hard for the chef to get a good grip on the boat, since he can't wedge into a corner very well. It's an especially big issue with that stove right out there in the open, with no guard bar or any protection.
* The portlights on this one were severly deteriorated (but minimal if any signs of leaks) with the rubber looking bad. Are there any standard answers to this problem?
* The nav station is nicely placed, but the work surface seems a bit small (but the boat I grew up on was a 14 ton 40 footer, so I've been spoiled). Is it sufficient?
* There is no anchor locker. I grew up with a bowsprit and the anchor stored on the bob-stay, so I don't have any problems with not fighting the anchor into a storage locker, but do owner's have any comments on the anchoring systems?
Well, that's a lot of questions and a lot of comments and a lot of opportunity to comment. I'd love to hear how others have addressed these concerns (not quite shortcomings, but concerns. Life, and boats in particular, are compromises).
Thanks,
Harry
So, after looking her over, we have some questions and comments.
Pluses:
* That cockpit is a virtual party site. WOW! An easy 6 in the main cockpit, plus another 2 aft of the wheel. Nice, especially for a 35 footer.
* The chainplate locations are nice. Many a 30-35 footer is hard to walk forwward. These are easy to work around.
* Below decks, the cabin is large, airy, and VERY bright. That large center cabintop hatch is great for both light and ventilation.
* This one is the settee model, and while we are leaning toward the dinette model (of course, we haven't seen one yet), we were really taken with the table and the in-built storage.
* The head seemed nice and large.
* The drawer stack in the galley is nice.
* The engine access is a bit awkward to do, but once done is wide open!
* The two cockpit lockers are huge! You could hide a half dozen bodies in them. Big plus.
Ok, so now I've made nice with the denizens of the site. Now I have negative comments/questions. Remember, the E35-II is very high on the short list (probably #1 right now) so don't get too mad at me.
* The galley seems short on storage. Like, where do you put pots and pans? And dishes -- the cubby along the hull doesn't seem wide enough for plates. And food?
* The refer seems REALLY thin on insulation. The lid was 3/4" thick. Of course, that's about industry standard. Have people found insulation to be an issue?
* The shelves behind each settee seem like a sad use of very valuable space. Have people re-worked this to something with doors or cubby's or something?
* There appears to be ONE drawer in the forepeak, to port. Is there something under the starboard side that keeps a second drawer out? Also, given that, where do you put clothing? The two hanger lockers are a plus, but not good for undies and sweaters and such.
* The galley is wide open in the traffic lane. While this contributes to the openness of the boat, it makes it hard for the chef to get a good grip on the boat, since he can't wedge into a corner very well. It's an especially big issue with that stove right out there in the open, with no guard bar or any protection.
* The portlights on this one were severly deteriorated (but minimal if any signs of leaks) with the rubber looking bad. Are there any standard answers to this problem?
* The nav station is nicely placed, but the work surface seems a bit small (but the boat I grew up on was a 14 ton 40 footer, so I've been spoiled). Is it sufficient?
* There is no anchor locker. I grew up with a bowsprit and the anchor stored on the bob-stay, so I don't have any problems with not fighting the anchor into a storage locker, but do owner's have any comments on the anchoring systems?
Well, that's a lot of questions and a lot of comments and a lot of opportunity to comment. I'd love to hear how others have addressed these concerns (not quite shortcomings, but concerns. Life, and boats in particular, are compromises).
Thanks,
Harry