Freja
Newbie
We have owned a Fleming 55 and 65. We basically live on our 65. The 65 any day is better mainly due to space but also the extra displacement makes a huge difference to performance at sea. If you have instagram check @Freja_f65
So for Pirates Cove I thought there would be enough water on a 5 foot plus tide if you followed the black line. I thought you'd be okay with depth and the issue may be width. Isn't there a rocky shelf by the green marker? I could see a risk of kissing a stabilizer fin on what I remember as a shelf or ledge that was very close to the channel or in the channel.
That would be impressive to see an 80 footer enter Prideaux, local knowledge is king.
There are many other similar limiting scenarios at other small anchorages.
Put simply, large boats may not be able to anchor at small anchorages or in close proximity to other boats.
I will extend this further. With the exception of the Bahamas where anchoring at all sizes is very popular, there is a general practical presumption that larger boats will tend toward marinas. Moorings are not generally available and anchorages are limited. Plus larger boats have more people aboard often and they want to access land. There are some major long distance cruisers with large boats who do regularly anchor, but if you look at ratios of anchoring and mooring balls vs. marinas and docks, you'll see the larger boats moving toward marinas. I saw this in the PNW and have seen it in New England. The one place the opposite occurs is Eastern Canada, specifically Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where small boats are at the marinas and larger boats are very limited in some areas.
I would caution and agree for those who like to anchor in certain areas, a larger boat will force adjustment to marinas or different anchorages.
That's an interesting observation. I'd expect the opposite in many areas, as larger boats will often be self-sufficient for longer periods of time, can carry bigger dinghies for shore runs, etc.
Did you ever consider the mid ship 58?Few opinions. My wife and I looked at the 55 and 65. We ended up buying the 65. We manage it with the two of us (both in our 50s). We primarily have cruised the bahamas and have not had trouble finding slips though we anchor out 90% of the time. We have grown kids and the 55 certainly seemed cramped for 6 people. Think it would fine for two, but we appreciate the room for visitors, toys (scuba compressor, etc.), provisions, and larger dinghy capacity. We bought used but if I designed mine it would be midship master (much quieter).
Don't think you can go wrong with either.
We considered 55’ to 75’. The first answer is that all are Flemings. They will all be capable of most things folks want from a trawler from the loop to a lot of open water, with amazing engineering and design forethought.Did you ever consider the mid ship 58?
I’m wondering if that is a better configuration or boat than the traditional 65.
The 58 has a higher center of gravity as the deck is raised, which 1. requires a step on the swim platform, amd a longer step down from the side gates but 2. Gives the engine room just under 6’ of head room which is more than the 65.
It’s 18” beamier than the 55 but 18” less than the 65.