Some criteria for a first purchase
For Rodolphe, it was time to become the owner of his own boat.
He explains, " I got my boating license in 2015. Since then, I've been renting boats by the day, once or twice a year, to sail with my partner and two daughters, ages 8 and 12. With these rental experiences, we were able to make sure the whole family had sea legs and strong stomachs. But we also realized that when we charter, the days on the water are too short." .
With this in mind, the father of the family was looking to buy a boat that would allow them to sleep at least one night on board, all together. Living in the Pyrenees-Orientales, they wanted to take advantage of the proximity of Collioure and to be able to venture as far as Cadaques, in Spain. Rodolphe, who has only rented open hulls of 5 to 6 meters in length until now, does not want to buy a boat that is too big.
Financially, he does not want to invest in a unit that costs more than 35,000 euros. He is thinking of offering the boat for rent by the day, when he is not using it, to absorb part of the harbor fees and pay for the maintenance of the vessel.
Several opportunities
On the market, the future owner finds three models that seem to correspond to his project: a Beneteau Flyer 701, for which he has to contort himself to reach the bed, a Beneteau Ombrine 801, a good deal that he just misses, and a Beneteau Leader 805 inboard version, which will become his boat. He buys the unit for 30 000 euros in 2022, at the beginning of the summer season.
The buyer's choice: a Jeanneau Leader 805
More than 1300 cabin-cruisers of the Leader 805 model were built by the Jeanneau shipyard between 1999 and 2009. Rodolphe's dates from 2001.
The motorboat measures 7.80 meters in overall length, with a draft of only 0.54 meters. It is equipped with an inboard motorization of 320 horsepower, an electric windlass, tanks of 100 liters of water and 320 liters of fuel. Its total empty weight is 2100 kg.
The exterior
The ship's deck includes comfortable facilities for navigation and anchoring.
There is a sunbathing area in the front and a bathing platform with shower in the back.
The cockpit is organized around a convivial round table, which can be removed if necessary. Opposite the starboard helm station, the Jeanneau Leader 805 has a meridian bench seat.
The sun cover is of high quality and offers a welcome protection, especially in this sailing area.
The interior
The large cabin is spacious, with benches arranged in a U shape around a second round table. This one can be removed to sleep in the saloon, two cushions taking its place to form a large double bench.
The kitchen block is equipped with a fridge, a sink, a two-burner stove and a microwave.
At the rear port side, a coffin cabin allows the sleeping of two additional people. On the starboard side, a bathroom with shower and toilet completes the layout.
A convincing first season
After a first test season, Rodolphe looks back on his experiences: " The V-shaped polyester laminate hull makes the boat particularly stable. This summer I had to sail in waves of a little over a meter and despite my fear, the boat performed well." .
If the cabin cruiser corresponds well to the family's sailing program thanks to the comfortable fittings, the accelerations are less frank than on an open boat, as Rodolphe is used to. For the owner, port maneuvers without a bow thruster are easier to perform with a crew member.
Finally, the boat, which is more than twenty years old, still needs some work that he did not have time to do: one of the tables is blocked, the gas pipe needs to be replaced, the exterior sound system does not work anymore and there are holes in the gelcoat to repair. Rodolphe refused to have his boat appraised before carrying out these minor repairs, and was unable to insure it other than for third party. While waiting for the expertise that will allow him to better insure his boat, it is impossible for him to offer the boat for rent.
