Introduction and Question for NC-895 owners in PNW region

[abastos]

Hello folks

I am Alex, new member in the forum, new resident of PNW Region (moved from Sao Paulo/Brazil in late 2019) and new to boating (I have bought my first boat, a 2020 Bayliner VR4 in June/2020).

For the folks living in the Pacific Northwest area (Puget Sound) I would like to ask some questions about the NC 895. Its just me and wife now (daughter got married, moved back to Brazil) and we are starting the plans to purchase a bigger boat. After evaluating some express cruisers, we ended up discarding them (the open area in the cockpit its not ideal to the PNW Weather and the canvas and covers are not "beautiful"), and then we came across Jeaunneau. The NC 895 seems the right fit for us (wife loved the 1095, specially because of the dry head). We loved the design, very clean with big windows (allow daylight to get in but blocks the wind and chill weather)

So, being a resident and a boater of the PNW region, how do you recommend the Jeaunneau?

-> overall, is the boat reliable and easy/cheap to maintain? Would you buy another one again or would you save more money to buy a cutwater C30 / C32? (same size, 100K costlier. I will not get into the technical comparison, just a parameter for same size and local boat)

-> The furnace diesel can make it a real all year boat? Can you stay in the boat comfortably during the winter with the default furnace? Anyone went for a ride in December, for example.

-> Do you miss the air conditioning ? And the generator? Do they make sense for the boat / region? I made 14-15 trips last summer with my bowrider and I cant tell the temperature close to the water was way below than in the land, so I think sleeping in a marina in the summer is doable without ar conditioning, but I don't have datapoint. Thats why I am asking for a larger audience.

-> The head (This is a special point of attention for me. Actually to my wife)

a) Did you replace the manual toilette pump for an electric one? I see there is a Jabsco conversion kit available. According to your evaluation, the manual pump works well and don't need to be converted to electric? Marine toilet paper can be discarded in the toilet even with the manual pump?

b) The shower really allows you to take a shower in the boat? The water flow is decent and the water heater works fine according to your evaluation? The space in the head allows you to really take a shower (I am 5'11", wife 5'3")? The fact that everything gets wet after taking a shower annoys you? or drying the head after a shower is a quick task

-> The ride: how the boat handles the choppy water in the puget sound? Have you ever navigated across the Strait of Juan the Fuca (when you go to San Juan Islands, but not passing through Saratoga passage / deception pass. It's on the west side of the Whidbey Island.). How the NC895 behaves when the water is not glassy? Do you reduce it to 8-12kts (displacement speed) and keep going comfortably? Okay, comfortably might not be the right word because boats can be not so comfortable sometimes no matter the size, but would you say you put it on displacement speed and keep going safely ? (or at least with a feeling you are safe)

I have never seen a 895 in person. I went to the Seattle boat show willing to see one, but Sundance was not able to bring one. They had a 1095 FlyingBridge, 795 and 695. (It almost ruined my plans! LOL as my wife hated the 795 and loved the 1095). Thats why I am asking so many questions.

I am sorry for any mistake with my English. I am aware my vocabulary outside work related things is miserably bad.

Thanks in advance.


Alex

[bluedart]

I had a NC 895 for two seasons.  i traded it in for a Jeanneau leader.  i wanted more outdoor space.  i do think the quality of Jeanneau was acceptable (as i bought another)  My big issues were we thought we wanted a pilot house boat but we are summer boaters and even with the generator and A/c the cabin would toast.  There is so much glass the solar heat was tough.  My wife would end up sitting outside and me in the PH. 

The boat is a little small for adults (1095 is nice)  the lower cabin was just useful to storage ( it was coolest place in boat)  if i kept it i was going to reroute the a/c to add the lower cabin vent to the main cabin.  The a/c is heat also so i would suggest that and generator rather than diesel heat.

The rear seat is awkward to raise the engines.  

The ride is acceptable but it is a modified V and does not cut through a 3ft chop well as it is not a very heavy boat.  Have to zigzag sometimes.  It is fairly fast and handled well with the twin 200 hp.  i would not go lower.  

[davem]

Bluedart,

Out of interest, which model Leader did you purchase?

Thanks,
Dave.

[bluedart]

 i traded the boat in for a 9.0 leader.   the new boat has the generator and A/C    i would like to trade up to the 10.5 leader and when things settle down i may 

these are not rough water boats.

look at the deadrise. 

[abastos]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences Bluedart. 

I totally understand how hot a pilot house can be during the summer (I am from Brazil ). Have you used the boat during the winter season? Have you tested the Diesel Furnace during the winter ? Does it heat the pilot house and the front stateroom? 

I tend to agree the AC + Generator seems a better option. 

Thanks again

Alex 

[idefixsc]

Hi Abatos

I have the Sport version of the 895, and not for from the PNW!
But thought I would give you some insights an some common features.
The hull has a wide beam and the V is not deep, therefore plenty of room in the forward cabin but don’t expect to run the boat 35mph in 4 foot sea, it’s not made for that. Also I live in SC and I have run to the Gulf Stream 50 miles out many time before, with my previous boat, not for me anymore! So the 895 offers a different program.

The boat was commissioned in May of 2021 and we already have 130 hours in the engines, so we use it quite a lot. This my wife and my daughter now that my son is gone for college.

The layout is perfect for us. We have the AC but no generator (it’s heavy). During the hot and humid summer months we usually dock to plug in the AC. We also have a diesel heater which we are loving during the winter months while all the center consoles stay at the dock because it’s too cold outside.

In short the boat does a lot of things right but none perfect, that’s the trade off. You have to look at your program and decide what is more valuable for you.

Note the pilot house with all the windows has never been an issue for us even in the south east, plenty of openings are available to let the air flow through.

Good luck!

[abastos]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. 4foot sea is almost a no-go for me , but I totally understood what you said. Thats correct, I do not expect to boat to run faster in choppy/rough water. 

Its good to know the heater can allow you to use the boat in the winter. So can you stay in boat comfortably during the winter? no issues? no 10 layers of clothes inside the pilot house? 

I am researching carefully as its a big investment and we plan to keep the boat for a long time, so I am trying to get as much information as I can.

Does the manual pump in the toilet annoys you? Have you ever considered replacing for the electrical version? 

Thanks for helping out

Alex

[idefixsc]

Hi Abastos
my boat has a diesel heater so no issue in the pilot house during winter time. While on the boat we keep it at a comfy 72F.

Also if you don’t have the heater it will be cold in the winter. I am not a good subject I consider freezing anything below 70.

No issue with the manual pump. We use the boat for short stay like 2 to 4 days. 
if we had to stay longer maybe I’ll consider, but for now I don’t need another piece of electrical equipment on the boat.

Hope this will help