Older mariners vs. voyagers
- Thread starter aholst1
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Well, I have a 1987 Voyager so obviously I think the Voyager is 100 times better than the Mariner! 
Not really, just kidding. Actually it's just a matter of personal taste. In addition to the Voyager havign a lower helm the floor plans are also different if the older 80's vintage boats. The Voyager had the head and galley to the rear as opposed to being forward in the Mariner.
In my case, the lower helm is very rarely used except for really heavy downpours. But I do like having it. I've used it a few times but that was just to ride out heavy rain (my fly brodge is not fully enclosed)
I also prefer the birth arrangement of the Voyager.
But, as I said, it is simply a matter of personal preference. Both are really great boats and each has its strengths and weaknesses. IMHO
Bob
Not really, just kidding. Actually it's just a matter of personal taste. In addition to the Voyager havign a lower helm the floor plans are also different if the older 80's vintage boats. The Voyager had the head and galley to the rear as opposed to being forward in the Mariner.
In my case, the lower helm is very rarely used except for really heavy downpours. But I do like having it. I've used it a few times but that was just to ride out heavy rain (my fly brodge is not fully enclosed)
I also prefer the birth arrangement of the Voyager.
But, as I said, it is simply a matter of personal preference. Both are really great boats and each has its strengths and weaknesses. IMHO
Bob
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If they're the same vintage they are identicle hulls. i.e. the 1987 Voyage 28 is exactly the same hull as the 1987 Mariner 28.
Over the years they did change from a solid fiberglass hull to a cored hull but I'm not sure what year. Maybe some of the other guys or Pete can tell you. I'm not that knowledgable about the later model boats. The late 80's boats though are solid.
Bob
Over the years they did change from a solid fiberglass hull to a cored hull but I'm not sure what year. Maybe some of the other guys or Pete can tell you. I'm not that knowledgable about the later model boats. The late 80's boats though are solid.
Bob
aholst1,
I think you may have the 28 and the 32/36 mariners confused. Like bob said, the 28 mariner and voyager are literally the same boat with the exception of the lower helm and subsequently the placement of the settee, galley, and head. I think the ladder you are referring to in the mariner is the ladder in the 32/36 that leads from the cabin to the bridge from inside the cabin. This is not a feature of the 28 mariners.
As far as the mariner/voyager debate for the 1983-1990 28'ers, I feel the opposite of Bob, but for the same reason, which is because the mariner is what I have! I personally would not want to give up the openness of the aft end of the cabin, have a lower helm in the way, or the reduced head storage that the voyager has in comparison to a like mariner. I am confident that if I had a voyager I would argue the opposite! Either way, they are both great boats as long as they were well cared for.
And the 2827/2897 1983-1990 mariner-voyagers are all fiberglass hulls. No coring below the gunwale. I believe the 7 at the end of the model number is the indicator of this if my memory serves me correctly.
Thanks,
Jim
I think you may have the 28 and the 32/36 mariners confused. Like bob said, the 28 mariner and voyager are literally the same boat with the exception of the lower helm and subsequently the placement of the settee, galley, and head. I think the ladder you are referring to in the mariner is the ladder in the 32/36 that leads from the cabin to the bridge from inside the cabin. This is not a feature of the 28 mariners.
As far as the mariner/voyager debate for the 1983-1990 28'ers, I feel the opposite of Bob, but for the same reason, which is because the mariner is what I have! I personally would not want to give up the openness of the aft end of the cabin, have a lower helm in the way, or the reduced head storage that the voyager has in comparison to a like mariner. I am confident that if I had a voyager I would argue the opposite! Either way, they are both great boats as long as they were well cared for.
And the 2827/2897 1983-1990 mariner-voyagers are all fiberglass hulls. No coring below the gunwale. I believe the 7 at the end of the model number is the indicator of this if my memory serves me correctly.
Thanks,
Jim
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Great boats! I love 'em. My reason for buying a Voyager instead of the Mariner was actually because of the head location. I do a lot of fishing and didn't want to have to go through the salon to use the head with my feet/shoes/hands all cruddy from fishing. I agree, except for the very rare occurance the lower helm isn't of much importance.
Either way though, as you said, they're great boats.
Bob
Either way though, as you said, they're great boats.
Bob
I agree they are both great boats. We have a 1993 Mariner and are in our 3rd season with her. Main things that attracted us to the Mariner were the roominess and set-up of the cabin, lower flying bridge (my wife doesn't like it too high), and since she is claustrophobic, needed a berth with a lot of head room above it, which most boats don't have (and new Mariners don't either). All of these turned out to be true and major factors in our enjoyment of her whether hanging around the marina or going away for the weekend.
On the ladder, we liked the way it looked, but figured we would probably never use it, especially with me being a big guy, but an interesting thing happened one day when we were out cruising with some friends. My wife went into the cabin to get a drink, closing the sliding glass doors, and when she went to come back out the door was stuck. The lock broke and a piece dropped down and somehow wedged itself in a place where the door couldn't be opened. We were all up on the flying bridge and noticed it had been a while since she went down, so I had someone take the helm while I went and checked where I saw her in panic mode banging on the door. After realizing I couldn't get in either I went back on the bridge, cleared all the stuff off the hatch (used that area to keep vests and other stuff since we never use the ladder). I then went down the hatch and helped my wife get up the ladder and onto the bridge. Was not a great experience, especially for someone claustrophobic, but from that point on we really appreciate having the ladder and we never have it locked in case needed for an emergency.
Stu
On the ladder, we liked the way it looked, but figured we would probably never use it, especially with me being a big guy, but an interesting thing happened one day when we were out cruising with some friends. My wife went into the cabin to get a drink, closing the sliding glass doors, and when she went to come back out the door was stuck. The lock broke and a piece dropped down and somehow wedged itself in a place where the door couldn't be opened. We were all up on the flying bridge and noticed it had been a while since she went down, so I had someone take the helm while I went and checked where I saw her in panic mode banging on the door. After realizing I couldn't get in either I went back on the bridge, cleared all the stuff off the hatch (used that area to keep vests and other stuff since we never use the ladder). I then went down the hatch and helped my wife get up the ladder and onto the bridge. Was not a great experience, especially for someone claustrophobic, but from that point on we really appreciate having the ladder and we never have it locked in case needed for an emergency.
Stu
Jim / Bob / Stu - thanks for responding. Even though I am not upgrading, I find it immensely more interesting to learn about different boats from the owners rather than "adverts" dressed up as boat reviews by "professionals". I love my '89 2767 Santego, for our boating style, it is PERFECT (except for access to the foredeck) I can see it being our last boat, though I don't know the realistic life expectancy of a currently 20 year old boat.
I have never had the pleasure of owning a voyager, but our Mariner 36 has been a joy.
Very roomy, huge flybridge and easy to access foredeck.
The ladder is invaluable. It seems much safer to access the cabin via the ladder when underway than to have to climb down the back stairs and then gain access to the cabin via the cockpit.
My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that it is not the most predictable in large following seas.
Unless, of course, you enjoy surfing...
Very roomy, huge flybridge and easy to access foredeck.
The ladder is invaluable. It seems much safer to access the cabin via the ladder when underway than to have to climb down the back stairs and then gain access to the cabin via the cockpit.
My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that it is not the most predictable in large following seas.
Unless, of course, you enjoy surfing...
Mariner36,
How unpredictable and what do you consider to "large" following seas? The closest we get to following seas is BIG wake from the lake yachts and river barges; conning the Santego can be interesting.
My hat is off to all you deep water captains! River / lake boating is mostly predictable, except for the idiots, I mean fellow boaters at the helm.
How unpredictable and what do you consider to "large" following seas? The closest we get to following seas is BIG wake from the lake yachts and river barges; conning the Santego can be interesting.
My hat is off to all you deep water captains! River / lake boating is mostly predictable, except for the idiots, I mean fellow boaters at the helm.
We boat on Lake Ontario. In 3-5' seas she is pretty good. you will be adjusting your course quite often due to waves pushing her, but nothing unmanageable.
In 5-8' seas, things get a bit more unpredictable. If you have following seas and are running with the hull in the water, the ride is a bit unnerving. The waves tend to lift the transom, bury the nose, and alter the boats course If they start to hit you sideways, you will definately get tossed around a bit.
Although this is probably true in all boats of this size, it seems more pronounced in the mariner than say, a Trojan f36.
In 5-8' seas, things get a bit more unpredictable. If you have following seas and are running with the hull in the water, the ride is a bit unnerving. The waves tend to lift the transom, bury the nose, and alter the boats course If they start to hit you sideways, you will definately get tossed around a bit.
Although this is probably true in all boats of this size, it seems more pronounced in the mariner than say, a Trojan f36.
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My 28' Voyager has absolutely NO problem in 5' to 8' seas. For one very good reason; I'm not going out in 5' to 8' seas. You will find me tied securely to the dock enjoying a "Bourbon on the Rocks". 
Bob
PS: Water doesn't have to contain salt to be deep. Just read about the Edmond Fitzgerald and it will be cryastal clear that they do indeed qualify as deep water sailors.
Bob
PS: Water doesn't have to contain salt to be deep. Just read about the Edmond Fitzgerald and it will be cryastal clear that they do indeed qualify as deep water sailors.