Opinions on new Merry Fisher 695

W

wipe_out

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Feb 2013
Messages
1,399
Location
Bournemouth
Visit site
Hi All,

Wondering if anyone has any opinions in the Merry Fisher 695..

Basically I am looking to downsize to something I can tow but still enjoy days (maybe even nights) out on the water.. Initially the criteria was just a good ride, reasonable speed and a toilet.. As the discussions have gone on the list of criteria has also become more extensive and a permanent enclosed space (not a canopy) where we can sit and enjoy being on the water seems to have become a "must have".. Obviously that has reduced the number of suitable boats quite a lot..

One that seems to tick all the boxes really well (although blows the budget with the spec I like but I guess that's normal) is the Merry Fisher 695 but being new there aren't a lot of reviews or details on how it is on the water or anything else really.. I know it's based on the 645 but not sure if its the same hull and there isn't a whole lot on that either..

So does anyone have any thoughts, experiences, opinions or anything else on the new 695?
 
Last edited:
When I spoke to a Jeanneau dealer at the London Boat Show they said that the 695 was the same hull as the 645. There are some things I prefer in the 695 (bigger engine, fuel tank etc) and but also some things I prefer in the 645 (like the rear locker where my regularly used stern anchor goes).
 
The 695 has the same hull as the 645. The extra length is down to the 'swim platforms' each side of the outboard. The heads are fitted in by reducing the amount of space in the forward sleeping area.
The bigger engine will improve performance. Our 645 with 115hp managed about 29 knots on a good day.
It can be slept in overnight but is only really big enough for a couple. We regularly had our teenage daughter with us and it is a real pain having to convert the table to a bed each night.
It all depends where you want to go in the boat. Solent trips are normally fine, although when it gets choppy, speed needs to be reduced otherwise there is much slamming. Outside the Solent, you have to pick the conditions far more than in a slightly bigger Merry Fisher. We had quite 'interesting' times in swells of over a metre in Poole Bay.
 
A light (tow-able) butt-nosed, relatively wide hull with a shalow V is bound to slam at speed in chops (or more).

That design is very ok if it meet your need and expectations, but if you want to do 25-30 knots comfortably in the rough it takes something else. The common solution is to make the needs match the capabilities of boats within budget (ie. a more modest cruising speed) as the opposite means a larger boat, outside budget.

And of course a larger boat takes A LOT more fuel to go at the high speed, especially in the rough.
 
This is the Parker 660, apparently not very deep either.

4754684_20140705150303080_1_XLARGE.jpg


Other properties like width (and where the boat is wide), bow- and keel line + weight distribution will affect seakeeping, so tests are neede to support (or contradict) theory :)
 
Last edited:
Found this video

Going up to 15 knots in Beaufort 5 (17-21 knots) wind. Not dangerous or alarming, but listen and watch.
Not typical for this boat make or model only, but typical for the size and type. Add 10 knots and things would get quite tough.
 
Last edited:
Earlier this year I was also looking at both the Merry Fisher 645 and Beneteau 6.80, but then came across a Finnmaster 61ca, which I subsequently bought, and I'm very happy with it.

http://www.finnmaster.fi/en/cabin-boats/61-ca

I looked at the MF 695 at the Southampton boat show, but thought it was overpriced when compared to the 645, especially as it's the same hull as the 645, with added bathing platforms and a sea toilet, which is an extra.

As Chamaerops said, all these boats are light, circa 1000 kg, so they will bounce around in the Solent chop, which is my experience with my Finnmaster, and I wouldn't recommend going out in conditions over a F4 or 5, however, even taking this into account, I think this size of boat is excellent as day boat, or odd over-nighter and, IMHO, I think the outboard engine suits this type of boat better than an inboard diesel.

Also, IMHO, I don't think it's essential to have a sea toilet on this size of boat, as a modern portable toilet will meet urgent needs, if you can't wait until you get ashore!
 
Went a saw a MF695 and really liked it.. Ticked all the boxes really well.. Looks like I may be able to go for a sea trial on one.. If all goes well and the dealer is able to put a good enough deal together we might be ordering a new one..
 
wipe_out said:
Went a saw a MF695 and really liked it.. Ticked all the boxes really well.. Looks like I may be able to go for a sea trial on one.. If all goes well and the dealer is able to put a good enough deal together we might be ordering a new one..
Click to expand...

Fantastic, hope the sea trial goes well. You will love it and a new boat is special, all the scrapes are yours ;-)
 
Sounds like good news wipe_out, and hope the sea trial goes well, and keep us informed of your final decision and your thoughts on the sea trial.

I notice on your other thread that you may be keeping the MF695 on a trailer at home, if this is correct, is it your intention to trailer-sail it, as IMO it's quite a large boat to launch/recover each time from a trailer?
 
AllanG said:
Sounds like good news wipe_out, and hope the sea trial goes well, and keep us informed of your final decision and your thoughts on the sea trial.

I notice on your other thread that you may be keeping the MF695 on a trailer at home, if this is correct, is it your intention to trailer-sail it, as IMO it's quite a large boat to launch/recover each time from a trailer?
Click to expand...

Yes, plan is to keep her on a trailer at home.. I know launch and recovery might be a little challenging but it was part of the decision to but the new boat, the savings on mooring fees offsets against the cost of the boat.. Also gives the option to pull her to other locations to explore so seems to be a good deal all around.. The one I will be using for the sea trial is on a trailer too so will get to see how the launch and recovery goes with that and will know if I need to be worried.. :)
 
I can certainly understand why you would prefer to keep the boat on a trailer at home, as mooring fees are certainly the ongoing major expense, so I would be very interested to get your views on how the sea trial launch/recovery goes and, of course, the sea trial itself.
 
Took the MF695 on a sea trial today.. The conditions were terrible.. Wind probably around F5, big swells of about 1 - 1.5m and lots of choppy mess.. Really not something you would ever choose to go out in, but we did.. Coming from an open boat the amazing thing was having rain pouring down, waves coming over the bow and spray from all directions and still being nice and warm and dry.. Obviously if you have one of these type of boats already then that won't be anything new..

Considering the conditions the boat handled it very well and would probably easily get through conditions that would make the people on board really worried.. At one point we were doing 20kn, obviously it was slamming pretty hard but seemed to be coping as we came off the peaks and dropped into the troughs with huge amounts of water coming over the bow.. When I took over the helm I was far more comfortable at about 8-10kn going into the wind and tide and probably about 10-12kn going with the wind and tide.. Being that you are "In" the hull rather than "on" it as in an open boat the water hitting the hull is pretty loud, even little wavelets were audible.. On the plus side you don't really hear the engine much and can easily have a conversation.. In nicer conditions I think it would be a very comfortable boat to spend a day or even a few days on..

Getting onto the trailer was a bit tricky with a strong wind blowing diagonally across the slipway.. Took a few attempts by the salesman to get it onto the trailer because the wind kept pushing the bow off at the last second.. I know there are those that say you don't need a bow thruster ever but it certainly would have made life a lot easier keeping the bow lined up on the trailer.. Low speed manoeuvring didn't seem too bad either..

Just have to work out now if I am going to go for it and what options I will choose because I wan't pretty much everything.. :) The part ex price they have offered for my boat is a little on the low side so may need to wait till its sold to see if I can get a bit more but that would mean the new boat only gets here at the end of the season if I sell in the next month or so.. Any longer than that and this season is really over before the new boat arrives in which case I could just as easily order it early next year.. Lots of thinking to do and decisions to make..
 
Last edited:
Many thanks for the review, wipe_out, and pleased to hear you liked the boat. Whereabouts did you undertake the sea trial?

I know what you mean about hearing all the wave noise inside the cabin, as I experience this with my Finnmaster 61ca, even when berthed at the marina, but you soon get used to it, though I expect the wavelets would keep me awake at night!

I can imagine retrieving the boat onto a trailer in a cross wind could be quite challenging, and I'm sure a bow thruster would help considerably, even though the 'purists' may disagree! Did the dealer indicate if a bow thruster can be fitted to a MF 695?

Good luck with your deliberations, and keep us informed of your final decision.

Cheers, Allan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

W
  • Locked
KAD32 Injector and sleeves
Replies
0
Views
101
Wobbo
W

Share this page

Top