1st Boat Recommendation’s please…

[Novice!]

Historically a Solent boat for pottering about in with an outboard might be a Shetland with an outboard for a family with one child -perfectly good for a run down to Poole etc-I guess it depends on your priorities ie is space more a priority than age etc but I would’ve tempted by a brand you can sell on easily as if family enjoys in a couple of years you will be trading up. It also depends on condition of what you find and your mechanical skills ? I would be asking a few brokers which brand is favoured but to my mind looking at a few owners fora would be a good source. Just be aware many brokers photos don’t reflect reality when you see the vessel. It’s also good idea to take an independent mate with some knowledge of boating to look over choices before paying out for a survey. You could just buy a Rib for a year and see how you like that?

Mechanical skills are somewhat less than zero! The ‘boss’ has ruled out a Rib as I think she’s intending on using the gin deck in the marina (also the kid needing the loo every 15 minutes would limit our range!).

Thanks for the advice - will definitely have people more knowledgeable than I around before money changed hands.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

A very, very biased indeed answer from me as I have one to sell. Four Winns 278 ( around 31 ft or thereabouts). 2009. D4-300 with around 60 hour use from new ( unsold for 5 years, then unused for 4 years as the marina where we need to keep a boat was destroyed by a storm; I doubt it'll be operational in the next 3 years). Full tank of diesel, so there shouldn't be any issues there. It'll reached 40 knots, has 2 cabins, proper toilet/ shower and the usual fridge, microwave, VHF, plotter, fishfinder etc. Great for family use, safe for fishing. Really, for us it was ideal but there is no way to use it anymore.

Can't you move the boat? Whitehaven isn't any further than Holyhead from Cheshire (unless you're in Chester)and I used to go up to Ardrossan every Friday night from Lancaster so even the Clyde is doable. Especially when you factor in A55 summer traffic.

 

[ashtead]

If ruling out a rib and say a shore based lodge or flat to spend nights then I would suggest a Bavaria/jeanneau mobo say 33 ish feet with a single inboard diesel as a good entry boat if the price works to keep down servicing costs and be parking say north of the road bridge on the hamble or at Chi where east head is a short potter away. An older one might not be such a good idea but diesels seem far simpler to my non mechanical mind . Little mobo can be alarmingly rolly for the novice which might upset family

 

[GrahamHR]

Can't you move the boat? Whitehaven isn't any further than Holyhead from Cheshire (unless you're in Chester)and I used to go up to Ardrossan every Friday night from Lancaster so even the Clyde is doable. Especially when you factor in A55 summer traffic.

Not possible for us to move it and use it elsewhere.; we have a house in Trearddur Bay and tend to go there during the week rather than weekends.

 

[paradave]

Is this the bit where everyone recommends what they own?

Yep and I'm going to do that!

We're a family of 4 (8&10 year old kids) and wanted a boat for the south coast to explore the IoW, keep in a marina and use for day trips, fishing and the odd overnight here and there.

Having had a cuddy cabin style boat before, I wanted one with an 'indoors' so we would use it year round and not just on hot days which was my previous experience. My wife takes no enjoyment from being cold and wet on a boat..

We bought our Merry Fisher 805 2 years ago after going to look at a few different fast fisher style boats and it's been almost perfect for us. We've done 200 hours in the two years.

Pros -
Single diesel on a shaft: reliable, cheap to maintain, economical. Approx 15l/hr on average I'd say.
Sleeps 4.
Sea toilet and shower room.
Good seakeeping
Sun deck on roof with cushions which has been a god send and gives a huge amount of additional space.

Cons
Not that quick - cruises around 16 knots. Max 20-21.
Fairly noisy underway
Quite tight for family of 4 and dining table and seating converts to double bed in main cabin - bit of a faff to take down/put up every night.

I don't know what the prices have done on these but we paid just over £30k for her so well within yourbudget.

what does diddle mean

 

[j24jam]

I don't know what the prices have done on these but we paid just over £30k for her so well within yourbudget.

These are now selling for mid-high 30's for a good condition one.

 

[Novice!]

Yep and I'm going to do that!

We're a family of 4 (8&10 year old kids) and wanted a boat for the south coast to explore the IoW, keep in a marina and use for day trips, fishing and the odd overnight here and there.

Having had a cuddy cabin style boat before, I wanted one with an 'indoors' so we would use it year round and not just on hot days which was my previous experience. My wife takes no enjoyment from being cold and wet on a boat..

We bought our Merry Fisher 805 2 years ago after going to look at a few different fast fisher style boats and it's been almost perfect for us. We've done 200 hours in the two years.

Pros -
Single diesel on a shaft: reliable, cheap to maintain, economical. Approx 15l/hr on average I'd say.
Sleeps 4.
Sea toilet and shower room.
Good seakeeping
Sun deck on roof with cushions which has been a god send and gives a huge amount of additional space.

Cons
Not that quick - cruises around 16 knots. Max 20-21.
Fairly noisy underway
Quite tight for family of 4 and dining table and seating converts to double bed in main cabin - bit of a faff to take down/put up every night.

I don't know what the prices have done on these but we paid just over £30k for her so well within yourbudget.

what does diddle mean

Definitely one we are considering, thanks