3 days looking at boats, think we've nailed it down

PaulGooch said:
Yes, i think we got a bit carried away with fuel consumption considerations. At the end of the day, we realised we'd be better off doing less miles on a boat we really wanted than we would be compromising the choice for the sake of less than 1ltr a mile.

We also said exactly what you said above, if we're going to the next port, 45 miles away, why rush there at 25 knots. If economy really is an issue, spend an hour or so on a journey lounging around at displacement speed. Will definitely be having an AP, am going for twin Garmin 10" plotters downstairs, 8" or 10" on the fly, with Garmin radar, black box VHF/AIS, black box fishfinder and AP.
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Good choice - if its got the Raym AP on it though, the Garmin's talk fine to it through a Seatalk converter. I also had mine using the original RAYM depth gear too - just saves some money. I had a single 12 on mine on the lower helm and used the RAYm screen for dedicated Radar - worked well. I had an 8 upstairs. When you put the upstairs one in, just make sure the angle is right so as not to reflect glare into your eyes when you are sat at the helm - ask me how I know this!

I now have a 10" all integrated with HD Radar, AIS and wind instrument and AP - great kit.
 
PaulGooch said:
I'm sure i'll find some daft ideas on the P32, like the oil and fuel filters not being handed on the engines, the port fuel filter and stb oil filter look fun to change :eek: Will be looking into moving the port engine fuel filter to the stb side of the engine if it's at all practical. I'm sure i'll find some other interesting design ideas.
Click to expand...

I'm sure you will. Daft ideas on my P34 include calorifier in the cupboard under the sink nicking valuable storage space rather than being in the huge lazarette; Raymarine GPS dome and Tridata only powered when the starboard engine running (now linked to the autopilot helm switch instead); fuel gauges that read empty unless a switch on the helm held down (now modified to read when ignition is on); the shorepower socket is hidden in a locker behind the helm seat, so there is always a blue mains cable across one of the cockpit seats when in use (I may well shift the socket) and most oddly of all the throttles are mounted at 45 degrees to the horizontal and are awkward to use when standing to helm.
 
Out of interest and I know this has partially been answered above, what is the P32 like sea keeping wise compared to the 925?

I understand the P32 has a full planing hull so would possibly expect the 925 to be better?

Has anyone experience of both?
 
ricky_s said:
Out of interest and I know this has partially been answered above, what is the P32 like sea keeping wise compared to the 925?

I understand the P32 has a full planing hull so would possibly expect the 925 to be better?

Has anyone experience of both?
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The 925 is a pretty wet boat, but handles the weather very well considering her small size.
Errrm, however, I would suggest not running at WOT with three fat blokes on the flybridge and throwing her into a tight turn.
...certain small muscles that should remain tightly shut twitch quite alarmingly. That said, despite feeling like a 2CV flat out at full lock, the one time I did do that she did pop back up... eventually.

The 32 is immensley stable as she is so beamy for her length. At the time of production, her immediate and most real competition was the Sealine F33 and then the F34. Without doubt, whilst the Sealine had some nice "living" design features the Prestige absoutely tore it to shreds when it came to being on the water.
The 32 feels solid on the water and handles like a much larger boat. Her shortish length can catch you out though. Because you feel you are on a bigger boat you can push her harder across waves than perhaps she likes and as a result you can pummel into the one in front. Stay on your toes though and trim her down a little and she cuts through nicely, but you may wish to vacate the flybridge at that point as it will be damp up there.
The 32 can be a little bit of a handful in gusty or strong tidal conditions when getting around tight marinas, but only because you think she is bigger and then the wind picks her up and shoves her side ways a bit. Again, think about things and she is lovely to drive and does everything you ask of her.

The 925 is a cracking little boat, but with a hull length of 9.25m (loa 9.76m) and a good foot or so less in the beam (get me, mixing my metric and imperial) along with a different underwater profile, the two cannot be fairly compared.
The 32 wins hands down, but you'll pay a darn sight more for the 32 too.
 
Ripster said:
Good choice - if its got the Raym AP on it though, the Garmin's talk fine to it through a Seatalk converter. I also had mine using the original RAYM depth gear too - just saves some money. I had a single 12 on mine on the lower helm and used the RAYm screen for dedicated Radar - worked well. I had an 8 upstairs. When you put the upstairs one in, just make sure the angle is right so as not to reflect glare into your eyes when you are sat at the helm - ask me how I know this!

I now have a 10" all integrated with HD Radar, AIS and wind instrument and AP - great kit.
Click to expand...

I've got a 10" Garmin here in the office, along with HD radar and a black box VHF/AIS with two handsets. Plan is to fit two 10" plotters overhead at the downstairs helm, networked with an 8" on the fly. General idea is for one 10" plotter to be full screen chart with radar and AIS overlay and the other one to be split between radar and fishfinder. The fly plotter will obviously be charts with radar and AIS overlay. The AP and VHF will hook up via NMEA 2000.

Also noted the fly plotter glare, thanks :)
 
Nautibusiness said:
The 925 is a pretty wet boat, but handles the weather very well considering her small size.
Errrm, however, I would suggest not running at WOT with three fat blokes on the flybridge and throwing her into a tight turn.
...certain small muscles that should remain tightly shut twitch quite alarmingly. That said, despite feeling like a 2CV flat out at full lock, the one time I did do that she did pop back up... eventually.

The 32 is immensley stable as she is so beamy for her length. At the time of production, her immediate and most real competition was the Sealine F33 and then the F34. Without doubt, whilst the Sealine had some nice "living" design features the Prestige absoutely tore it to shreds when it came to being on the water.
The 32 feels solid on the water and handles like a much larger boat. Her shortish length can catch you out though. Because you feel you are on a bigger boat you can push her harder across waves than perhaps she likes and as a result you can pummel into the one in front. Stay on your toes though and trim her down a little and she cuts through nicely, but you may wish to vacate the flybridge at that point as it will be damp up there.
The 32 can be a little bit of a handful in gusty or strong tidal conditions when getting around tight marinas, but only because you think she is bigger and then the wind picks her up and shoves her side ways a bit. Again, think about things and she is lovely to drive and does everything you ask of her.

The 925 is a cracking little boat, but with a hull length of 9.25m (loa 9.76m) and a good foot or so less in the beam (get me, mixing my metric and imperial) along with a different underwater profile, the two cannot be fairly compared.
The 32 wins hands down, but you'll pay a darn sight more for the 32 too.
Click to expand...


That's a good write up Nautibusiness, We have had our boat for 5 years, like most sensible people we choose the weather very careful when making a trip in that time it has served us well. Coming back from St Kate's this year we did experience some bad weather and the boat handled it well, dropping the revs to suite. I was talking to a formite member last year that had a 925 with 1200 hours on the clock he used it for fishing from Plymouth area and got caught in a F7, I said fu-- how did you manage he said on the nose and experience.
David
 
alt said:
One thing that used to peeve me off about the Leader 805's (when I wanted one) was the lack of practical equipment...

No hot water from the engine (come on, that'd cost buttons to fit)
No ebby
Had to lift the engine bay cover to turn on the 230v immersion
No dedicated 12v circuit breaker panel (fuses thrown in behind the helm which required the removal of a penal in the heads to access)

But then again, some of the big Sealines are fitted with the nasty hand-pump toilets grrrrrr. Try explaining that one to first-time guests on the boat
Click to expand...


I used to have Leader 805, some time ago but I'm pretty sure mine had hot water.
 
Nautibusiness said:
It should have been off both the engine and the immersion?

You know, he has got me thinking now...
Click to expand...

All of the Leader 805's I looked at (granted the newest would have been 2003) only had 230v immersion, NOT a link to the engine to heat from engine coolant.
 
Nautibusiness said:
The 925 is a pretty wet boat, but handles the weather very well considering her small size.
Errrm, however, I would suggest not running at WOT with three fat blokes on the flybridge and throwing her into a tight turn.
...certain small muscles that should remain tightly shut twitch quite alarmingly. That said, despite feeling like a 2CV flat out at full lock, the one time I did do that she did pop back up... eventually.

The 32 is immensley stable as she is so beamy for her length. At the time of production, her immediate and most real competition was the Sealine F33 and then the F34. Without doubt, whilst the Sealine had some nice "living" design features the Prestige absoutely tore it to shreds when it came to being on the water.
The 32 feels solid on the water and handles like a much larger boat. Her shortish length can catch you out though. Because you feel you are on a bigger boat you can push her harder across waves than perhaps she likes and as a result you can pummel into the one in front. Stay on your toes though and trim her down a little and she cuts through nicely, but you may wish to vacate the flybridge at that point as it will be damp up there.
The 32 can be a little bit of a handful in gusty or strong tidal conditions when getting around tight marinas, but only because you think she is bigger and then the wind picks her up and shoves her side ways a bit. Again, think about things and she is lovely to drive and does everything you ask of her.

The 925 is a cracking little boat, but with a hull length of 9.25m (loa 9.76m) and a good foot or so less in the beam (get me, mixing my metric and imperial) along with a different underwater profile, the two cannot be fairly compared.
The 32 wins hands down, but you'll pay a darn sight more for the 32 too.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that detailed analysis.:D
 
Has anyone noticed that Ricky is asking for a sensibly priced Merry Fisher 925 and David of Essex is selling one?

Now that looks like a match made in heaven or has that not been spotted by anyone else?
 
Nautibusiness said:
Has anyone noticed that Ricky is asking for a sensibly priced Merry Fisher 925 and David of Essex is selling one?

Now that looks like a match made in heaven or has that not been spotted by anyone else?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the lead, it is a well cared for and high speck Merry Fisher 925 that we have spent money recently, but that was before our daughter emigrated to Australia
David
 
We were moored next to David's ship in the summer as part of our summer soiree around the Crouch, Roach and all points west.

It is a very very tidy boat.

What parenthood can make you do :)

Best of luck with the sale David
 
pks1702 said:
We were moored next to David's ship in the summer as part of our summer soiree around the Crouch, Roach and all points west.

It is a very very tidy boat.

What parenthood can make you do :)

Best of luck with the sale David
Click to expand...

It was very nice to meet you your wife and friends glad you enjoyed the Burnham on Crouch area. You had good weather to make your stay a good one
David
 
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