Advice for a novice prospective boat owner.

[Alicatt]

Was wondering that. It's fair way, about 320 miles according to my rough passage plan, so 3-5 days would be comfortable, plenty of overnight opportunities on the way. You'd need to be confident of the boat's technical / maintenance condition.

It's what we did with our new to us boat, sailed her from near Rotterdam back to Belgium via the Maas and canals, almost 200km and took us 4 adventure filled days.
We planned out a few routes and weighed them up, with our experience being the limiting factor and some of the routes got closed for extensive bridge and lock repairs.

Would we do it again? Yes! but we would take longer to get home and do more exploring along the way.

 

[westernman]

Buying a nice boat is one of the quickest ways to make a small fortune.


... from a large one.

 

[Lola69]

Yep absolutely- beginning to realise this very quickly.

 

[SC35]

This looks good too:

Sealine F37 9797531 – Burton Waters Boat Sales

 

[Lola69]

Yep seen this too . But it was the hours that sort of put me off or is that not a deal breaker?

 

[Lola69]

This looks good too:

Sealine F37 9797531 – Burton Waters Boat Sales

View attachment 197785

Yep I’ve seen this too. She’s beautiful but I was worried about the hours - or is this not a dealbreaker??

 

[markc]

Yep I’ve seen this too. She’s beautiful but I was worried about the hours - or is this not a dealbreaker??

Nothing wrong with 940 hours on a boat that age. You dont want to buy one that has not been used, that will give you more trouble!

 

[PaulRainbow]

Yep I’ve seen this too. She’s beautiful but I was worried about the hours - or is this not a dealbreaker??

Absolutely not, "nicely run in" as they say. Looks a nice boat and has a very good specification. Twin engines on shafts, bow and stern thrusters, doesn't get more manoeuvrable than that.

 

[Lola69]

Currently looking at these - plan is to take a trip over to see a few because we have to fly over from Belfast. Still stuck between the two- big price difference I know but just think we need to see them both in the flesh before we commit to a definite choice.
Sealine F37
https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/sealine-s42-for-sale/792169https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/sealine-s42-for-sale/792169

 

[SC35]

Yep I’ve seen this too. She’s beautiful but I was worried about the hours - or is this not a dealbreaker??

If you think about a car that does 10,000 miles a year at an average speed of 35mph, it will do 285hrs / year.
2008-2025 … 17 years x 285hrs = 4845 hours

I know it’s not the same, but there are plenty of boats running on the original engines at 2000hrs+

Condition and service history is more important than “hours”, especially with a shaft drive boat.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Currently looking at these - plan is to take a trip over to see a few because we have to fly over from Belfast. Still stuck between the two- big price difference I know but just think we need to see them both in the flesh before we commit to a definite choice.
Sealine F37
https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/sealine-s42-for-sale/792169https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/sealine-s42-for-sale/792169

The F37 isn't a patch on the Burton Waters boat. 4 years older, older model engine, older cable controls, looks a bit tired. The Burton Waters boat also has a bimini, stern thruster, air con and a passerelle, plus it's been antifouled and serviced, plus new covers, all for just another £10k on the asking price.

I would avoid the (any) S42 like the plague. Too much canvas, inferior accommodation to the S37 and worst of all, it's on outdrives eww !

 

[SC35]

The newer D4/D6 engines are much easier to helm with the “fly by wire” controls.

 

[Lola69]

The F37 isn't a patch on the Burton Waters boat. 4 years older, older model engine, older cable controls, looks a bit tired. The Burton Waters boat also has a bimini, stern thruster, air con and a passerelle, plus it's been antifouled and serviced, plus new covers, all for just another £10k on the asking price.

I would avoid the (any) S42 like the plague. Too much canvas, inferior accommodation to the S37 and worst of all, it's on outdrives eww !

Honestly really appreciating the honesty. The Burton Waters one was the very first one I saw. It’s my hubby that’s looking at the other two and someone local told him to look at boats below 1000hrs. But it seems that maybe wasn’t the most accurate advice!!
Thanks to everyone who have taken the bother to reply

 

[Sticky Fingers]

My boat has 1300 hours in 26 years. It’s purring like a kitten.

 

[Alicatt]

Our boat has 3900+ hours on the engines over a period of 47 years

This year alone we have put more than 100 hours on her and done almost 700km at a very slow speed

 

[Aardee]

I know this F37 well as it's based in the marina where I work...Really lovely boat.

Sealine F37 - Jaykay Marine Sales

 

[Little Ricky]

Hi folks

Looking for general advice. We have decided to throw caution to the winds and buy our first boat (both mid fifties with no clue).
We plan to use it in the lakes initially (Enniskillen) and hopefully get to grips with the basics before heading any further.
We have looked at Sealine F37 and S42 both beautiful but have been out off a bit buy one of the marina owners who feels the S42 is a bad choice for newbies.
We don’t plan to be out at sea any time soon if ever and want to do something we can enjoy together as hubby and missus.
Any advice at all very very welcome as we have zero clue!!!

Ta in advance

The moment you wrote "mid fifties with no clue" I knew I liked you.

 

[Clash]

Currently looking at these - plan is to take a trip over to see a few because we have to fly over from Belfast. Still stuck between the two- big price difference I know but just think we need to see them both in the flesh before we commit to a definite choice.
Sealine F37
https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/sealine-s42-for-sale/792169https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/sealine-s42-for-sale/792169

The S42 is in Spain.

Somebody cheekily added UK to the location.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I think the op has moved off that idea onto the F37.

 

[tico]

For the it's usage there is a lovely broom 38 for sale in Milford. Been lovingly looked after for many years and only for sale due to the owner's passing.
BTW I have no interest in it, just knew the owner and how it was looked after.
Possib.y better for the usage.