Advice needed on my first boat

[petem]

no regrets here

Nor me. It's a no brainer to go for the Fairline or Sealine. Find a nice one, get it surveyed and the engines checked then haggle hard to get a good deal. Do some classroom day skipper training over the winter and some practical in the new year. Simple really.

 

[RogerRat]

Also Essex Boatyards is among the handful of boat sellers who get constant praise from customers and they are a totally honest and always-helpful firm to buy from. I bought my last 3 boats there and can't recommend them highly enough.

Absolutely, I'm in the process of buying my next boat from Essex as we write. This will make my fourth from team, 'Barke' Always delivered on promises so far.

John, thanks for clearing up the 'limbo' I forgot about the mods.

Petem, that space argument is simply down to 'V' and hull shape, there is definitely more living space in an S28 over a Targa 30. Bayliners and the group of american lake boats are generally flatter as is the Bavaria offerings. All seem to offer more to the new boater, that can fall into the showroom/ brochure mode. These boats handle differently, and I agree with Jez about a sharper more refined hull, the Targa would be better in a sea, especially in a breeze.

My thoughts in initial reply stand, we need to know more as the replies could end up very confusing and in some cases of course, just personal opinions.

 

[ricky_s]

Have you considered any of the Merry Fisher / Antares boats? Good for trips to France and lots of space.

 

[Whitelighter]

Instant Fairline vs Sealine post...

Not really what the OP wanted

Problem with all of these posts is people who own one boat or the other naturally stick up for their choice.

I mean, it's a bit like asking a bloke if their girlfriend is good looking. What do you expect him to say?

What I have never got is the NEED to convince everyone else boat x is the best just because you own one. It like you have to get the world to endorse your particular choice. People ask for opinions and then a grate big bun fights starts because someone prefers a different boat to the one you have purchased.

The mind boggles.

 

[jfm]

Problem with all of these posts is people who own one boat or the other naturally stick up for their choice.

That makes no sense to me. People choose a boat because they like it. They then buy it and own it. They then "stick up" for it not because they own it, but because they thought it was the best for a buyer could make, as evidenced by their having recently voted with their wallet aka put their money where their mouth is.

No-one above in this thread displayed the NEED you describe. They were just voicing opinions in a forum-like way. Give 'em a break! While we're at it, NoRegrets' post #17 was well off the mark too imho: folks were making contributions relevant to OP's question in a forum-chatty way and then NoRegrets criticised their posts while making no actual useful contribution himself.

 

[Robg71]

Dont be too put off by larger or older boats. Plenty within your budget.
Im really glad i bought a larger first boat, (dont think i bought the right one for me, but thats another story)

Food for thought, have a look at some early princess and also the fairline 36 turbo/sedan.
If i had bought something like that to start, i would be as happy as a pig in......

Also, plenty of open cockpit cruisers...
Work out your needs and wants, then look at the boats

 

[petem]

Problem with all of these posts is people who own one boat or the other naturally stick up for their choice.

I mean, it's a bit like asking a bloke if their girlfriend is good looking. What do you expect him to say?

What I have never got is the NEED to convince everyone else boat x is the best just because you own one. It like you have to get the world to endorse your particular choice. People ask for opinions and then a grate big bun fights starts because someone prefers a different boat to the one you have purchased.

The mind boggles.

Perhaps you need to read the whole thread because I said that both the Fairline and the Sealine would meet the OP's need. I would challenge anyone to disagree that these are the class leaders in the OP's size and price range. Of course he could buy some American boat but chances are he'll regret it from a quality and resale perspective.

What would you suggest then?

 

[petem]

Dont be too put off by larger or older boats. Plenty within your budget.
Im really glad i bought a larger first boat, (dont think i bought the right one for me, but thats another story)

Food for thought, have a look at some early princess and also the fairline 36 turbo/sedan.
If i had bought something like that to start, i would be as happy as a pig in......

Also, plenty of open cockpit cruisers...
Work out your needs and wants, then look at the boats

Yep, people don't often completely settle on their first boat, that's why its essential to buy something mainstream that can be easily sold on.

 

[Whitelighter]

Perhaps you need to read the whole thread because I said that both the Fairline and the Sealine would meet the OP's need. I would challenge anyone to disagree that these are the class leaders in the OP's size and price range. Of course he could buy some American boat but chances are he'll regret it from a quality and resale perspective.

What would you suggest then?

I actually didn't have you in mind with that post Pete.

You know my suggestion - on that I think we agree.

 

[No Regrets]

£50k buys Brooms these days, and surely a lovely Nimbus.

There are loads without resorting to Bayliners etc.

That said, Bayliner owners seem happy enough, and resale is fine....

Not a Sea boat mind you

 

[Whitelighter]

Not a Sea boat mind you

What a load of bollox

Perhaps not the smaller ones but the 265/285/305/335 make very good coastal cruisers.

And they can handle a bit of rough without falling apart.

 

[petem]

I actually didn't have you in mind with that post Pete.

You know my suggestion - on that I think we agree.

Fair enough!

What's interesting is that if the OP had asked for the best 40 foot flybridge there would be a large list to choose from and I don't think the options would be limited to the big UK four.

 

[RobWales]

What a load of bollox

Perhaps not the smaller ones but the 265/285/305/335 make very good coastal cruisers.

And they can handle a bit of rough without falling apart.


+1 Have owned a 2556 f/b petrol 1990 vintage, and a 2858 f/b Yanmar combo 2005, and afraid to say that also having owned a SS Portofino 34 and an FL Corniche of probably the same vintage as these, I would be quite happy putting to Sea in any one of them!...Regarding build quality?.....British of this/that era IMHO having crawled all over them were on par! Please don't bombard me with flack for that statement but I have owned them.

 

[No Regrets]

He wanted to go to France....

 

[Whitelighter]

He wanted to go to France....

That's basically coastal. Or let's put this another way, a Bayliner 285 can do anything a Fairline/Sealine etc if similar size can do. Did the Channel Islands in mine.

And if you want to go by the stupid RCD, just about every motorboat made is a coastal boat ( cat B) - including all the Bayliners listed above

 

[RogerRat]

And they can handle a bit of rough without falling apart.

I remember taking that picture and thought at the time you were nuts!
I think perhaps, had this been a Targa, you would have remained in the water!

If you think back, it was probably the Bavaria 330 you went cross channel in as the Bayliner 285 was petrol powered and limited on range/wallet.


Poor old Merbals, not much of this is helping his newby request. He's probably aware by now that the 6 essentials of buying a boat are:

1. First boat is wrong choice.
2. Second boat is just right, for a year or two.
3. Someone will always knock it.
4. All boats are a compromise.
5. The absolutely super spot-on perfect boat that is just right is only another £50k more!
6. BOAT stands for - 'Bring On Another Thousand'

 

[wipe_out]

I know most on this forum are from the UK and have a near obsession with the British boats, which is great, but the answer to just about any "Which boat?" question is just about always Princess, Fairline, Sealine or Sunseeker.. I am not denying they are great boats but so are many of the others.. Whether it's Bayliner, Monterey, Maxum, Larson, Doral, Cranchi, Glastron, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Azimut or any of the many many other brands they all have their merits and all have owners that enjoy them..

Another point that always comes up with boats like Princess or Fairline is they have a better finish than XYZ brand.. It's like saying don't look at BMW or Audi because a Bentley or Rolls Royce have a better finish.. It maybe true and if you can afford it and that is what you want then that's great but maybe the other brands get you more boat for less money and still give the owner a lot of pleasure..

I don't know, I guess my advice to the OP is simply go look at the boats you like and buy the one you like the most that fits your needs and budget.. Then get on the water and enjoy it..

 

[lisilou]

Loved our 250. Trimming her could be a nightmare but other than that she was a real pleasure to helm. imo...a lot of boat for the money. Being able to stay overnight on her for us was a dream come true. We even managed a whoe week once...bit cramped tbh after that time but very do-able. Gor for it and enjoy.
L

Just realised I posted this on the wrong thread...oops but hey ho.

 

[oGaryo]

I don't know, I guess my advice to the OP is simply go look at the boats you like and buy the one you like the most that fits your needs and budget.. Then get on the water and enjoy it..

I disagree with this in part.. I agree the vast majority of responses are bound to be the big 4 but there are boats out there that we looked at where the finish was terrible both cosmetically but also looking behind the panels, from a technical finish too e.g. wiring looms a total mess, stingers and the like that are slapped together etc I put Glastron in the category of terrible from what I saw. Then there's the ongoing cost consideration, why buy a boat like the 25ft Doral with its mahoooooosive swim platform to get stitched for large berthing fees when other boats have much smaller swim platforms allowing for larger cockpits to socialise in. I think we're are all responding to what the OP has asked for apart from your last statement i.e. we're giving guidance on the best boat in his chosen category based on experience, personal or otherwise.

To respond by saying go and pick your own based on your own judgement, isn't really helping the fella (if he ever comes back )

 

[rhino_mac]

Loved our 250. Trimming her could be a nightmare but other than that she was a real pleasure to helm. imo...a lot of boat for the money. Being able to stay overnight on her for us was a dream come true. We even managed a whoe week once...bit cramped tbh after that time but very do-able. Gor for it and enjoy.
L

+1 I've got a Monterey 250cr and love it. £40-50k won't buy you new(er) British boat but the build quality and handling of the american boats is really very good and they are significantly cheaper. Plenty with diesel engines around and for £40-50k you'll get one that is pretty new compared to a British one that might be a little long in the tooth.

To use an analogy, you might not buy a Rolls Royce for your first car, but you'll still have as much fun in a Chrysler (to compare Princess to Monterey etc). I don't enjoy my Mercedes Benz any more than my old MX5. In fact, I probably enjoy it less, which is a bit depressing if you think about it too long!!!!