Advice on a Doral330se?

[cliffdale]

Firstly, here is an update for those who have helped me in the past. Ive been plagued with something big 38' flyb on a marina or something 33' or less on my river mooring.

Well, for my first motor boat, things are looking towards a 33' power boat on my £600pa river mooring.

Shopping round in this size boat, I looked at a Targa 33 and Targa 34. Both are too big and im not allowed to keep one on my swinging mooring.
Im looking for something suitable for 2 week holidays and plenty of weekends for 3 of us, 33' size is quite a narrow choice. I also want something that will make 30 knots when conditions are possible.
Im tempted by the Doral
Against the Doral for me is the open plan accommodation, bit of a pain to make the bed each day and put it away. The private cabin will become Lucy's (age 6).

If anyone knows the Doral, are they more of a fair weather coastal boat or will it be realistic to cross the channel for quick trips to the CI or the Isles of Scilly?

Piccolo is not sold yet. She is being advertised in the next issue of Boats and Yachts. Doral have offered to take Piccolo in px for a new one.

Im having a trial in the Doral next weekend. Any comments on the boat will be welcome.

CD

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[nicho]

Whilst I don't have personal experience of Doral boats, there is one on my pontoon, around 31' I think (though at least 3' of that is in the bathing platform). The owner bought it brand new, with 2 x 130hp mercruisers, and whilst he loves the boat, he has had huge problems with it. The main wiring loom is up the creek, and many of the systems don't work, or do so intermittently. He had an alternator overheat almost to the point of catching fire, and the pre delivery inspection by the importers was very poor. For example, the antifoul line was measured with the boat completely empty of fuel, water, anchor chain or any sort of allowance for personal items on the boat. Therefore the antifoul finishes approx 2" below the waterline - there were other items that were also missed. The boat had an engine that needed to be shut down ensuring a very slow trip back from somewhere in the West Country, and so it goes on. After 4 months, it is still not right, and the outdrives sound as if there's no oil in them!! (maybe there isn't).

Still, he loves the boat, and has indeed already crossed the Channel to Guernsey. It seemed a lot of money to me (over £100K), but typical of the Am/Cans, there is a lot of gadgetry as standard.

If you go ahead, it would make sense to make sure the PDI is up to scratch, and perhaps check everything out thoroughly before acceptance.

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[DepSol]

Dorals are ggod boats but the open plan accomodation on a 33 footer is not really enough. How about the Prestige 34 good accomodation downstairs and living space and plenty of room upstairs. should fit on your mooring no?

The Doral will cope with channel c\rossings ok been on the smaller models but not the 330.

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<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[cliffdale]

I know Americans like everything BIG but dont those 3' bathing platforms look ugly!!! Fortunately its an optional extra.
Its off putting to see that a new boat has so much trouble. Some teething troubles are acceptable but this chap seems to have a lot of bad luck.

I would opt for the biggest engine choice, (KAD300 i think).

I bought my Moody new and it took 18 months to get the boat in an acceptable condition. Nothing as serious as the Doral but things like leaking shower, unbalanced propellor, leaking fresh water system and so on.

Thanks for the advise, CD


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[terryw]

My Doral 330 (Elegante) is on order, and will be the actual showboat at London.
I have had the 250, and currently have the 280. We sea trialled the 330 a couple of weeks ago in a Force 7 off Torquay and its handling was nothing short of brilliant. I can fully recommend Doral boats, especially the quality of fittings.
One point regarding the extended platform. I also think they are too large (adding 4 feet to the length of the 330), but the standard platform is only about 1 foot. If you are on a standard finger mooring you have to park it stern first so you can get off, and the standard platform is just not large enough for SWMBO to step off with the mooring lines.

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[mrplastic]

Hi, I recently bought a 300SC with twin KAD 43's. The build quality is excellent and I have had no problems with her at all. Although a 98' model she had extremely low hours and apparently kept out of the water for most of her life, so pretty much still new. Doral are superb at finding space in thier boats and the open plan accomodation is nowhere near as problematic as you may think. Curtains are fitted and the lack of opening doors mean more room for useful additions to the accomodation. She handles like a dream and at 40 + knots she is FAST.If you like it buy it, I'm sure you won't be disppointed

CLP

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[Kevin]

Hi

I have a bit of experience with Dorals and would say that they do seem to be good boats, but friends have had trouble selling them, maybe because they are not the best known over here.

Their interior size is dissapointing on the stated overall length and feel that the 330 is on similar standing to the larger 29 footers on the market.

hulls seem good but parts can be slow to arrive in my brief experience of them.

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[terryw]

I have always felt that they are "larger" inside than similar sized other makes, offering a good mix of utility and storage areas, although I may be biased as I have recently ordered my 3rd Doral

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