chortle
New Member
Hi everyone
I wonder if I could lean on some of you for some expert advice. I am looking for a first boat for our family of four (2 kids 9 and 11) - also small dog! The boat will be marina berthed and the max length allowed is 7.3m. We have a place very close to marina so won't usually overnight but I think something with a cabin would be good for cooler days and would definitely want heads( ideally enclosed and sea toilet not chemical). I have some experience (having grown up with small motor boats in the family and having done some yacht sailing also as an adult). Nevertheless, it needs to be easy to handle. It will be daytime use in good conditions only and inshore. We don't need high speed but a cruise of 20 knots or so would be good (I guess max 25-30 knots). Would like seating for six in the cockpit with a removable table and some sun/weather protection (good canopy or bimini).
Main uses will be cruising and day trips around the Western Solent and some light inshore fishing. We would like enough space for a couple of guests - so max would be probably 4 adults and 2 kids. (4 adults and 4 kids would be even better). We are looking now and I have narrowed to either a small cruiser (eg. Fairline Sprint, Sealine S220, Sea Ray 250 Weekender or newer equivalents) or one of the fast fisher types (eg Merry Fisher 645). If it is up to about £15k then I would probably buy outright. I would also consider up to £25k or so with some financing.
Cruisers
Having looked around a bit now, I can see the odd older cruiser (e.g. Sealine S220, Fairline Sprint from late 80s/early 90s). They look to be in the £10k-£15k range from a broker. These would just about fulfil the role - the Sprint and S220 look ok for a little fishing off the sides (some others are not so good). Condition very variable. Some look quite rough. All petrol sterndrives (some original or 'rebuilt', occasionally re-engined).I know these will be expensive to run but hours will be quite limited and mostly at cruise or trundling along. Main concern is hassle of things breaking and any associated safety risk. I do remember quite a few issues with our family Cleopatra 700 many years ago and I guess it was probably newer in those days than these boats are now (i.e. c. 30 years old now). Am I just asking for a heap of trouble here? Worries about old sterndrives, worn engines and worn ancillaries) but also hidden things like corroded tanks
There are also some newer small cruisers about (late 90s/early 2000s) - Sealine S24, Bayliner 2355 and other American boats. In value these go from high teens to mid 20s. Fancier cockpits (actually maybe worse for fishing because of that - the 2355 looks really difficult for fishing at all although otherwise looks good). At these prices, I am not sure whether they would be eligible for a marine mortgage due to age. Maybe these would be more reliabl than the older boats e but they are still c. 20 years old.
I know these will all be expensive to run and are a bit wayward at low speeds. I also understand the quality differences between the brands. I would get survey and an engineers reports on any of these.
Sports fishers
There are lots of these but a sweet spot seems to be something like a Merryfisher 655 . Has enclosed heads and a reasonable cockpit plus good outside space with seating and good fishing platform. Shaft diesel semi-displacement with cruising at maybe 15 knots/max 22 knots. On the face of it these seem like a good option in mid 20s with finance (they are about 10-15 years old and look simpler and less to go wrong. Inboard diesel and shaft also seem a less risky prospect. But I have no experience of these. Would they be much noisier. What is the handling like - I guess much better at low speeds and more stable at anchor but a bit more wallow and wet underway? Also the separate wheel house thing is new to me and I am not sure if that's family friendly or not. I guess plusses and minuses. Presumably easier to finance as newer.
Am in analysis paralysis now and some outside help would be good. Actually am leaning slightly to the unknown - ie the merry fisher option. We are busy and won't be able to do lots of work on a boat ourselves. I think the maintenance costs on the cruisers might be prohibitive and the MF might be also more practical in other ways. The canopy seems much nicer for instance. Also I think I will end up doing a lot of the docking/anchoring and mooring single handed (or close). The cruisers looks tricky when moving forward to anchor or secure fenders (on the other hand you are not in an enclosed wheelhouse)
Would be interested also to understand the likely trade off in fuel economy at cruise between a c. 200hp sterndrive petrol and a 115hp diesel. (I know the cruise will be 20% faster on the petrol boats but I guess that is also offset by the higher price of the fuel). Also the noise from the engine. Will a diesel inboard be as noisy as some of the older boats I have been on (not that a petrol inboard is necessarily that quiet at speed). Most importantly I want this to be safe, fun and comfortable. Your advice on all/any matters will be gratefully received. Although I am not a novice, I will seek to do the Poweboat Level 2 and also VHF (as a refresher and to cover any gaps). Also will make sure all safety equipment in place (flares, life jackets, first aid etc). Back in the day we had an auxiliary outboard on a bracket but most seem not have that facility. Is this no longer the practice? I know there is an AA type service "Seastart" - maybe that is the way to go?
Thanks to all again
I wonder if I could lean on some of you for some expert advice. I am looking for a first boat for our family of four (2 kids 9 and 11) - also small dog! The boat will be marina berthed and the max length allowed is 7.3m. We have a place very close to marina so won't usually overnight but I think something with a cabin would be good for cooler days and would definitely want heads( ideally enclosed and sea toilet not chemical). I have some experience (having grown up with small motor boats in the family and having done some yacht sailing also as an adult). Nevertheless, it needs to be easy to handle. It will be daytime use in good conditions only and inshore. We don't need high speed but a cruise of 20 knots or so would be good (I guess max 25-30 knots). Would like seating for six in the cockpit with a removable table and some sun/weather protection (good canopy or bimini).
Main uses will be cruising and day trips around the Western Solent and some light inshore fishing. We would like enough space for a couple of guests - so max would be probably 4 adults and 2 kids. (4 adults and 4 kids would be even better). We are looking now and I have narrowed to either a small cruiser (eg. Fairline Sprint, Sealine S220, Sea Ray 250 Weekender or newer equivalents) or one of the fast fisher types (eg Merry Fisher 645). If it is up to about £15k then I would probably buy outright. I would also consider up to £25k or so with some financing.
Cruisers
Having looked around a bit now, I can see the odd older cruiser (e.g. Sealine S220, Fairline Sprint from late 80s/early 90s). They look to be in the £10k-£15k range from a broker. These would just about fulfil the role - the Sprint and S220 look ok for a little fishing off the sides (some others are not so good). Condition very variable. Some look quite rough. All petrol sterndrives (some original or 'rebuilt', occasionally re-engined).I know these will be expensive to run but hours will be quite limited and mostly at cruise or trundling along. Main concern is hassle of things breaking and any associated safety risk. I do remember quite a few issues with our family Cleopatra 700 many years ago and I guess it was probably newer in those days than these boats are now (i.e. c. 30 years old now). Am I just asking for a heap of trouble here? Worries about old sterndrives, worn engines and worn ancillaries) but also hidden things like corroded tanks
There are also some newer small cruisers about (late 90s/early 2000s) - Sealine S24, Bayliner 2355 and other American boats. In value these go from high teens to mid 20s. Fancier cockpits (actually maybe worse for fishing because of that - the 2355 looks really difficult for fishing at all although otherwise looks good). At these prices, I am not sure whether they would be eligible for a marine mortgage due to age. Maybe these would be more reliabl than the older boats e but they are still c. 20 years old.
I know these will all be expensive to run and are a bit wayward at low speeds. I also understand the quality differences between the brands. I would get survey and an engineers reports on any of these.
Sports fishers
There are lots of these but a sweet spot seems to be something like a Merryfisher 655 . Has enclosed heads and a reasonable cockpit plus good outside space with seating and good fishing platform. Shaft diesel semi-displacement with cruising at maybe 15 knots/max 22 knots. On the face of it these seem like a good option in mid 20s with finance (they are about 10-15 years old and look simpler and less to go wrong. Inboard diesel and shaft also seem a less risky prospect. But I have no experience of these. Would they be much noisier. What is the handling like - I guess much better at low speeds and more stable at anchor but a bit more wallow and wet underway? Also the separate wheel house thing is new to me and I am not sure if that's family friendly or not. I guess plusses and minuses. Presumably easier to finance as newer.
Am in analysis paralysis now and some outside help would be good. Actually am leaning slightly to the unknown - ie the merry fisher option. We are busy and won't be able to do lots of work on a boat ourselves. I think the maintenance costs on the cruisers might be prohibitive and the MF might be also more practical in other ways. The canopy seems much nicer for instance. Also I think I will end up doing a lot of the docking/anchoring and mooring single handed (or close). The cruisers looks tricky when moving forward to anchor or secure fenders (on the other hand you are not in an enclosed wheelhouse)
Would be interested also to understand the likely trade off in fuel economy at cruise between a c. 200hp sterndrive petrol and a 115hp diesel. (I know the cruise will be 20% faster on the petrol boats but I guess that is also offset by the higher price of the fuel). Also the noise from the engine. Will a diesel inboard be as noisy as some of the older boats I have been on (not that a petrol inboard is necessarily that quiet at speed). Most importantly I want this to be safe, fun and comfortable. Your advice on all/any matters will be gratefully received. Although I am not a novice, I will seek to do the Poweboat Level 2 and also VHF (as a refresher and to cover any gaps). Also will make sure all safety equipment in place (flares, life jackets, first aid etc). Back in the day we had an auxiliary outboard on a bracket but most seem not have that facility. Is this no longer the practice? I know there is an AA type service "Seastart" - maybe that is the way to go?
Thanks to all again
