Advice Please

[elvis]

Spent the last few weeks looking for my first boat....what a minefield!

Looking for a mini sports cruiser, single engine, approx 25ft, about £25k must have 4 berths and enough room for me, wife and sometimes our 2 young kids to be comfortable weekending and cruising the south coast.

I found a couple of nice Sealine S24's 1996's but both had Volvo 4.3 205 hp petrols. is this a bit underpowered? Can't help noticing that most other boats of this ilk have at least 5.0l engines.

Should I buy the newest boat I can afford, or the biggest, must it have full service history, will a larger boat i.e Bayliner 2655 handle significantly better at sea than a Rinker 242/Four Wynns 238?

Any advice much appreciated.

BTW the Rinkers looks excellent value for money is there something wrong with them?

 

[jimi]

yeah they're crap get a sail boat. Lot nicer , poetic movement as you glide rather than vroom vroom schplast!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[elvis]

Any constructive advice much appreciated.

 

[halcyon]

Sealine good boat, nearly bought a 240, good resale, make of engine can have as much effect as capacity, but depends what you plan to do, and how critical that few knots are at the top end to you. Do search for S24, a lot of discussion has gone on.
But bottom line is that it's your boat, you will have to live with it or on it, if it's got no major flaws, then it's your choice. Listen to this lot and you'll still be looking in 5 years time, then it may be the worst option.
Best of luck.

Brian

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Elvis firstly welcome to the forum. Lots of people start off with a 25' petrol powered boat (I did many moons ago)and find that putting £300 of petrol into it every weekend is a real pain in the wallet not to mention the fact that you will lie awake at night thinking about the wisdom of you and your family sleeping with a 100g petrol tank and a gas canister. I dont want to overstate the issue because the number of accidents is small but there's no question petrol is more flammable than diesel
FWIW my advice would be either to find a (probably older) diesel powered boat within your budget or better, increase your budget (marine mortgage?) to say £30-40k and start looking at diesel engined boats because if you get keen on boating you're going to end up with one anyway
If this is your first boat its probably wise to buy from a dealer from whom you will probably get some kind of warranty and you will have the protection of consumer laws. If you buy privately or through a broker, its a case of buyer beware but you will probably pay less. Either way you should get a hull survey done before you pay and, on any boat out of the manufacturers warranty, an engine survey would be advisable.
The good thing about boats is that depreciation is generally less than, say, cars. If you buy a brand new petrol engined boat, you will lose maybe 20% when you sell it in 2-3yrs time. If you buy, say, a 5yr old or older diesel powered boat, you will get most if not nearly all of your money back when you sell it. Obviously maintenance costs will be higher on an older boat and you should budget on about 10% of the boat's value per year

 

[Roy]

Great advice you've imparted. I wish someone had given same to me some years back. Spot on. Roy

 

[Planty]

Elvis,
Welcome, agree entirely with Mike above, very good advice. I would only add having been in your position approx 3 years ago, don't be tempted into just thinking about speed and top end, truth is if you get serios about this fabulous hobby, Throttles wide open really means a number of things:
1. Cost. Amazing how those extra few knots at the top end add an inordinate consumption
2. The probability is that if you go flat out straight away, partners, kiddies etc. will ensure you are never allowed to get serious about this hobby
3. In a 24 - 25 boat with cabins etc really cruising at about 22knts is generally comfortable, lot less with a chop on, so top end is really only for the very odd occasion. seeing as 28 on water feels about 70 on land, more than enough excitement.
4. Don't go anywhere near the thing until you have at least booked a skipper to do your ICC on the day you pick it up.
5. At least 4 lifejackets on board, (and on bodies whilst away from pontoon) plus flares, hand held vhf, Gps, charts for the area, at the absolute minimum.

Hope you really enjoy yourself and I truly would advise, spend as much as you possibly can now, as the bug will ensure if it aint big enough initially, it will cost a lot more very soon. We went 22ft to 43 foot within 9 months, 250k later we love it!!
Paul

 

[DavidJ]

Welcome to the forum
S24, S240 S23 (all the same boat) are excellent. I had one for 5 years and it's towable behind a decent 4x4. We used to take it down to the Med every year. Engine size is not under powered expect 30 knots. I think you've been looking at some US gas guzzlers.
Good layout and no problems I can think of. Get the hull checked for osmosis for the age you are looking at. (or any age come to that!)
Should be plenty around. Sealine brought out a diesel version a couple of years back but they may still be out of your price range....maybe worth stretching the funds though.
hope this helps
David

 

[davedpc]

As an ex 220/205hp owner I can condone all above. Go for it. Dave.

 

[DIW]

Great advice Mike, agree with Roy, also wish someone had advised me in the same way , had a dreadful experience with a Broker on first purchase, buy through a dealer if you can thats my advice and buy Diesel ! First boat was petrol 5L and its bloomin expensive believe me.

 

[elvis]

Thanks all, much appreciated.

Looked at 30+ boats this month and still can't decide, good fun though!


Cheers again.

 

[hlb]

Would think it fairly easy as there cant be that many boats in that size to fit the bill.

1/ It has to be diesel or you aint realy going anywhere.
2/ Bigger is better than newer.
3/ Deap V hull for the sea. Many particularly USA boats, just dont fit the bill.
4/ One with loads of extras. GPS VHS. Chartplotter? Davits or snap davits for the dinghy.
5/ Proper cooker, proper bog, double bed!

 

[Wiggo]

You selling MF, Haydn? That reply reads like a bloody advert...

 

[Alistairr]

Hi Elvis(always wanted to say that),

I wouldn't rule out the Rinker.

Rinker, Yes its American, but its one of the Better Built American boats, Privatly Owned, you can still phone them and talk to one of the Rinker family if you ever have a problem(not many Companies you can do that with).
We've looked at a lot of American boats over the last 3yrs, and the Rinker was certainly the best package(hence we bought one), it has everything in it, very few extras, great value and is extremely well built.
I would think the Rinker would handle the rough wether a lot better than the bigger Bayliner, certainly comparing my boat to a similar Searay, i've been on, mine was a lot more comfortable and smoother.

I've just been told of This Rinker for Sale, Its maybe needs a wee bit of work, but look at the price and i think that would be negociatable as well.
Also speak to these Guys, Ask for Robin, he really knows the Rinker brand well, Even if you don't buy a boat from him, he's always happy to give advice.
http://www.cambrianboats.co.uk

Hope this helps, and welcome to the forum.

Cheers

Alistair.

 

[Roy]

Hi

Not knocking rinkers or any boat at all, but here is something to consider - the boat Al has highlighted with a click here is a possible, even probable money pit. It needs new covers, possibly frames too, needs dashboard and innner/outer upholstery. Ok that will cost a couple of grand or so and then you may also get some money off the boat too. My experience of cars, boats and business deals invariably proves that any product being sold with partial neglect being evident also hides other areas of neglect too. The engine and drive might be knacked - if so, stay well clear. Also its petrol and will gulp the stuff given its size and maybe will wander around at slow speeds, making it no good for rivers or tight spaces??