Advise Me!! Maybe Buying a Boat Pembrokeshire

[Mr Googler]

Hi All

I am considering buying a boston whaler style boat. Centre Console, 7m long with 250hp Yamaha OX66 series 2.

Living in the Irish Sea, I think this style of boat could do well. Main problem is fuel. Obviously this one is petrol and there is no marine petrol here. Not too much of a problem as its on a trailer but:

Looking on a few US sites they reckon MPG to be 1.5 at 4000rpm / 30 knots. The fuel tank is 125 US Gal so 475 litre. This is going to cost £650 to fill up and give 9 -10 hours use or 250nm range. This all appears extremely juicy. Have I got my maths right? Has anyone run one of these engines. Word is reliable but thirsty. Broker says great service history etc etc.

The upside is I would hope I could get it for under 10K inc trailer.

Has the value of this type of boat just gone with the fuel prices as they are and will continue to be?

The boat is also in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. From the Isle of Man, I could get to any other part of the UK with more ease so.....does anyone live down in the area who would be happy to have a look for me. Please pm me if you are a bit bored and fancy crawling all over it for an hour so you can give me the gen.

All comments greatly received.

 

[EME]

1.5 mpg (US) is about 1.8 mpg (UK ) .... but I suspect you did that conversion.

 

[JKay]

What will its most economical cruising speed be 22/24 knots(?)This will really increase range and economy

 

[Mr Googler]

Looking on some us test data from 99 on a Grady white they did 1.42 mpg (us) at 3900 rpm. This was the best they managed. 2000rpm gave 0.8!! I don't know what speed that would give me on this boat but 38knot is advertised wot so probably be 30 knots.

Suppose I would know after I bought it

 

[landlockedpirate]

I agree with your maths, but unless you are going to be making long passages, the tank should last a decent amount of time.

In a full day on the water with a boat for sking , ringos etc we would probably only do 2 to 3 hours actual running. On that basis it will give you 4 days use to a tank. If we just went out for a spin, with lunch on board, swim etc it was less than an hours use.

This type of engine will be expensive to run, but even at £150 a day, its not the end of the world.

Its a great safe choice of boat, self draining cockpit is a nice feature, and with 250hp it should fly.

 

[AndieMac]

Have a look on 'iboats.com' yamaha outboard OX66 forum topics, there seem to be quite a few areas covered.

I would prefer to fill at high turn-over petrol stations rather than harbour side bowsers, given the trailerable option.
Don't be too concerned about the large fuel tank, I wish my boat had that tankage, just an easier option to do a long range cruise without carrying deck fuel.
You don't have to fill them up for just pottering around.
The rig sounds pretty good value, an internationally recognised and highly regarded hull, the 2 stroke will power her nicely and the yams have been well regarded in both commercial and recreational areas.
The four strokes are the current flavour, but of course then the price rises accordingly.

When you sit down after the (fairly short?) season and calculate the engines hours run, I doubt if you will be horrified by the cost.

Good luck.

 

[tetleys]

have a look on www.rib.net it is a very well used site by the Rib guys and has a great section on engines etc

cheers

tetleys

 

[Mr Googler]

Thanks very much to everyone for their replies and I'm taking all comments on board.

A formite has very kindly offered to go and have a look so will keep you posted on how that goes.

My current think is if the purchase price is right, and it has to be very right, it might be a goer. Its going to be a pain to tow it to a garage to refuel but as others had said, a full tank will probably last me a bit longer than I think.

Still struggling with the cost. Not from an affordability point of view ( I have run boats before ) but the principle of a limited day boat costing me the same as my previous twin diesel motorboat for a day out. If the purchase price is low enough then I can justify it....not sure SWMBO can though

I could look at replacing with 4 stroke which could half fuel use but take me some years to recover the costs so whats the point.

 

[Jim@sea]

How would you get the boat back to the Isle of Man as I had a quote to take a 4X4 towing a 21 ft boat and the price was an absolute fortune.

 

[Mr Googler]

Hi Jim

Been quoted £2 per mile one way on its own trailer. It is 256 miles one way to the ferry port so be about £500. I've seen ebay chaps quote £1.50 or I might be able to backload on something bigger.

Ferry will be about £250. Nothings ever cheap.

Depends on the condition of the trailer too.

 

[AndieMac]

I could look at replacing with 4 stroke which could half fuel use but take me some years to recover the costs so whats the point.

Indeed Farsco, they are $AU30,000.00 out here, and at recreational hours I reckon you would have to live a long time to get ahead, providing the 2 st. is sound.

I took a boat out for a run a couple of months ago with new 2 x 250 Yam. 4 strokes.
Loaded with 10 people in calm river conditions at 3800 rpm, she burned 78 litres per hour (computerised read-out) both motors at 23 knots over 15 N miles.
Returning light ships at the same revs she used 67 litres (both motors) per hour at 25 knots.
Loaded, the hole shot was pretty average I thought and not that quiet at cruise revs.