American trailerable sport fishers

Nick_H

Nick_H

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www.ybw-boatsforsale.com
It looks like i've sold the Windy, and the plan is to replace it with something trailerable with an outboard.

The obvious choice is a RIB, but they have several drawbacks for us - most of them don't have a toilet, the wind protection is usually poor because you have to be able to walk around the console, there's normally no sociable seating, and no sunpad for chilling out on. I guess most people must use RIBS just to get from A to B? We don't want a small cruiser as it'll only be a day boat, and anyway most of them are outdrive and I definitely want outboard.

The style that does seem to fit our needs are the american built sport fishers by Boston Whaler, Grady White etc. like this one, but without the hard roof

4505498_20131107062228735_1_XLARGE_zps3a3ca8a9.jpg


They're offshore boats, so the hull should be OK, helm seats are raised for good visibility, some have reasonable cockpit seating arrangements, and they have high wrap around screens so suitable for cooler climates and deflecting spray, yet you never see them out on the water here? I know they're petrol, but so are most small cruisers and you see plenty of those around, and modern outboards are very efficient with low servicing costs compared to an outdrive installation

They look the perfect compromise to me for day cruising, a bit of fishing, anchoring off the beach, and towing ringos. What am I missing?
 
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I don't think you're missing anything - sounds a great plan

I dunno why they aren't more popular here. The brands that have had Euro/UK distributors have tended to be the high end ones, esp Boston Whaler, which are frighteningly expensive (per tonnage), and maybe that has resulted in low numbers here for these boats

There are so many brands it seems impossible to know them all: Boston Whaler, Grady White, Mako, White Shark, Robalo, Yellowfin, Interpid, Invincible, etc. And there are European boats from Jenneau/Beneteau group (Cap Camarat etc)

The thing I would say, having been brought up on beautiful Merc 2-strokes, is that these 4 stroke outboards are a bit gutless. There is no power until say 4000rpm. That Yam 70 on my tender looks like it will make the whole rig fly, and it does if the boat is light and you get to 4000rpm, but not otherwise. Even that 300hp Yammie on the MRC/JFM Rib in Antibes, which looks a complete monster of an engine, isn't exactly quick pushing that RIB. So I'd urge you very strongly to get the most massive FO outboard(s) as you possible can on the back

Are you in Antibes anytime soon? Take out the RIB to see what I mean. It has a toilet, incidentally! You look at it and think it's lightweight, and you think it will leave everything standing with that 300 Yammie on the back. But it doesn't. It's a perfectly fine day cruiser, but it is pretty gentle performance wise. A 350 would be no better imho. As a yardstick for what you are looking for, this 8.5m RIB really needs x2 engines, 275 Yammies or Verados or something.
 
jfm said:
The thing I would say, having been brought up on beautiful Merc 2-strokes, is that these 4 stroke outboards are a bit gutless. There is no power until say 4000rpm. That Yam 70 on my tender looks like it will make the whole rig fly, and it does if the boat is light and you get to 4000rpm, but not otherwise. Even that 300hp Yammie on the MRC/JFM Rib in Antibes, which looks a complete monster of an engine, isn't exactly quick pushing that RIB. So I'd urge you very strongly to get the most massive FO outboard(s) as you possible can on the back

Are you in Antibes anytime soon? Take out the RIB to see what I mean. It has a toilet, incidentally! You look at it and think it's lightweight, and you think it will leave everything standing with that 300 Yammie on the back. But it doesn't. It's a perfectly fine day cruiser, but it is pretty gentle performance wise. A 350 would be no better imho. As a yardstick for what you are looking for, this 8.5m RIB really needs x2 engines, 275 Yammies or Verados or something.
Click to expand...

In support of your point here, in the berth next door to me but one in PV is a 10m Capelli rib which has twin 300's on the back, and will allegedly get to 55kts.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
You should add the Sessa key largo range to your shortlist, they look pretty decent.

The 27 (and all the sizes up from this I imagine) has a cabin + toilet and looks decent for occasional overnighting.

The sport fisher style of boat is pretty popular out in mallorca, it was a bit of a toss up between one of those and a more typical sports boat for me. I ended up in the sports boat (WIndy 25), but only because the right boat came available at the right time and right price.
 
Nick_H said:
It looks like i've sold the Windy, and the plan is to replace it with something trailerable with an outboard.

The obvious choice is a RIB, but they have several drawbacks for us - most of them don't have a toilet, the wind protection is usually poor because you have to be able to walk around the console, there's normally no sociable seating, and no sunpad for chilling out on. I guess most people must use RIBS just to get from A to B? We don't want a small cruiser as it'll only be a day boat, and anyway most of them are outdrive and I definitely want outboard.

The style that does seem to fit our needs are the american built sport fishers by Boston Whaler, Grady White etc. like this one, but without the hard roof

4505498_20131107062228735_1_XLARGE_zps3a3ca8a9.jpg


They're offshore boats, so the hull should be OK, helm seats are raised for good visibility, some have reasonable cockpit seating arrangements, and they have high wrap around screens so suitable for cooler climates and deflecting spray, yet you never see them out on the water here? I know they're petrol, but so are most small cruisers and you see plenty of those around, and modern outboards are very efficient with low servicing costs compared to an outdrive installation

They look the perfect compromise to me for day cruising, a bit of fishing, anchoring off the beach, and towing ringos. What am I missing?
Click to expand...
Nick, good to hear boat prices have now bottomed out ;)
You going to trail or dry stack this since weight might get an issue on the former?
Edit, sorry, you said trail... what weight is the max?
 
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We had a look at a White Shark 285 a little while back and it was a HUGE amount of boat for the money when compared to a rib of similar size or money.

( http://www.ancasta.com/boats-for-sa...CseTai1sGV/fzDYJ8TjtrNN5iF30oDwfGdg3JdzwDfGKu )


I really like them but dont know enough about how they ride. I would guess some have a fairly shallow V so will suffer in any kind of sea. if i remember, the Windy was your "solent boat" so if your planning on keeping this one in the UK and in the solent dont forget the nasty "solent chop" factor which seems to make even the very best small boats very uncomfortable with the short steep waves.

this one has been for sale for ages but has always caught my eye. ( http://www.ancasta.com/boats-for-sa...CseTai1sGV/fzR0OpW/hND0QexTKOcXEQRS436UjJ5NWx ) prehaps a little short on ponies.

Have a look at the Ring Ranger boats. http://www.ringpowercraft.co.uk/index.html
 
jfm said:
The brands that have had Euro/UK distributors have tended to be the high end ones, esp Boston Whaler, which are frighteningly expensive (per tonnage), and maybe that has resulted in low numbers here for these boats
Click to expand...

Yep, I think that may be right, they do seem pricey compared to mainstream cruisers of the same length.

Point about outboard sizing duly noted, though it may be down to what's available, unless I import from US.
 
gjgm said:
Nick, good to hear boat prices have now bottomed out ;)
You going to trail or dry stack this since weight might get an issue on the former?
Edit, sorry, you said trail... what weight is the max?
Click to expand...

Yep, I want it on a trailer, as I live 1/2 mile from the launch ramp and have space by the side of the garage to keep it. I wont launch and recover each time though, i'll use visitor berths for a week or two when the forecast looks good and we're not in France.
 
julians said:
You should add the Sessa key largo range to your shortlist, they look pretty decent.

The 27 (and all the sizes up from this I imagine) has a cabin + toilet and looks decent for occasional overnighting.
Click to expand...

Even the cabin versions of the Sessa and White Shark have small console style windscreens because they're designed for the med, and SWMBO's only requirement is that she can tuck in out of the wind. Some of the American boats have full wrap around screens, like the one in the picture, so you have windshield to the front and side of you.
 
But what is your tow max Nick? And you still need to be able to get it up and down a slimey slipway without ending up car and trailer in the brink.Without a beefy 4*4 you are going to be pretty restricted on size.
Assuming family boating, I am not convinced you need two o/bs...fun underway lasts a bit longer than whether you accelerate a few seconds faster from standstill.
 
You'll need a LR Discovery or something I guess Nick. My father has one (a D4) and I've towed about 1000miles in it, and it's an astonishingly good towcar. MRC has one too and thinks the same

If you import a Yamaha, the warranty isn't valid in Europe. I don't know about Verados. I'm not saying don't do it - my current Yamaha is a US import and I'm perfectly happy to have no warranty because it aint gonna breakdown anyway, but you'll find there are plenty of wimpy 2nd hand buyers who think that warranties are some kind of holy grail and they will winge about it when you sell the boat. Also remember US yammies do not have Y-Cop as standard fit, whereas Euro ones do, so remember to spec it as an option
 
SWMBO has a Volvo XC90, which is similar size to Disco. It doesn't have a diff lock or low ratio box of course, but Lymington has a good slipway so I think it'll be OK.

I'm not overly concerned about engine warranty either, and may well buy used anyway.
 
If a wraparound screen is a requirement, then you could have a look at the XO range of boats. A bit of an unknown in the UK I think, but get excellent reviews in MBY etc.

http://www.xoboats.fi/#home

Dont know what pricing is like, but I guess coming from scandinavia , they wont be cheap.
 
neale said:
Max tow weight of XC90 appears to be 2268kg, some models even less. This may not be enough, depending of course on what you end up with.
Click to expand...

Yes, although he's only towing it half a mile, on a flat road, to a gentle slipway, with a relatively small tidal range...

(I know, I know, your point is about legality, not practicality, but I'm just sayin' :D)

Cheers
Jimmy
 
You're not wrong about RIBS. I owned a Revenger 27 in the UK a couple of years ago and in the end none of my family wanted to go in it because of the lack of facilities. However, I was quite taken with these http://www.shearwaterribs.com/gallerydetail-58.php All the fun and seakeeping of a RIB but with a cabin and a spray hood over the helm. I also looked at Grady-White and I thought they were pretty good although I think the importer has disappeared from the UK now but IMHO, the best are still Boston Whalers although they're very pricey
 
neale said:
Max tow weight of XC90 appears to be 2268kg, some models even less. This may not be enough, depending of course on what you end up with.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I'll be more on the limit than I thought. I guess a trailer weighs about half a ton, so ideally I want to keep the boat to 1750 kgs, although as Jimmy says, i only ever need to tow it round the corner.
 
julians said:
If a wraparound screen is a requirement, then you could have a look at the XO range of boats. A bit of an unknown in the UK I think, but get excellent reviews in MBY etc.

http://www.xoboats.fi/#home

Dont know what pricing is like, but I guess coming from scandinavia , they wont be cheap.
Click to expand...

I'd have one of those in a shot, pricing is competitive, and I think they look great, and as you say they get good reviews. Problem is I dont want a full cabin, and the open doesn't have a loo, which is a big oversight IMO.
 
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