Anybody remember the Swift 800?

Greenheart

Greenheart

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Some time in the mid 'eighties I read a copy of Motor Boat and Yachting with a test/review of the Swift 800, a pretty slick 26' open-cab motor cruiser which used the same foam-buoyancy-between-hull-skins technique, as the successful Swift 18 centreboarder. Just possibly, in my mind I've been attributing the wrong name to this motor cruiser for more than two decades...but now, no matter what I put in any search engine, NOTHING relating to this boat emerges. Was it a prototype that never went into production? Thanks for any clues.
 
swift800

im the owner of swift800 camargue cabincruiser. me,too, cant find a thing about it.yet i doubt you talk about same model- heres a picture, please conform:
www.mlcrip.net/vp/swift800

shes 3m wide, around 26ft long, 0.9m draft, 2,47 (i think, not sure) airdraft, engine: Volvo Penta AQ125B, i guess outdrive is D270 (or whatever), built in 1985 summer, will post more details when back to bo t tonight or tomorrow...

anybody have ANY information about it, please?
pictures, technical characteristics/details, anything?
 
i have swift800 camargue

i dont think is the one.
but i have swift 800 camargue
have a look at pictures:
mlcrip.net/vp/swift800
please confirm. I, too, cannot find a thing about it.
If anyone have ANY details or information, please let me know as well...
thanks a lot in advance.

is swift800 camargue, built in uk, 1987 summer. 26 or 28 feet cabincruiser. GRP hull, volvo penta aq125b engine, D270 (i think, not sure) outdrive... width 3m, draft 0.9m (now out of fuel 0.5m)...
airdraft 2.74 or 2.47m, cant remember...
will post more once im onboard (maybie tomorrow).
 
The Mystery Swift 800...

Thanks for replying. Yes, that looks to me like the boat whose test I read and re-read, a clear 25 years ago. The prototype, as I believe the test boat was, had quite nice blue sofa cushion-covers, which might help identify the vessel if they hadn't been changed.

I'm personally too mean to shell out on an archived copy of the original boat-test, but there's no shadow of a doubt in my mind that one of the premier motor-cruiser mags at the mid-eighties period, ran a 4 or 5 pager on the Swift. I believe these re-prints are available, and when this boat is so shrouded in mystery and ignorance on the net, I'd recommend any owner buy a copy for the background info.

I can't think why there aren't hundreds, out there...no disrespect, but I don't think your photo does the boat full justice. And that unsinkability, and the sporty offshore engine options originally available...I still want one! Long may she float.
 
swifty 800

Shes changes few owners, and i have no history until 2006, when the previous owner bought it.
Shes on london calan, at the moment im working little by little to restore all the mess inside.
No, theres no blue covers whatsoewer.
I can make some more pictures from inside etc, or you could come over and hale a look for yourself ;)
Just a small warning: is in a mess now, just sorted out the engine, still needs re-wiring (and im newbie in that), plus outdrive is damages (fork is broken, oil is leaking...)...
Still a lot to do (and since thats my first boat, i have no knowledge in anything whatsoever related to the boats- my main activity used to be computing/programming/IT, and currency markets for now...)...
 
unsinkable?..

unsinkable?...
well, im definetly not trying out this feature...
as for me, it looks like regular fiberglass...
but then again, thats the only fiberglass ive ever seen (related to boating world)...

and sorry for the pictures... im myself hate taking pictures, so have only few on top... and dont really know how to use photo camera... :)
 
P.S.

P.S. Im IT guy of 26... so the boat is rufly my age...
sorry for the way i describe etc., im used to computer code mainly:(
 
Welcome to the forum mlcripnet.


a.jpg


b.jpg
 
Pretty slick.

In that second photo, she looks in really good shape! If the interior's poor, I guess you'll have picked the boat up fairly cheaply...that's often the way when there's no class-association. But for a nice-looking, very rare boat that was kind-of post-modern when it was new, I reckon you've done alright, you'll be glad you bought her.

I wish I could come and see her...a bit remote for me, though. Cheers, good luck.
 
outdrive

oh, i have oil leaking (just a little bit, usually when switching forward/reverse), and water in outdrive oil (i think thats gearbox- oil is completely white now).
any idea whats next?..
i think i wont be able to sort it out on my own :(
should i lift boat and call for mechanic?..
and any idea what would that cost me?.. :D
im based in london...
 
>>

dancrane said:
In that second photo, she looks in really good shape! If the interior's poor, I guess you'll have picked the boat up fairly cheaply...that's often the way when there's no class-association. But for a nice-looking, very rare boat that was kind-of post-modern when it was new, I reckon you've done alright, you'll be glad you bought her.

I wish I could come and see her...a bit remote for me, though. Cheers, good luck.
Click to expand...

im allready glad. im all nover the moon! for more than a year...
yeah, i paid 7000 or so... at this time there was nothing in price range up to 10 (max 12) thousands i had for a boat.
i expected to spend 3-5 thousands on it, but some guys really good in engine confirmed- engine "allmost new..."- that is, keeping in mind the age, is in perfect condition...
only outdrive remains now, and interior (which my friends will do, free of charge, of course- well, maybie in exchange for a nice week on water ;)

im dealing (practicing, with real (and my own!!!) money) scalping in forex...
so dont have much time for repairs right now...
 
>>

i was planing to sell it in 2012, when ill have 40-60k for other boat.
but ever since i spend some time (now i moved in, live there), i dont want to sell her any longer...
hope ill have enough chas until '12 to upkeep 2 boats ;)
ok, at the begining i hoped... now i pray ill have enough cash...
never believed you can fall in love with your boat :)
never understood the guys going crazy for their cars (im driving since age of 12, maybye is just that...)...
 
I'm glad that you're glad, to have such a rare and classy boat.

I wish I could offer useful mechanical advice, but you definitely need to consult a marine engineer - or at least, someone who's familiar with marine gearbox dilemmas.

Probably it's only a minor problem, if it's any problem. Most boats have a few rumbles which their builders wouldn't have recognised. I'll bet it won't hold you back.

Good luck, on board and at work!
 
fenders...

in second photo, heres that fender... the red one... looks funny...
what is for?...
no good for side, not for back, cant think of the way to use it for front...
is just it was down there allready...
 
At a wild guess, I reckon the red fender can be tied tight onto the deck, to prevent damaging impact between the dock and the bow of the boat, particularly for inland, river use.

But seriously, go web-hunting for the Swift 800 boat-test from the mid 'eighties. I really thought it was in 'Motor Boat and Yachting'. It wasn't a two-minute glance at the boat, it was a proper test at sea, which covered everything.

It's kind of embarrassing to be honest...the boat still looks brand new in your photos, but I'm ancient, compared to how I was in 1986!
 
dancrane>>

i will try to get some guys to find that article... one way or another...
i neeeeeeeed it!!!!!!

myself on mobile internet, and half time spend on forex trading, but have some friends amazing in digging out information :D
if they can get latest ATM's security hacks, they can get this article... i hope...
 
carlton>>

cool.
so i will move it to the side :D
i dont really need it, as i have steps at the sides :D
but i will think of something :)
thanks...
 
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