Best 25ft motor cruiser?

gordhouse said:
I am looking to purchase a 25ft diesel motor cruiser,approx yr 2002-2004.
What are pros/cons.
Cosidering Bayliner,Sea ray,Crownline Sealine etc.
Appreciate any advice
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Couple of left field choices. Windy 25 Mirage. Excellent hull, great build and looks classy. Botnia Targa 23 or 25. Marmite styling, strange accomodation layout but will keep going in seas which make other boats scuttle for harbour
 
gordhouse said:
I am looking to purchase a 25ft diesel motor cruiser,approx yr 2002-2004.
What are pros/cons.
Cosidering Bayliner,Sea ray,Crownline Sealine etc.
Appreciate any advice
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The best one is the one that you like the most. Sealines are great but so are Bayliners, Searays and just about all other makes. It's just that some are great at different things.

Some are better than others in a head sea, mine is poor, but you don't want to be out in a head sea of any size in any 25ft sports cruiser as it's going to be horrible.

Get around the boats yards and look at as many different makes and models as possible. Find the one you like and then maybe ask here about pros and cons of that model.

As for petrol and diesel I would go diesel but again there is a good argument for a petrol boat if you are going to be using it in a certain way and in locations where petrol is easily available.
 
Doral 250se

In our second year with a Doral 250se, absolutely love her. I've updated the nav kit and ground tackle. We regularly overnight with two and find the only one small issue, (when we're carring all the sunpads and toys in the summer) that we have to be a bit clever with stowage which can sometimes lead to having to move kit around.

To keep the marina fees down, our Doral doesn't have the extended bathing platform which brings her in overall at 7.7m.

Any questions feel free to ask.

P.s. with 320Hp she'll run upto 38kts 1/2 load and calm (mirror like) seas, however you need an oil tycoon to pay for the 92l/hr at max chat! We regularly cruise 16 / 21 kts at 34 - 36 l/h
 
hunti said:
In our second year with a Doral 250se, absolutely love her. I've updated the nav kit and ground tackle. We regularly overnight with two and find the only one small issue, (when we're carring all the sunpads and toys in the summer) that we have to be a bit clever with stowage which can sometimes lead to having to move kit around.

To keep the marina fees down, our Doral doesn't have the extended bathing platform which brings her in overall at 7.7m.

Any questions feel free to ask.

P.s. with 320Hp she'll run upto 38kts 1/2 load and calm (mirror like) seas, however you need an oil tycoon to pay for the 92l/hr at max chat! We regularly cruise 16 / 21 kts at 34 - 36 l/h
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Do they make a diesel version?

The OP wants a diesel boat.
 
jimmy_the_builder said:
+1; also, the Mirage is about twice the cost of everything else mentioned so far.

Cheers
Jimmy
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I dunno. £40-50k buys you an early model which is not twice the others. Yeah the cuddy is tight but it looks way better than a bubble boat like the Sealine or Doral
 
agree with Deleted User, Sealines are very slab sided and every time I pass one on the water they always remind me of an icecream van. Dorals always look top heavy with their unfeasibly large radar arches for size of boat.. all in my humble opinion of course ;)
 
OK heres where i get shot down... How about a Fairline Sunfury? Not modern styling, but stands apart from the common US boats, but great seakeeping, bags of sensible accomodation and solid build quality.
A few diesels around... good for 30kts with twin 140s
 
tico said:
OK heres where i get shot down... How about a Fairline Sunfury? Not modern styling, but stands apart from the common US boats, but great seakeeping, bags of sensible accomodation and solid build quality.
A few diesels around... good for 30kts with twin 140s
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Not at all. A mate of mine has one and it's really roomy for it's size and goes well. Still a good looking boat in a classic sort of way
 
Deleted User said:
Not at all. A mate of mine has one and it's really roomy for it's size and goes well. Still a good looking boat in a classic sort of way
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May i just say thanks for ruining my keyboard that i have just spat water all over!!!

You dont half contradict yourself. If a Sealine S23/S25 is a bubble boat what the f%*k is a Sunfury?

They have to be one of the ugliest boats ever to grace this earth in a classic or otherwise sort of a way.
 
CX54WEK said:
You dont half contradict yourself.
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Fwiw, I for one don't see any contradiction.
Bubble boat (not ugly, mind) is maybe the best possible definition for S23/25.
And the Sunfury indeed had a certain style, in the context of her age.

All that said, I must admit that I'm biased because there's a rather long list of boats I'd recommend to anyone asking about the best 25', before thinking of the S23/25. Otoh, considering also that the only requirements mentioned by the OP are related to "weekending, socialising, and accommodation", well, the S23/25 is definitely worth mentioning.

All imho, as always.
 
CX54WEK said:
May i just say thanks for ruining my keyboard that i have just spat water all over!!!

You dont half contradict yourself. If a Sealine S23/S25 is a bubble boat what the f%*k is a Sunfury?

They have to be one of the ugliest boats ever to grace this earth in a classic or otherwise sort of a way.
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Oooer, obviously struck a nerve there. By definition a bubble is curved and since a Sunfury is all straight lines, it can't be a bubble boat. The S23/25 may be a bubble boat but I have to say it's the most beautiful bubble boat I've ever seen:)
 
CX54WEK said:
May i just say thanks for ruining my keyboard that i have just spat water all over!!!

You dont half contradict yourself. If a Sealine S23/S25 is a bubble boat what the f%*k is a Sunfury?

They have to be one of the ugliest boats ever to grace this earth in a classic or otherwise sort of a way.
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The Sunfury 26 is a nice boat, basically became the Targa 27 IIRC, the Fury 26, OTOH, is a bit of a minger. Are you getting the 2 mixed up?
 
My first boat (and only so far) was an Aquador 23DC. So I don't have many points of reference but would I buy another - yes, without hesitation, great boats.

Jon.
 
I see no one has mentioned a Merry Fisher 805, which more or less comes into the 25 foot range, depending on whether you include the bathing platform. Good sea keeping, proper fore/bow/pointy end cabin, decent main cabin/saloon, room to sit out the back, sunbridge on the roof, inboard diesel on a shaft, tons of room for two to go away on, acceptable for four to weekend on, masses of storage space and a huge lazarette locker, etc, etc. Most will come with fridge, 2 burner hob, hot and cold, shower, electric and manual bilge pumps, windlass etc.

Not going to be the cheapest choice mentioned, but definitely well put together. Mine is based at Shotley and anyone considering this size of boat is more than welcome to take a look around or come for a spin.
 
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