Best used seaworthy boats ...

[CharlesY]

Please I need advice for the best used seaworthy boats for under £50K which offers performance, comfort, reliability and accom for 4/6 berths. I was told the Nelson is of them. Are there any other makes?

Regards
Charles

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[deborahann]

Depends by what you mean by 6 berths?? or even 4. You can sleep 4 on a 20ft boat, else more comfortable on a 35. Nelsons are indead very sea worthy boats, but they are not by nature of there design, high performance boats, if that means speed?? Think more about what you want to use the boat for. How far do you expect it to go and where. Your not going to find all your ideal criteria for £50 grand.

<hr width=100% size=1>deborah on delft.
Nothing to do with Mucky Farter or hlb in drag

 

[CharlesY]

Hi Deborah,

What I meant is overnight accommodation for 4/6 person with the usual wash facilities. Performance wise max knots is quite sufficient. Mainly costals and occassionally channel crossing.

Regards
Charles

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[hlb]

OOoPPp's Sorry that wernt Debs. That was me in drag!!

"max knots is quite sufficient" Thats got me beat!!

Petrol or diesel?

How big would you like it??



<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[Chris_d]

You must have been speaking to a raggie, they only seem to have heard of Nelsons, doubt you'd get a good one for 50K though.

Bit of a vague question though, you could buy a 1970's Broom 37 which would certainly sleep 6 and be seaworthy, but if your younger you might prefer a say sealine 310 or S28 for 50K, theres 100's of options. Bit like saying you want a reliable and roadworthy car for 10K, need to have look at a few and decide what sort of boat appeals to you.

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[CharlesY]

Twin diesel inboard. Length 30'+. I saw a few ads (Nelson) in boats-for-sale etc selling for from £25K upwards. I wonder if there are any other make that are equally good or better than the Nelson for my budget.

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[halcyon]

Nelson's come in many forms, from work boat to top of the range cruiser, price normally reflects what you get, and the amount of work you have to put in.


Brian

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[hlb]

Go and look at a few and come back and ask if there ok. We cant pick a boat out for you that will be exactly right for you. You will have to do that.

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[CharlesY]

Come on guys. All I need is advice fro you experts out there what are the best used seaworthy motor cruise boats that I should consider. Let's forget the price tag and concentrate on the merits.

Regards
Charles

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[BrendanS]

You still haven't provided enough information to go on, and the little information you have provided is confusing. Define seaworthy. Capable of going to sea - any boat designed for use on the sea should be seaworthy!! or do you mean capable of long distance cruising in rough conditions.

You also asked for a boat which offers performance. Most people would equate this to speed, but then you state you are looking at Nelsons.

If you can narrow down your expectations, then we can offer a lot more useful advice

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[longjohnsilver]

So wot max size are U looking to buy, will you consider outdrives as well as shafts, presume you want diesel, do U want to go fast or slow?

Most boats are seaworthy, but obviously some better than others. As hlb says best you look at some and then ask cos wot we think are good you could well not like.

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[jhr]

Still not that easy to be specific, but as a general rule, anything from Scandinavia will have been built to deal with tougher weather conditions, so boats built by Nimbus, Windy, Draco, Aquador et al generally combine seaworthiness with performance. At the top of the tree are the Botnia Targa range from Finland, which are, ahem, quirky looking, but which can be relied on to look after you in almost any conditions you might care to mention, and which are strictly for headbanging foul weather nutters.

In the UK, a number of the big names build boats that will look after you in bad weather, though many are a compromise between out and out performance and out and out sea keeping. As a f'rinstance, the hull designs of a Hunton or a Sunseeker, which are deep V performance boats, will probably keep going faster, for longer, than a Fairline or a Princess. Anything built on a semi-displacement hull, such as a Nelson, will look after you but at the price of lower speeds and a wetter ride.

Finally, trawler-type yachts, such as Grand Banks, Trader etc. will look after you very well indeed, but are happiest at sub planing speeds and tend to punish a heavy hand on the throttles by getting very thirsty.

You pays yer money and takes yer choice. Everyone on here will have a different opinion..............

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[jfm]

I wouldn't think you could get a good nelson for 50k, but not sure.

I think this nelson seaworthiness is rubbish anyway. They look roughty toughty, and in truly extreme weather we'd all rather be in Nelson than praps 95% of all other boats, length for length. But there are weather forecasts, so you know when it will be bad, and you can take refuge. So, why not get a nicer boat (Nelson have really wet ride, yuk) and have more fun when the weather's nice. You're not opening your own branch of the RNLI.

It's like getting a Hummer as your family car, "in case the road gets rough with big potholes". Surely better to get a merc and not go on potholey roads, or steer round em?

So, a Maxum 3000SCR, twin diesel, 30foot, nice and newish 2000 model, £50-55k, should do the trick. Or if you want bigger/older, a Sealine or Corniche or summink. Or if really quite old and you're good with a silicone gun or own a putty firm (leaky windows), a Moonraker

 

[Its_Only_Money]

CharlseY

I expect that (almost) every boat owned by each forumeer is a different make/model, that means we all have different ideas about how to prioritise the factors you've mentioned + a lot of others besides. If there was a single, all-encompassing answer to the question you've posed we'd probably all drive it! ....just trying to explain why you are getting the answers you are....

<hr width=100% size=1>Rgds

Simon
Its Only Money
Fairline Sprint
Solent-based

 

[CharlesY]

Sorry guys/girls for not being very specific. I am a new kid on the block so please bear with me.

Usage style: Motor cruising
Seaworthy - I may in future wish to cross-channel to France or Holland.
Accommodation - 4 to 6 people overnight with comfort with usual hot/cold water amenity.
Performance - I meant speed (max 20 kmph should be quite sufficient I think) and manuveoability in bad weather.
Size: 28'+
Hull design - I was told semi-displacement offers better comfort than planning design.
Engine: I assume twin-diesel inboard shaft is the obvious choice.

Thanks once again. The info provided by jhr is most comprehsive so far. Thanks jhr.

Regards
Charles

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[CharlesY]

Thanks jfm comments on comparing cars and boats. I assume the roads conditions are more predictable and easily overcome than out in the water right?

P.S. I used to own a Merc S600L and then sold it to fund a smaller Merc E-class and a sports coupe. The reason is its too big and thirsty and the E240 can do similar jobs with less running costs.

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[longjohnsilver]

If you want to accommodate 4-6 peeps in comfort then you'll really need to look at something much bigger than 28', nearer 40' probably.

Your max speed requirements goes back to a semi or even displacement hull, maybe look at the Aquastar range or Seaward, altho you'll get greater space with Aquastars, their 38' should suit.

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[jfm]

Well you'd think that. But no not really. As others have said above everyone has different priorities and tries to a get a boat to suit. But there are few who regard say a 10 hour passage, hours from safe haven, as priority. Some of the best fun in a boat is stopped at anchor, or tied up visiting another place. Of course the passage itself is fun too, but you need to balance the passage time and the stopped time, esp if guests/family aboard. So, much of what you're likeyl to do is shorter trips, and you will know weather is gonna be ok else you will stay home, and if it starts lookin bad you will run for cover. Hence, you will only very very rarely need a boat with the bad weather capabilities of Nelson etc. So do not discount the possibility of getting something more comfortable.

Sure there are those for whom Nelson is perfect boat, either becuase they do heavy weather or they just likem. I would never buy one though. I dont want spray lashing over the side in a force 5 and no decent outside deck to loaf on, have drinks and lunch, and all hard roughty surfaces. There's nothing wrong with this type of boat, all I'm saying is think carefully whther yuo need a land-rover-of-the-sea type machine, and dont assume you do. Notice, very few mobo-ers have them

I am struggling witht he car analogy though. I cant invent a boat scenario to relate to a S600 then e240 and a small coupe..... An S600 is neither a Nelson nor any other boat I can think of, cept perhaps a thames barge. Perhaps an e240 with plus a coupe is like a Phantom 50 with an Avon 320 jetrib tender. Help anyone?

 

[jhr]

For what you have in mind, most of the products from the big name manufacturers will do the job and you don't really need to go to the extremes of a Targa or even a Nelson - they are excellent sea boats but are designed primarily for people who have to go out in all weathers - pilots, policemen and the like - when you and I would stay in harbour.

In terms of going cross Channel, size is one of the more significant factors - the bigger the boat (generally) the less scary it becomes. Semi displacement hulls are a mixed blessing: yes, you will stay alive in them and yes, in the most extreme conditions they are the safest option, but they can also roll like pigs and won't necessarily provide the most comfortable ride.

It's amost a cliche, but for something mid - thirties (feet) in length, though perhaps a bit above your budget, you can't go far wrong with a Fairline Turbo or Princess 35. Both are good seaboats with diesel/shaft options available. The suggestion of a Broom is also a good one, so long as you are into net curtains and stairlifts /forums/images/icons/smile.gif. The principles of what jfm says also make sense to me, though speaking personally, I would never, ever venture beyond a boating pond in a Moonraker - but that's just a personal prejudice.

I'd have a good look at what's available out there, via the various online brokerages (including the one linked to YBW.com) and Motor boaty magazines. Also, in spite of the tendency of everyone on here to talk rubbish 99% of the time (except for me, where it's 100%), I'd keep dropping in here and, over time, you will become master of all boaty knowledge...........

Good luck.



<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[jfm]

moonraker - therapy needed

Yeah ok I withdraw the moonraker suggestion. It's just I (like others here) used to love them as a kid, the first glamourous (seemingly...) moboat I remember, used to cut out the ads, and I can't quite get the memory out of my system.......

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