Birchwood 22....opinions please?

[Guest]

We're looking for a motor boat,under 23 ft,not too much under the water,cheap to run...(relatively!),covered or semi covered steering,not too noisy(We want a lot eh?)... for chichester harbour/occasional solent trips

Seen a Birchwood 22 with watermota 42hp diesel/shaft- Does that sound suitable? or underpowered out of the harbour?

Any other boat suggestions gratefully received, we are fairly new to this, only boating since last summer.

Thanks in advance

 

[Guest]

I am a Birchwood owner (a TS33) and rate them. This is, however and old boat and you should be prepared to spend money on repairs. As boats, Birchwoods are pretty well screwed together if mine is anything to go by. I have owned her for nearly ten years and the only repairs have been engine related.

I think the 22 was basically a river boat so be careful about taking her to sea, if you have such thoughts. She would probably be OK in calm conditions but not anything over force 3/4 winds.

Nick

 

[Guest]

My first boat was the Birchwood 25, which is the larger version of the 22, it is basically the same just a bit bigger all round! My Birchwood only had a single petrol engine, 1600cc. In my opinion these boats are not made for sea conditions are were intended only for river or estuary use, however if you find a 25 with twin engines it will certainly plane and would be quite happy in conditions of force 3 or 4.

Good Luck

Barry

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the help

 

[Guest]

I used potter around the Solent in a seventeen foot trailboat with a four horse outboard and had great fun - but only on 'good' days. I should imagine a 22ft Birchwood with 42 horse would be fine so long as you watch the weather, don't be too ambitious, and carry VHF radio and adequate safety gear. A 'get you home' outboard of about five horse may also be a good idea.