Boat Advice

[GFN62]

Hi everyone,

I hope you don't mind me picking your brains about a few things.

BACKGROUND

I am 58 and coming up to retirement and I want to buy a boat and moor it in the greek islands firstly. I have just completed my RYA day skipper theory and now have to decide whether to do my day skipper practical in a sailboat or a motorboat. I know that to buy a boat I don't actually need to do any course. However, my plan is to do a few charters first prior to buying a boat to see which ones I like/don't like, etc.
My personal preference would be a sailboat. However, I am concerned with no prior knowledge of sailing prior to doing the RYA day skipper theory that I would spend the first few years of having a sailboat just getting to grips/being comfortable sailing the boat (taking into account I will be doing most of my sailing with my wife with just me knowing how to sail and her being a passenger mainly) and that given my age I don't want to waste the limited time I have just getting comfortable with the boat and then by the time I am comfortable I'm no longer in a physical state to use it properly.

That train of thought has led to me thinking that a motorboat would be the better option as there would be less learning and a quicker time to getting comfortable on the water.

SAILBOATS

If I was going to get a sailboat from looking at what is out there it would be a beneteau oceanis 41.1 or something similar. 2/3 cabins would be ideal for when my children came to visit and also allowing enough space to be comfortable on board in the living areas. I want something fairly new as I like the more modern interiors and the budget is around £250 000 give or take for what I would like.

MOTORBOATS

As I've said previously about the motorboat appearing to be the more sensible choice. I have come up with wanting at least 2 cabins and a flybridge. From my limited knowledge of boats I have found the Merry Fisher 1095 fly and Beneteau Swift Trawler 35 which both seem to meet my requirements and budget. Are there any other boats you would recommend looking at?

With the motors that these boats come with from reading the forums/articles, it seems that 1/1.5mpg is what they run at overall and with the rule of thumb of doing 75 hours a year at say a cruising speed of 8 knots as I'm not looking for speed. And taking a rough price of a gallon of fuel at 5 euros in Greece it would roughly cost £3000 a year in fuel.

So with that from looking online, it seems that the big associated costs not including purchasing the boat are:

- £5000 a year mooring costs in a marina in Corfu or the like once the boat has been craned in/out. Storing on land in the winter, etc.
-£3000 a year fuel costs if running an 'average' amount of hours on the engine.
- maintenance of the boat throughout the year, engine services, wear, and tear, etc.

There will be the insurance costs and other things on top of that. However, I am not really sure how much they would be at the minute. Does anyone have a rough guide?

Do you feel like these figures are realistic for fuel and mooring in Greece a year as these are just what I have worked out myself and are not based on actual experience?

Also, would you agree with me in that given my age and lack of sailing knowledge that a motorboat would be the more sensible choice to make the most of my time?

Sorry for the long-winded post, Thank you for reading and for any advice you may share. Gerard.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

If your major concern is ‘learning’ the boat, and you’re happy with ~8kn then I’d go for the sailing boat or a motor sailor. Basic sailing isn’t rocket science given a decent boat whereas something of the size you’re looking at in the MB world could well be. And a yacht with a decent engine will truck along at 7-8kn all day on a fraction of the fuel you’d put in a MB.

Ex motor boater turned sailor turned motor boater

 

[Mike_Cornwall]

Hi, there are many other costs involved in motor cruisers.
insurance in this country, My premium for a 35ft twin engined cruiser is around £600 before discounts for no claims.
Servicing costs I allow roughly £500 per engine. I too don’t know how to sail, but if I did, it would save me ££££s

 

[SR4]

I agree that a motor sailer would probably be a good option. A displacement hull would give you a stable and comfortable ride and also lower fuel costs. It would also give you the opportunity to learn to sail gradually whenever suited you. Running downwind under sail can be very peaceful with the engine switched off. Sorry I cannot help with the costs but maintaining a reasonably small inboard shaft drive diesel would be far cheaper and easier than maintaining a couple of far bigger engines as generally found on large motorboats.
If not a motor sailer, you might want to consider a displacement motorboat as they are designed to cruise at approximately the speed you mentioned and are therefore far more efficient doing so. Slow and steady, nice and relaxing.

 

[Kawasaki]

SR4, was gonna say the same
Plus
How about a Cat?
Lots in the Greek islands which says something
Go ok with relatively small engines so no big deal ref fuel
Nip along in lighter winds than a motorsailor
Yep, not as good in a blow and certain wind directions
'Less learning' with a motorvessel?
Hmm, not too sure about that
Berthing and unberthing a slab sided motorboat with hardly any keel to grip the water
Takes a bit of practice
Plus navigating at speed has a different skill set too
No, I think the learning curve with each discipline comes with its own challenges

 

[Rocksteadee]

Ah, sailing, the most expensive way to boat for free