Boat recommendations please

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Rosepetal

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Hi

A short history - we have always loved boats, we went to boat shows before our children were born, we have done numerous holidays on the Broads and now our children have flown the nest we find ourselves with much more leisure time so we are thinking of getting our own boat for days out/weekends etc. We are fortunate to live within 45 mins of the South Coast so we are going to have some tours of the smaller and bigger marinas. There is so much to learn but I need help with boat recommendations please, these are our initial requirements:

About 9m
Enclosed helm
Easy access for dog (swim platform?)
Decent galley and heads
Sleeps 4 (preferably with one cabin that can be left permanently as a bedroom)
Husband prefers diesel engines
Reasonably sporty looking
Able to handle calm seas and rivers
Around £25k

Apologies for any incorrect terminology. All suggestions gratefully received :)
 
Have you considered entering a search of new boats section up to9m with a budget of 25 k ? I suspect a decent galley and heads is somewhat subjective term at this size though ?
 
The budget is restrictive but we don’t want to throw lots of money at it before we know how it will work out for us. I have looked at the Princess 30DS and it’s in the right ball park. I like the styling of the Bayliner 246 but the living accommodation is too restrictive and husband isn’t overly keen on a Bayliner.
 
Start with the princess and broom as examples of older types. See if you can get your hands on old copies of motor boat magazines from that era maybe as a way of reading up on them when new.
 
Rose your shopping list looks a lot like mi e did a year ago. I homed in on the Jeanneau Merry Fisher range, and bought a year 2007 MF925. Single inboard volvo Penta diesel, sgaft drive with bow thruster. Good sized saloon and well kitted out galley, decent main cabin plus a small single cabin, good heads with shower, big aft deck, big bathing platform with deck shower, flybridge sun deck. A tad over your budget but not much. Check these boats out on YouTube.
Atb
Rick
 
Rosepetal said:
Hi

A short history - we have always loved boats, we went to boat shows before our children were born, we have done numerous holidays on the Broads and now our children have flown the nest we find ourselves with much more leisure time so we are thinking of getting our own boat for days out/weekends etc. We are fortunate to live within 45 mins of the South Coast so we are going to have some tours of the smaller and bigger marinas. There is so much to learn but I need help with boat recommendations please, these are our initial requirements:

About 9m
Enclosed helm
Easy access for dog (swim platform?)
Decent galley and heads
Sleeps 4 (preferably with one cabin that can be left permanently as a bedroom)
Husband prefers diesel engines
Reasonably sporty looking
Able to handle calm seas and rivers
Around £25k

Apologies for any incorrect terminology. All suggestions gratefully received :)
Click to expand...
We went through a significant period of looking around that budget and with an almost identical wish list and my conclusion given your wish list was a Princess 30DS on shafts - BUT if you see one be quick as they don't hang about in that configuration. Try to buy away from the coast/thames you will get much more for your money and £1000 will get it home

We ended up buying in a different price range (due to some unexpected good fortune) but from Ireland where value seems to be even better - cost to get it home £1800

Enjoy the process but be prepared for a lot of wasted time as sadly there is a lot of crap out there and final point - essential to SURVEY!!!
We spent £600 and saved £2.5k'ish

At that budget every additional £5k you can find will make a real difference - don't get too hung up on age its history is far more important.

Swim platforms are harder to find on older boats (they can be added) but if you stick to aft cockpits older boats tend to have much lower sides that dogs can jump over - but if enclosed helm is a real "must have" that will make dog access harder making swim platforms a must have and then your budget is tight - dogs were a big issue for us so that slightly strange summary is in fact true and a challenge

Our first run at that satisfying a similar list was a Hardy 25 which is well below budget and was a lot of fun but sadly in the end small heads were its (only) downfall.
 
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A sealine S24 (if you can find one now) isa nice choice but not an enclosed helm I am afraid unless the canopy is up of course
 
Don't be put off using eBay for your search - a couple of relevant Sealine's on there over recent weeks - at this price point marinas simply add to cost/loss of value
 
IF you can get to £30k there is a Hardy 27 at RBS Marine which might fit the bill - I think its been around a while but it might be a bit too "workboat/fishing" in style

To me the biggest conflict in your list is "enclosed helm" and "sporty"- it might help you to really think about those two and decide which comes out on top
 
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Halsey said:
IF you can get to £30k there is a Hardy 27 at RBS Marine which might fit the bill - I think its been around a while but it might be a bit too "workboat/fishing" in style

To me the biggest conflict in your list is "enclosed helm" and "sporty"- it might help you to really think about those two and decide which comes out on top
Click to expand...

I agree to me enclosed helm means that you are sitting inside on a lovely day. On a bad day you can always put the canopy up
 
Bigplumbs said:
I agree to me enclosed helm means that you are sitting inside on a lovely day. On a bad day you can always put the canopy up
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Which is why we ended up with an Aquador as it has opening rear doors 2 side doors midships and 2 sunroofs - every boat is a compromise.............I'm not a fan of canopies unless you are only going to go boating on (nice) days out
 
Now the weather has improved and we are allowed out again I am giving some more consideration to our next hobby! I do quite like the look of the Hardy Seawings
 
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