Boat test advice required

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Swmbo and myself are test driving a 34ft motor boat later today, we are happy with the interior layout but do not have the experience to know what to watch out for in sea capabilities.

Could those with experience of this size of boat please direct me as to what manoevers we should ask to be carried out and what responses to those I should expect. The boat will have 2 x volvo D4 260hp engines, are there any tests we should do re these e.g. Find out what is required to get it on the plane.

This is a serious post as the money we are now spending is more than play money and we want to get it right with your help.

Thanks.

P.S. I spent the evening with my boating advisor last night and by the end of it, due to unforseen circumstances, I can't remember what was said apart from I should keep my boat longer.
 
Wow, you've got it Bad.

The simplest check I would do is step onto the rear quarter and see how much the boat moves, if it goes down a foot the boat will be very tippy and need continual trimming which will get tedious.

If the platform is stable, it's a good point to start. After that it's wow factor, layout, accommodation and confidence in the manufacturer of which we all have our favourites for differing reasons.

Resale value will be pretty high on your list, I would imagine! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Pete

Manouvers you should try during your test are

1 Long left turns getting tighter and tighter and listen out for cavitation or feel for anything not smooth, see if the back end slides out or if it grips and rights itself awkwardly. Run over your wake during this exercise will give you an idea of how well the boat can handle it, repeat this for right turns they should both turn exactly the same.
2 Go over waves following sea and head sea and try beam sea too. Also go over largish wakes at 45 deg and see how she takes them, start slow and speed up, using common sense of course.
3 Stop the boat reset the trim tabs and then launch her on to the plane, see how long it takes do this 3 or 4 times using different trim settings to see which is best and if it doesn’t jump on the plane quick enough then it certainly wont once you have all your gear on board.
4 Try running with one engine see how the boat handles and what speed it obtains, shut down the other engine and re-do test.
5 From full speed do an emergency stop, look at the back and see how much water comes in if any at all.
6 Do this again more slowly and again see if any water comes over the stern.
7 Check the reaction of the boat to trim tabs do right hand bank then left hand, see how much they are able to change the boats attitude.
8 See how quick the boat will steer say to avoid a pot at 23 knots
9 Pop into a bay which has some traffic and anchor up, see how she sits at rest and when some wash comes past. See how stable she is in these conditions.
10 Make sure you are comfortable with the controls and the position of the trim tab selectors and bow thrusters.
11 When in a marina at slow speeds ie 1 knot turn into the wind then turn the steering away from it and see how he boat is pushed, ie does the front swing round does the whole boat drift or does she do nothing?
12 Reverse her in and see how easy or hard it feels.
13 Walk round the boat and see how awkward or easy it is to do that and manage ropes or fenders
14 See how easy it would be to put the size of dinghy you want on the back and where are you going to put the outboard?

All the best and good luck.

Dom
 
[ QUOTE ]
please direct me as to what manoevers we should ask to be carried out and what responses to those I should expect.

Sticks forward, boat should advance, back and the boat should go astern turn the wheel to the right and the bow should turn to stbd left and the bow should turn to port. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Re tests check safety equipment before setting off as you cant be too careful and probably mob, it may help sober you up.

have a great day.
ps what time r you coming through the harbour as I will look out for you. I live in flat overlooking the royal clarence yard marina. What are the boat details? name colour and make.
 
Wow, thanks, but I'm only out for an hour or so /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Will the dealer think I'm a nutter if I start doing all that? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Pete,

She will handle like a 37ft boat (cos she is) she can take big waves and cruises nicely at 31knots.....so buy one! (It is still on my list if SWMBO does not pop out another sprog)

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Enjoy

Paul
 
The D4 260hp motors with the same huge duo props as mine should shift it quite nicely as you say /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I wonder if I could still pull a banana?
 
no he will think you are a serioius buyer that understands what you are doing.................

great post Dom - definitely one for the favs.

and what I actually said was - if you are seriously planning to upgrade from this (34) to a 42 within 2 years you are barking mad going ahead with the purchase (and sale of your current boat) because a 42 isn't going to be substantially different from a 34 to handle (forget any shaft/drives issues they are both 2 engines and a bowthruster and probably similar issues relative to getting on and off the sides etc.)
Equally a 2 year old boat with 50hrs on the engines and no warantees would have me expecting a much bigger discount to new than one with some warantee left on the engines - not saying it's not going to be great; simply put 50hrs is no better than 400 in the circumstances and price should reflect that.
 
Well if you are going to spend that much money then yes they should otherwise you could end up with a boat that you arent totally satisfied with.

a quick spin in flat calm waters doesnt justify a test in my opinion.

Also remember SIBS is coming up with new boats being launched so dont be rushed into a buy for a short test ride in flat calm conditions.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Also remember SIBS is coming up with new boats being launched so dont be rushed into a buy for a short test ride in flat calm conditions.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree Pete. Buyers market at SIBS, plenty of toys to test, champagne receptions and salesmen trying to satisfy your every whim.
 
Great Idea, you could print off depsols checklist and book seatrials at SIBS for your top 10 boats, take a couple of weeks off and give marks too each boat in turn for each test. Great way to spend 2 weeks boating and I reckon you would definately know the right boat for you at the end plus theres the bonus of all that champagne. As Dom says, you are looking at spending an awful lot of money so decision has to be right. That said the cranchi is seriously cool so if it knocks your socks off, why not?
 
I have the option of a brand new boat, but not get delivery until November, or IMMEDIATE purchase of a 2nd hand one with 50hrs on the clock which is identical, but 18mths old so no warranty on engines.

I don't want to be without a boat during the summer, what would you do?
 
Yeah the Cranchi is a lovely boat but you still need to pay the field as it has certain things that may suit you now but not later, frinstance the cabin layout on that size boat may be ok to look at but when you start cookng you have to sleep right next to where youve eaten and cooked.

Pete you need to put a list together of the things you want to do in the boat, if it includes sleeping abourd and cruising for more than 4 days with family then I would suggest a seperate cabin for both you and one for the kidsto share.

Also storage space, which is important for the amount of stuff you carry has to be there.

So, first write a list of what you want from a boat then tick the boxes when you go to see each one or grade it like MBM/MBy out of ten for each bit. then make a shortlist of say the top 5 and seatrial them using the list above and grade each one of those, the highest scoring boat wins.

that way at least the top two boats would serve your purpose.

This formula is Copyright Depsol and not to be used by IPC in further productions without sufficient amounts of moolah exchanging hands.
 
Stop beating around the bush. What are you looking at so I can rubbish it! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

And as others have said, I wouldn't bother getting the 34' if you are serious about a 42' later. Just go strtaight to the 42. You're wasting your money otherwise.

You wouldn't start with a mini then move up to an escort cos you don't want to jump straight to a jag would you? Mini to jag would be fine wouldn't it....
 
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