Buy the right boat...... or the right engine

[oldgit]

Having started life in a similar way ie trailering a series of smallish speed boats and transitioning to a larger and heavier boat, the novelty of dragging it to assorted slipways and getting the thing in and out of the water, soon wears off.
It then dawns that having a boat capable of actually capable of going places under its own keel is much more relaxing and loads less stressfull and with the benefit of not having to own and run a small tank to pull it.

 

[Momac]

- and I think servicing a petrol is probably cheaper?

I never really understood this idea .
A petrol and a diesel both require oil and an oil filter . Maybe the diesel has an extra fuel filter but then the petrol has spark plugs . Petrols don't necessarily have coolant but coolant is not expensive . I don't see much in it either way from a cost perspective.

The availability of petrol at the waterside varies depending where you go boating. Petrol is scarce where I go boating but some folks do manage okay even if they restrict their range accordingly.

So really petrol of diesel is all about where you go boating, range of the boat and availability of fuel.

 

[jakew009]

I never really understood this idea .
A petrol and a diesel both require oil and an oil filter . Maybe the diesel has an extra fuel filter but then the petrol has spark plugs . Petrols don't necessarily have coolant but coolant is not expensive . I don't see much in it either way from a cost perspective.

The availability of petrol at the waterside varies depending where you go boating. Petrol is scarce where I go boating but some folks do manage okay even if they restrict their range accordingly.

So really petrol of diesel is all about where you go boating, range of the boat and availability of fuel.

You could argue serving a petrol inboard is more expensive because they always seem to need fixing

Diesels cope much better with being abused

 

[ylop]

I thought when people made the petrol/diesel servicing distinction they were probably conflating two different issues: small boat that can be trailered to the workshop v’s inboard which requires the mechanic to come to the boat?

 

[gjgm]

You are just throwing a load of your confusion onto something that is not rather complex.
Towing restrictions were removed at least not for hire and reward.

If you say so,though you seem to be at odds with Gov.uk.
Anyway , I am sure OP will do his own checks.

 

[ontheplane]

A friend was in the same situation a few years ago and bought a petrol Aquador 22 or 23 because the diesel version was out of budget. He regretted it. He had a lot of engine problems and ended up being rescued by the RNLI. He sold it and the new owner ended up being rescued also.
Here’s a cheaper 805 but it’s in Northern Ireland https://www.apolloduck.ie/boat/jeanneau-leader-805-for-sale/761131

Nice guy spoke to him… however there are some issues with it plus it’s not VAT paid - as far as we can tell either in EU or UK so there is that to add which changes things a bit!

But a genuine seller and he’s going to do me a video so we will see how it goes…

 

[ontheplane]

If you say so,though you seem to be at odds with Gov.uk.
Anyway , I am sure OP will do his own checks.

 

[ontheplane]

You are just throwing a load of your confusion onto something that is not rather complex.
Towing restrictions were removed at least not for hire and reward.

towing vehicle will have a plate saying max trailer weight and max train weight. Any policeman can explain it, perhaps it was the ability to understand.

No they aren’t? That’s not true and anyone who were to follow that advice could at the very least expect a tug by the police and at worst find themselves in a catastrophic accident with no insurance and being held personally liable for compensating others plus perhaps killing people…. Not worth destroying lives to save a few quid…..

There are very clear strict rules about the trailer the load the overhang the weight and so on.

With heavy tow vehicles, air brakes and different plating you can tow bigger things hence low loaders and so forth - but not behind a car. Your licence or the car may restrict you to lower capacities but you can’t go higher.

 

[potentillaCO32]

No they aren’t? That’s not true and anyone who were to follow that advice could at the very least expect a tug by the police and at worst find themselves in a catastrophic accident with no insurance and being held personally liable for compensating others plus perhaps killing people…. Not worth destroying lives to save a few quid…..

There are very clear strict rules about the trailer the load the overhang the weight and so on.

With heavy tow vehicles, air brakes and different plating you can tow bigger things hence low loaders and so forth - but not behind a car. Your licence or the car may restrict you to lower capacities but you can’t go higher.

We were talking about licensing. For a period they withdrew the right to be able to tow on a standard car license. However during covid for reasons already stated they changed the rules back so a standard car licence driver can tow up to 3500kg trailer braked.

 

[ontheplane]

Apologies - I thought you meant the trailer.

I think it’s not that simple - my partner still doesn’t have all the towing bits on her licence and she’s had a new one recently.

I think if your licence was issued at a certain time you have to apply for all the other bits

 

[jakew009]

Apologies - I thought you meant the trailer.

I think it’s not that simple - my partner still doesn’t have all the towing bits on her licence and she’s had a new one recently.

I think if your licence was issued at a certain time you have to apply for all the other bits

No, everyone with a category B license now has B+E by default. Doesn’t make any difference if it’s on your license or not but I’m surprised she’s not got B+E on her license if it’s been renewed since 2021.

Really these are the relevant categories today:

B = 3.5ton car
B+E = 3.5ton car + 3.5ton trailer
C = anything as long as it doesn’t bend in the middle
C+E = sky’s the limit

 

[Boaty_Pete]

Well a lot to discuss here, and my opinion is worth what I've been paid to give it, but here goes.
To have a boat of that nature moved by someone who's day job is doing so, is more than just parting with a fee.
It's their risk to get it back, it's their risk to ensure it's loaded safely and complies, their issue to deal with delays enroute and it can save a whole load of time and stress while you could even be doing something else (possibly going to work to earn more cash)
If you were intending to trailer often, and already have the vehicle + experience, plus wanted the adventure of collecting it, that's a whole other story.
As for petrol engines on a boat of this type? My opinion is stay clear.
The engine bay on most small boats isn't particularly friendly to any engine.
They are often too tight for easy access for maintenance, often can be damp due inevitable water ingress, which is often likely to be salt water, then become incredibly hot in use due to poor ventilation (compared to a truck or car) and can be inhospitable to sensitive electics. Petrol engines just seem to be more susceptible to this environment especially with less than very regularly use and care. It absolutely can be done, but the evidence is that the odds are less in your favour and turning up with family on a random sunny weekend to a nin starting engine is just pants.
A diesel, although likely to suffer cosmetically if neglected will often just keep starting and running.
Additionally a diesel leak will make a mess but not likely a fire and is very unlikely to actually blow up your boat. Boats can be difficult to vent the petrol fumes from so judicious use of the blowers is very important.
The only way I'd have a big petrol in a boat, is if it came my way as an unavoidable bargain or gift, not something I'd go out hunting for.
I'd wait for a diesel, and add a few quid to the budget while waiting.
Good luck with whichever way you go. I've done my fair share of most options, and the excitement of it all is priceless.

 

[jrudge]

Bear in mind your 80 hours use will likely be wildly optimistic. Running around in a small boat gets boring very quickly. Watersports maybe fishing if your thing. Petrol has its issues and if you are going to do 80 hours a year forget it. If you are doing a few small trips and a bit of water skiing ( fuel consumption on any boat that accelerates all the time is horrific ) then maybe the maths work as long as you don't pay much for it.

I am in the med and petrol is everywhere. I read on here that petrol is not as available in most uk marinas so bear that in mind. Transporting fuel in cans is a mugs game.

Join a rib club. For the honest use you will get it will save you money.

I hired a rib in Southampton for the afternoon with my kids. Not someting I would do again. Too cold. Too rough. Same as being on a 25 ft boat. 3 friends own one. I think it has been used a few times in years. The U.K is not really the place for playing in small boats as the weather makes it more of an endurance race than a pleasant lazy day in the sun and swimming. How often do you take your car for a drive for the sake of it ?

 

[bowler]

You learn something new everyday. From .gov website:

"If you got your licence from 1 January 1997:

You can tow a trailer that weighs up to 3,500kg MAM. This is known as a ‘category BE’ vehicle.

Your driving licence information shows which categories of vehicle you’re allowed to drive. View your driving licence information.

If you do not have ‘category BE’ on your physical driving licence, DVLA will add this the next time you renew your licence."

 

[oldgit]

Nice guy spoke to him… however there are some issues with it plus it’s not VAT paid - as far as we can tell either in EU or UK so there is that to add which changes things a bit!

But a genuine seller and he’s going to do me a video so we will see how it goes…

IVSS. mnetioned in the "Ad" is in Sandwich Kent.
Had some work done by them way back in the mists of time.

 

[Greg2]

Yes only 20 miles from NI to Scotland at the shortest crossing. Would need to wait for a good weather window, but then only an hour across?

May be a lot cheaper to truck down mainland Britain than if needed to truck across from NI?

Would need to think about how you get it out of the water onto transport - there is a small marina at Stranraer but not sure that it has a hoist.

I collected a new 12m Stormforce cabin RIB from Redbay in Cushendall to get to the mainland east coast. Best option was to cross the Irish Sea to Whitehaven marina where it was lifted onto transport. Distance is approx 70nm from the mouth of Belfast Lough to Whitehaven.
.

 

[Alicatt]

I seem to remember seeing a video of the 805 of Nick "Aquaholic" getting delivered, it was on an artic low loader, the boat was canted over to one side to reduce it's width a bit. Had a look for the video but could not find it.

 

[benjenbav]

I'd happily sail it over once I'd got used to the boat - but as a first-time-out trip I'd be way too twitchy.

The towcar isn't a problem I can buy something suited - the problem is going to be whether the rig is legal on a trailer - some are saying yes some are saying no - too heavy and too wide.....

I will see if the owner has ever put the trailer and boat on a weighbridge.

Sail it over with a delivery skipper?

 

[dunedin]

Sail it over with a delivery skipper?

And / or do some local usage for a week or so in NI to give a “shakedown” before hopping across the North Channel?

 

[dunedin]

Nice guy spoke to him… however there are some issues with it plus it’s not VAT paid - as far as we can tell either in EU or UK so there is that to add which changes things a bit!

But a genuine seller and he’s going to do me a video so we will see how it goes…

What is the issue with the VAT?

Was the boat commercially owned, in which case the exVAT price should be 20% lower to reflect this, and you pay the VAT on purchase?

Or are you worried about the complex VAT position created in NI by Brexit? VAT boats in NI on Brexit day shoukd in theory be accepted as VAT paid in both EU and UK. Worth checking paperwork but if UK VAT paid in NI then should be no issue bringing ing to mainland GB.
But worth checking details if a complex case or previous owner somehow dodged in an unusual way.