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

[ontheplane]

I have looked at several boats.

We've all seen Aquaholics videos of life with his Jeanneau 805 Leader.

I think that would be a great boat for me - but Leaders with Diesel engines are just a bit too much of a stretch - I can't afford £40k + for a weekend toy (well I could but that's just too much for me really).

So am looking at a 26' Sea Ray and 25' Montery both nice, both with diesel engines.....

However an 805 has popped up, which with some hard negotiating might come in about the same price as those boats - circa 25k - but it has a petrol engine.

I already know a diesel is "better" and all the reasons for that - but looking at the way things have gone, Diesel is not 1/3 the price of petrol on marina's now - it's actually about 70% of the cost.

Thanks to Outboards, more marinas seem to carry petrol.

I won't be a "heavy" user of the boat - maybe 50-70hrs a year - and unlikely to do massive cruises (exception might be an occasional forray over the Bristol Channel or the like)....

So .... buy a boat that is maybe "better" with the "wrong" engine or a boat not as good with the "right" engine..?

 

[jakew009]

I wouldn’t have an inboard petrol at any cost. It’s the worst of both worlds.

Just buy the boat you really want. The cost is soon forgotten.

 

[potentillaCO32]

bear in mind that at marina prices an american sport cruiser with a mercruiser 4.3 will be burning 80 to 100 quid per hour of fuel.

Maybe why i dont see many when sailing a few miles out yet the marinas have lots of them...

 

[ontheplane]

I wish!!

I get your point but I’ve had inboard petrols several times before - the only thing(s) against them for me was the huge running cost difference and range difference - but that running cost difference seems less than it was now…

If you wouldn’t have petrol at “any price” It’s difficult to assess if you’re right lol

 

[ontheplane]

bear in mind that at marina prices an american sport cruiser with a mercruiser 4.3 will be burning 80 to 100 quid per hour of fuel.

Maybe why i dont see many when sailing a few miles out yet the marinas have lots of them...

Yep - I agree - but diesel in the marina is £1.40- £1.80 a litre now so probably burning £50 or so itself - and I think servicing a petrol is probably cheaper?

I’d love an idea as to what the overall cost difference a year is

 

[jakew009]

I wish!!

I get your point but I’ve had inboard petrols several times before - the only thing(s) against them for me was the huge running cost difference and range difference - but that running cost difference seems less than it was now…

If you wouldn’t have petrol at “any price” It’s difficult to assess if you’re right lol

I said inboard petrol outboards are great.

Inboard petrol on outdrives is just the devils work

 

[ontheplane]

Every boat in the price range I am looking at are sterndrives - just petrol or diesel are the options….

 

[potentillaCO32]

Walking to work on my contessa this morning i will be walking past at least 3 bayliners with their sterndrives removed looking very sad...

 

[ontheplane]

Maybe they are just off to be serviced?

If anyone can find a nice 4 berth 24-28’ sports cruiser with a good modern outboard for 20-25k let me know and I’ll buy it - but they don’t exist as far as I can see!

So sterndrive or sterndrive is my option

 

[Scubadoo]

Considering what you have said, I would stick with a Diesel / outdrive. Although you have experience with a petrol inboard, I know of a few older boats in my marina that have had nothing but trouble with them, and that includes one with a new petrol. Have you considered a Sealine S25 (S23 also the same model / size 25ft), plenty of diesels within your price bracket. For me, buy the right boat with the right engine, I wouldn't buy a boat just based on the engine though, so many variables to consider.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

There are some other boats with diesels I would imagine.

Also diesel servicing cost would be cheaper with Volvo 31/32/41/42/43 rather then the D series, and same for DP-290 rather then DPH stern drive.

 

[Dino]

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

 

[ontheplane]

Yes - I can get a few Diesel boats in budget - but there are “issues” with each of them - either poor spec or poor condition or too dear!!

I suppose I am like everyone else- want the best boat for little / no money lol

 

[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

That sir is a good find!!

I will call them. It blows the budget to bits but life is for living and Northern Ireland would mean no VAT to pay although shipping might be a bit chewy!

 

[ontheplane]

KAD 300 - is that 285hp?

 

[ontheplane]

Also, there is a trailer available - but is this a legally trailable boat? I am not sure if it falls under the width and weight rules? Because that would make getting it to mainland easier if it does.

 

[jakew009]

Also, there is a trailer available - but is this a legally trailable boat? I am not sure if it falls under the width and weight rules? Because that would make getting it to mainland easier if it does.

it's not really legally trailerable at 3.5t but the saying is "if it's on it's gone" and "if in doubt move it at night".

 

[ontheplane]

I might risk a short drive - but a 300m road trip if it wasn’t legal wouldn’t be something I’d do - the consequences if something went wrong aren’t worth thinking about!

 

[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

How did you find this? - I have searched the site for Ireland with every search term I can think of but it doesn’t come up… the link you posted works though…. I think I might be missing a load of boats I don’t know exist if I am missing boats like this.

I searched “6m to 10m”
Ireland and UK
£10000 to £45000

And it still doesn’t show up in the 1145 boats that comes up

 

[Dino]

There is a .co.uk site and a .ie site. I just went into the UK site and selected Jeanneau and then picked Leader 805.
The 805 seems to be a great boat. The American equivalents are all really narrow due to US towing regulations. I was only watching Nick Burnham and his mate cruising down to Falmouth last night on YouTube.