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

[ontheplane]

Yeh I confess it’s why I have picked it as a good choice - I am going to call this guy but I think it will need a transporter not a road trailer which could put delivery in the £‘000 not £‘00 range - I will see

 

[jakew009]

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!

there are companies who will do it for you, it’ll save you a fortune compared to getting a hgv. I had my 805 moved on a 3.5 ton trailer (the merry fisher version). Pm me if you want a contact.

 

[bowler]

Not far from International Airport either. Wouldn't be too painful to pop over for a nosey!

 

[oldgit]

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

"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)...."

Is generally believed that on average the vast majority of leisure craft fail even to do 50 hours a year. 30 year old boats with 800 hours.
You need to be really desperate to consider buying any inboard petrol , there is a reason the petrols for sale are non tidal and the deisels on the coast.
Outboard is different kettle of fish.
If you intend doing any decent trips and want to carry lots of beer, not 20 litre drums of petrol ? , its got to be diesel.
In our locale only two places left that hold petrol, one you have to go through a lock , the other, not even sure it still sells petrol.
MDL.
Diesel £1.60.
Petrol £2.02. ?
Suspect both those prices are well out of date ?

 

[gjgm]

You need to be really desperate to consider buying any inboard petrol , there is a reason the petrols for sale are non tidal and the deisels on the coast.

On the contrary, petrol inboards can be a perfect match- it depends what you want to do. There are large numbers of them on the south coast with folk having alot of fun.The idea of a 21ft sports boat with a diesel engine is nonsense, for example.
Otoh, 28ft "cruiser" with petrol will probably be unsaleable!
Years ago,I had 24ft sports boats with petrol which was just towable with a big Jeep and had lots of fun around the coast in different locations,day boating ( though alot of stop start for waterskiing was a bit pricey!)
If you are going to wizz around the bay in a smaller sportsboat and chuck the anchor out for some lunch, you hardly "must have" a diesel.

 

[Sianna]

as an 805 owner, I wouldn't consider a petrol, on paper they look fine but by god they struggle. There is a petrol powered one at Bucklers Hard it struggles to get on the plane, I have followed out a number of times and whilst ours, KAD43, pops up very easily, no trimming necessary, the petrol requires a lot of trim and time to get up. Then there's the running cost, both boats will be worth the same at resale but the petrol will cost a bucket more in your fuel running cost.

try before you buy

 

[ylop]

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!

Is sailing it over out of the question? Nice weather and a long weekend and it would soon put paid to you "unlikely to do massive cruises" suggestion!

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 might just be - but not for most tow vehicles you'd be looking for something like an old school landrover defender. But even if it had to go on a low loader it might still be a bonus because you don't need to lift at each end or need any special cradles etc. If the seller could deliver it to the ferry for you, then worth discussing with the ferry operator if it can go as unaccompanied cargo (that may be the wrong term). Lots of hauliers do it with artic trailers. If you were needing a truck to deliver it that would be a massive saving compared to paying for an empty truck and the time for the return leg. Bear in mind though you are going to need to store the trailer somewhere (marina will charge!), although it probably saves you more from the costs of lift and cradle/stands.

 

[dunedin]

Is sailing it over out of the question? Nice weather and a long weekend and it would soon put paid to you "unlikely to do massive cruises" suggestion!
…..

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?

 

[ylop]

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?

Only problem with that plan - Bristol is going to be an anticlimax afterwards!

 

[ontheplane]

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.

 

[oldgit]

On the contrary, petrol inboards can be a perfect match- it depends what you want to do. There are large numbers of them on the south coast with folk having alot of fun.The idea of a 21ft sports boat with a diesel engine is nonsense, for example.
Otoh, 28ft "cruiser" with petrol will probably be unsaleable!
Years ago,I had 24ft sports boats with petrol which was just towable with a big Jeep and had lots of fun around the coast in different locations,day boating ( though alot of stop start for waterskiing was a bit pricey!)
If you are going to wizz around the bay in a smaller sportsboat and chuck the anchor out for some lunch, you hardly "must have" a diesel.

"The Jeanneau Leader 805 typically has a dry weight of approximately 2,100 kg to 2,750 kg (4,630 lbs to 6,063 lbs), depending on the engine configuration and options. Note that the 2005 model can reach a dry weight of 4,800 kg according to some listings.

 

[ylop]

Well the builder says in 2100kg - that’s dry weight, but if you have a suitable tow vehicle and move all the spares, tools, anchor, etc and drain the tanks (eek with the price of diesel!). You can get twin axel trailers which will carry that sort of weight, but obviously you need to check the plate.

Depending where you look the beam is listed as anything from 2.89 to 2.98m. The maximum width of your trailer is 2.55m but the load can overhand that by 0.3M either side so it is legal (with not much to spare). BUT may cost extra on the ferry and needs some careful thought about your route!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Maximum tow weight with a suitable car is 3500kg including the braked trailer… a Discovery 3 or 4, or full fat Range Rover would be fine, but not the old Defender as suggested above. Also Land Cruiser Amazon and other big 4x4s.

Problem with motoring to UK mainland is that the trailer is still in NI….

 

[ylop]

not the old Defender as suggested above.

Obviously the drivers responsibility to check the specific plate on the vehicle - but certainly some defenders are plated for 3500kg, I though most or maybe all were?

 

[jakew009]

Obviously the drivers responsibility to check the specific plate on the vehicle - but certainly some defenders are plated for 3500kg, I though most or maybe all were?

Every defender ever made is plated for 3500kg towing (some even more with air breaks fitted).

That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a particularly good long distance tow car the 90 in particular is too short wheel base and tends to snake under heavy braking.

Much better off towing long distance with a Discovery or decent pickup truck.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Plated weight and capability aren’t the same thing. I had a near death experience towing a good quality braked sheep trailer with c. 20 animals in it with a Defender. Terrifying.

 

[gjgm]

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.

There are also restrictions depending in your own licence date, gross train weight ( or something!),overall length of rig, to name a few. Putting clobber from boat and into car may simply cause another problem!
Back in the day ,I asked Police. . Unfortunately, they couldn't explain it either !
Re car, just note that on some cars , not all versions of the same car have that max 3500kg.
Not sure if this is still the case , but back then I think you could measure from the apex of the trailer A frame , not the tow bar hitch, for example. Braking systems on USA trailers were not legal in UK.
All rather complex!

 

[ylop]

There are also restrictions depending in your own licence date,

Those were removed when during Covid there were insufficient HGV examiners to do the trailer test - now everyone with a standard car driving license can tow 3500kg in a suitable car/van with an appropriate trailer.

 

[potentillaCO32]

There are also restrictions depending in your own licence date, gross train weight ( or something!),overall length of rig, to name a few. Putting clobber from boat and into car may simply cause another problem!
Back in the day ,I asked Police. . Unfortunately, they couldn't explain it either !
Re car, just note that on some cars , not all versions of the same car have that max 3500kg.
Not sure if this is still the case , but back then I think you could measure from the apex of the trailer A frame , not the tow bar hitch, for example. Braking systems on USA trailers were not legal in UK.
All rather complex!

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.

 

[jakew009]

I think the other point is, once you are into towing 3.5t plus, you want to be absolutely confident in your ability to do it and mechanical ability to fix things should they go wrong.

If you have to ask, it’s probably not a good idea…

An 805 on a trailer is going be approaching artic lorry length and at 3m wide will be hanging over the centre line on many roads.