Buying a 7-8m - Help appreciated

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Aladin

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My wife and I are both in our 50's going from sail to power and have short listed three new boats all about the 8m size. Want to cross channel and stay aboard for several days at a time. All 3 are fully spec'd with radar, heating and such.
They are the Rodman 810, Beneteau 760 and Merry Fisher 805. Two are single engines with b/thruster and the Roman with twins and no b'thruster and it is reflected in the price and £12k more.
We skill consider ourselves as novices with lots to learn - but always willing to listen and learn. Hope some of you can help
 
Hi, and welcome to the forum. Given your outlined requirements of particularly X channel, I'd go for the Rodman. Twin engines gives you that feeling of security for making a X channel trip. The lack of a bow thruster is not an issue on an 8 metre boat! The Rodman is also a great sea boat with a good build quality!

If the difference is only 12k, then in the long run I think you'll be much happier.
 
Thanks for that info John - also goes without saying we will be going for regular tuition too! We did speak early this year when I was looking for a day skipper course for myself and wife as the other school had to be sadly cancelled at last minute.
 
neednt be a decision maker, but marinas often up the charge at over 8m length. A few cm could cost you quite a bit more in berthing fees. At least be aware of it! have you looked at Aquador, and maybe if you intend to cruise alot (and not all of it will be Xchannel!)you want to think about a single engine if fuel costs are about to double. Seems those Scandinavians are quite comfortable with the single engines;the british less so (well, we could afford the fuel!). And it thought RNLI said most engine failures were fuel related., so unless you have two tanks, both engines,commonly,will have a problem.
 
The marina cost has some part to play but I've also thought about the increased service costs of the two engines.
Another consideration is how wet are the boats - is one better than the other - planning to go for a sea trial over the next two weeks.
 
If you are wanting to save the extra 12k then the Merry Fisher 805 is the next choice but the Beneteau is a bit small.

A friend of mine has the smaller Merry fisher and has a lot fitted in it inc flat screen tv and sky inc Playstation behind the helm seat.

I have done x channel in the 805 but you will need the biggest engine you can get in it. The Rodman is the obvious choice all round but do a list of fors and againsts and work out which is the best for you.

X channel is not something you can do every weekend in these size boats and if you are getting training first it may be well to learn locally first then when you have done some x channel move up a size by having saved the first 12k plus depreciation plus mooring fees etc. Otherwise you may end up wanting to up size the Rodman not having done what you wanted on it and ended up paying more overall.
 
welcome to the mad house!

having a similar craft, and using it in a similar way, I would comment as follows -

1. As Dom says you are at the mercy of the weather a lot in craft of this size. As well as the ride of the boats you should also take into account the relative crew comfort around the helm and cocpit area. By this I mean if you are going to end up taking nearly 7 hours for a trip you want to feel comfortable doing it! I have a 3 night trip to Ald, 2 night to Ald and 1 night in Cherborg and back via Ald this year and trip times have varied between 6hrs 45min and 2 hr 35min! Hard top and preferably the ability to close out the weather behind you too score very highly when plugging away at 9 knots - as does a cup of hot soup.
2. Personally I am happy with the one engine; the additional storage space, space around the engine to work and single drive system to maintain all contribute significantly. However a good twin installation does make manoevering so so easy......
3. Radar is important because you do loose night vision through the glass on enclosed helm boats like these. You can reduce the instrument glare with red overlays, keep the screen spotless etc but it's just not the same as being in the open. Do not skimp in this area and get a quality unit - personally I would recomend a single large ( 8" +) HD screen with radar, plotter and sonar all feeding it - Raymarine installations I have seen recently work really well in these circumstances.
4. Personally I wouldn't be without a walkround deck - you do loose accomadation (relative to boat length) but useability - especially in pressure situations like anchoring, locks and berthing - settles that cost easily!
5. Consider the implications of the camper canvas installations and stowage carefully - some are excellent others add little and are a pain to erect and store.
6. Finally you will want to use such a boat in the winter months too; the sheltered helm makes them ideal for pottering around in those crisp clear days - so get a proper heating system installed!

Overall these boats can do a lot more than many similar sized mini cruisers but do not offer the same degree of accomadation.

I have avoided commenting on the specific craft as I don't think I have a sufficent feel for what you are really looking to do with the boat. Fishing? weekending in marina berth? carrying a tender for visiting beaches?

All the best.
 
All three great boats.

Another option is too look at an Aquador. I have the 23HT with a single Kad 32. It has a great hull, solid build, beautiful touches and a hard top to boot!

At only 7.15m it might seem small but it handles better than my last 9m American sportscruiser.

The Single diesel gives great performance and range at a very affordable cost.

It also has a twin diesel cooker which is key for weekending and a very sociable outside cockpit area.

The Finnmaster range is also very good and a 7600 would fit the bill.

Just a thought to give you options,

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Some more useful info added - thanks.
The two of us are agreed on the need for the canvas tent - we intend to use it all year round out of the Hamble and there is only going to be the two of us for overnighting. The Raymarine C70 colour plotter/digital sounder and radar has been included in the cost - not sure of its size but Raymarine have a good reputation. If I need to up the model the budget can take it on the Beneteau 760 no problem at all.
The hard top won due the the need to stay reasonably comfortable on a bad day.
The main use is just for us to cruise about in - neither of us are into fishing but these types of boats do offer that choice - hapier sitting on the stern at the end of the day watching the sun go down!
We want to be able to explore the local area and would hope to be able to go on one of the group trips with one of the cruising clubs run by one of the magazines.
The 760 does have wider side decks and higher railings than the other two.
 
C 70 is fine - if installing from scratch it's what I would install myself today.

overall the Merry fisher is probably the best suited to living aboard, the 760 is a little long in the tooth now but would be the compromise boat and the 810 is the modern sports fisher of the bunch.

I would bet on your favoring the 805 after having been onboard all 3; and you need to do that. They are all competant sea boats for their size with the Rodman the performance boy. The 760 and 805 will slug it out in a solent chop at 10 knots more comfortably though.
You should get a good financial package on the 760 or 805, both have limited edition offers currently.
Shorepower if you are planning to be on a Hamble marina berth, hot water and heating should be your priorities to get the most out of your investment in a (ny) boat in the UK and the area you plan to keep it.
 
Yep, agree with all the above. We have a Beneteau (although the larger 9.80) and it's a very practical boat, so I suspect the 760 is too - there's quite a few in Brighton. The Merry Fisher is a good boat too though. I would second the suggestion on side decks - when we did the cruise to Holland this summer and went throught all the locks we suddenly realised how important it was to be able to move around safely. We now have a very different way of looking at new boats in terms of what we want.There were some nice sealines on the trip, but my were people sliding around on those sloping foredecks. OK in marinas I guess, but some of these locks are big and it's every man for himself!
 
Do have a poke about the Scandinavian offerings.
Aquador /Finnmaster as Nautorius mentions + Nimbus/Skilso/SB etc.
By the way just received this Months MBM only had a quick glance but there seems to be lots of boats for sale and there are many web sights you can access through the pages.
A brief but interesting few paragraphs on the type of boats you are interested in also.

Welcome too by the way!
 
Got to agree with all round access. This is key in our wet climate.

Although the Aquador has very narrow side deck there is a front hatch and steps to get out on the bow through the cabin. Clever idea that is worth it's weight in gold...especially if you boat on the Thames!

Paul
 
Re: Buying a 7-8m MoBo

Is this the time to reveal that cross-Channel is boring, if not actually 'orrible!! (Would I name drop . . .?)

After 40 years of sailing I've turned to 8m of old-fashioned fishing boat and some different solutions: like throwing away the radar, not installing permanent heating, not marina berthing for starters; the bow thruster is invaluable, as are extended bilge keels.

But that's Old Hat for those that know me, so welcome to the fold. We're here to help - well, some of us are.
 
Re: Buying a 7-8m MoBo

[ QUOTE ]
Is this the time to reveal that cross-Channel is boring, if not actually 'orrible!! (Would I name drop . . .?)

After 40 years of sailing I've turned to 8m of old-fashioned fishing boat and some different solutions: like throwing away the radar, not installing permanent heating, not marina berthing for starters

[/ QUOTE ]

having only met you the once, in a marina berth, in Cherbourg, facing a slightly hazy return journey X channel............

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

more to the point pootling around the Normandy, N Brittany and CIs ports and resteraunts is just so much more enjoyable than queueing in Salcombe, rafting in Yarmouth, cowboys in Cowes and spending so much on a berth in Dartmouth that you can't afford even fish and chips!

OK if the weathers from the N or NW you have Lulworth, Bridport, Hope Cove and a few other quaint ports off call plus Newtown Creek and Newton Ferres as bolt holes but, overall, regretably, ........
 
Interesting comment about the MF 805. I went out for a play in one, a month or so ago, and came away with 2 lasting impressions.
1) On a relatively calm sea (slight at most) the B thing crashed and slammed about at anything above 10-12kts and the steering felt lifeless.
2) Standing in the wheelhouse, the motion made me feel sick.

The next day, I took the owner of the above boat out in ours, in similar seas.
He couldn't believe the difference. 15-20kts with no slamming and much more positive feel from the wheel. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I suspect that the Rodman would be the best of the three options in any sort of sea, above a flat calm.
 
Welcome.
Apart from the secific boat issue I do think a bowthruster is high on the list for a new boat / skipper.
18 months on from my first boat I now use ours less and less but when I do (its viewed by some as cheating) its very re-assuring and has been worth every penny (pounds). Those first few months it will get you out of jail - in time you'll get the hang after practice and building experience.
I accept the view that an 8m with bowthruster is a little excessive but certainly two 8 m boats in my marina play dodgems every time they move.
 
Well I might have to have a quick look at the Northern boats. I really like the Targa and SB boats but out of the range this time! The Antares 980 is a beautiful boat - that is on the short list in a couple of years time!
The Merry had fiddly access to the engine area - lifting a hatch followed by poking fingers through the insultion and lifting up two other boards. Lots of interesting storage holes about the boat though.
Am I right in asuming that having the engine in the middle of the boat is a good thing?
Must go have a quick look at the Aquador HT.
Must admit that the postings today have been of great help and looking forward to making that decision in the next two weeks!!
 
if you are asking which boat of that size hull has the best go anywhere capabiliites and handling then the Botnia Targa 25 wins hands down!

living onboard weekends however ..............

horses for courses

then there's the money............

overall I would be looking to buy a better boat a couple of years old - the Nimbus range maybe (Aquadors all seem highly priced even then as they get bought 'high specced with Blue hulls and teak........... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) Also many don't have a true HT capability ie you cant stand at all the helms easily.

I can see a forum challenge comming on..........maybe a couple of hours research later!
 
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