Buying my first motor boat advice please.

[sarahsh]

Hi Im in my mid 50s I have stopped working and have passed all my boating exams. Im now looking to buy my first boat. I have a budget of £70to £100k. Im looking for twin engines, reliability. Ive looked at (online) Jeanneau 34, Fairline boats etc., these are the types of boat Im looking to buy, but lost into which one I should go for. Any thoughts anyone?
Thanks
Sarah

 

[simonfraser]

what are ou planning to do with the boat, travel / local trips only ?
where will you keep her ?
single handed or with crew ?

reliablility is not just two engines, 2x the maintenance cost

 

[Fishtigua]

Ask any local boaters to name a good yacht-broker. They can advise you in the right direction.

 

[Greg2]

Where to start!

A common mantra is that every boat is a compromise and your first boat is usually a step that helps inform what you really want.

You haven’t said what you want to do so we can only offer generic advice. Type of boat i.e. sports cruiser, flybridge, aft cabin, sedan, trawler etc will be a personal choice in terms of the type of accommodation you prefer and you can expect some strong opinions on which is best when you ask on here - often based upon what people have chosen themselves

Seagoing, inland or both is also an important factor as is whether you will cruise solo or with crew aboard i.e. ability to move around the boat and work lines.

Future saleability is also a factor given that many of us move on from the first boat as we realise what we really want so buying a well known and respected marque is sensible.

Some more information will help inform advice that is offered.

 

[ashtead]

All I can suggest is go for a solid uk brand if buying using in uk -hence you might end up with a Sealine type. If speed a flashiness isn’t important a solid nimbus type around the 35ft .It rely turns on how old you want to go and how much space you desire . If I was to buy a mobo I might look at a Bene trawler or trader type for space but a Princess always seems popular and I’m sure sensible choice . Do you want a flybridge or happy with a sports boat. The problem with you question is you need to narrow down parameters to location number on board and ages where you cruise? Where will you keep it ? I guess many on here will suggest twin shaft drive engines, others will say avoid Volvo diesels -it’s really a question of yor plans

 

[DavidJ]

Hi Im in my mid 50s I have stopped working and have passed all my boating exams. Im now looking to buy my first boat. I have a budget of £70to £100k. Im looking for twin engines, reliability. Ive looked at (online) Jeanneau 34, Fairline boats etc., these are the types of boat Im looking to buy, but lost into which one I should go for. Any thoughts anyone?
Thanks
Sarah

If you are looking at a 34ft boat add a Sealine S34 to your list. Very roomy popular boat. You will get a nice one in your price range and Sealine made a few hundred so always some on the market. I’ve just sold my, very similar looking, S37 in the UK, lots of interest and easily sold in 3 weeks so as others say a good stepping stone if you want to move on.
Don‘t get caught up in the shafts or outdrive debates. Get the boat you like and look after whatever it comes with.
Something like this?

 

[oldgit]

Forget which make of boat for a mo !
Questions .
What do you want in return for your £70-100K .
Do you crave speed and style .
Do you want comfort .
Use all year round or only when it stops raining in our "summer".
Just you and your latest " arm candy"....... or a long suffering significant other so usually plus kids and grandkids plus their mates.
Occasional day trips around the bay or the ability to go on longer trips and explore further afield without going crazy due to cabin fever.
More Questions.
Where do you hope to keep and use it.
On a sheltered river, perhaps the Thames, good place to get the hang of things, loads of things to do not far away in safe quiet enviroment.
On some southern coastal marina with an great opportunity to learn very quickly indeed about UK wind and weather.
Somewhere in between.

£500 K and a compromise or three could solve most of the above conumdrums
Location is harder to determine although most folks will try to keep their boats at least within a sensible commute.
Asking which type or make of boat is best always opens a wriggly can of worms on this forum.
As can be expected the owner of a particular marque or type of boat will defend it it to the death, even allowing you to step on his blue suade shoes.
Good clue can be the asking price of any boat , if a particular marque of boat always seems to command a better price than similar sized/type boats from another builder, it should suggest something about build quality and long term residuals.
The brokers will not tell you this but do know which boats are sort after and which will sell on price alone.
Thats all sorted then and we can get on with the other 99% of what makes the perfect boat next.

 

[[165042]]

Fairline Targa 34s are very good boats, however all boats are only as good as their maintenance schedule and care by their owners.

Jeanneau Prestige 34s will be cheaper but the build quality is lower, the same for Sealine, Sessa or Bavaria who all make boats in the style and size.

You might also want to consider a Nimbus 320 as a single shaft can be a lot cheaper to maintain than twin inboards and outdrives.