Buying my first motor boat any suggestions

[Bouba]

This looks nice
Sealine SC35 9028722 – Burton Waters Boat Sales

That looks amazing for a 15 year old boat!......not at all like a before, more like a after Mr Googler has done with it

 

[simonfraser]

Hi Maxi,

some great suggestions, however if you have never owned a mobo you may wish to look at the maintenance side too

access to some parts can be a nightmare, stern gear may be trouble, or do you have a slush fund for some one else to sort it all ?

perhaps post a seperate thread 'what to look out for in a second hand mobo £150k' or similar

 

[oldgit]

e.g. the type of boat where you feel as if you are still stuck indoors.

Flybridges make a lot of sense in the larger sizes, or where you are going to be spending a lot of time onboard / overnight.
But you can actually get paid for driving a bus
(Apologies in advance to all Flybridge owners)

Was going to suggest that a nice SC35 would be a excellent choice for those lacking a curious predilection for zips, baffling mecano kits of interlocking stainless tubing and peering through misted up PVC windows.
Mind you putting up the covers and taking them down again, on other so called Sports Boats,. on a average UK summer day usually will ensure that your crew will be quietly clicking on the "Flybridges For Sale" section of the brokers websites on their damp return to shore
Have a SC35 parked just across the pontoon from me.
Shame it never came with S****s.

 

[Farmer Piles]

I agree with a previous post in that, go and look at as many boats as you can in the size range. My wife and I spent many hours, happy hours, wandering up and down marina pontoons just looking at the boats on the water - not ones for sale, just general privately owned boats. So many boats look great in pictures and online but just don't quite do it for you in the flesh. Given the number of marinas in the Chichester-Southampton area you will have no problem doing some browsing. Similarly going to look at boats for sale; we found ourselves disappointed with boats that were on our wishlist and pleasantly surprized by some that weren't.
Also, make sure that the internal layout works for you and your wife - for example a galley below frees up space in the cabin and cockpit area but can be quite seasick inducing if you are prone to that.
On the hull front; if speed is not a big factor then maybe look at a shaft drive boat rather than outdrives. The boat is more planted and will tend to ride better if it is a semi-displacement hull on shafts and the maintenance costs tend to be much higher on outdrives. My boat, an Aquador 32, is shaft drive and not the fastest but she will cruise at 14kts which actually gets you from A to B at an alright pace and it is a very comfortable ride.

PS, I found the guys at Blackrock Brokerage in Chichester really professional and extremely helpful when I was boat hunting

Good luck with the search. slightly daunting but very exciting.

 

[DavidJ]

Also, make sure that the internal layout works for you and your wife - for example a galley below frees up space in the cabin and cockpit area but can be quite seasick inducing if you are prone to that.

Very good point and one that is usually not considered. Fortunately my wife has good sea legs but I really don’t like it down there when we are at anchor.

 

[DavidJ]

That looks amazing for a 15 year old boat!......not at all like a before, more like an after Mr Googler has done with it

I’d be scared to run the engine. Might get some belt dust on the floor

 

[Bouba]

I agree with a previous post in that, go and look at as many boats as you can in the size range. My wife and I spent many hours, happy hours, wandering up and down marina pontoons just looking at the boats on the water - not ones for sale, just general privately owned boats. So many boats look great in pictures and online but just don't quite do it for you in the flesh. Given the number of marinas in the Chichester-Southampton area you will have no problem doing some browsing. Similarly going to look at boats for sale; we found ourselves disappointed with boats that were on our wishlist and pleasantly surprized by some that weren't.
Also, make sure that the internal layout works for you and your wife - for example a galley below frees up space in the cabin and cockpit area but can be quite seasick inducing if you are prone to that.
On the hull front; if speed is not a big factor then maybe look at a shaft drive boat rather than outdrives. The boat is more planted and will tend to ride better if it is a semi-displacement hull on shafts and the maintenance costs tend to be much higher on outdrives. My boat, an Aquador 32, is shaft drive and not the fastest but she will cruise at 14kts which actually gets you from A to B at an alright pace and it is a very comfortable ride.

PS, I found the guys at Blackrock Brokerage in Chichester really professional and extremely helpful when I was boat hunting

Good luck with the search. slightly daunting but very exciting.

If somebody is seriously interested in buying a boat and approaches me on the dock, I will always invite them onboard…

 

[Maxy24]

That looks amazing for a 15 year old boat!......not at all like a before, more like a after Mr Googler has done with it

You set a limit of 11 meters but at 11.3M you could go for a S37 at the lower end of your budget or later S38 for more. This may give you the space you desire.
As an example of my sold boat
Sealine S37 Sports Cruiser 9042356 – Burton Waters Boat Sales

Think 2001 is a bit old prefer to go for 2008/9 if possible

 

[Maxy24]

If somebody is seriously interested in buying a boat and approaches me on the dock, I will always invite them onboard…

That’s a great suggestion hadn’t thought about that

 

[Maxy24]

If you mean “ comfort “ as riding smoothly through waves , then look for a high dead rise boat .
Google “dead rise and seakeeping “ to get a handle on this term .
Then with that bit of education look at the Windy range .Plenty to go at there .

I meant comfort as in quality of the build, but you are right the ride will come into that

 

[Maxy24]

Max do you have a berth to go to.

We’ve spoken to a few marinas and found one who can so far

 

[Maxy24]

S38 is a great boat with great space inside. But then I'm biased.
Happy to show you around mine anytime. Based on the Hamble.

That’s kind, thank you, we’ve looked at the S38 beautiful boat but bit too large for us on our 1st go

 

[Maxy24]

I agree with a previous post in that, go and look at as many boats as you can in the size range. My wife and I spent many hours, happy hours, wandering up and down marina pontoons just looking at the boats on the water - not ones for sale, just general privately owned boats. So many boats look great in pictures and online but just don't quite do it for you in the flesh. Given the number of marinas in the Chichester-Southampton area you will have no problem doing some browsing. Similarly going to look at boats for sale; we found ourselves disappointed with boats that were on our wishlist and pleasantly surprized by some that weren't.
Also, make sure that the internal layout works for you and your wife - for example a galley below frees up space in the cabin and cockpit area but can be quite seasick inducing if you are prone to that.
On the hull front; if speed is not a big factor then maybe look at a shaft drive boat rather than outdrives. The boat is more planted and will tend to ride better if it is a semi-displacement hull on shafts and the maintenance costs tend to be much higher on outdrives. My boat, an Aquador 32, is shaft drive and not the fastest but she will cruise at 14kts which actually gets you from A to B at an alright pace and it is a very comfortable ride.

PS, I found the guys at Blackrock Brokerage in Chichester really professional and extremely helpful when I was boat hunting

Good luck with the search. slightly daunting but very exciting.

Thanks for the advice, trying to take it all in, and yes we are excited to start

 

[Maxy24]

Having previously owned a Targa 35 and an S34 and considered/looked at a lot of sports cruisers over the years a Fairline Targa 37 would be on my list if we were in that market again. Finding a nice one would be important because all those that we looked at in the past left a lot to be desired.

This thread prompted me to look at the details of one I have seen on with NYA here and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it is a very tidy boat. Love these boats - great lines and a lovely layout and this one appears to have been looked after.

NYA are a great outfit to deal with as well.

Looks really good, but don’t want to jump into something too large to begin with trying to keep to maximum 11 as it’s our first boat, feel we want to find our way first.

 

[Maxy24]

Hi Maxi,

some great suggestions, however if you have never owned a mobo you may wish to look at the maintenance side too

access to some parts can be a nightmare, stern gear may be trouble, or do you have a slush fund for some one else to sort it all ?

perhaps post a seperate thread 'what to look out for in a second hand mobo £150k' or similar

Yes I know the costs can mount up so think one engine might be where we start

 

[Seastoke]

What about an F34; perfect for newby steer off the fly see everything.

 

[DavidJ]

Yes I know the costs can mount up so think one engine might be where we start

If I had my time over again I would have skipped the single engine step. Very difficult to handle compared with a twin.
I think the SC35 still has it.

 

[Maxy24]

If I had my time over again I would have skipped the single engine step. Very difficult to handle compared with a twin.
S34 would have been my suggestion.

Oh I didn’t know that, why is it difficult, curious to understand?

 

[DavidJ]

Oh I didn’t know that, why is it difficult, curious to understand?

None of my single engines had a bow thruster which would have helped but (for me) it’s the inability to move the bow side to side which of course you can do with one prop one way and the other “tuther”
With skill everything can be achieved with a single prop but I never got there.

 

[Maxy24]

None of my single engines had a bow thruster which would have helped but it’s the inability to move the bow side to side which of course you can do with one prop one way and the other “tuther”
With skill everything can be achieved with a single prop but I never got there.

Oh I can see that, that makes sense, thank you