Buying Sunseeker

[DoctorDelboy]

Hi, Newbie to this forum.

After a fruitless search looking for a 10 metre boat suitable for commercial pleasure trips in the UK, I stumbled upon what appears to be bargain prices in The Med, for sports cruisers, of which I have zero knowledge.

I have narrowed down my search to Sunseeker models, late 1980's-mid 1990s. Even taking into account the transportation costs, they appear to represent good value compared to UK prices.

I just have a few questions:

Do they take the ground well in a drying harbour?

Are they Wet boats?

Will they pass stability tests as required for coded boats?

Thank you for any help offered.

 

[Portofino]

Bump
Post a link to the stuff you have seen on the net -then we can critique or at least start answering your Q,s
Generally Sunseekers are not really designed to talke to ground
All boats are " wet " to some extent. But SS have reasonable good hulls
Do not know much about stability tests but they will have a CE mark ? I think -

 

[DoctorDelboy]

Hi and thanks for your reply.

The boats i am looking at are specifically: Portofino 31, Portofino 32, San Remo 33. Chosen because they appear to have a large cockpit seating area. They all have twin stern drives, which I assume raise if and when taking to ground.

In the past, I have operated 10 metre semi-displacement boats, such as Aquastar 33, Aquabell 33, Lochin 33 (a particularly wet boat) and previously wooden boats.

I think it's time to raise the game and go for something more comfortable, faster and sleeker, marketing the experience as such.

The stability test is used to determine the number of passengers the boat will be licenced for. Obviously the more passengers licenced, the more money to be earned. Ideally 12 passengers, but more likely to be 10. There are a few Sunseekers in the UK which are coded, so I assume it won't be a problem.

I've looked at a few videos on the internet which appear to show that the boats are generally dry, but was hoping a owner could clarify.

The harbours I have available, are drying harbours so although the boat would not be permanently moored, it would be nice to know that occasional use would be possible.

I've not yet seen any of these models in the flesh, so I was hoping the expertise of members on this forum would guide me into making the correct decision.

 

[Jurgen]

Not sure that I would want to regularly leave my fast planning boat on a drying mooring.

 

[jrudge]

Boats of this vintage will cost the same to transport back from the and code as a newer boat ( possibly more given its age).

I would be surprised if this is economically viable.

If charter income is your aim I would think it worth considering UK boats already coded. Remember charter income only contributes to costs. Also bear in mind punters are more likely to want a newer boat. You can discount to a point but your mooring, maintenance and fuel bills will be the same as the next guy.

Stern Drives are not meant to take the ground. Some seem to let them settle in soft mud ( I would rather not) but can they take the ground - in my view no.

 

[DoctorDelboy]

If charter income is your aim I would think it worth considering UK boats already coded. Remember charter income only contributes to costs. Also bear in mind punters are more likely to want a newer boat. You can discount to a point but your mooring, maintenance and fuel bills will be the same as the next guy.

I run regular wildlife watching trips on a daily basis for 7 months of the year (weather permitting), so not a charter boat offsetting running costs, but a viable business.

My budget, around £32000, does not stretch very far when looking at existing coded boats, because they tend to be worn-out, tired ex fishing boats. It was by chance that I looked a little further afield to Europe and discovered what appear to be bargain, well-looked after sports cruisers. I would only need to take shelter in the harbour, with poor weather conditions, so only occasionally needing the boat to take the ground. Winter months, I would take the boat out of the water.

 

[Robg71]

Any sunseeker on shafts I wouldnt put to ground. Certainly not mine for sure.
The hulls are built like the proverbial brick $ hit house....
I do know of shaft drive Squeakers that do take to mud, but not soemthing I would do.
Cant help you with outdrive question, but I dont see why not. seen enough laying up in and around the channel islands enjoying bbq and the rest waiting for The tide to come back in...

 

[Tranona]

I run regular wildlife watching trips on a daily basis for 7 months of the year (weather permitting), so not a charter boat offsetting running costs, but a viable business.

My budget, around £32000, does not stretch very far when looking at existing coded boats, because they tend to be worn-out, tired ex fishing boats. It was by chance that I looked a little further afield to Europe and discovered what appear to be bargain, well-looked after sports cruisers. I would only need to take shelter in the harbour, with poor weather conditions, so only occasionally needing the boat to take the ground. Winter months, I would take the boat out of the water.

Boats of this age are cheap for a reason. The Med can be hard on boats and many of this type of boat are owned by non residents so not used or maintained frequently. Of course the difference in prices is exagerrated now because of the fall in the value of the euro, so from that point of view now is a good time to buy. However viewing and sorting ou the wheat from the chaff can be a time and money consuming activity, and you then need to budget the cost of transport back which is likely to be in the range £5-6k.