Change of plans - looking for Med boat now...

[beejay190]

I recently replaced my Sea Ray that I keep in the med. My budget was not as large as the OP's ,but my requirements were similar. I was looking for a good mid 20's foot day boat with overnighting capability . I had a limit of about 26 foot LOA in order to fit on my mooring. I didnt want a petrol inboard, so that rules out most of the second hand american boats.

I'd narrowed it down to a couple of boats (all used) , a Sessa Key Largo 27, or a Windy 25. The sessa appealed because for my budget it would be newer, plus it would be powered by outboard so in theory less service costs, but would be petrol powered so more fuel costs. The windy appealed because of the styling, Excellent ride & handling, and diesel powered, but it would be much older than a sessa for the same money and would be inboard/outdrive powered, so probably cost more to service.

I went for the Windy in the end, its a great boat, not had it long enough to comment on long term stuff, but it handles excellently, is very good in a rough sea, and does the overnighting thing well, and is very solidly built. Its a nice answer to the what day boat for the med question, but I think the Sessa would also have been an excellent choice.

A Mirage could well be on my shopping list after my sabbatical ( see my post Bav29 SOLD ) Is yours a KAD44- I've got a suspicion that some had a Volvo D series engine. Does yours have a bow thruster ?

[ Apologises to the OP for slight thread drift ]

 

[julians]

A Mirage could well be on my shopping list after my sabbatical ( see my post Bav29 SOLD ) Is yours a KAD44- I've got a suspicion that some had a Volvo D series engine. Does yours have a bow thruster ?

[ Apologises to the OP for slight thread drift ]

Mine is a 2006 windy 25 mirage with a volvo D4 260, it doesnt have a bow thruster and doesnt really need one in my opinion (although if it did have one I'd use it as it would make life easier)

 

[beejay190]

Mine is a 2006 windy 25 mirage with a volvo D4 260, it doesnt have a bow thruster and doesnt really need one in my opinion (although if it did have one I'd use it as it would make life easier)

That is quite a package. I guess that there are not many around with that engine. If you had the choice of an early Ghibli with a KAD300 or your Mirage which boat would you choose, and why. Thanks in advance for your reply.

 

[Coustea1]

I recently replaced my Sea Ray that I keep in the med. My budget was not as large as the OP's ,but my requirements were similar. I was looking for a good mid 20's foot day boat with overnighting capability . I had a limit of about 26 foot LOA in order to fit on my mooring. I didnt want a petrol inboard, so that rules out most of the second hand american boats.

I'd narrowed it down to a couple of boats (all used) , a Sessa Key Largo 27, or a Windy 25. The sessa appealed because for my budget it would be newer, plus it would be powered by outboard so in theory less service costs, but would be petrol powered so more fuel costs. The windy appealed because of the styling, Excellent ride & handling, and diesel powered, but it would be much older than a sessa for the same money and would be inboard/outdrive powered, so probably cost more to service.

I went for the Windy in the end, its a great boat, not had it long enough to comment on long term stuff, but it handles excellently, is very good in a rough sea, and does the overnighting thing well, and is very solidly built. Its a nice answer to the what day boat for the med question, but I think the Sessa would also have been an excellent choice.

May I ask why you sold your Sea Ray? Was it just to buy something new/ more suitable or did you encounter issues with the SR?

 

[julians]

May I ask why you sold your Sea Ray? Was it just to buy something new/ more suitable or did you encounter issues with the SR?

No issue with the sea ray (but see my earlier post for a few small niggles), I'd been thinking about getting something a little larger for a while and then the opportunity to buy the windy arose, so I decided it was the right time to change.

 

[julians]

That is quite a package. I guess that there are not many around with that engine. If you had the choice of an early Ghibli with a KAD300 or your Mirage which boat would you choose, and why. Thanks in advance for your reply.

Tough choice, but for me I'd go for the mirage, because it'd be newer, with the newer engine, and also I really dont need or want the extra length, in fact the extra length would probably cost me more money in mooring charges and more money in fuel burn.

I've had very extensive use of larger boats for 30 years (Family have owned Regal 28, sealine s34, windy 37 grand mistral and others smaller than these) , and in my experience the larger the boat the more isolated from the water you are, and subsequently I find it less fun. The most fun you can have is in a small Fast RIB, but thats a compromise too far for me (and the wife and 2 year old son)

It does depend what you want from a boat though, but for me at the moment the sweet spot is around 25 foot. It lets me do everything I need it to do, but without costing a fortune. Its small enough to be fun still, but big enough to go a fair distance and overnight on.

I also like wakeboarding , and at much over 25 foot I find the boat becomes significantly less suitable for this, yes you can wakeboard behind a big boat , but its no fun with a soft mushy wall of foam instead of a nice crisp wake, and the boat not wanting to plane at 20 mph etc etc.

 

[beejay190]

Tough choice, but for me I'd go for the mirage, because it'd be newer, with the newer engine, and also I really dont need or want the extra length, in fact the extra length would probably cost me more money in mooring charges and more money in fuel burn.

I've had very extensive use of larger boats for 30 years (Family have owned Regal 28, sealine s34, windy 37 grand mistral and others smaller than these) , and in my experience the larger the boat the more isolated from the water you are, and subsequently I find it less fun. The most fun you can have is in a small Fast RIB, but thats a compromise too far for me (and the wife and 2 year old son)

It does depend what you want from a boat though, but for me at the moment the sweet spot is around 25 foot. It lets me do everything I need it to do, but without costing a fortune. Its small enough to be fun still, but big enough to go a fair distance and overnight on.

I also like wakeboarding , and at much over 25 foot I find the boat becomes significantly less suitable for this, yes you can wakeboard behind a big boat , but its no fun with a soft mushy wall of foam instead of a nice crisp wake, and the boat not wanting to plane at 20 mph etc etc.

Thanks for that . Very helpful reply.

 

[andy maxime]

I have had a searay sundancer 425 for 2 years now, moored in Port Grimaud. She is 6 and was very well looked after before I got her as a tender to a superyacht so dont be put off by second hand,just be choosy and get some good advice.
It will also allow you to get a bigger boat which we have had occasion to be very grateful for when the wind and seas pick up. If you have a family on board everyone feels safe and secure which is not the case with those caught in smaller boats or ribs.Even the combined wakes generated by the superyachts can give you a nasty surprise.
She is extremely comfy to stay on with a/c good sized shower with a decent stream of water and a seperate loo.
She also earns her keep with charter work although the shaft drives are a bit greedy. The customers all love the stability and size if the boat.
I know its not really relevant to your original spec but soemtimes good to think outside the box a bit and get some expert help,as I did