coming over from a sailing yacht

Birdseye

Birdseye

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Subject to survey etc, I have sold my lovely sailing yacht. Not a happy bunny but it was time to be realistic - the boat wasnt being used, SWMBO feels she has done her bit over the last 30 years, and I dont want to cruise without her. She wants a caravan which to a lifelong petrolhead is anathema, but she is happy to have a mobo as a sort of floating caravan / holiday home. Location is Bristol Channel and so a boat that is "max F3 and flat calm" isnt any good. It would be a help if the boat could dry out since most old harbours round here do dry.

I know nothing about motor boats, their sea keeping, running costs etc -I need a helping hand from the forum. So lets start off with the basics of things like flybridge / no flybridge, stern drive / shaft drive, good builder / avoid builder, fuel consumption, etc. If you need a budget lets assume 100k max, 4 berths,
 
Would be marina based. drying out, and I accept that might not be realistic, is to increase the number of local places to overnight. We have three local ( ie within 50 miles) marinas and at least 4 local drying harbours.

But there are other more important issues like running costs. Taking a 30ft non displacement boat as an example., what mpg could you typically talk about and at what average speed?
 
Birdseye said:
Would be marina based. drying out, and I accept that might not be realistic, is to increase the number of local places to overnight. We have three local ( ie within 50 miles) marinas and at least 4 local drying harbours.

But there are other more important issues like running costs. Taking a 30ft non displacement boat as an example., what mpg could you typically talk about and at what average speed?
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Indigo Yachting
Defo see you in this
 
How urgently do you want to be planing? Most motorboatists it seems, sacrifice everything for the couple of hours every year they spend actually on the plane.
Displacement boats are more suitable for most people, but they are rare.
Coming from a background of proper boats, you won't suffer from the common huge horsepower/top speed= penile endowment anxiety , and will be able to work out how to use the tides to advantage.
I would be looking for a nice heavy displacement boat, perhaps even a converted fishing boat with an old Gardner to cherish.
 
Gary Fox said:
How urgently do you want to be planing? Most motorboatists it seems, sacrifice everything for the couple of hours every year they spend actually on the plane.
Displacement boats are more suitable for most people, but they are rare.
Coming from a background of proper boats, you won't suffer from the common huge horsepower/top speed= penile endowment anxiety , and will be able to work out how to use the tides to advantage.
I would be looking for a nice heavy displacement boat, perhaps even a converted fishing boat with an old Gardner to cherish.
Click to expand...


Converted fishing boat with a Gardner donk?

Only for the brave hearted!

I think there is/was one in Brighton.

My new project... MFV Elizmor
 
dom said:
Converted fishing boat with a Gardner donk?

Only for the brave hearted!

I think there is/was one in Brighton.

My new project... MFV Elizmor
Click to expand...
Yes, maybe that is going a bit too far :)
I still think most motorboaters would get more enjoyment from displacement boats, and the twin engine, deep-V, weight-sensitive planing designs don't get used much due to horrific running costs on the plane,and appalling seakeeping off it.
Also there is the fact that high speed boating is more fraught than people usually admit with fear and danger. The chances of crashing or hitting flotsam, the concentration needed in crowded waters, the noise and motion, are perhaps discounted and result in the huge numbers of twin-turbocharged, planing gin palaces which rarely leave our marinas.
In Norway, where everyone has a boat of some kind, and they could easily afford them if desired, nobody uses big planing motor yachts. Do they know something we don't?
 
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Birdseye said:
Subject to survey etc, I have sold my lovely sailing yacht. Not a happy bunny but it was time to be realistic - the boat wasnt being used, SWMBO feels she has done her bit over the last 30 years, and I dont want to cruise without her. She wants a caravan which to a lifelong petrolhead is anathema, but she is happy to have a mobo as a sort of floating caravan / holiday home. Location is Bristol Channel and so a boat that is "max F3 and flat calm" isnt any good. It would be a help if the boat could dry out since most old harbours round here do dry.

I know nothing about motor boats, their sea keeping, running costs etc -I need a helping hand from the forum. So lets start off with the basics of things like flybridge / no flybridge, stern drive / shaft drive, good builder / avoid builder, fuel consumption, etc. If you need a budget lets assume 100k max, 4 berths,
Click to expand...
Now that you have shown contrition for your earlier ways, let me welcome you to the fold?
 
HI, we came over from sailing 10 years ago and bought a Kent 33 - we are very happy and wouldn't go back to rag and stick.
Flat out she will do 18 kts (twin 175 hp nanni) but will be doing 1mpg.
However we tend to tootle around at 8kts and will get 5mpg - shutting one engine down doubles the mpg and drops the speed to 7 kts. She handles fine on one.
Will take the ground ok as there are skegs in front of both props and rudder supports, which is a must and rules out some nice boats - like nimbus - I suppose you could always retrofit. Of course, skegs etc don't help fuel economy.
If you want something faster then I think your fuel burn will be in the 1 mpg range unless you'd consider outboards/outdrives. I prefer simple straight shafts
We use the boat a fair bit - 900l to fill up once a year unless we go over to France. If you hanker after inland - we've done France, Ireland, Norfolk Broads etc - then air draft is an issue and rules out fly bridges (shame as there are a few nice ones).
Maintenance of twins is obviously twice the price - I'd be happy with a good single now - Trusty 28 is a nice boat - but it all depends on what you are after
 
Gary Fox said:
How urgently do you want to be planing? Most motorboatists it seems, sacrifice everything for the couple of hours every year they spend actually on the plane.
Displacement boats are more suitable for most people, but they are rare.
Coming from a background of proper boats, you won't suffer from the common huge horsepower/top speed= penile endowment anxiety , and will be able to work out how to use the tides to advantage.
I would be looking for a nice heavy displacement boat, perhaps even a converted fishing boat with an old Gardner to cherish.
Click to expand...
Bristol channel issues. From my base to the next non drying harbour on the cornish coast at Padstow is 100nm so its a good 12 hrs and needs careful timing if you arent to find yousrelf locked out at Padstow. Being able to average 15kn would make that so much easier.
 
Birdseye said:
Bristol channel issues. From my base to the next non drying harbour on the cornish coast at Padstow is 100nm so its a good 12 hrs and needs careful timing if you arent to find yousrelf locked out at Padstow. Being able to average 15kn would make that so much easier.
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That would be an expensive bag of gourmet fish'n'chips :)
I'm not local but I get the impression there are lots of lovely little places nearer, needing the ability to dry out or sit in mud. I suppose ideally you would have a boat which allows you to dry out, and also to plan your passages for 15 knots!
Pilot launch and fast fishermen hull designs definitely exist which can do both, but not sure about finding one fitted with all mod cons..
 
Birdseye said:
Interesting comment about the 1 mpg on the plane! Or maybe I should say horrifying.
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Well this is a turn up for the books H? The fuel consumption of a mobo is just going to be one of the major costs of running a mobo and in any case you dont have to run a planing or semi displacement boat at high cruising speeds anyway. Its just useful to have that capability if you need to be somewhere at a particular time. The other major costs are going to be maintenance, berthing and insurance with maintenance likely to be the largest cost especially with a secondhand mobo on which youre likely to experience regular equipment failures

If you have to have a boat which can dry out then you can really only consider a shaftdrive boat with a keel (eg Aquastar, Channel Island, Nelson, Dale) or any sterndrive or outboard powered boat on which you can raise the drives which is basically any of them
 
My vote would be shaft drives to keep things simple and reduce maintenance versus outdrives.

The ability to dry out is nice - we cant in our Mobo, but can in our sailing boat ( the luxury of 2 money pits ) !

I would never want inboard petrol engines, but others would disagree.

the comment made earlier about planing was well made. It’s an expensive ambition to be able to plane a few hours a year. Everything needs to be tip top, including under the water. I’ve found it’s when things let go - generally cooling related and we rarely do it these days.

The conundrum of whether to fit underwater lights or not, will consume your waking hours.....
 
I get boring, I know, selling people the virtues of my SeaRanger 448, but there is one for sale at present in Greece which is likely to come within budget. Although it's probably a bit big for just a couple's needs (but easily handled singlehanded even).

What about the smaller sistership, the Corvette 320? Easily within budget. Truly lovely sea-kindly boats with a good turn of speed. Very good accomodation for the size too.

Personally I'd want inboard diesels on shafts for ease of fueling (and cost), maintenance and reliability.
 
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