Coronet Boats

[Guest]

Advice Required.
Can anybody pass on their experience of the Coronet 24 and 26 boats.
Having been a "raggie" for more than 20 years, and recently sold my 25foot cruiser was seriously thinking of moving onto "Powerboating".
My main use will be for Weekending around the Thames Estuary and East Coast rivers.
My intial budjet would be around 16K and I expect to do some maintenance. In fact the maintenance would probably become a "project"
In the Price range I would expect the engines to be Petrol - Yes I know - not ideal. However if the Family prefer the "stick" then the it hopefully it shouldn't be to difficult to sell at that price range.
I would expect to pay for Surveys etc.
My main question is - are these suitable for forays into the Thames Estuary and can anybody offer any other suggestions in this price range. I am not sure that the Princess 25 or the Birchwood 25 are more suited to rivers or more sheltered waters.

 

[byron]

Coronets (Botved Boats) are a Scandanavian craft somewhat aged now but not dated in looks. Far far superior quality than the Princess or Birchwoods. You will need a careful survey of course but if you get yourself a good one then you will find them an excellent sea boat giving a much better ride than both the Princess/Birchwood. For 16k you MIGHT even find a 30' flybridge Coronet now that really was a nice boat. I was surprised to see my old 27' Coronet from the 60s a couple of years back, still going strong having been rescued by a guy who found it up some creek as a wreck and restored.

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[david_steward]

Re: Restored?

I'm sorry Byron but I was led to understand that it was you that was found wrecked up a creek, and were in fact still awaiting restoration.

Miracle cure more likely.



Hugs and kisses.

Dave S

 

[byron]

Re: Restored?

Yep! They would never have found me except the rescue helicopter couldn't miss a loudly coloured shirt someone had left near my body ;-)

ô¿ô

 

[oldgit]

Cannot comment on Coronet boats in particular but can say that my princess 25 is used mostly around the thames estuary and has been taken up river as far as Tonbridge .
My petrol engine uses around 10 litres per hour so consumption is not that bad.I personally believe that a lot of the small glass fibre boats built in the 70s and 80s were fairly well constructed regarding the hull,it is the engine and outdrives that will give you grief if you get it wrong.Taking a special interest in the engine etc will save you time/money later on.You need to look at every boat that comes over the horizion some will be rubbish, some so-so, but out there somewhere is one that has been loved by its owners, it really does not matter exactly which the three boats you mention it is,just that is the best example among the type you are looking for.

 

[coliholic]

From my little book:

A fast cruiser with a racing pedigree, the Coronet 24 Cabin was based on a Jim Wynne and Walt Waters deep vee design. One of these boats took part in four Cowes-Torquay races, once finishing 10th overall and in the '69 Round Britain race, Coronet 24's finished 8th and 9th overall. The 24 Cabin was one of a large range of motor cruisers (including 2 other 24 footers, the 24 Family Cruiser which had more accommodation and the 24 Midi, which had less) built by Botved Boats in Denmark. About 500 were imported into the UK from '64-'73, initially by Dell Quay Sales and then by Poole Powerboats (now Sunseeker International).

The standard boat has an open cockpit helm though a hardtop was available as an option. Open plan cabin has four berths and a galley with a separate loo.

Engines are twin Volvo petrol outdrives, most commonly 2x110HP on the earlier boats and 2x130HP on the later ones giving top speeds of 28-30knots. LOA 24ft 2 inches. Beam 8ft 0, draught 2ft 3". All GRP.

Sounds like a good pedigree. Maybe Sunseeker have someone there who remembers them and can give you more info?

Oh and there was a 32 as well, 50 imported into UK.

 

[Guest]

A Coronet is just about the best old boat that money can buy. It's in a different league to Princess or Birchwood. Not that there is anything wrong with either Princess or Birchwood. A lot of the Birchwood 25's where built only for inland use having small engines with a shaft and a different hull arrangement, you need one that has outdrives for sea use. The Princess beats the Birchwood in my book.
All the Coronets have impeccable sea going credentials.
The Coronet 24 Cabin has a huge cockpit and not a lot of cabin, giving only two realistic berths inside. The Midi has a low coachroof cabin, with two berths,running into the spacious cockpit, more of an occasional overnighter. The 24 and later 26 Family are five berth with a deck saloon arrangement and inside helm position. The best value Coronet by far is the 27 Seafarer, it has a beam of 10' 6" and a huge open plan cabin that will sleep five easily. I have just sold mine in favour of a boat I can easily trail. It will be sadly missed, but even my Rangie could'nt tow it.
If you wan't any more information on Coronets contact me direct...

Happy hunting

 

[longjohnsilver]

I'm pretty sure they were also det norske veritas rated which I think in English means they are the equivalent of Lloyds A1, or in other words built like brick siht houses, excellent boats.

Lots of woodwork which looks good but can hide big problems if it hasn't been well looked after.