Cruisers Express 360 vs Sealine SC35 - help required

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nw04jen

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Want a caravan for the river but for various reasons like the Sports cruiser - may go to France and do canals etc ....

Endless searching - endless uninterested brokers ....

Come down to Jeanneau Prestige S38, Sealine SC35 and Cruisers Express 360 (shaft)
Broker says dont knwow engine hours of Cruisers - 'but not to worry, its more important how the engines look....' - to me seems weird engine hours not known but i have limited knowledge...

Cruisers seems pricey to me for a 2009 - £130k - Sealines seem to be around £140k and Jeanneau hard to come by but similar price - any advice - not different boats - I like these 3 makes - thanks in advance....

Everyone I talk to as well seems to think asking price is the price - and tbh I have offered 10% less and no luck - although come October I'm sure my ohone will ring.....
 
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Our of those three Id go for the Sealine or the prestige with the cruisers only getting a look in if it were significantly cheaper than either of the others.

If the price were the same Id probably go for the prestige as its a bigger boat and I prefer the layout in the cockpit but the Sealibe is also a fine choice
 
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Shafts are a prerequisite to me so i/o are not considered.

The history of the boat (previous use) and engine maintenance history plus a thorough viewing (surveyor?) are crucial. When I last was in the market, same make and model boats were asking 30% differently and the dearest definitely were not the best. To me original state and recent add-ons (electronics) could make the balance shift.
 
I looked at the cockpit and doesnt say IPS - has Volvo Penta D6 with EVC but normal bow thruster not IPS joystick - tbh - the fact the broker knows so little about it and it's pedigree worries me at £130k - hull black very dull too so looks liek may have done a lot of hard graft!
Sealine SC35 2013 not too much more money and 'recorded' 56 hours seems better bet !
 
In fact looking into it I think they did also offer a V drive set up so if the engines say D6-350 then it will be V drive shafts.

RE: The SC35 - id be very wary of such low hours on the engines. 56 hours suggests almost no use if its a much more than a couple of years old. Id want to double check service history and pay particular attention to the drives as these wear even when the boat isnt used but low hours boats dont always get the servicing they need as owner tend to go by the hours recommendation and ignor the years bit.

In many ways Id rather have a higher hours boat as it shows constant use rather than long periods sat with nothing done
 
The Sealine is more or less the default purchase in this class, and a great boat. Super packaging, and I like the layout too. Cruisers are one of the better North American builders, and I'm sure it will have a very comprehensive spec. They are less common than the Sealine, and possible harder to sell on. Shafts in this size of sports cruiser takes up a lot of cabin space, so you will have to see how you fit with the layout.
 
To the OP
If you really want a caravan for the river, and also might do the French canals what about a Broom/Haines type aft cabin type boat?
I agree they don't look as sleek and (s)exy as sports cruisers, and in open, smooth water maybe not as fast.
But they have great helm positions...sitting on top of those aft cabins gives an elevated view of everything.
They also have a lot more light internal space for those occasional rainy days.
As shaft drives, they will be a lot easier to steer on canals, rivers and especially into locks.
 
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Johntheoil said:
To the OP
If you really want a caravan for the river, and also might do the French canals what about a Broom/Haines type aft cabin type boat?
I agree they don't look as sleek and (s)exy as sports cruisers, and in open, smooth water maybe not as fast.
But they have great helm positions...sitting on top of those aft cabins gives an elevated view of everything.
They also have a lot more light internal space for those occasional rainy days.
As shaft drives, they will be a lot easier to steer on canals, rivers and especially into locks.
Click to expand...

+1
Having had two sports cruiser and two Brooms there simply isn't any comparison in terms of suitability for inland waterways. Also bags more living space with an aft cabin boat and if you choose wisely you can get the virtual equivalent of a sports cruiser cockpit but with the added benefit of elevation because it is in top of the aft cabin.

Outdrives wouldn't be my choice as combined with a planing hull they can make manoeuvring a bit tricky in confined spaces such as locks. Not saying you can't/wouldn't get the hang of it but it does involve a lot more effort than a twin shaft drive boat.

We did the non-tidal Thames in 2012 in our current Broom 41 and have just done Holland and it is simply built for the job.

All down to personal taste/choice in the end though :)
 
Having driven my own sterndrive F33 and a friends shaft drive F36 yesterday I would say the choice in terms of boat handling isn't great. I find my twin sterndrive boat easy to handle and a dream compared to my previous single engined boat. A bow thruster is essential equipment regardless of whether it is sterndrive of shafts.

I would add the flybridge does provide a better view over the riverbanks. also the saloon of the flybridge is a nicer place to be in winter weather compared to the saloon of a sports cruiser. But sports cruisers are fine if that s what you prefer. everyone has their preferences when it comes to boat layout - there is no prefect boat for all occasions.

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Thanks for all the above - minefield isnt it!!! Low hours / high hours / stern drive / shafts etc etc

Im fine with the handling - have twin engine stern now and no thruster and can steer her without wheel - admittedly she's only 29 feet long ....

Love Haines 400 / Broom but ....at poresent we have very little time so time spent on the river is sunny days ....the flybridge / river boats dont suit my 6 kids / parents and in laws.....Broom / Haines not enoiugh space near driver - flybrige not suitable with steps for young kids and parents ....

there is method to my madness!!! - hence we like sports cruiser cockpit space / ease

Seems Sealine is the one of choice from most here.....
 
Just a note of caution on the outdrive thing......a 29 footer is likely to be a lot easier to handle on drives than a 35 footer. Never forget a friend who had a Princess 286 on drives and he could put it anywhere and could never understand why I couldn't do the same with our Targa 35 on drives.....until he tried it. Couldn't believe the difference.
 
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