Defecting to motor boats

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melandnick

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Hi
Due to certain recent changes in my life (my first child and a big dog) I am looking at buying a motor boat.
I know absolutely nothing about them so I was hoping for a few pointers on what sort of thing I should be looking for and specifically which makes and models I should hone in on.
I would like:
To spend between 20-50k max. The lower the better.
To keep her on a swinging mooring in Poole harbour.
To spend the odd weekend aboard and hope to tempt my wife along. Must be comfortable. I am 6'4" tall and my wife won't set foot on board if there isn't a shower with hot and cold.
To be able to step on board easily from a dinghy or pontoon so it's safe for my dog and baby. So no high comings without a door which I imagine discounts rear cabins etc.
To use her for freediving and swimming from.
To be able to fish from her comfortably.
To take another couple out with us for day trips so needs to handle 4 adults minimum as well as a couple of kids. All in comfort so a large cockpit with nice seating.
To pop accross to the IOW etc for lunch and poss head accross to the Channel Islands for a few days.
I'm not looking for a project! I'll struggle to find a few days to go down and play so the last thing I want to do is be repairing decking etc.
To do all of this without breaking the bank so worn out 1980's super yachts with 2000hp petrol engines are not what I'm looking for even if I can park a helicopter on the foredeck!
Am I being unrealistic?
All comments are really welcome and very helpful so thanks in advance.
 
You were doing so well until you got to the no project / minimal maintenance bit. In my opinion there is no such thing that floats and has engines in.

However there are plenty within that price range if you can compromise somewhat.
 
...a peche promanade may be what you need to look at.A little basic internally compared to some of the more luxurious fit outs found on some boats ie.solid floors. No silly white carpet,many come with decent forecabin accomodation,a small galley/dinette combination plus space to actually swing a cat aft, to do your fishing from.
Rodman.Beneateu,Jeanneau and other less well known makes litter the market so good choice and enough constantly on offer to keep prices competitive.
Friend bought a nice low hours twin deisel Rodman for just over £30K recently.
Avoid at all costs soapdish tippy wobbly "sports" boats with 1" wide side decks and horrid tent on top covers and virtually impossible to control at slow speeds.
The real big advantage to this type of vessel is virtually all are on shafts.
As for why you want shafts,look at just about every other post on this forum over the last 1000 years. :)
Ignore any protests about outdrives being more economical,the only defenders of the horrid things are those already lumbered with the things. :):):)
It does pay dividends to look outside the area you you intend to boat in as prices do tend to be higher than say a bit further to the east.
 
Last edited:
I'm an ex raggie. Now on my third Mobo a Corvette 32. This one is for keeps (at least until I can afford a Nordhavn !). Ticks most of your boxes especially good for dogs (low wide side decks with walk way right around the boat), SWMBOs, comfortable bed, hot & cold, two loos.

Decent examples can had around the top of your budget.

Take a look at the owners association website (below) if you want to learn more.

PS and shafts !
 
Don't be afraid of looking at boats with big 4-stroke outboards.

Modern 300/350hp outboards are very reliable and fuel consumption isn't too bad. They also leave a lot more volume inside the boat.
 
BruceK said:
You were doing so well until you got to the no project / minimal maintenance bit. In my opinion there is no such thing that floats and has engines in.

However there are plenty within that price range if you can compromise somewhat.
Click to expand...

I should clarify. I built my wooden sailboat up over 20 years from a rotten hull so I've done my share of boat diy. A little updating and servicing is fine but I don't want to refit or re engine a boat.
 
oldgit said:
...a peche promanade may be what you need to look at.A little basic internally compared to some of the more luxurious fit outs found on some boats ie.solid floors. No silly white carpet,many come with decent forecabin accomodation,a small galley/dinette combination plus space to actually swing a cat aft, to do your fishing from.
Rodman.Beneateu,Jeanneau and other less well known makes litter the market so good choice and enough constantly on offer to keep prices competitive.
Friend bought a nice low hours twin deisel Rodman for just over £30K recently.
Avoid at all costs soapdish tippy wobbly "sports" boats with 1" wide side decks and horrid tent on top covers and virtually impossible to control at slow speeds.
The real big advantage to this type of vessel is virtually all are on shafts.
As for why you want shafts,look at just about every other post on this forum over the last 1000 years. :)
Ignore any protests about outdrives being more economical,the only defenders of the horrid things are those already lumbered with the things. :):):)
It does pay dividends to look outside the area you you intend to boat in as prices do tend to be higher than say a bit further to the east.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed reply.
I had a quick look at the rodman boats and they are def not what we are looking for. They look great for 2 people but we want a boat we can entertain friends on so a comfortable seating / eating space is important.
Otherwise they look like they would be great in a rough sea and have a serious look about them which I love.
That type of boat with the comfortable cockpit of a gin palace would be perfect. Do they exist?
 
superheat6k said:
I'm an ex raggie. Now on my third Mobo a Corvette 32. This one is for keeps (at least until I can afford a Nordhavn !). Ticks most of your boxes especially good for dogs (low wide side decks with walk way right around the boat), SWMBOs, comfortable bed, hot & cold, two loos.

Decent examples can had around the top of your budget.

Take a look at the owners association website (below) if you want to learn more.

PS and shafts !
Click to expand...

Nice looking boat but I don't think it's what I'm looking for. I can't see any that are near 50k. They don't have a large cockpit, which we def do want for entertaining and I want a low stern so we can walk our dog on board and get in and out of the water easily.
 
FlowerPower said:
How about something like this.
It's very similar to our previous boat.

6 on board for a day trip is okay, and it went to France, Channel Islands, Netherlands etc. (in company).
I'm 6' 3" and a bit, and headroom is good.

http://www.burtonwaters.co.uk/boat-for-sale/Sealine-S28-FOR-SALE-5445845.html
Click to expand...

I think that's more like what we had in mind. Mel just had a look at the pics and thought it would do the job for her.
Can you tell us what the fuel consumption of something like this would be? Engines, 2 x 200hp diesel or similar?
How seaworthy is this kind of boat, will it be safe enough to zip accross the channel?
 
melandnick said:
I think that's more like what we had in mind. Mel just had a look at the pics and thought it would do the job for her.
Can you tell us what the fuel consumption of something like this would be? Engines, 2 x 200hp diesel or similar?
How seaworthy is this kind of boat, will it be safe enough to zip accross the channel?
Click to expand...

2 * 170hp Diesels, will top out at 34kts.
Fuel consumption maybe 40L/hr at a fast cruise.
Cross channel is definitely possible in the right weather conditions.

If you like the S28, also have a look at Fairline Targa 29/30, which are similar boats.
http://apolloduck.net/419471/photographs
 
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FlowerPower said:
2 * 170hp Diesels, will top out at 34kts.
Fuel consumption maybe 40L/hr at a fast cruise.
Cross channel is definitely possible in the right weather conditions.

If you like the S28, also have a look at Fairline Targa 29/30, which are similar boats.
Click to expand...

I guess for a boat like that you would only want to cross channel if you could be planing - what is the limiting sea state for a boat like that?
 
bedouin said:
I guess for a boat like that you would only want to cross channel if you could be planing - what is the limiting sea state for a boat like that?
Click to expand...

I've come back across where the second half turned into an F5 from astern, which was "interesting".
In the general case you would want no more than an F4.
 
Richard.C said:
Top end of your budget but a reasonable size and has bathing platform access with transom door:

http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1996/Fairline-Targa-33-34-2961425/United-Kingdom#.V4I35Y3rvX4
Click to expand...

That's a lot of boat for the money. Some of the slightly smaller boats seem to use the space better though and are 10 years younger. I suspect I will need to get out for a few weekends and actually step on board a few.

Thanks so much to everyone that has helped with advice and links.
 
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