Doral 300 SC

breezer5012

breezer5012

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We are hoping to view a Doral 300 SC this weekend - does anyone have any experience of these? We are looking to move up from a Sealine S23 and want something with twin diesels that will give us more room, take a bit more weather than the Sealine and will happily cross the channel. We've been looking for a while and have considered a variety of boats, but never a Doral until now.

Any thoughts anyone?
 
Nice boats the Doral.... Canadian you know..... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I had my eye on a Doral 250 before deciding on an S23 as an impulse buy. Doral seem to be well built boats, what put me off the 250 was that it didn't have walk-around side decks. Not an issue for some, but it was a must for me.

Would you not consider something like a Sealine S28? Probably the most practical galley of a sub 30ft i've seen (imho) - i'd love an oven! Even the S23 I love the big sink
 
I know a chap hereabouts who's owned several of them, of varying sizes. Nice boats, seem well screwed together but a bit 'American' for my money. By which I mean they seem to focus more on open spaces and sociability and less on how much 'private' accommodation you can squeeze into a given length. Now that's more a question of how you use the boat than an absolute comment, so it's up to you, ut I'd have thought the logical route would be to a Sealine S28/29...

Having very nearly bought an S28 some years back, and gone for a Fairline Targa 29 instead for no particular reason, I can assure you that the step up is a big one and either will handle cross channel stuff admirably.
 
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I had my eye on a Doral 250 before deciding on an S23 as an impulse buy. Doral seem to be well built boats, what put me off the 250 was that it didn't have walk-around side decks. Not an issue for some, but it was a must for me.

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Walk around side decks are a must imho.
 
We've had a look at an S28 - doesn't give as much of an increase in space as we'd like - I'm wondering if the Doral will be the same.
 
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I had my eye on a Doral 250 before deciding on an S23 as an impulse buy. Doral seem to be well built boats, what put me off the 250 was that it didn't have walk-around side decks. Not an issue for some, but it was a must for me.

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Walk around side decks are a must imho.

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Yup, they're like one of those things that you don't realise how important they are until you have them.

Problem with the S23 is it's a nicely specced little boat, meaning your next one must have even more stuff rather than just being desirable, mainly: cockpit fridge, big sink, hot water, hot air to name a few... eek!
 
I can't remember if we've discussed the S34 or not! At the moment we are really interested in what people think of the Doral - we've gathered a lot of information and opinions on other boats, but haven't talked to anyone who has this model of Doral yet.
 
Took a look at one of these at Simco some years ago, to be honest they are not a patch on there new stuff, very "plasticy" interior & for a 30ft boat the layout I thought could have been better.
Agree,as has been previously mentioned, has the American feel of open plan layout, island galley etc, again not something you would expect in a 30ft'er.

Well put together but again not as good as there new stuff.

The S28 or T29 would be my choice, but then I would say that after a simmilar jump from an s240 to a Targa 28!
 
Interesting. To date we've been most taken by an older Fairline Targa 33 (hence the reason I'm wondering if the smaller cabin size of the Doral will be enough for us). The opportunity to view this boat has come up and it does have some particularly attractive features for us hence our interest.
 
Only you can decide. It costs nothing to look so best to take a look, bring your camera and show us plenty of pics /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I dont think they were a common model in the uk, unlike the later 250se which was very popular, therefore may be of limited appeal on the secondhand market.
The boat we looked at had twin kad diesels, 43's if I remember, they would certainly make it fly & it did feel like a large speedboat or overnighter.
It's a tubullar steel radar arch which I think was an option but could be wrong.

An older Fairline or Sealine has a more european layout & therefore will probably appeal to a wider market, they also feel a bigger boat than the doral due in part to the layout (no fixed forward berth).

It depends on your budget of course & if the Doral is what you would like from a boat but if you are worried now that it may not be big enough then I would be looking at the european 34ft'ers.

If price is the sticking point then the Sealine s28 in this listing looks to be on the money, £45K with twin Kad32's diesels

http://www.walrusyachtsales.com/boatsforsale.htm
 
Hi

I had the 330 not the 300 but I have to say fantastic boats tick all boxes. but dont buy from Simco aftersales crap, sell you the world before you sign then you get ignored.

15 months later and Im still waiting for them to fix my boat.

if you buy from them you will be on your own. if you can do repairs or the bits your self then go for it, if its from them forget it.
 
Another vote for the S28 -

It handles the rough stuff better than I do - been caught out in some real angry conditions (the kinda thing where you really wish you were at home in front of the tv!), and it never missed a beat.

Also, due to the twin engines and greater beam, makes for it being far more stable than the S23 (a boat which I like, and considered, before being advised to go for the 28).

If you step onto the swim deck of the 28, it barely moves, where as the S25 (read 23) that we climbed on, lurched considerably as soon as we put foot on it.

Great accomodation and use of space, how they got it all into a 29 footer & still kept it spacious is an achievement in itself!

There is a Targa33 berthed adjacent to us, bigger cockpit area, but it seems to be more cramped down below, due to the dedicated forward cabin (which is a nice to have if you need it.) If there is just two of you, then the S28's separate aft cabin with greater living space my prove better (we sat 7 with ease around the cabin table!) However if there is more than two, the Targa33 will prove more accomodating when it comes to bedtime, but less so during the day.
 
now that is where the Doral does win on its stability, its the weight ratio. They are heavier than most boats of its size. Its due to the fact in Canada the lakes freeze so they are made thicker so they are heavier, the heavier the better in the rougher water.

I have boats come past me and cause a wake and my Doral moves less than the one in front and its the same size.
 
Thanks for that and the other replies. We have looked at an S28 and decided against it. Planning on viewing the Doral this weekend. Great to hear how well it handles as this is a biggie for us. Looks like we might have a bite on our boat so fingers crossed all round.
 
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