Doral250 vs Searay sundancer 280

[captaindan]

Might I so suggest a Bayliner 285. Much bigger boat with more accommodation and you could get one for your budget if you negotiate hard.

This one for instance http://www.boatshop24.com/en/advert/motor-boats/bayliner-fr-bayliner-285/578647

thanks for the link. Have heard some things about build quality on the bayliners dont know how much truth is in it

Dan

 

[Whitelighter]

Hi Dan,

I think its fair to say that Bayliner had a bad reputation in the 80's and it was justified. Later ones, certainly post 2000 are much better.

I owned a 2005 285 and was very happy with it. Dont go pre-2000 though as it is an earlier boat.

There are a couple of 2000/01 boats with diesel close to your budget.

This is a diesel 285 on at £38k, might be doable with some haggling: http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2001/Bayliner-2855-Ciera-2392210/United-Kingdom

And this is its slightly bigger sister a 305 (twin diesels): http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2001/Bayliner-Ciera-3055-2486356/United-Kingdom again on at 38k. I reckon either could be bought for close to 30k

 

[CaptainMike1970]

Hi mike

if you dont mind digging them out at some point I would apreciate that very much,

Thanks
Dan

I finally dug out the spreadsheet with the fuel usage for a SeaRay 315 Sundancer with a VP KAD 44.

Over the total ownership period we did:-
2288 NMiles
4973litres of diesel burned
218 engine hours run
This includes river creeping, fast Solent blasts and some long 4-6 hour passages.

So :-
23 litres/ hour average
2.2 litres/ mile average

Our worst fuel consumption ever was last year at 38 litres/ hour and 2.8 litres / mile on a rough trip from Poole to Brixham fighting the elements and trying to tuck in behind a big fly bridge for some shelter but with our speed below the optimum for good economy.

A more usual usage for long (over 2 hours at speed) passages would be about 10% less than that, so we passage plan on 35litres/hour and / or 2.5 litres / miles (whichever works out worst and then add for reserve).

When just messing about in the Solent the usage could be 50% less due to the time spent at 6knots in restricted speed rivers etc.

I think the consumption is higher on the long passages than you might expect as to get some decent speed 18-22 knots you need to pull 3000-3200+ rpm and we tend to be at the upper end of that range plus we tend to go out in weather others might not as we have a fair bit of experience, confidence in the boat and often cruise in company. Plus especially on a longer cruise, like a week holiday the boat is very "well" loaded due to all the kit we take as a family plus the tender on Davitts etc etc etc. ........................ Makes fuel consumption worse!

I hope this of use to you, we loved the Searay fab family boat, leave a big smile on everyone's face.

Mike

 

[beejay190]

I heard the fuel is cheaper at cobbs quay but then again you have to travel there.

Cobbs Quay ( part of the MDL group ) sell fuel at cost TO BERTH HOLDERS ONLY. In October i paid 101p a litre for diesel-after the 60/40 split.

 

[Ianj68]

I would sea trial them both, ideally in moderate conditions. At nearly 4' longer, 1' more beam and 3degs extra deadrise I reckon the 280/315 will handle adverse conditions noticeably better than the 250.

I upgraded from a Searay 240 (roughly the same size as the Doral 250) to a 315. I can take the 315 out in conditions that I would never consider in the 240.

Alternatively, another vote for the Bayliner 285. Pretty much the same size as the 280/315 with similair accomodation. Probably a bit cheaper than a comparable 280/315 but a lot of boat for your money.