First Boat - Help Needed - I Think I Want This....

[|Argonaughty]

Ahoy there!

I've lurked here for the last three years whilst I've been trying to find my first boat and trying to learn from the various posts. Like a few I'm in the 'if not now, when?' position with dodgy knees, devil foot, and many of the post 60 embug*erances

In an ideal world I'd be donating my inheritance to Windy or Paragon, but with a child still in education for the next three years....

Then I saw this:

Carson Interceptor 850 2019 Used Boat for Sale in Crinan, Argyll, United Kingdom

All that the current owners do my husband and I wish to do, save can't get up to the West Coast too frequently. Keen wildlife photographer and want to do coastal cetacean survey.

Would be very, very grateful for some help/thoughts/things I should consider (and may not have done- am prepared to empty portapotty and throw good money out the back as I scud along).

PS Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

 

[Aardee]

I can't offer anything more useful than saying it looks thoroughly fit for purpose. It's good to see someone choosing a boat based on their real needs.

 

[pmagowan]

Looks good. Definitely the right thing for the job and you will have great fun in it. Perfect for going to line of sight islands and inshore waters to do a bit of spotting. Standard checks to make sure the noisy bit works and the floaty bit floats!

 

[Ferris]

What about refueling those outboards, would a diesel engine expand your cruising area due to better fuel availability?

 

[Bouba]

Wherever you go people will assume you’ve come to rescue them...very impressive craft

 

[|Argonaughty]

I can't offer anything more useful than saying it looks thoroughly fit for purpose. It's good to see someone choosing a boat based on their real needs.

I'm going to cut & paste this for my husband Aardee - thank you

 

[|Argonaughty]

Wherever you go people will assume you’ve come to rescue them...very impressive craft

Hehe or deliver nefarious goods ^^

 

[|Argonaughty]

What about refueling those outboards, would a diesel engine expand your cruising area due to better fuel availability?

Thank you Ferris - I'll look into this. Initially we'll be Medway based I think

 

[Bouba]

Is there a heads on the boat ?..I know there is no hot water...something to think about in chilly Scotland

 

[|Argonaughty]

Looks good. Definitely the right thing for the job and you will have great fun in it. Perfect for going to line of sight islands and inshore waters to do a bit of spotting. Standard checks to make sure the noisy bit works and the floaty bit floats!

Thank you & the almost inevitable question - (but I'm already doing my research) any recommendations for a good west coat surveyor near where she's lying? Wish I were zipping around Norn Ireland.... spent many a happy hour with my grandfather in Carlingford & Strangford Loughs

 

[|Argonaughty]

Is there a heads on the boat ?..I know there is no hot water...something to think about in chilly Scotland

No heads Bouba - but have advanced level Portapotty wrangling having lived on a barge for years when I was a student - we'll be arranging (hopefully) her transport south. I'm hoping that's one comprise I can make,,,

 

[stelican]

Nice boat for those waters.
Suggest you fit decent helm and co-pilots seats with backrests.
And a canopy for extending time in cockpit.

 

[|Argonaughty]

Nice boat for those waters.
Suggest you fit decent helm and co-pilots seats with backrests.
And a canopy for extending time in cockpit.

Dear Stelican thank you - it gives me some confidence when some of the things I thought she might need (the old she and the foating she..) are picked up on by someone considerably more experienced.

 

[oldgit]

Thank you Ferris - I'll look into this. Initially we'll be Medway based I think

The matter of fuel will rear its ugly head no matter where you intend using the boat.
Both cost and availability need to be considered.
We are lucky down here on the Medway to still have 2 marinas who supply petrol.
Chatham MDL and Gillingham marina.
Average petrol seems to to £1.90 per litre and diesel £1.50
The only other petrol is at Allington Marina 15 miles away and on the "wrong" side of the lock.

 

[stelican]

Thank you Ferris - I'll look into this. Initially we'll be Medway based I think

Sorry I thought you where going to keep in Scotland (when I posted) with its crystal clear waters not The Mudway.

 

[Bouba]

Thank you Ferris - I'll look into this. Initially we'll be Medway based I think

How will you get the boat to Medway?

 

[|Argonaughty]

Sorry I thought you where going to keep in Scotland (when I posted) with its crystal clear waters not The Mudway.

One day....

 

[|Argonaughty]

How will you get the boat to Medway?

I seem to remember there's a good hauliers called Anderson = would love to go over the top and down the east coat though Bouba

 

[|Argonaughty]

The matter of fuel will rear its ugly head no matter where you intend using the boat.
Both cost and availability need to be considered.
We are lucky down here on the Medway to still have 2 marinas who supply petrol.
Chatham MDL and Gillingham marina.
Average petrol seems to to £1.90 per litre and diesel £1.50
The only other petrol is at Allington Marina 15 miles away and on the "wrong" side of the lock.

Thanks Oldgit - was hoping to look at both Gillingham and Chatham as they're only 40 min drive for us - lots of lovely seals to photo down your way. Seeing them play in the SS Richard Montgomery always brings a smile to my face...

 

[Kawasaki]

That’s a ‘Proper Boat’ for the use intended
Those Suzuki outboards are ( in my experience) super engines too
The petrol v diesel question?
OK petrol is less available sometimes agreed
A diesel powered equivalent would probably have outdrives
Then you are into higher maintenance costs
All in all a good choice Argonaughty