First boat purchase

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Spyros

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Hi guys,
this is my first post in this forum and I must say I am excited. Not only because I will be joining a new community but also because I am ready to buy my next and first plastic boat as I am coming from the world of ribs.

The things I need from the boat are:

1) 35-45 foot max
2) Not extreme fuel consumption
3) Will be used mostly in the summer in Greece in the North Aegean, from May to September
4) Will be used also for accommodation usually for weekends and when we are on holidays then for a week max. It will be me, my wife and my 4 year old daughter. Sometimes of course another couple may also crash.
5) In the winter it will not be used apart maybe from some day cruising, as there are no destinations where it will be berthed.
6) I am not very focused on speed, I prefer good quality cruising.

My questions are:

1) Should it be open, hard top or fly?
As I am coming from the world of open ribs and sailing, I am used to being in contact with the environment and feeling the wind and I have the feeling that I will feel confined in a hard top-closed boat. I also prefer the looks of open boats (favorite is Superhawk 43) but then again maybe not for my use? I was advised from a friend of mine who had a 39 foot Bayliner, then moved onto a Princess 42 and now has a Feretti 55, that although he also thought in the past open boats where best, now he would never go back. And that with a fly bridge you have the best of both worlds?

2) Should I focus on shaft, stern or IPS drives?
I have read a lot in the forum about this subject, would also like to have your feedback.

3) Should I go for a smaller newer boat or a bigger older one?

I have a big list of boats that I am looking into but I hope I will narrow it down with your help and then post it. Budget will be about 150-200.000 euro.

Thanks for your time and help!
 
Hi Spyros.Welcome to the forum. You have just asked just about every question most asked by every boater in your situation.
As for answers.... a good basic guide is what is everybody else using in your area.
It is highly improbable that you will be fortunate enough to buy exactly what you need first time and most of us go through a series not quite completely wrong purchases before ending up with something that very nearly meets our all requirements.
IMHO. the biggest blind alley in first boat purchase is buying an "image" as opposed to the boat you actually need.
Feel sure there will be loads of contrary advice in due course :)
Now is an extremely good time time buy and any cash buyer will be in an extremely strong position,pretty sure you will be able to do a very good deal indeed on any boat that takes your fancy .
 
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1) Fly
2) Shaft
3) older but bigger :)

I currently boat in the uk, but the grand plan is a move to Corfu and get a boat there. My proposed purchase is something like a Princess 480 (or 500, or possibly an old Sunseeker Manhattan) - but, as an ex engineer, I know I WILL have age related issues and updating to do. My advantage is that I can do all of it myself, so an older boat is not an issue for me.

Fly - because you get cockpit, bathing platform and flybridge, so lots of outside space AND lots of inside space. I just can't live with the tiny windows of a sports boat. Shafts - because budget will be an issue for me, and shafts just don't go wrong and they're so so easy and cheap to maintain. Don't touch outdrives - devils egg whisks. Complex and maintenance intensive, although contrary to some opinion they are reliable IF maintained properly. It's just expensive to do so.
And older just because you get sooo much boat for the money. A 50' flybridge boat from the respected manufacturers for about €150k - bargain!!

Maintenance history is essential. You will be replacing canopies, teak and some or more interior trim if you want a great looking boat, but the extent of refurb is entirely up to you.
 
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Hi and welcome - it all depends on how you are actually planning to use it , and where .
The "where "is easy -Easten Med.. long warm season with an out door lifestyle and lots of swimming to cool off .
Tiny details like size of cockpit table , Ice ' outside sun pads , -so all can find a space , Binimi cover , access to sea -read bathing platform hieght and size -will determine if the boat will work
Here's a link to a recent thread Just sub 60 ft for 40-45 --- principles are the same .
Your fuel use comment -it depends how fast and how far - rarther open ended in a MoBo .
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?462026-Evolution-quot-Targas-quot-or-Flybridge
 
Aside from probably a universal view on the forum to avoid IPS and go for the simplicity of shafts ( but is not that simple as an IPS boat will have more accommodation ... oh choices choices ...) this comes down to personal preference

Fly / sport. There was recent thread on this ( any many others) http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?462026-Evolution-quot-Targas-quot-or-Flybridge

At the end of the day what do you want to use if for and which takes your fancy. You can't get away from the fact a fly has more space and an saloon that is generally a nice place to watch a movie. How often said space is used is open the question, but the flybridge does become the living area and is a nice place to hang out. A sport tends to look better, use less fuel, need smaller engines and so on. I had a Targa 40 ( great boat) and latterly a Squadron 65. They are like chalk and cheese given the size difference but I am not needing to buy another and I can't make my mine up sport / fly either! Look around, you and the wife like it - buy it.

Older / newer. In my view boat design tends to go in blocks of Old design, normal design, new. The recent sun seeker / princess of say the last 4-5 years are "New" they are a reasonable departure from the preceding 10 or so years. Bigger squarer windows, departure from wooden interiors, mid cabins and so on. If you look at the preceding 10 or so years they were all pretty similar regardless of (certainly the UK) brand. Forward master, oval windows, pretty similar hull forms. Before that they then in my view to look "old".

So if buying in the "normal"category the main difference is the older it is the less you pay, but the design is similar. Yes you will have age related issue, but my current boat has stuff go wrong and it is only 2 years old - so stuff going wrong on a boat comes with the territory.

You have a budget, just look. Like it get a survey and happy boating.
 
No mention of aft cabin? I'm also looking for my first boat in that size range, and finding aft cabins are nice if my wife and I plan on spending many nights with family or another couple. That puts the bridge closer to the aft deck for socializing, otherwise the bridge gets isolated and unused except by the driver.

Aft cabins also have mid-mounted engines with straight shafts, I'm settling on 8.1 Mercruisers for plenty of power, durability, and easy to find parts and mechanics. I love diesels, but I don't think I'll spend enough time on long cruises to justify them.
 
Thanks guys for your inputs.
Many things to consider here of course.
I think I will be staying clear of IPS as the technology is still rather new and especially where I live I do not think that professionals are very much trained in dealing with them.
So that leaves us with shafts and sterndrives.
Some of the boats I am looking into are:

- Beneteau Monte Carlo 37 HT - fully loaded and I may get it for a bargain
- Jeanneau Prestige 38 HT - I really like the dingy garage
- Beneteau Flyer 12 with shafts - I do not know why but I really like the lines of this boat and the comfort of the closed living room. Not so much space though either in the saloon or on the outside.
- Sealine SC35 - Smaller but newer boat that looks very nice and has lots of space for its size
- Absolute 41
- Sealine SC38
- Sealine SC39 - Old looks but lots of space
- Sessa C38 - Great looks and size
- Sessa C42 - Again dingy garage, bigger

I would appreciate pros and cons for the boats mentioned or personal experiences.
 
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