First boat recommendatioin

Hi

I do appreciate that budget is budget, but do see if you can sling in more to get a better / more modern boat.

People with their first boat tend to grow out if it quite quickly. Changing a boat is slower than changing your car, and you will loose more.

If you can get closer to boat 2 when buying boat 1 you will save time, effort and money.
 
Thank you for all your comments guys.

I would like to have something bit modern, but to be honest, there are so many of them and hard to choose what would be better option.

I see some 20 years old boats for almost 20k and than some 2000+ bellow 20.

It is really hard to decide, which would be better - at least for me.

This 1997 Searay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Searay-Sundancer-/181567445716?pt=UK_Power_Boats&hash=item2a46435ad4

compared to

Bayliner 1996 2655:
http://www.essexboatyards.com/boats-for-sale/bayliner-2655-ciera-1030

ir this 1998 Regal with duoprop:
http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/advert/regal-242-jaykay-sales-display/42011600

wouldn't be the duo prop better?

than 2001 Fletcher:
http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/advert/fletcher-25-gts-poole/42028204

so within the same price 5 years differences, this is not easy choice as to buy car. :ambivalence:
 
madein said:
This 1997 Searay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Searay-Sundancer-/181567445716?pt=UK_Power_Boats&hash=item2a46435ad4

compared to

Bayliner 1996 2655:
http://www.essexboatyards.com/boats-for-sale/bayliner-2655-ciera-1030

ir this 1998 Regal with duoprop:
http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/advert/regal-242-jaykay-sales-display/42011600

wouldn't be the duo prop better?

than 2001 Fletcher:
http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/advert/fletcher-25-gts-poole/42028204

so within the same price 5 years differences, this is not easy choice as to buy car. :ambivalence:
Click to expand...

It can be really difficult to get a handle on boats when you 1st start looking, the only solution is to view as many as you can, ask lots of questions and take your time buying.

A few pointers for the above list.

Searay are perceived to be the quality brand of the Brunswick stable with Bayliner being the value option (think VW and Seat).

Fletcher is the only UK boat on the list, has a cult following and will probably be the fastest boat with the most aggressive (best) hull, but its much smaller than any of the others with more basic spec (think TVR).

Regal is a middle of the road US make priced between the Searay and the Bayliner, will probably be the heaviest boat of the 4.

With any boat of the ages you are looking at condition should be the most important factor especially service history for the engines (although its unlikely you will find a full service history on a boat this old, make sure the recent stuff is up to date). Meeting the owner can really help, is the boat a well kept, money no object pride and joy ? or is it a pain in the arse, hole in the water into which the owner pours the minimum cash he can into.
 
Well said Mark, thanks.

it was just like an options and difficulty for the beginner to even start with.

Will I get any benefit from the duoprop? Or in my usage it wouldn't be so important?
What maximum speed I should be looking at? Would something about 30k be good for the water skiing? Or something quicker?

thanks
 
For water skiing you don't want top speed - anything more than 18-20knts hurts like hell when you come off.

What you want is acceleration out of the hole. Duo prop might help here but depends in the boat gearing etc. if you buy a single screw drive boats it's easy to change the pitch on the prop to give you better acceleration sacrificing top speed.

It's cheap enough that you could even have a cruise prop and a ski prop, but a bit extreme to always change them over
 
Last edited:
landlockedpirate said:
Fletcher is the only UK boat on the list, has a cult following and will probably be the fastest boat with the most aggressive (best) hull, but its much smaller than any of the others with more basic spec (think TVR).
Click to expand...

I have a previous version of that Fletcher (1992 Fletcher 238 cabin). I bought it because I wanted a sporty/ski boat with a cabin and some basic amenities. I also have a Fletcher Arrowflyte (14") that I've had for years.

My experience is that the boat is less sporty than I expected but also much more roomy and very well packaged. It has the 5.7 engine (carb) and with a clean bottom will top out at about 40 knots. The acceleration is too slow for skiing but it has quite a tall prop on it and I'm sure that with maybe a 15" pitch it would pull a mono-skier out OK and normal skier easily. It will use huge amounts of fuel though.

Maybe you should look at something a bit smaller with a small cuddly cabin & a bit more performance. What is more important to you? Comfort/overnighting or watersports? I think you will find it difficult to do both on the one boat no matter how much you budget.
 
Thanks for the info, as it is first power boat I'm not really sure myself what to expect, but more likely both of this.

What about Wellcraft 2600 Martinique?
 
The truth is that at the size you are looking at, most of the American boats are very similar. The only differences are usually where the cabin door is (central or port side) and the engine under the hood. You need to go and have a look at some to get a feel for what you like.Make sure you check the canvas, its a 2-3k job if it needs replacing.
 
Guys,

can I please ask for your advice between those:

http://www.bateswharf.co.uk/used-boats/boat-details/?BoatID=4772278

and

http://www.atlas-marine.co.uk/uk/four-winns-268/

I obviously understand the size differences, but with the engine related power.

The Regal has 5.7 Mercruiser 350 mag (300PS?) with duo prop with higher speed 42 knots
The Four Winns has Penta 5.0Gi (220PS?) with single prop with speed 30 knots

smaller and lighter boat (regal) has bigger and more powerful engine - can I expect less consumption? Or this would be more likely equal?

Whitelighter has mentioned changing the propeller - what I can expect from this on the Four Winns? Higher speed? different consumption?

Would any of those be good for ski or wake?

I have been also looking at this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-CAMP...8602357?pt=UK_Power_Boats&hash=item418a9fcb75

but what are those things on the side of the frame?

but the interior looks bad and even the boat name and mark doesn't even much anything I have seen for now.
 
Those are two quite different boats. The regal is a cuddy sports biat where as the four wins is more of a pocket cruiser (and not to mention £10k more). They both gave there advantages but it really hard to advise you one way or the other as they are so different. Personally out of the two I woujd take the four wins but that's because I prefer more accommodation and am not worried about water sports.

Based on your brief of skiing etc then the regal might be a better bet for you.

The ebay biat you linked to is set up as a dedicated ski/board biat - the big metal frame is a ski tower designed to get the ski hook up high for a better experience. The holders on the side you asked about are board holders. Yes the interior is basic but that's not the point if this boat - it's all about the water sports.

Changing the prop to give you better acceleration will mean that at a cruise your engine will run at a higher rpm and use slightly more fuel. The payback is you get a better ski boat. Unfortunately even with £200k or £2m it's virtually impossible to buy 1 biat that is perfect for everything.
 
The Regal is nice, but then I am biased :)

You mentioned in the first post about mooring it but I notice the Regal included a trailer. If trailering is becoming a requirement then be careful as this size of boat is reaching the limit of the towing capability of a lot of vehicles.

The Regal with the 350 MAG and duo-props will tow well. Although I have not really do this yet on ours (its a fairly recent purchase) the previous owner of ours focussed very much on towing as can be seen....

phoca_thumb_l_imgp8514.jpg


phoca_thumb_l_imgp8502.jpg
 
Thanks guys again for your inputs.

The questions was more related to engine and what to expect.

Let's say buying 26ft with 5.0Gi with 220HP compared to 5.7 300hp
and buying 23ft with the same engines

I have been all my life with cars and the boats are new to me.

speed at 20kn (for example) would be less consuming with 5.7
WOT would take more fuel with 5.7?
would that 5.7 be more thirsty than 5.0?
about how much? 20%? (50-60lph?)

Are there engines to avoid?

If for example the 23ft has 300hp engine what would be the differences with single or duo? 10%? Higher speed/acceleration and less consuming?
 
madein said:
Thanks guys again for your inputs.

The questions was more related to engine and what to expect.

Let's say buying 26ft with 5.0Gi with 220HP compared to 5.7 300hp
and buying 23ft with the same engines

I have been all my life with cars and the boats are new to me.

speed at 20kn (for example) would be less consuming with 5.7
WOT would take more fuel with 5.7?
would that 5.7 be more thirsty than 5.0?
about how much? 20%? (50-60lph?)

Are there engines to avoid?

If for example the 23ft has 300hp engine what would be the differences with single or duo? 10%? Higher speed/acceleration and less consuming?
Click to expand...

Actually, as you are familiar with cars, you know there is not an answer. You can drive a larger engined car in a docile manner, or a slightly smaller engine aggresively..a boat is the same only alot more so.
Unless you are running a ski centre, you are not underway that much of your boat ownership.I am sure someone with a larger petrol engine can suggest, but I guess you will spend #1.5, or #2 or #3 grand a year in fuel...If you cant stand 3 grand, a smaller petrol will burn less; if you are all out blasty fun, get your wallet out.
Then you will get a blistering summer and use loads, and next year a lousy summer and use nothing.
All I am saying is that there is no science here other than bigger engine is more fun and expensive.
Up to you,really.
Oh, and with boats, forget the theory..whatever the numbers you thought of will be wildly wrong anyway.
And the cost of fuel will be nothing compared to how much the depreciation kicks you in the gut!! Or a new outdrive at #5k.....
 
gjgm said:
Oh, and with boats, forget the theory..whatever the numbers you thought of will be wildly wrong anyway..
Click to expand...
Yep:encouragement:
madien, just go for the boat that will do what you think you want it to do
Dunna think about fuel consumption etc
What most of us have found (I reckon) is that yer first choice won't be your last choice, that's fer sure
;)
 
mlines said:
The previous owner of our 350 MAG equipped Regal produced this..........
Click to expand...

Very interesting! What prop is that? Does it say 26" or 26' at the top before the Bravo III? Not a 26" pitch surely?

To the O.P. As I said before, I think you need to decide what is more important to you - accommodation or watersports.
 
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