First boat, Sealine S28 or S34??????Help

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Nickpalmer888

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Hello
Apologies if this has been posted in the past, if so could someone please point me in the right direction.
I want to buy my first boat and am looking at either the Sealine S28 or S34. The problem I have is that the S28 is sort of the money I was thinking of spending but I have a two small chlidren and am wondering whether I should bite the bullet and buy the S34 for better accommodation i.e. not having to make up the cabin each night. It is only going to be used at weekends so no prolonged stays.
Does anyone else have an S28 with a small family and how does it fair?
 
We have just replaced our 2005 S28 with a C39 for that very reason - what at first glance appeared to cater for our needs, was quickly outgrown. If we'd originally bought a S34, I have every confidence that we wouldn't have changed boat so quickly.

S28 = Superb Boat, but better to invest in the future with a S34.
 
i've got an s28 and have a 10 year old son and 5 year old daughter
for my boating the s28 is great, i traded up from a 19
it depends on what you are using it for, we do mostly days outs but have had some great weekends away too
i carry all the toys, dinghy, outboard, ringo, windsurfer, rods etc etc
for my next step i dont think a 34 would be a big enough step up, with 2 kids i'd like to find a 3 cabin boat,
as for you, first boat, i think 34foot is bit big to be honest, but i bet there are many on here who would say otherwise...
i learnt a lot with 19ft, had that 6 years and have learnt a lot with the 28, 3+ years

when i bought the 28 i could have afforded a 34 and i dont regret not getting a 34. for my boating i wouldnt have used the boat any more, maybe less and the 28 has given us some great times.

financially i feel happier with the 28 and the capital outlay difference can be put to better use.
despite being a sealine fan if i were going to buy a 34fter it wouldnt be a sealine, i 'd probably go for a targa 34. just think its better allround and more sellable in the future....
again i expect raft counter comments... but thats my 2 penneth worth!
 
If you intend cruising on the sea then the longer boat will probably give you more available days at a comfortable ride. I bought a 32ft boat and am glad I didnt go for the 27ft I was seriously looking at. However it would not be an issue on a river, or if you are never going out in a chop.

Most of the time either would be fine, but on those days when its rough, it's looked a lot less comfortable and more scary on the smaller boats nearby. The bigger boats appear to be a step more comfortable in those seas. IMO

Where you notice it most is coming off the plane to enter harbour on a choppy day. Portsmouth or Chichester for example, are usually busy, being considerate you have to come off the plane earleir then you would like and then not having a keel like yachts you tend to bob about. I see the bigger boats taking it in their stride. I sometimes see smaller boats looking quite dangerous.
 
You dont say where your based, also how do you know it's only to be used for weekends. From experience, what looked like good for a family, soon feels a bit small. Besides bigger boats are far easier to handle than little ones.
 
Many thanks for the responses, it looks like the general concensus is that I could do with the additional accomodation.

This maybe a temporary measure as I am a keen sailor and hopefully will be purchasing a sail boat (that's if the motorboat bug hasn't bit to deep) in a couple of years once the kids have grown a little so would prefer to keep the outlay to a minimum. My thoughts are that I will proportionally drop more money on a more expensive boat therefore would I be better off with something older like a Sealine 328 sovereign or a Fairline Targa 33 for the same sort of money as the S28?

Your opinions are very much appreciated and once purchased I will post photos (screaming kids and all)
 
In my experience going for a larger older boat can be false economy, and an older boat is greater than 10 years old in my book. All boats need maintenance, upgrades and servicing. But older boats tend to need that much more. A newer S28 will probably work out cheaper to run than an old Sealine 328, but that is not all. Boats are Hassle and the older boats may mean more hassle. The S28 has a great reputation and I would go for it. If you are thinking of changing to Sail in a few years time then the S28 will not lose much money and will give you that MOBO experience. An S34 is a different boat....but the S28 will be more than enough fun.

IMHO

Paul
 
I would not say older boats are more hassle than newer ones. If a boat has been well maintained especially the engines and items have been upgraded the age is irelevant. When buying second hand always look at the make of boat, quality means everything, for build quality and resale. Some of the newer boats will not last as long as the top brands which have been around for years. If the boat is going to be used on the sea and you will be taking out family make sure you buy a boat with a good safe sea hull. Good luck!!
 
I'd go with the larger boat everytime...we bought a 37ft boat thinking that would be all the boat we ever need...guess what? a year later we bought an 42footer!!
 
I would go for the 34 but make sure its not underpowered for sea use, minimum kad32 170 or tamd 41/42/43 200/230hp.

Have a hull survey mandatory on a sealine! I can help with engine and drive survey, pm me for details.
 
my experience with family boating of 10 years is forget the sail boat, waste of time
i know about 6 sail boaters. non of them get to use them with the family, much because it doesnt suit the family, any trip is a long day, it takes an age to get anywhere. if you need to be back at certain time etc
it just doesnt suit
sailing is great but i'll be leaving that until the kids are grown up

any hull / engines, whatever make, whatever age, get a survey

i'd also buy newer if i can, i was tempted by some older boats but theres an awful lot to maintain replace update, i love doing that stuff but not so easy when youve got a young family
 
Thanks for all your comments/opinions. I went to see a S34 with KAD32's at the weekend and definitely think it is the size of boat we need. Reading on other posts though the general concensus is that it is a little under powered with the 32's therefore am looking at one with KAD43's and D4's.

I have got to move on one pretty soon as 'the trousers' is growing bored of me talking about them incessantly and I will lose the impetus...I will keep you posted.
 
Nickpalmer888 said:
Thanks for all your comments/opinions. I went to see a S34 with KAD32's at the weekend and definitely think it is the size of boat we need. Reading on other posts though the general concensus is that it is a little under powered with the 32's therefore am looking at one with KAD43's and D4's.

I have got to move on one pretty soon as 'the trousers' is growing bored of me talking about them incessantly and I will lose the impetus...I will keep you posted.
Click to expand...
Nick

I seem to recall that the MBY Used Boat test a couple of years ago preferred the KAD32's because the 43's made the engine bay a tight squeeze and routine maintenance difficult and also some of the earlier hulls didn't withstand the extra pounding, resulting from the increased speeds, very well but a survey should spot that.

I speak as a very satisfied S34 KAD32 owner ,cruising at 20-22 knots, which it does easily. suits us and suits the boat. As a sportscruiser its certainly more "cruiser" than "sports" but really if its a performance boat you want you need to be looking elsewhere.

Of course I am sure there are many happy S34 owners with the larger engines but it might be worth trying to dig out a copy of the MBY (or it may be MBM) report. I think it was about two years ago.

Good luck, you will appreciate the extra space over the S28..
 
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