steveknight
New Member
Hello. Newbie here. Thinking of buying my first cruiser. Poss looking at a sub 30 foot craft something like a maxum 2700 with maybe a diesel engine for more economical motoring. What other factors should Intake into account?
First Cruiser
- Thread starter steveknight
- Start date
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Welcome along.
Other factors, in no particular order...
How much do you want to spend
Are you a competent DIYer or will you need marine trades
Your level of experience and willingness to be trained
Is your partner part of this journey
Where will you keep it
Where will you go
How many of you are there
Do you have pets
Do you have children, and if so how old are they
Does bridge heights have a bearing eg inland waterways, rivers, the Broads
Availability of fuel (but diesel very common)
Do you want to stay overnight, and if so, how often
What cooking facilities do you want
What onboard toilet facilities do you want
Do you want to use the boat all year round
How easy will it be to sell
The list is endless. Look at loads of boats, don't get fixated on one model, you'll probably sell it within a year or two anyway, either because you hate boating and want out, or you love it and want to upgrade.
Other factors, in no particular order...
How much do you want to spend
Are you a competent DIYer or will you need marine trades
Your level of experience and willingness to be trained
Is your partner part of this journey
Where will you keep it
Where will you go
How many of you are there
Do you have pets
Do you have children, and if so how old are they
Does bridge heights have a bearing eg inland waterways, rivers, the Broads
Availability of fuel (but diesel very common)
Do you want to stay overnight, and if so, how often
What cooking facilities do you want
What onboard toilet facilities do you want
Do you want to use the boat all year round
How easy will it be to sell
The list is endless. Look at loads of boats, don't get fixated on one model, you'll probably sell it within a year or two anyway, either because you hate boating and want out, or you love it and want to upgrade.
Alicatt
Well-Known Member
The fuel costs are not the biggest thing you will spend your money on!
Even with us who have a fairly cheap berth on a jetty it is still a slight bit more than we paid for the years worth of diesel to cover a distance of about 410NM, we have used a little over 300litres of diesel.
We started out with a 7.5m river boat with a 13hp diesel capable of 6knots, after the first voyage the wife said we need a bigger boat, the boat it's self was fine and fast enough for use on the inland waterways on the continent, we had her a year and did put a fair amount of miles on her after a bit of DIY to get her in shape.
We bought a bigger boat 11.6m (37ft) last summer with a lot more room inside, and toilets with showers, she can go almost every place the smaller boat could go but far more relaxed and easier to helm.
Even with us who have a fairly cheap berth on a jetty it is still a slight bit more than we paid for the years worth of diesel to cover a distance of about 410NM, we have used a little over 300litres of diesel.
We started out with a 7.5m river boat with a 13hp diesel capable of 6knots, after the first voyage the wife said we need a bigger boat, the boat it's self was fine and fast enough for use on the inland waterways on the continent, we had her a year and did put a fair amount of miles on her after a bit of DIY to get her in shape.
We bought a bigger boat 11.6m (37ft) last summer with a lot more room inside, and toilets with showers, she can go almost every place the smaller boat could go but far more relaxed and easier to helm.
steveknight
New Member
Thank you. I have had a boat for 8 years but just a 6m rib for day trips which I love but just fancy something we can stay the odd night on not necessarily long journeys but I’m guessing will use around a litre a mile when cruising but as my current boat is stored ashore at a fairly modest price I will need to factor in marina fees in the Menai straits. Would I be wise to choose a diesel over a petrol engine for this sort of use?
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Fuel availability will be the deciding factor. If you have petrol available at your marina then you could look at outboard powered boats, increasingly common.
steveknight
New Member
Love the Antares 9 OB but don’t have £100k to spend unfortunately
Bouba
Well-Known Member
First, take the stress out of it by telling yourself that the first boat is always going to be the wrong boat....because it’s the boat that teaches you what you like and don’t like on the water....so, don’t plan to keep it too long and get something popular that is easy to sell.
Next make a list of what you think you plan to do on the boat....swimming, fishing, cruising etc....so, if it’s scuba, then look for something with a good swim ladder etc. Then try to imagine what it will be like doing all those activities on every boat you see.
But first rule of thumb...if you want to keep the wife happy with your new hobby...make sure it has a nice toilet.
Looking at boats can be a very enjoyable pursuit....many here enjoy it immensely...get to see different boats and different marinas..usually all enjoyable days out.
Think about where you want to keep it...and if a place is available...and if it’s a trailer boat, look at the road worthiness of the trailer and how easy is getting in and out of your drive
Next make a list of what you think you plan to do on the boat....swimming, fishing, cruising etc....so, if it’s scuba, then look for something with a good swim ladder etc. Then try to imagine what it will be like doing all those activities on every boat you see.
But first rule of thumb...if you want to keep the wife happy with your new hobby...make sure it has a nice toilet.
Looking at boats can be a very enjoyable pursuit....many here enjoy it immensely...get to see different boats and different marinas..usually all enjoyable days out.
Think about where you want to keep it...and if a place is available...and if it’s a trailer boat, look at the road worthiness of the trailer and how easy is getting in and out of your drive
Seastoke
Well-Known Member
Hi Steve , so there are two marinas on the straits so not much choice , I think petrol is only available at one place , at Menai bridge . Diesel is available at Canaerfon , Marina space is rare maybe Port Dinorwic has space , you could get a mooring on the Straits or think about Conwy they have both fuels, Deganwy marina may have space. Don’t buy a boat without having somewhere to keep it
simonfraser
Well-Known Member
fair amount of inboard motor issues on this forum, v few for out boards, may be the wrong forum for OB, or they are just less trouble
Bouba
Well-Known Member
The two main problems with outboards is fuel scarcity and theft.
Where I boat there is no shortage of petrol.....but I have had an outboard stolen (brand new Honda 150)
All in all, I love outboards....they are often the best choice.....but here the boat has to be designed for stern to mooring or they are a pain