First Time Boat Buyer

[Koyukano]

Hi guys, first post! Though I have been looking on the forums for the last 6 months or so.

I'm looking to buy my first boat and have seen a sunseeker offshore 25 1983 model for £6500 with a 200hp Volvo Penta diesel engine. I would prefer diesel over petrol as my local marina only has a diesel available.

I have tried to search on google for reviews of the boat but have struggled to find much information on the boat at all. Some information is available on the offshore 28/31 models and the hull looks very similar but I would like some information on specifically the offshore 25. The little I did find did say that the boat was a capable offshore cruiser and was very safe and able to handle rough seas well.

I'm gonna go view the boat at some point this week, is there anything in particular with these boats I should look out for?

I plan to do powerboat level 2 and VHF courses before I use the boat. I will only be using the boat for a bit of cruising up and down the east coast and might even learn to fish!

Can anyone advise on whether it is worth getting a survey at this price? Also do I need to have a survey in order to get insurance cover?

Any other advice on general tips for someone new to motor boats is welcome too!!

Thanks guys, appreciate your help!

Peter

 

[gjgm]

Unless this has value as a classic, I would think almost the entire value is the engine, so you may want to get an engineer to give an opinion.
You might want to re-post with the heading Sunseeker 25 , as that is your question and might get some enthusiast to sit up and notice !

 

[BruceK]

At the beginning of this year I looked at a number of Portofino31's, Offshore 31's and 25's. All were valued significantly higher than that in the mid 20 to 30k mark. All were overpriced imo and although I went and looked at each example that was currently on sale with either the AD31 in or re-engined, none at all were anything more than project boats that would require a lot of engine work. Interestingly, every single dipstick oil sample I took was gritty from the AD31's. Like lubricated sandpaper. If you are getting one on offer for £6.5k I'd go through it extremely carefully to make sure you really are getting the bargain of the century. Even a portofino sans engines or drives was up for 11k. As part of my research I bought a number of old articles from MBM and they had a review of the classic portofino 31 a few years ago, very favourably, I might add. But the one thing the old articles all stated was check for stressed bulkheads fore of the fuel tanks. It seems it was common for there to be costly and serious damage that occured there in those models (Offshores) from over zealous use in rough waters.

 

[henryf]

When a boat gets to 23 years old it's all about the individual boat rather than a model per-se.

Something may have been viewed less than favourably 20 years ago but if it's head & shoulders above the competition condition wise then get it bought.

Also worth remembering that any faults 20 years ago have probably been sorted by now. Similarly boats which didn't have faults in the day may well have developed them now.

Henry

 

[salar]

Also make sure the boat is not being sold by a widow in Scotland, and most definitely never part with any cash unless you eyeball the seller. There are plenty of scams about.

 

[julians]

There must be newer boats of that size & style for that sort of price that therefore make a less risky purchase than a 32 year old sunseeker?

I guess if you have your heart set on that particular model then only that will do , but if you're a first timer, there must be a less risky option that fits the bill.

 

[Koyukano]

why is a 32 year old sunseeker a 'risky' option? I assumed in my price range and the research I have done, that there are few boats that can compare to this one at this price? Not many cruisers 23-25 ft for £6k that I can find relatively locally to me.

Salar you are very right about scams, was looking on a website and came across a nice boat, contacted seller, they stated safest way to complete transaction was via ebay, they must have created a virtual clone of ebay's site as all links worked and it looked like a perfect legitimate 'buy it now' sale of the boat, I only noticed it wasn't the real ebay site because I was already signed into ebay at the time of clicking the link to the auction and it asked me to login again which I thought was odd. Lucky escape for me as I've got a loan out to buy my first boat, scary stuff as looked so legitimate.

Thanks for the advice guys, problem is Bruce as i'm new to boating I wouldn't really know what I was looking for if I am honest as to a close inspection of the engine. Maybe a survey would be best, I just figured at this price range many don't and just take the chance.

 

[salar]

Best thing is to buddy up with someone who knows a bit about boats and can come with you to look. A surveyor will cost around £350 and will probably scare you with all they things they find and you will still need that buddy to tell you what is cheap fixable and what is walk away from.

 

[Tranona]

why is a 32 year old sunseeker a 'risky' option? I assumed in my price range and the research I have done, that there are few boats that can compare to this one at this price? Not many cruisers 23-25 ft for £6k that I can find relatively locally to me.

The warnings are because, although the boat may have been at the top of the tree when it was new, it has probably been through various owners who may not have maintained it very well as the costs of work is out of proportion to its value. It is now in the nautical equivalent of banger territory, and really needs an experienced person to determine whether it is worth the risk. That is, not really a boat for an inexperienced beginner, particularly if you have to borrow money to buy it.

If you have a limited budget, perhaps better to start with something simpler and more modest, find out what this boating lark is about and then move up when you have more experience.

 

[julians]

why is a 32 year old sunseeker a 'risky' option? I assumed in my price range and the research I have done, that there are few boats that can compare to this one at this price? Not many cruisers 23-25 ft for £6k that I can find relatively locally to me.
.

Yes, everything that Tranona says above.

I'd have thought you must be able to get a much much newer american sports boat of similar size for that sort of money, I sold my 21 foot sea ray for £12k and it was only 7 years old, so you must be able to get something like a 14 year old sea ray for around the £6.5k mark. It most likely wont be diesel engined, but at in the smaller sports boat market I wouldnt let that put you off. Having said all that I havent looked at that part of the market so maybe I'm wrong about what you can get for £6.5k.

UNless you know exactly what to look for in terms of engine and drive mechanical condition and/or you are confident you can fix it yourself when/if it does break, I'd be going for something much much newer than a 32 year old sunseeker.

edited to add - I've just had a quick google, Theres not exactly loads of choice , but I found the boats below. I'm astounded by the prices some people are asking, but these appear to be more reasonably priced.

Of this lot the cranchi would be at the top of my list.


20 year old bayliner trophy
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1995/Bayliner-Trophy-2688456/United-Kingdom#.VVzW1flVhHw

20 year old regal
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1996/Regal-Commodore-258-2827828/United-Kingdom#.VVzXNPlVhHw

18 year old maxum
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Cuddy-Boat-for-sale/maxum-2300-sc-cuddy/72452#vQFLSVbcl6JyTlL3.97

19 year old cranchi
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Cuddy-Boat-for-sale/cranchi-turchese-24/49138#sPD4JKTVSAEsCSR1.97

16 year old four winns
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/...winns-225-sundowner/80531#8Qx330BmGiLJmcGB.97

 

[Vitesse]

Given the size of boat the OP is looking at (assuming it's not going to be trailered) what might be a reasonable annual budget?

 

[julians]

Given the size of boat the OP is looking at (assuming it's not going to be trailered) what might be a reasonable annual budget?

dont know what UK costs are like as my boat is in mallorca, but mine (25 foot diesel cuddy) costs me :-

£3k mooring
£900 (average - some years its less, some years its more) engine and drive service
£400 - antifoul
£300 - insurance
£150 - lift out and back in

Plus whatever has broken and need repairing.

 

[colingr]

Probably not much different in the UK depending on location.

 

[Vitesse]

We invest around £3000 each year, all in. Fuel is about£1000 of that.

The boats Julian listed earlier might be preferable when it comes to selling on. That's something to think about!

I'd urge the OP to be very cautious about the boat he's got in mind, but good luck in his search.

 

[Koyukano]

Thanks for the advice guys, I think you are right. I will start looking at something maybe a little smaller in the 22-23ft range instead which is a bit newer.