First Time Boater Seeks Advice

[Targa]

After years of thinking about doing it, I have decided to do it!

I am looking to purchase a MicroPlus 600 with a 55HP engine to be used for inshore cruising/fishing based in the northwest coast of Scotland. Given that I know precious little about boats, are there any views on the suitability of that type of boat for the kind of use I am planning?

Any other issues that I need to consider (apart from £20 notes in the shower)?


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[whisper]

Welcome to the Forum.
The MicroPlus boats that I have seen seem to be designed more for Inland Waterways than coastal use. I'm not sure what the 600 is like but I guess it may be ok for what you want, provided the weather is fine and settled - not something that happens very often on the West Coast of Scotland/forums/images/icons/smile.gif.
Where do you mean by "the northwest"? I personally wouldn't fancy using the typical MicroPlus outside the Clyde Estuary. Further north and west you get greater tidal flows which often kick up nasty seas. That is not to say you can't trail the boat to whatever Loch takes your fancy and use it as a dayboat for pottering about in sheltered waters.
Presumably the 55hp engine is an outboard. If so you need to be sure that it is in good nick and even then get yourself a small - 4 or 5hp -auxilliary fitted on a bracket at the stern. My first foray into salt water boating was after I was given an old 16ft launch with a 10hp Mercury on the back. I had the engine serviced before venturing forth and it seized up solid during the first week. I didn't have a small auxilliary - very long walk back to base/forums/images/icons/mad.gif.
This all sounds a bit negative but the point I'm trying to make is that the boat and engine combination is probably ok for use in sheltered waters only and in calm conditions.
Carry on and give it a go, be careful and if you enjoy it then upgrade in a year or so to something that is probably rather more seaworthy.
Good Luck - it's a great hobby to have.

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[muchy_]

Hi, welcome to boating...
I used to have a Microplus 600 with a 20hp outboard. She was, to my suprise quite stable in fairly choppy conditions. With the 55hp engine you would be able to whiz along at a fair pace to cover some distance but access to the outboard is virtualy nil if you were to have a problem with it. I suspect that it would (with an expierenced person at the helm) be able to take maybe a force 3/4 but would be very unpleasant. The sides of the superstructure come up fairly high which gives it a fair bit of freeboard but I would want to be in the pub long before it got that high. I have seen Microplus 600's called estuary boats and thats probably a fair description. Open water on a calm day would definetly by ok but it would be unpleasant on the way back if the wind came up.
They are very prone to being blown about in the wind as it's shallow-V hulled and a rudder on the outboard would help a lot.
But I would go for it, with a nice backup engine. Try it in different water conditions and you will find the point at which you feel uncomfortable and can then aviod those conditions.
Other than that the Microplus 600 is a very nice boat for it's size. Offers good accomodation and the cockpit is not to crowded with four people in it.
It's as good a boat as any in that size range.

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[Nat]

Welcome to the forum
My first boat was a microplus 600 it was a good solid little boat I had a 40horse
main engine & a 7 horse auxilary which pushed it along quite well I used it on the Thames for fishing & often trailored it down to Brighton where I used to fish off the rock. Never really got caught in any sort of weather over force 3 which it dealt with
quite well but anything over that would be uncomfortable & unwise.still its an ideal
boat to start offon & I hope your boat gives you as much enjoyment as mine gave me, & with your larger engine should get along quite well.
Good Luck..........Nat

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[andyball]

Having done our first boating from a slipway used by more microplus's & shetlands etc than you could shake a stick at & reading local rescue reports, the main thing to consider is the reliability (or not) of the engine.

Carry spare plugs & spanner always & know how to change them. Check out the waterpump impeller & replace if doubtful. I'd pull the thermostat out & check it too, they're sometimes well clogged. Drain the carb's , clean if necessary, check the tanks are clean, plug caps/leads must be good condition. Renew the battery if any doubt exists & install a spare if possible.

Round here at least, many people use such boats as you plan to....& lots break down or run out of fuel or have flat batteries.


But, enjoy your boating.

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[Targa]

Many thanks to the folk who replied - some food for thought..

(1) Boat Choice : Looks like the boat is broadly OK but not ideal. I had asked about its suitability for inshore cruising and had been assured that it was fine. Maybe the advice was based more on the need to sell the boat than my needs.

Has anybody any better alternatives for other similar types of boats around the 18 foot mark with at least two bunks? The MicroPlus is lying locally but is seriously overpriced at £4000 given it is without trailer or any awnings/tonneau and would only be purchased if price was reduced significantly and that depends on pricing trailer and covers..

(2) Engine : I had already decided to get it stripped down and overhalued and to fit second smaller engine. Had not fully thought through need for carrying set of spares.

(3) Trailer : Am having problems in locating/pricing trailer in spite of Google's best efforts. Are trailers 'fit all' or specific to the boat to be carried? Any steers on where to acquire one?

(4) Towbar : Any do's and don't as regards fitting of towbars? I have a two litre car which I assume will cope with the type of boat planned.

(5) Size : The boat (to my untrained eye) seems to have an aft deck area(?) which is disproportionate in size to that of the cabin area. Whilst I could have a game of tennis on the deck, things are tight in the cabin. This makes me think that I could get the same amount of cabin space in a shorter boat or alternatively, get more accommodation in the same length of boat by having a shorter tennis court.


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[hlb]

Dont think you want to get over carried away with cruising in any 18ft boat. Depends what you mean of course. Trailers should be adustabe to take any boat of the right weight. Make sure you check.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[gonfishing]

Hi
Personnally I am not a fan of Microplus,as they are not as stable as other boats in that class,You would be far better of with a Shetland or a Pliot much more stable
IMHO of course!!!

Julian

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[Targa]

Julian..

I assume you mean 'Pilot' and not 'Pliot'? If so, are there any model numbers or model names to help Google home in on that type of boat as 'pilot boat' thows up loads of hits for 'pilot boats' - all of which carry pilots!



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[Superflid]

I have a friend that will shortly be selling a 22 foot Shetland with a 60 or 70 hp outboard on a trailer (the details are only what I've been told, not seen the boat yet). Price will be more in the £3000 area.
I have a couple of (fairly poor) pics. Send me a message if you would like any more details.

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[longjohnsilver]

As already said it's a reasonable boat, but why do you want 2 bunks on a boat that size? You'll soon go off the idea of sleeping on board a boat of that size, probably one very uncomfortable night will do it. Much better to look for something bigger if accomodation is important.

Been there, done that!

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[gonfishing]

Hi
Try a simple PILOT FISHING BOATS on a Google search it will lead you to <A target="_blank" HREF=http://boatsandoutboards.com>http://boatsandoutboards.com</A>
Go from there!! goos luck!!
O.K so I typed pliot !! well at least all the correct letters were there albeit misplaced!!!
As for the £4k asking price ?? someones "avin a right larf" !!! drop a nought or two and it should be about right!!
Julian

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[pompeyboy]

Hi, i am an advanced powerboat instructor from portsmouth, i have had 3 microplus boats over the years, and i have also had the misfortune of handling one in a force 6 wind against tide in the langstone harbour entrance (not pleasant!) althought id agree that there are more stable boats around, i would say that microlpus has held itsr own compared to most other boats of the size, althought they may not be as confortable in a swell. of course the North sea etc as a whole different kettle of fish compared with the solent. as to the engine, i have a suzuki 40hp, and i woud say that a 55hp 2-stroke engine may well be very thirsty, which is just a point to consider too

 

[pompeyboy]

oh, and as for the price, my microplus 501 (the size down) was £1,300 with trailer, very reliable 40hp outboard, a seagull auxillary, all equipment (incl fixed VHF radio) and an 11ft GRP tender. so id agree with the "avin a larf" comment, personally. even with a very good engine, id be unwilling to part with over about £2000-£2500 for a boat like that, depending on the condition. the main thing u have to consider with your trailer is the brakes issue - there is a legal maximum wieght for an unbreaked trailer and boat (i think its 750 kgs), and personally id never hit the road with half a ton behind me on an unbreaked trailer. although this is likely to bump the price up considerably (about £1,600 new for a braked trailer) also, double check the maximum allowed towing weight for ur car (contact the manufacturer), as there is a legal minefield to to with this too. if you are looking at a second hand trailer, its very well worthwile getting with someone with some experience or mechanical know how to check it over, as you dont want the wheels falling off! a quick look around it may suffice to tow the trailer unlaiden but may not show up bodged welding or ware and tear etc untill it is under the weight of a boat, which will invarably be too late.

i hope i have been of some help, please dont hesitate to ask any other questions and i will try to help, as i have negotiated (successfully so far - touchwood) this minefield recently.

 

[BrendanS]

You may or not be aware, that the posts you are replying to are a year out of date. Personally, if trying to put an ad in for your instruction, I'd try to reply to recent posts

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Bloody well spotted old chap! How on earth did he manage to resurrect such an ancient post???

 

[pompeyboy]

jeez sorry about that, i had stumbled across it doing a google search to try to find the original microplus builders... as for an ad for my instruction, i work at a training centre, so there would be little point, any extra business i drummed up would only go to the council's back pocket!