first time buyer advice please

[mpg]

Hello,

I am looking for a first boat, I sort of know what I want - a sports cruiser to use in and around the Solent and stay the odd over night here and there... I want a little bit of fun but also want to try to keep running costs down.

So I would value your thoughts on a boat I've seen :

A Rinker 242 with a Yanmar 4LHA diesel engine.

Many thanks

 

[rubberduck]

I started with a Rinker 26, had no problems but it was nearly new. Its all about condition, service history etc. Others will no doubt add detail.

 

[rafiki_]

Most of us don’t keep the first boat very long, so whatever you buy, best ensure it is easy to sell. Our first was a cuddly, but it really wasn’t big enough for us to overnight on, so after 4 months we bought a 25’ sports cruiser with 4 berths, a small galley and heads. Kept her for 3 years.

 

[mpg]

Thank you for the advice - do you know anything about the engine - Yanmar 4LHA diesel engine? Is this OK for the boat?

Thanks

 

[rubberduck]

Thank you for the advice - do you know anything about the engine - Yanmar 4LHA diesel engine? Is this OK for the boat?

Thanks

Mine was 26ft & had 260 hp
This is 24ft & has 240hp, should be pretty lively. I have had yanmar in all my larger boat generators & they have been pretty reliable, apart from when an eel climbed into to water intake in St Kats.

 

[Dazzajohm]

As one of the previous commenters said, if it’s your first boat you t nd not to keep it too long.

When I got my first boat, I started off with something cheap and cheerful which I had for a year and a half and pretty quickly you start to realise what you want and don’t want and how far afield you want to go etc. If you’re a complete novice to boating my only advice, again similar to those who have already commented is don’t spend too much and get something you hope will be easy to sell on.

I don’t know anything about yanmar diesels as I’ve always ended up with Volvo Penta’s but for peace of mind it might b worth chucking a local engineer a few quid to give it a once over and of course look through any paperwork provided by the seller.

 

[mpg]

Thanks - I'll give that a go.

 

[mpg]

Thanks for that - Sounds like I should give the boat a go.

 

[CLB]

I kept my first boat for 10 years

Not everyone gets it wrong first time right round.

Mine was a single diesel 25ish foot sportscruiser. It's about as cheap as you can get for a fast cruiser in terms of running costs.

 

[Solent Sailor]

How much time have you spent on boats, of that size or any other?

Best advice I could give anyone is to try to experience boats of various types and sizes before you commit yourself to anything.

Probably entirely unsuitable for you, but you'd be welcome to come on my SeaRanger 448 but the size (nearly 50ft) and costs of running (110l/h of diesel) are unlikely to fit within your parameters.

Lots of other friendly people out there though - and of course, there's always the option of doing something with a school.

 

[benjenbav]

Most of us don’t keep the first boat very long, so whatever you buy, best ensure it is easy to sell. Our first was a cuddly, but it really wasn’t big enough for us to overnight on, so after 4 months we bought a 25’ sports cruiser with 4 berths, a small galley and heads. Kept her for 3 years.

@rafiki: I'd have thought a 'cuddly' would be just right for a couple.

@mpg: accepted wisdom is that it takes three boats to get it right. Whatever you do it'll be a bad move financially but, hopefully, an excellent one in terms of life-enhancement. Best of luck.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Whatever you get make sure it's got a separate heads, even if you have to sit down to pee! …. :encouragement:

 

[wofforduk]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but did you buy this boat? If so what was her name if you don't mind me asking? I converted a rinker to diesel a while ago, seem to be a bit rare ?

 

[Rocksteadee]

Whichever boat you buy 3 weeks later it will be too small