First time buyer - Sealine/Bayliner

Ah...when you say "better finish", you mean better gadgets ? I thought you were meaning the build quality.
I can't remember seeing a Sealine of this size not having a holding tank though.
As for the generator and electric flush toilet....if that's what you really needed in a boat, I'd still buy a Sealine and fit afterwards. Agree ?
 
I don't know if all the Sealines had holding tanks, certainly some of the Fairlines don't. I would say that Genny, A/C loos etc are part of the build, and not really gadgets, but I would agree that the similar sealine is a nice built boat as in structure, I would also say that the Searay is equal in terms of structure.
And no, I would not buy the Sealine and fit after, might as well get it in the purchase.
 
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Yeah, they must be one of the best of the US boats.
The only reason I'm thinking the Sealine (certainly of late 80's and early 90's) is slightly better, is I remember an Eberspacher heating tech doing 5 boats in the marina years ago. A bayliner 2255, my Sealine 218, searay 240, bayliner 245 and the last escapes me...might have been a maxum 2300sc...
He showed me the cut outs from each boat he made with a hole saw for the exhaust skin fitting...jeez, the Sealine was twice as thick as the bayliners/maxum and considerably thicker than the searay...that was the thickest of the rest, to be fair though.
 
Its not the thickness of the hull that matters, its the strength. Modern methods can make a hull lighter (faster) but strong.
I think Searay were among the first to use vacuum lay up technology. Searay are a quality brand, Bayliner are their budget cousins but still good boats. There is also Glastron, worth considering
 
Fair call....think Sealine are owned by Brunswick boats these days (bayliner)...searay might be too.
I will always remember towing that "wee" Sealine 218 from my Loch Lomond mooring to Loch Tay. Was a nightmare. Even with a discovery. So unpleasant it want real. Long and funny story, but ended up I never even got it in the water after all that. Ended up sneaking into a caravan park after dark and using it as a caravan. The looks on the neighbouring pitched caravaners when they opened their curtains in the morning to see a dirty big boat towering above them next door. Haha.
The funny bit might be that the sea toilet 3 way valve was set to overboard and not to the afore mentioned holding tank....I needn't go on !!!
 
Towing a boat can be a real pain. But one of our best holidays ever was towing a boat, so I have mostly good memories of it. While watching people launch and recover at our local slipway I was reminiscing to my wife about how we used to be a perfect team when launching. But all she recalled was me yelling at her. It's fun but after a while you hanker for a permanent berth.
 
Bouba

Every boat has its place, I'm sure. My point remains that a bayliner and for that matter a glastron cannot and will not compare in quality to any Sealine ever made.
These boats have their place, no doubt. Usually for the inexperienced boater who see a nice modern looking boat with attractive cosmetics. Most will soon realise that when the going gets tough, the difference is night and day.
Years ago I had a 23ft Sealine 218 (1989 model) and my friend had a 30ft bayliner 2855 (2001 model). When the weather got a bit rough, even though the Sealine was a minnow in size compared to the bayliner, it was really noticably more capable in these conditions.
Generally, in fact to encompass the situation, is even go so far as to say that on the whole, North American boats in most cases cannot come close to your average British built boat. There are exceptions of course. Grand Banks and Boston whalers etc are great, but are amongst the few exceptions.
There is a price to pay of course...and that is....well, the price. Haha.
I currently have a campion (Canadian) boat. This is widely considered to be amongst the premium built North American boats. Although it is decent enough for the class of boat....If I was sent to sea for any real purpose, I'd take back the old Sealine any day
 
Regarding towing an S23.
I have a Discovery 2 and would not regularly tow. I would just tow it about 30 miles (Decent Roads) at the start of the season to put it in and the return Journey to keep it at my property at the end of the season.

For those that have towed one do you think this is ok or still too scary

Dennis
 
Please get the outdrive checked before you purchase and if you want to get a well priced boat,search for a boat outside its natural habitat.
Can give you details on a diesel S23 that ended up at Allington Marina after the owner bought a much larger 36ft boat and got stuck with two boats.
It proved difficult to move and he became very very keen to sell.
It finally sold in the very low twenties and he had to pay brokers fees as well.
The leg had been completely rebuilt at great expence only a year before by DB Marine after an unfortunate grounding incident on the Thames.
Seek and ye shall find. :)
 
QBhoy said:
Fair call....think Sealine are owned by Brunswick boats these days (bayliner)...searay might be too.
I will always remember towing that "wee" Sealine 218 from my Loch Lomond mooring to Loch Tay. Was a nightmare. Even with a discovery. So unpleasant it want real. Long and funny story, but ended up I never even got it in the water after all that. Ended up sneaking into a caravan park after dark and using it as a caravan. The looks on the neighbouring pitched caravaners when they opened their curtains in the morning to see a dirty big boat towering above them next door. Haha.
The funny bit might be that the sea toilet 3 way valve was set to overboard and not to the afore mentioned holding tank....I needn't go on !!!
Click to expand...

Sealine are under the Hanse banner now not Brunswick.
 
Bigplumbs said:
So here is the million dollar question. If you see a S23 with KAD32 in decent condition up for £30,000 asking price and they are inviting offers. What is a reasonable offer as opposed to an insult !!.

I subscribed to something today and have had 2 calls fro0m sellers already seems it might be a Buyers Market

Dennis
Click to expand...

I would be looking at when the engine and drive were last serviced. If they are due a service then that is some haggling power on the asking price to start with.

How long has the boat been on the market? There are a few that have been hanging around for a while and have not sold. If it is one of these then there may be scope for a lower offer if the vendor is now keen to sell.

Don't be afraid to put in a low offer they can only say no and then you have a base to start from with negotiations.
 
DavidJ said:
My S23 had a holding tank. It was under the floor under the table
Click to expand...

It was an optional extra. The factory fitted ones were under the saloon table.

Not all of them have the tank fitted.

Ours has a factory installed tank and macerator pump.

ETA:

If it has the little cupboard under the saloon floor like this one Burton Waters have just sold:

https://www.burtonwaters.co.uk/boat-for-sale/Sealine-S23-Sports-Cruiser-FOR-SALE-6207031.html

Then there is no holding tank.

On the S25 with the D3 some people retrofitted holding tanks in the engine bay. Not sure there would be room with the KAD32 in the engine bay though!
 
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Bigplumbs said:
Regarding towing an S23.
I have a Discovery 2 and would not regularly tow. I would just tow it about 30 miles (Decent Roads) at the start of the season to put it in and the return Journey to keep it at my property at the end of the season.

For those that have towed one do you think this is ok or still too scary

Dennis
Click to expand...

Yes that's totally fine if you are a comfortable towing driver. Will work well.
 
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