first time buyer

[floody]

Hi all!

Chris from Malta here! I am very glad I came across this very informative forum! Lots to read and learn!

Currently I am on the hunt for a motor boat! Been doing some research to see what i can buy with a €45k budget. Aiming to buy from the UK since here in Malta we have a limited market and prices are crazy. Although if I manage to find the ideal boat locally, would save me some €6k in shipping etc.

I am after a diesel powered, 4 berth, 28ft boat and build not later than year 2000. From the research I did I came across some lovely sealines, namely the S23 and S25, the boat seemed ideal until I saw the swimming platform which put me off!

Then the Jeanneau leader 805 caught my eye…. one dealer (good reputation apparently) has one for sale at 37k gbp, problem was that when I asked about the engine hours I was told that the hour gauge is not currently working and by replacing the gauge this will also not help as the hours will start from 0. The engine is also a year too old to be plugged into a diagnostics to find out what the hours are. They asked the two previous owners they think it has 350 hours approx.
The engine in question is a KAD 43, and boat is from year 2003…Is it something I should worry about?

I would like if you can suggest me other boats, and a reputable boat surveyor for me.

Will appreciate your help very much!
Chris

 

[rafiki_]

Floody,

Welcome to the forum. You won't go far wrong with the Sealine, and your budget might even stretch to an S28, although she will be a hard worked version at that price, and might need some work.

I would not worry too much about the engine hours meter, these seldom work, except in the height of summer. Taking them out and drying in an oven can give you a reading, but as soon as they are installed at this time of year, the LCD's don't display.

In any case, by far more important than engine hours is maintenance and servicing. 350 hours is low, circa 30 to 35 hours a year for the boat you quote. This may not be a good thing, as boats really need to work and be serviced to keep them in the best condition. My Sunline is a 2003 and has about 430 hours on the engines. Again, this is quite low, but I am fastidious with the maintenance. So ask for all the records. If the boat has been maintained properly, there should be records.

 

[lisilou]

Hi Floody.
There are many more, far better qualified and experienced people on here than me but fwiw, we had a Monterey 250 2007 which was well suited for our needs at the time. A fair bit of boat for the money and you should be able to pick one up of same year for around 45k probably less. (thats £s though)
Just my 2 penneth worth. Let us know what you decide.
Lisa

 

[rubberduck]

Try looking here, knock at least 10% off the screen prices & they specialise in exports as well.

http://www.essexboatyards.com/boats...rice_to=&sort=price_i&order=asc&search=Search

 

[floody]

thanks pals for your help.....im still on the hunt

 

[Nautibusiness]

Hi Chris

Not sure, but that Leader 805 sounds like a boat we have on our books at the moment.
I (my dealership I was working with at the time) sold the boat from new and to the current owner. I've driven the boat on a number of occasions and she drives very nicely indeed.

Yes the hour metre LCD is up the swanny. It will be ticking away in the background, but they don't like sitting around in cold, damp weather. I'd put money on it coming back on once the boat is back in regular use and in warmer weather. I own a Merry Fisher 695 with a Nanni engine and mine does exactly the same! A fair percentage of the boats I sell that have LCD metres are exactly the same.

Whether this is the Leader on brokerage with us or somewhere else I would still encourage an engine survey and also a hull survey. I suspect the engine is first class on the one we have here as I know she has been well serviced, but not owning the boat myself I could not put money on it.
The one we have here has clearly been a pleasure to the family that own her. A family of four from Ireland who travel across and have spent school holidays aboard her. She resides on dry berth in the marina and is launched for them when they arrive. They've enjoyed her so much that (due to the kids getting much bigger) they have traded up within the Jeanneau brand and now run a Prestige 34.

I sell many boats and I am neither a Jeanneau or a Sealine dealer. The S23/25 is a clever boat that crams an awful lot in to a small space. I've sold many to very happy new owners, but my in my own opinion the Leader 805 absolutely kicks seven barrels out of it. When it comes to space and practicality the Leader is ten times the boat. When it comes to ease of use it does to. The Leader 805 has a habit of leaning, just perceptibly, into the wind. If it really bothered you (and it won't) you may consider a set of trim tabs to fix this.
The Sealine S23/25 for all it's clever cramming things in will flop on one side or the other as soon as you are on the plane. You will need trim tabs and you will be continually adjusting them to give some form of level trim when travelling. They are smooth riding and fine around the marina, but in my view a bit of a pain in the rear end once cruising. Some people, love them though!

 

[Nick_H]

the Leader is ten times the boat.....The Sealine S23/25 ... will flop on one side or the other as soon as you are on the plane..... fine around the marina ... pain in the rear end once cruising

Ah, a nice balanced and objective comparison from the guy selling the Jeanneau!

Floody, you can't rely on the hour meter reading on its own anyway, how do you know it wasn't changed when the boat had done 500 hours? Look at the general condition of the boat, the service records, and get a reputable engineer to survey the engines, and you should have a good idea of their condition.

 

[oldgit]

What ever you buy you can be very aggressive on pricing over here in UK,the market is on its beam ends and very little is moving.A member at my club has reduced the price on a Jennybenny with a nice Nanni in it and not a single serious sniff,fact is,he now wants proper boat and has his eye on a Broom European.
Older stuff is not moving either unless at a seriously sensible price.
Good luck.

 

[Nautibusiness]

Ah, a nice balanced and objective comparison from the guy selling the Jeanneau!

Floody, you can't rely on the hour meter reading on its own anyway, how do you know it wasn't changed when the boat had done 500 hours? Look at the general condition of the boat, the service records, and get a reputable engineer to survey the engines, and you should have a good idea of their condition.

Nice editing there Nick.
You may have missed the bit where I wasn't sure if it was the one we had (as it happens I have now conversed with Chris and yes it is). You may have missed be suggest to Chris that if it is the one lying with us or another, I survey of both hull and engine would be wise. You may also have missed the fact that I have actualy pointed out how clever the S23 is and that my opinion that the Leader is better is just that, an opinion! The fact that I have put dozens of hours on both boats over the years and anyone with either will agree that the comments re handling are exactly true. The Sealine is a fine boat, and I can see all of the great benefits of soooo much cruiser in such a small space. But you need to be light on your fingers to keep the trim flat... fact.
Would I own a Sealine S23/5. No I wouldn't and if given one I would sell it immediately, however, many people love them and Chris may well too.
Would I own a Leader 805. If I was looking for a sensibly priced, predominantly diesel, small family cruiser. Yes I would.
As I don't want one, I'll stick with my little ol Merry Fisher 695 which makes a fine mid channel angling boat... after some tweaks.

...because I sell boats for a living, does that mean I am not allowed an opinion on the one I presonally prefer?

 

[DavidJ]

The Sealine S23/25 will flop on one side or the other as soon as you are on the plane. You will need trim tabs and you will be continually adjusting them to give some form of level trim when travelling.!

I had one for 5 years and have never experienced this problem nor have heard anything on this forum. Great boat from a great company...I'm now on my 3rd Sealine.
There was a problem with the S41 with chine walking but not with other models.

 

[Nautibusiness]

Come on David, your S23 never chine rode!?

I've not yet driven one that doesn't as soon as the throttle is moved forward.
Doesn't make it bad if you are aware and on the tabs, but it isn't the major selling point of the model.
In my opinion, the S23 is brilliant in what it crams in and once you get it flat it is a very smooth ride for it's size.
It is also very economical with the KAD32 DP, but I've not yet been on one that doesn't flop over as you ease the throttle forward.

As for Sealine as a brand?
Fabulous selection of craft and semi sensible (for boats) prices.
The only model I truly dislike is the S28 and I absolutely love the entire SC range. Hated them to start with as they were such a departure from the norm, but the hulls truly work at sea and also to give volume. Many of the sheep out there are now building similarish hulls and using similarish materials to the upholstery etc where Sealine led the way. Hats off to them for being so bold.

 

[MapisM]

Hi & welcome.
Considering your requirements and your location, I would have a look also at what Cranchi boats the market has to offer.
I'm pretty sure that you could find some very good ones in that size/budget range, and their build quality is a tad higher of both Sealine and Jeanneau, imho.
Good luck with your search!

 

[DavidJ]

Come on David, your S23 never chine rode!?

Actually no!, sounds quite alarming from descriptions I've heard about the S41. Why would anyone buy a boat that did this despite all the positives. Agree with your comments about the SC range, makes mine feel a little dated....which I guess is the intention.

 

[Nautibusiness]

Hi & welcome.
Considering your requirements and your location, I would have a look also at what Cranchi boats the market has to offer.
I'm pretty sure that you could find some very good ones in that size/budget range, and their build quality is a tad higher of both Sealine and Jeanneau, imho.
Good luck with your search!

Cranchi Perla 25 if you can find one is very nice indeed.
They do suffer from condensation problems in the cabin, but drive well and even earlier ones still look current.

Not sure if build quality is better than Sealine or Jeanneau, but certainly the same ballpark and without a doubt a good one to throw into the mix. Good thinking MapisM.