Fletcher Panther Sportscruiser

landlockedpirate

landlockedpirate

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I am currently looking for a small cuddy for day trips and trailer boating UK and Med.

Due to weight and size restrictions it looks like I have a choice of either a fletcher sportscruiser or a fletcher sportscruiser !! (everything else I have found has been too heavy for wifeys namby pamby tree hugging SUV to pull or too wide to fit on drive.)

Views on these boats would be greatly appreciated, whats the performance of the 3.0l like - is it useable or do I really need a 4.3. Any particular year of boats to avoid/look for bareing in mind the colourfull history of fletcher.

I have also found a much newer Panther sportscruiser (the company that bought the sportscruiser moulds) with a 1.7Dti in it. On paper it looks like a superb buy, but I have heard that these boats had severe quality issues. Any direct experience would be great.

Thanks

Mark
 
most are great little cruisers - one of the guys on here has a 19 with a 3.0 and gets all over the south coast in it; overnights frequently at anchor etc etc

engine seems enough to me (from the outside)

TDi sounds perfect - surprised if you can get it at anything like the price of the petrol engines though

try a pm to Geoffs - mind you he will probau try and flog you his as he is buying a 25ft'r
 
I'm not sure if it fits the bill but have a look at The Predator 160 they are based near Preston so not too far from cheshire,(Well I commute to Ellesmere Port from Preston everyday so I don't think its too far ! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif)
The only connection I have with them is I have my boat at the yard there.
 
Hmm, wifey has said that if there is so much as a hint of a baitwell or a rod holder I will be sleeping in the shed !!

She really really really doesnt like this style. But thanks for the idea.
 
The diesel boat just seems too good to be true, its cheaper than petrol engined boats that are 4 years older.

If its still there next weekend I will go and have a look at it.
 
We have a friend with a 3ltr 2001 model and i find it fast enough. i can ski quite happily and it'll do about 30 knots. He wants to sell and i am very interesed in it if only we could sell our boat. I love the fact it is like a mini sports crusier because everything else of the size is more low slung cuddy style with speed boat style seating. I saw the panther advert and thought it seemed a very good deal but they have ruined the lines a little and i'd also worry about the quality.

Woody
 
I've found the Fletcher 19 Sportcruiser absolutely superb. I've been running mine for 8 seasons and it's been no trouble at all. Had various maintenance jobs done on the engine (3.0L Merc) but it's never missed a beat out at sea.

As Duncan says, I'm only changing mine, as after 8 years, I feel it's time for something bigger, plus a golden opportunity arose.

The diesel package Panther or Fletcher, is worth going for if you can find one, I know of a couple of Panthers, and not been aware of any build quality issues.

You can see mine at Pooleboatpark.co.uk
 
I have had 2 Fletchers, from the 15' to the 17' both outboards and they have been cracking boats, with never any hull or engine problems. Easy to tow and launch/retrieve I prefered them over the Bayliner. One pain is the outboard is not the greatest boat to put your Skis/Wakeboards on, as you generally end up doing it in the boat and can damage the upholsterey. However we fixed that by having a foam cushion made to fit the rear seat so they could stand on it to put on kit, then slip over the side. But having said that, fast and manouverable
 
I too am looking to buy my first mobo (so please excuse the stupid questions) and I too have narrowed the choice down to a Fletcher Sportscruiser or something very similar. The question I am struggling with is whether it is better to go for an inboard or outboard engine.

Comparing like with like (for instance the 3 litre Merc in Geoff's boat, which produces 135 hp, compared to a 135hp outboard of similar age), what are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Is one better than the other in terms of performance, cost (fuel consumption and maintenance) or relaibility?

Or is it really just a question of personal preference?

I would really appreciate any guidance.

Thanks.
 
difficult question to provide a definitive answer too because there are a number of factors -

OB - easy to replace, if kept in the water it's easy to keep it tileted up and avoid fouling of the OD. Once upon a time it was 2 stroke OB compared to 4 stroke inboard so the OB was more juicy (about 20% worse consumption). Not the case now. OB lighter, designed for marine use whilst most inboard petrols (and many diesels too!) are marinised car / lorry units.

Inboards take up more space.

Inboards are generally quieter but the lattest OBs are up with them now!

Inboards can be easier to work on when on the water but harder to access than an OB when out on a trialer or chocks - or even removed!

OB can be raised to remove fouling around prop - OD only partially raised are still a pain (but better than shafts).

In the 130 - 200hp range both OBs and inboard petrols run similar gearing/props etc and the OD lower leg is almost identical to the OB lower unit - so no great shakes there. Drop below 130 horses and the OBs are purpose built to drive light'ish boats with high speed props and few similar inboards exist - so you simply won't find them!

As you can see there is no longer any direct comparison as OBs can be 2 stroke card, efi or DFI with the latter equal or even better than 4 stroke equivelents for fuel consumption.

Personally I wouldn't get to hung up about it ie look at the package as a whole. Things to mark down (relatively) would be inboard boats that have been kept afloat or 2 stroke OB other than DFI units - the former isn't necessarily an issue - thousands of OD boats are kept afloat including mine! - the latter is definitely going to cost more to run fuel wise.
 
Crikey, that was quick! Thanks very much for your comments - very helpful. I guess that it really comes down to how well the engine has been looked after (receipts etc) - if the previous owner has spent money on it then hopefully I won't have to!

Thanks again.
 
Whilst it's true outboards are faster and lighter than their inboard siblings they do remove all the bathing platform(+ some cockpit?) on the flecther which is not good as far as i'm concerned plus it probably will be noisier and generally spoils the beautiful lines.

Woody
 
My personal preference is for the inboard, that's why I chose it. Agree with all Duncan's points, but a couple of things tipped the scales towards the inboard.

Firstly, an outboard is an ugly great lump stuck on the back, IMHO, the GTS looks much sleeker than the GTO. Also gives much more of a bathing platform. Very nice on a hot day to lay out on the platform drying off before getting on board.

Also inboards tend to rev lower than O/B, my 3.0L would purr along happily at 3,000 rpm, whereas an outboard needs to be screaming more like 4,000 rpm.

Against the I/B, they tend to be older technology with carburettors and push rods, as against overhead camshafts.

I still reckon the I/B is the best bet. Certainly there were more I/B's sold, I believe.
 
Thanks to everyone for the replies, overall comments seem very positive. As others have mentioned I would be happy with the performance of the outboard versions but would prefer the practical bathing platform of the inboard.

Have spoke to the broker of the diesel version and it would appear its cheap because it is in very poor cosmetic condition. My worry is that if the owner hasnt looked after the shiny bits odds on they havent looked after the oily bits either.

Should be in a position to purchase soon so will keep you informed of what I buy.
 
Not wishing to do myself out of a potential sale, I wouldn't dismiss the diesel totally. A diesel is a big plus. If the price is right, and the cosmetic condition is not too deep, it can be sorted.

As a diesel, it can't be very old, and providing the engine hours are not too high, the 'oily bits' can't have suffered too much, I would have thought. If it has been kept afloat, anodes, bellows etc might require attention. But if totally neglected afloat and the drive is corroded, it's probably a no, no. Unless the price is low enough for a new drive.

Whilst the petrol package is a good one, the benefits of diesel can't be over stressed. The top speed will be down a knot or two, but acceleration will be better, valuable if thinking of skiing.
 
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