Follow up To Starter boat for wife & new born

[Guest]

Hi All

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for the advice and quirkiness offered in reply to my post. A lot of the comments have really helped us to adjust our view. We took a day out at the RYB brokerage on Sunday. As a result, any and all preconceived ideas we may have had have well and truly been scrubbed. We had a look at a Sealine S24, but it turned out to be far smaller than we had imagined. It is fair to say that the original budget of 30-40K that I had in the back of my mind, will not procure the craft we require. I have been reading the various posts on this forum for approx two years, and have always smiled when reference has been made to the "indecision/pickiness/no logic attached", reportedly demonstrated by the various posters wives. I feel I fell victim to this on Sunday. It appears that my wife can pick the most expensive craft at a thousand yards. The Killer was that every time my newborn daughter (6 mnths) Molly entered a small craft she cried, when she was in the T47 and such like, she was as good as gold. "Like mother like daughter I think". The one point I brought away with me from the day, was that we will probably go for either an S28 or an F33/36. We felt comfortable in both these craft.

Can anyone pass constructive comment on the pros and cons of the Sealine range and the preferable engine sizes suited the aforementioned craft.

Regards

David O'Brien

 

[jfm]

Davie, I don't have direct experience but use the search function as there has been much discussion on F33 in particular. Praps look at other makes too - Sealine ok but praps not the best in this category. Also do you def want flybridge? What about a carbon copy of BarryD's sportscruiser deal today, a 1997 30 footer with 2 cabins and twin diesels for well under 100k?

 

[tcm]

Have only used sealine flamenco 37'.

But firstly, avoid flybridge with newborn, second get diesels, thirdly avoid sterndrives if poss: sterndrives are the hanging out the back things that turn when you turn the wheel: much harder to manoevre (sp), but then as others say, there's no end to all this...

 

[hlb]

AAh. So now joined land of the living. Sealine are possibly best of the little boats left but. Now your talking above 33. There cheap but a bit fragile. Never mind you can now have a desent Fairline or Princess. With one special room for Molly. And two nice diesels underneath to keep her safe and snug. And with the diesel powered and central heating you will all be as snug as a rug in the tub!! Now you've got shore power of course, a fridge and a cooker. so it's just like home!! Now you need to park up just by the pub and Your happy, Molly's happy and so is SWMBO. Although personaly. The hard one is making SWMBO's happy. You need to be Clerk Gabble to do that!!

Haydn

 

[Guest]

Right so now as predicted budget has gone out the window and you've opened a whole new can of marine bits.

Having started cruising when my kids were 3 months and 3 years I have to say that a flybridge is a big no-no. Its alright when the sprogs are tucked up in a nice car seat but the moment they start crawling you are in big trouble. A sports cruiser type boat is much more sociable for a family.

When you are looking at >30 footers the choice gets even more bewildering its easy to get sucked into the cherry gloss joinery on the first boat you walk on. The best advice is to get out there and look prices versus quality etc. Theres nothing wrong with "value" boats but by definition they are not as good as the premium brands.

To illustrate this look at the current crop of 34 ft sports cruisers. If you look at the same engine options say Volvo 32's the prices run from About 90k for a Cranchi 34 to 170k for a Fairline Targa 34 (And there are about 10 other makes of similar lay out in between.)

Go and look at them and buy the one you feel happiest on, after all it will be your boat.

Despite my love of all things petrol I have to say that at this size you must go for twin diesels - anything else would be financial suicide.

Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[trev]

For a first boat within your budget I would look at a Birchwood 33 with 120 hp diesels. Or perhaps a non-flybridge Princess 33. The Profile 33 is another good boat, but a little slow if you intend long sea hops. The Fairline Mirage is also a contender especially if you can find one with aft cabin and twin diesels (like hens teeth).A very good family cruiser is the Freeman 33, and hold their value well, also give good performance.
You don't have to spend megabucks to get a decent starter boat and if you buy the right one you will get your money back when you trade up (having decided that you and the family enjoy the life).
As far as Sealines go - I have owned two ( 310 and 365 ) and had very few problems with either. But, like other contributors, I would advise against flybridge for social reasons.
You have to ask yourself what you want the boat to do - make a list of priorities and act on that.
Good Hunting


Trev

 

[KevB]

Hi David,

As already said a flybridge with little uns is a no no. Fairline Targa 29/30/33 tri cab are all reasonably solid boats with sufficient room for the family. As for engine size IMHO anything up to around 30 ft should have at least twin 150 bhp engines and anything above 30ft should have at least twin 200 bhp engines. Having engines this size will give you a cruising speed somewhere between 22 and 25 knots any speed less than that and you may as well buy a sail boat. American boats tend to have a wider beam than British boats of similar size but because of re-sale you should try and stay clear of Bayliners. Sealine S37/S34 IMHO look a bit like a caravan inside and date very quickly altho having the horrible bluey green stripes removed and new nicer coloured ones added improves the external look.
Maxum, Cranchi, Sea Ray, Gobbi, Fairline, Sunseeker all have reasonably priced (60-90k) mid sized second hand sports cruisers.
Rearly do you get a boat under 35ft with shaft drives, almost all are on stern drives

All Above IMHO.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by KevB on Tue Mar 12 10:39:18 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[jfm]

Re: Profile 33

Profile 33 rolls like hell. You'll be throwing up the whole time!

 

[tcm]

I would say that there are lots of these sealine boats, so no rush. Many are used as first or early boats, so have obvious wear and tear externally.

Internally, the boats again are ok but not super-durable, so a family can knock the hell out of it whereas a couple whoi use it now and again and don't eat/sleep on the boat it'll be a lot better. It's very good to get to know about "what goes wrong" by seeing as amny of the same type of boat as posssible. Again, no flybridges i wd suggest. So the Bolero? Get the largest engine option available if you can afford - the top speeds are knocked down with full tanks and less-than perfectly clean hull.

For a seatrial, you should actually take a gps and test what speed it can reach. It sounds a bonkers thing to do (imnagine doing it with a car!) but shows if the boat can perform as it should. Normammly you'd cruise at least 20% less than max flat out, so if it's listed at 28 knots, but only manages 24, then a cruise speed is gonna be lower again.

 

[byron]

Re: Profile 33

Profile 33 designed by my old mate Dave Gannaway who used to be based just above Bursledon Bridge opposite Foulkes's yard. It was originall designed as an aft cockpit harbour launch and/or inshore pilot cutter. Problem is too many went on the market under-powered especially when considering the additional weight of the added aft cabin. Essentially though they are a good sea boat.

ô¿ô

 

[coliholic]

I'm pretty sure that there's not a Fairline Mirage option with aft cabin AND twin diesels. Aft cabin has one small 1.8 or 2.2 BMC (40ish HP) type engine in and and no room for twin big diesels. If you want the twin diesels, they're outdrives and only available in aft cockpit not aft cabin. Fantastic boat though

Oh and it just so happens that I've got a twin diesel aft cockpit for sale, but wouldn't dream of advertising it here, you'd have to look at my website which has got non working piccies.

 

[jfm]

It\'s not advertising if you answer this Q

What's the url?

 

[tcm]

Re: [url]www.aquaholic.org.uk[/url]

Not the world's worst website. But there a nice pic of the dog. The one of the boat doesn't work.

 

[coliholic]

Re: It\'s not advertising if you answer this Q

I see I've been beaten to it. Can't work out why all the piccies don't work though one or two of them do. They e-mail fine for anyone interested. Just PM me.

As you say not advertising, wouldn't dream of doing that Kim, honest.

 

[jfm]

aquaholic for sale to cellphone person

Aha. One of the boat pics worked, on the holland page. Others didn't, except the dog. Or praps it is intended that way, for WAP-enabled boat buyers?

 

[petem]

F33 a bit light and high sided, also with stern drives is a difficult boat to manouvre.

S28 ok but make usre its a twin diesel. The signle engine ones struggle a bit getting on the plane.

My bet would be
1) Fairline Targa 30 must have twin KAD32's. Expect to pay £80 to £85k for a 99 boat.
2) Fairline Targa 29 ideally KAD32's. AD31 boats are cheaper, slower and less desirable.
3) Alternatively go for a Cranchi Giada 30. Similar to the Fairline / Sealine but a bit cheaper.

All these boats should be fairly easy to shift in a years time after you've outgrown them and are prepared to reach a little further under the mattress for something bigger.

 

[neptune]

Flybridge

We have 2 young children, but went for older fly (1989 Fairline Sedan 36) because of the extra home comfort/space it gives for weekends etc.

Hopefully family will grow with boat, normally we cruise with friends or family to help with mooring etc and also keep eye on kids!

As per other posts, running costs are quite high, due to length (mooring) and servicing 2 diesels.

Good luck!

Regards
Martin

 

[MRC]

Sealine

II thought I saw at the boatshow the sealine would give you your money back on some of their smaller craft if you px it towards a larger boat in the future.. not sure of the full details.

 

[BarryD]

Sealine S23 diesel buyback....

Sealine will apparantly buy back the S23 diesel for the same money you paid for it if you upgrade within two years. We initially looked at the deal as attractive but the S23 was too small for our needs. Still it's a good idea - but only if you can afford the jump into a new S28 or the S3x whatever.

Barry D.

IMHO & FWIW, NWGOI.