Help/advice needed with boat purchase.

[Portugeezer]

Hi, after spending many hours gathering as much info as I can, mainly from this place, I´d like to ask you wonderful people for some advice.

I´m after buying a 40-50ft sports cruiser, most likely a Targa. My budget is €180k max (that´s about £150k I believe). For that sort of money I´m expecting to get something 15-20 yrs old. With that in mind I´ve ruled out (rightly or wrongly) stern drive and IPS boats. It would appear that there´s just less to go wrong with shafts. I need 2 cabins and 2 heads and I think a garage would be an added bonus. The 2 boats that seem to tick most of my boxes are the Fairline Targa 43 and Atlantis 47 with slight preference for the latter mainly because of the full beam aft cabin and Italian build quality. Both fitted with 480 VP´s and found one Atlantis with D9 575´s. However I think this boat is V drive and I´m not sure of the negatives of this set up. I would hope to do as much maintenance as possible myself and wonder if engine access is restricted with V drives? Also looked at the Cranchi 47 but not keen on all the plastic Aluminium round the dash. If anyone can add any advice or alternative suggestions I´d be very grateful.

Finally, I´m based in Southern Portugal and unfortunately there´s not a great deal on offer here and what little there is seems overpriced so most likely I´ll have to source something elsewhere. Spain would be most convenient.

 

[Billy Blue]

Bump

Hi, after spending many hours gathering as much info as I can, mainly from this place, I´d like to ask you wonderful people for some advice.

I´m after buying a 40-50ft sports cruiser, most likely a Targa. My budget is €180k max (that´s about £150k I believe). For that sort of money I´m expecting to get something 15-20 yrs old. With that in mind I´ve ruled out (rightly or wrongly) stern drive and IPS boats. It would appear that there´s just less to go wrong with shafts. I need 2 cabins and 2 heads and I think a garage would be an added bonus. The 2 boats that seem to tick most of my boxes are the Fairline Targa 43 and Atlantis 47 with slight preference for the latter mainly because of the full beam aft cabin and Italian build quality. Both fitted with 480 VP´s and found one Atlantis with D9 575´s. However I think this boat is V drive and I´m not sure of the negatives of this set up. I would hope to do as much maintenance as possible myself and wonder if engine access is restricted with V drives? Also looked at the Cranchi 47 but not keen on all the plastic Aluminium round the dash. If anyone can add any advice or alternative suggestions I´d be very grateful.

Finally, I´m based in Southern Portugal and unfortunately there´s not a great deal on offer here and what little there is seems overpriced so most likely I´ll have to source something elsewhere. Spain would be most convenient.
[/QUO

 

[Portofino]

I would look @ some Italian sports opens plenty in that size at that age around that money …..but not where you are .
In no particular order .
Sarnico 45 Maxim .
Pershings 43 but a few others . HT version too
Itama , 42/48/46 or done up older 45 .
Baia various sizes inc Arnesons if you fancy more wrenching in the yard .
Magum maybe but might be a do er upper at that price .

Feels like to me you need to cross the mental barrier of a long but nevertheless exciting delivery trip from Italy / Cote d Azur where a lot of theses boats reside .

Or end up with a Brit boat . Are you sure you want aged Volvos ?

Very little extra maintenance re V drives btw so I would take them out of the equation.How ever straight shafts tend to be better balanced and trimmed when running …..if you are bothered on the handling .Mind you did say “ sports cruiser “ so sea handling I guess kinda figure right up there somewhere??

The decider re home DIY ness is ER access .
Mine scores highly in that dep , i wouldn’t have bought it otherwise. It’s a joy to work in the ER .

Anyhow flick through the pics of this . These are in your budget . Not wanting to drop into the classic forum trap of my boats better than X,Y Z etc .
Note the air cooled geny as well easy service position .Also note it’s had new ish SSteel exhausts .Morse controls no electronic nonsense waiting to play up .
Looks like a hassle free maintenance boat going fwds . Quality always cost less in the longer term .
I have those motors btw 12.3 L again they have an easy life under stressed and arguably the ones to find at this size the inline 6 MANs used in trucks and rail units .
Cantieri di Sarnico Maxim 45 Usato del 2000, Vendita Cantieri di Sarnico Maxim 45, Annunci barche e Yacht Cantieri di Sarnico

 

[petem]

The 2 boats that seem to tick most of my boxes are the Fairline Targa 43 and Atlantis 47 with slight preference for the latter mainly because of the full beam aft cabin and Italian build quality.

I think not!

 

[Portugeezer]

Bump

Thanks Billy.

 

[Portugeezer]

I would look @ some Italian sports opens plenty in that size at that age around that money …..but not where you are .
In no particular order .
Sarnico 45 Maxim .
Pershings 43 but a few others . HT version too
Itama , 42/48/46 or done up older 45 .
Baia various sizes inc Arnesons if you fancy more wrenching in the yard .
Magum maybe but might be a do er upper at that price .

Feels like to me you need to cross the mental barrier of a long but nevertheless exciting delivery trip from Italy / Cote d Azur where a lot of theses boats reside .

Or end up with a Brit boat . Are you sure you want aged Volvos ?

Very little extra maintenance re V drives btw so I would take them out of the equation.How ever straight shafts tend to be better balanced and trimmed when running …..if you are bothered on the handling .Mind you did say “ sports cruiser “ so sea handling I guess kinda figure right up there somewhere??

The decider re home DIY ness is ER access .
Mine scores highly in that dep , i wouldn’t have bought it otherwise. It’s a joy to work in the ER .

Anyhow flick through the pics of this . These are in your budget . Not wanting to drop into the classic forum trap of my boats better than X,Y Z etc .
Note the air cooled geny as well easy service position .Also note it’s had new ish SSteel exhausts .Morse controls no electronic nonsense waiting to play up .
Looks like a hassle free maintenance boat going fwds . Quality always cost less in the longer term .
I have those motors btw 12.3 L again they have an easy life under stressed and arguably the ones to find at this size the inline 6 MANs used in trucks and rail units .
Cantieri di Sarnico Maxim 45 Usato del 2000, Vendita Cantieri di Sarnico Maxim 45, Annunci barche e Yacht Cantieri di Sarnico

Hi Portofino,

Thanks for the detailed response. I´ve actually been considering the trip to/from Italy, could be a lot of fun and save a few quid at the same time. There´s actually a Baia 48 for sale here, 2000 , one owner from new, 480 vp´s. Just don´t know enough about Arnie´s, lot´s of work??? I´ll take a look at some of your suggestions. The other boat I´ve briefly considered is a Princess V50, they seem like a lot of boat for the money. Any opinions?

 

[Portugeezer]

I would look @ some Italian sports opens plenty in that size at that age around that money …..but not where you are .
In no particular order .
Sarnico 45 Maxim .
Pershings 43 but a few others . HT version too
Itama , 42/48/46 or done up older 45 .
Baia various sizes inc Arnesons if you fancy more wrenching in the yard .
Magum maybe but might be a do er upper at that price .

Feels like to me you need to cross the mental barrier of a long but nevertheless exciting delivery trip from Italy / Cote d Azur where a lot of theses boats reside .

Or end up with a Brit boat . Are you sure you want aged Volvos ?

Very little extra maintenance re V drives btw so I would take them out of the equation.How ever straight shafts tend to be better balanced and trimmed when running …..if you are bothered on the handling .Mind you did say “ sports cruiser “ so sea handling I guess kinda figure right up there somewhere??

The decider re home DIY ness is ER access .
Mine scores highly in that dep , i wouldn’t have bought it otherwise. It’s a joy to work in the ER .

Anyhow flick through the pics of this . These are in your budget . Not wanting to drop into the classic forum trap of my boats better than X,Y Z etc .
Note the air cooled geny as well easy service position .Also note it’s had new ish SSteel exhausts .Morse controls no electronic nonsense waiting to play up .
Looks like a hassle free maintenance boat going fwds . Quality always cost less in the longer term .
I have those motors btw 12.3 L again they have an easy life under stressed and arguably the ones to find at this size the inline 6 MANs used in trucks and rail units .
Cantieri di Sarnico Maxim 45 Usato del 2000, Vendita Cantieri di Sarnico Maxim 45, Annunci barche e Yacht Cantieri di Sarnico

That Maxim is a lovely looking boat. I realise boats and economy don´t go together but how do those 600´s stack up? approx L/hr at cruise speed?

 

[Portofino]

That Maxim is a lovely looking boat. I realise boats and economy don´t go together but how do those 600´s stack up? approx L/hr at cruise speed?

My 700 hp s a later version burns 80/90:L / hr per side at under 1800 rpm typically 1760/1780 rpm .So mentally figure 180;L /hr .
How ever we travel just under 30 knots or 100 miles in 3 hrs .

I would imagine that Sarnico will be around those numbers , too close to call a difference .

The Baia on Arnies is actually the most ecomonic.
Counter intuitively the faster you go the less running time and thus if the motors are off they consume zero .
Arnies have less drag dramatically less and without the parasitic drag of a shafts and rudders = more fwd speed .Basically cover more miles using less fuel .Which is fine on large inter island trips sure .
But it that longer distance economy worth the hassle for day hopping out to swim from the home port ??

The issues is more maintenance and with some almost a thread of a needle trim balance of the Arnies , the rpm and flaps to get it up to plane .This nuance varies boat to boat .
The more Hp you have to lay down the easier they are to get up .
480;Hp works because it’s a carbon fibre boat a light weight Baia .
The props are uber fouling sensitive as well not as forgiving as std shafts .
Also you have rams submerged and with the best will in the world there is an inevitability of busted seals and water contamination of the hydraulic fluid .
Even a DIY job replacing seals and flushing through is a messy job .I know I have helped a mate .Its a lift out job .
Most just replace the seals as a matter of course at the annual lift as opposed to wait for them to leak .Added costings .

 

[Portugeezer]

My 700 hp s a later version burns 80/90:L / hr per side at under 1800 rpm typically 1760/1780 rpm .So mentally figure 180;L /hr .
How ever we travel just under 30 knots or 100 miles in 3 hrs .

Ok, thanks, I could cope with that.

 

[Portofino]

The Priny V 50 of around the 2000 are great boats as you say a lot of boat for the money.
The D12 s whilst of that era are bombproof - my critique is the Hp .
Imho a tad short .600 Hp some later and pushing your budget 2004 s 715s .
Theses are true 16 M bulky boats .

As a barometer the 14. Something meter Itama 46 5 years older say a 95 or 98 has a pair of 16 L MAN or MTU v8 s churning out 800;hp in a smaller less bulky hull .Commensurate performance increase as well over the lardy Prinny .

Pershings around 50/ft the 52 has V 8s 800 s or even V10 s .1050 s in the same size hull as the Priny 50 .

I think they ( U.K. builders Princess / Fairline ) just stopped at the D12 .
Sunseeker had the vision to move on to MAN / MTU from 50 upwards certainly by 17M .

The motors make a sports cruiser or break the Co .
The more Hp the better imho .
This partly and mostly answers PeteM s questioning the Italian build over U.K. inc FL ……..The motors are the biggest single cost yet the Italians fitted what was best Hp wise turning a blind eye on the production cost(s) saving money on cheaper motors .

 

[Chris H]

I’ve been quoted 2,000 euro for a full service on two Arnesons and it’s not necessary every year.