In need of help & advice!?!?!

help please!!

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floatingturkey

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Hi All,

I hate to admit it, but i am in need of some serious help and advice!!!

After recently getting to the point in my life where a speedboat, trailer and slipway wasn't quite 'doing it' for me, I have decided to sell the lot and go for a different genre of boating!!

Myself and my father have decided to go down the route of a slightly more mature / relaxing boating experience, and have decided to purchase a fishing / offshore cruiser!!! After all the research and eventually choosing our new swinging mooring. Deciding where we were going to do our RYA training (of many different subjects) and choosing which rod, fish finder and radio was best for our application, we have come up against a bit of a brick wall........WHICH FLIPPIN BOAT SHALL WE BUY!!!! Having not had to look into boats with this much depth before, we are really looking for anyone with experience and previous knowledge into this type of market who can give us advice?? The makes of boat which we have shortlisted are as follows: kruger, quicksilver, kingfisher, predator, seaswift and smartliner. If anyone reading this post can help with advice or recommend any of these boat manufacturers we would be extremely grateful. I don't need a sales pitch on how amazing these boats are, i just need someone who has used one, and can give us a bit of a pro/con opinion on various models. The max length we think would be suitable for us would be is approx. 18' , but obviously due to being a bit of a newbe to this market i am open to opinions and advice. We are obviously open to other manufacturers of this type of boat, and just one more thing........ Don't recommend buying on 'sinkinthebay' (ebay)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many thanks in advance.
 
Out of your list, I've only heard of Quicksilver, and I can't be bothered Googling the rest. Don't forget things like the French peche promenades from the likes of Jeanneau and Beneteau, Arvor, or maybe an older Botnia Targa style boat. Then you have the small Hardys and of course Shetland who have been building this style of boat since just after the Earth cooled.
 
Me too, the only one on the list I've heard of is Quicksilver. Personally I'd put Beneteau and Merry Fisher before Quicksilver. The little Arvors seem quite good too. I'm presuming you're still thinking of trailering it?

What's with the Poll? :confused:
 
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Although you mention cruising, most of the boats on your list are pure fishing boats. There is only limited knowledge of that kind of boat on this forum, I think you may have more luck over on WorldSea Fishing.com

There are multi use boats like the Quicksilvers, Jeanneau and Arvour but your max length of 18 ft will limit your choice with these boats.
 
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I have heard of all the craft you mention and none of them are serious offshore cruisers. All are capable inshore fishing boats that can be used occasionally offshore when the weather allows, indeed a few of our club members have fished mid channel in 16' Raider's and Warrior 165 angling boat's. This is not recommended for the novice or doing alone. You have also left a few prospects off your list such as Raider and Warrior which are probably the most well known small angling boat's.

As others have said this may not be the right forum to ask the above question. You also need to be 100% what you want from a small boat as few will be capable of fulfilling all your needs. Once you have decided the boats main use try the WSF (world sea fishing) site as a good starting point or try Poole Bay Small Boat Angling Club, there's a link for them in my signature

Good luck

Martin

BTW your poll is a turkey :-)
 
Wiggo said:
Out of your list, I've only heard of Quicksilver, and I can't be bothered Googling the rest. Don't forget things like the French peche promenades from the likes of Jeanneau and Beneteau, Arvor.
Click to expand...
When you look at Pesche Promenades the French make Guy Couach made a 21ft Boat with an inboard diesel which nobody in the UK imported new as they were so expensive. But there is one for sale in the UK (mine) and I have sent you a private message over it.
 
I'd be thinking more the established local product Avor, Merry Fisher, for example, rather than a cheap, spartan smartliner.
It could be like buying a chinese spade from the hardware shop, go to dig your first hole and the things bends in half!
At least you've got something to sell at the end of the day, with a known history.
 
Many thanks to you all for your help.. Now i'm really confused!! Can anyone tell me if the boats you have stated (such as the Quicksilvers, Jeanneau and Arvours) are suitable for a swinging mooring which could dry at low spring tide??

As for the poll..... Your guess is as good as mine?!?!?!?!
 
maverickofpoole said:
I have heard of all the craft you mention and none of them are serious offshore cruisers. All are capable inshore fishing boats that can be used occasionally offshore when the weather allows, indeed a few of our club members have fished mid channel in 16' Raider's and Warrior 165 angling boat's. This is not recommended for the novice or doing alone. You have also left a few prospects off your list such as Raider and Warrior which are probably the most well known small angling boat's.

As others have said this may not be the right forum to ask the above question. You also need to be 100% what you want from a small boat as few will be capable of fulfilling all your needs. Once you have decided the boats main use try the WSF (world sea fishing) site as a good starting point or try Poole Bay Small Boat Angling Club, there's a link for them in my signature

Good luck

Martin

BTW your poll is a turkey :-)
Click to expand...
Many thanks Martin,

Is there anywhere in the southwest where i can perhaps go and have a look at the raiders and warriors?? They look like the sort of thing we are after, and wouldn't mind going to have a chat with someone??
 
Go and talk to Tom Bettle (ybw poster 'nautibusiness') at Parkstone Yachts in Poole, he's a very clued up and helpful bloke in the sort of boats you are investigating.

There was a recent thread about the drying harbours on the Isle of Man, with boats using legs to stay upright at LW.
In one of the photos, a Merry Fisher type boat was sitting nicely on the bottom on her small keel and chine, with no leg support, so it could be possible.
 
floatingturkey said:
Many thanks Martin,

Is there anywhere in the southwest where i can perhaps go and have a look at the raiders and warriors?? They look like the sort of thing we are after, and wouldn't mind going to have a chat with someone??
Click to expand...

There is another make that you should definitely be investigating, namely Orkney. 1000s of these about the UK coast. Better built than most of those you mentioned.
The difficulty in your choice of boat is that you need to decide on your priorities. Do you want any accomodation on board. If so then nearly all of your suggested brands won't be suitable. Quicksilver would be ok but not as well built/finished as Jeanneau Merry Fisher, Beneteau Antares, Ocqueteau, Orkney Pilot House.
Furthermore it will be difficult to get reasonable accomodation on any models that are below 19-20ft long.

Your best course of action would be to look around local harbours/marinas/boatyards to see what these boats are really like and what are the most popular brands. Then see what the local dealers, for the preferred makes, have got to show you, both new and 2nd hand. Also look at "Find a Fishing Boat" - site contains loads of boats of the type that you would appear to want.
Happy Hunting.
 
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