Is the Sealine S24 a good boat for Windermere?

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upton

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I am fairly new to boating but am getting round to the idea of putting one on Windermere.

Family of 4 with two smallish kids, I am considering a Sealine s24 as a possible type.

Anybody out there who could offer advice one way or the other on this boat?
 
You need a boat that will have a good top speed for Windermere. Anything less than about 50knts and you risk not being to escape the lake wardens, or the police or the environmental wardens, or the bird protection officers, or the sewage emptying wardens, or the LDNPA special riot squad, or the National Trust Wardens.

And there is the Parking wardens on the jetties for when you do stop.

Seriously, I wouldn't want to put you off, its a beautiful lake but anything with a turn of speed is wasted when you can only go 10 mph
 
No reason why a S24 won't do you on Lake Windeeremermremere(sp).

I have a S24 on Loch Lomond and it serves the purpose perfectly.
Just a feeling, though, the engine will be wasted on Windermere, what with the 10Mph speed limit, why not buy a more suitable slower displacement cruiser.

All the best, and feel free to ask away.

Cheers

Al.
 
Well despite what you may read on here about the current situation on Windermere there is no doubt that it is still a beautiful place to keep a boat. I also found it a very benign environment to get to know how to handle a boat (no tides or big swells!

The introduction of the 10mph speed limit has been disaster for the local economy and Bowness certainly feels pretty run down. However both major marina's still seem lively enough (Having been at them both we prefer the Marina Village - better for children with club & swimming pool etc). The ban put an end to watersports such as ski-ing, so if that was your intention forget it and go somewhere else.

There is not really much point in having a planing hull on Windermere now as ou would not be able to (legally) run at planing speed and a displacement hull would handle better at low speeds but perhaps they are not "sexy" enough for you.

I don't know much about the S24, poster Alistairr has one on Loch Lomond and I'm sure he will be along to give his opinion. I would guess that the boat you are considering is petrol engined (like most of the smaller cruisers on Windermere). This won't be a problem on Windermere; even though it is expensive with the introduction of the speed limit you can't burn enough for it to be too painful.

However, if you later choose to go coastal you may find it very expensive to run and availability limited in marina's and ports.

We had a 2001 Bayliner 2855 on Windermere which was much roomier but not as well finished as the Sealine. Worth a look though if you have a growing family as it has a seperate aft cabin (privacy for Mum & Dad and a permanent front berth and dinette. Plenty of storage too.

So you might get a few varied opinions on Windermere and appropriate boats but we would all agree that boating is great fun and you will enjoy it.

Martyn
 
[ QUOTE ]
Alistairr has one on Loch Lomond and I'm sure he will be along to give his opinion.
Martyn

[/ QUOTE ]

Eh! You seen what the post is before yours, Martyn? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

lol
Al.
 
I agree with the other posts but would like to add
Windermere is the ideal place to boat with a 23 footer.
8 mph cruise speed most of the time and then you put it on a trailer and move once or twice a year for your holidays where you can open her up.

I kept my 23 footer on a 4 mph canal for years, (and my 31 foot flybridge) just moving away for holidays.

In truth 90% of boats only break 8 knots a few times a year until the family holidays are due.
 
Welcome aboard "jup"
Windermere has indeed seen some changes lately as I am sure you are aware of. Contrary to popular beleif it is still possible to open her up every now and again (illegaly of course) but as the lake is reletively small (about 12 miles) you soon get bored with ripping up and down even before the speed limit was introduced.
One major attraction of the lake for familys with small children is that it is relatively safe and swimable so kids have a great time and mum and dad can chill. There are lots of things other than boating to occupy everyone including various outdoor persuits and pubs, restaurants etc.
Although I keep harping on about the speed limit I would not like to think that I had put anyone off coming here. We still love the area and the lake and have just as much fun as we allways did, one has to evolve and adapt thats all.
I suggest you spend a day looking at the two main dealers in bowness ie. Aquatics and Sheperds and see what takes your fancy. Maybe take a look at Bayliners cos there are some good boats the size you are looking for on brokerage at the moment. The S24 you mention is an ideal boat for windermere and there are loads of them. Its all well and good following your head and going for a displacement boat but if were all honest about it we would rather have a sexy sports cruiser even if we only open her up occassionally. The bottom line is that few people spent all there time ripping around none stop, most of us liked to do it for a while and then get back to a more sedate speed so other than having to play cat and mouse with the wardens (which can be fun) theres no change.
If you need any further info on the area etc feel free to pm me.
Regards - Ian
 
Hi jup and welcome.
I have an S24 and find it a great little cruiser, but there are two things I'd say.
1) Althought the boat is 24'8" overall in length, the waterline length is only 18'7". Max displacement speed is squareroot of this figure multipled by 1.3 (I think) which comes to less than 6 knots. I find this is so in my S24, and whilst you can go faster in displacement mode, you use ever increasing amounts of power to do so, create masses of wash and it's not very pleasant really. It's much happier at 20knots+ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

2) I'm a fan of diesels, but don't buy a diesel (KAD32) S24 for use at these low speeds, unless you intend to keep to less than about 7 knots. The reason why is the supercharger this engine has - as you increase revs past 1400 this cuts in giving you loads of power which you can't use as you'll start to go onto the plane and you'll break the speed limit in no time at all /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, or if you hold the revs at that speed you'll be using loads of fuel for not much speed return and have to endure the whine of the supercharger. So as has been said, petrol makes more sense if you choose this boat.
 
Most locals (mainly raggies) when changing boats try to buy away from the lake as they reckon the prices here are too high. Just a thought.
 
I have a SeaRAy 240 Sundancer on the coast but have in the past waterski'd on windermere.

I think the place is great, if a little restricted with 12miles.
I would suggest in the long term you would see benefits with a displacement or semi-displacement boat as the 10 knot cruise would be easier etc. Unless you intend taking her elsewhere ?

I mainly use mine on the South Devon coast, even tho i live in Northamptonshire, some of the best days are a blast at 25+ round to the beach, anchor up and enjoy ! if the weather is worse then up river to the pubs.

what i'm trying to say is that I probably dont go much more than 25 miles in any direction, but i do have choices & they nearly always include cranking up the V8 for fun.

A friend had a Galstron 249 on the canals of Bedford & although it was Diesel, they just used to potter up & down the locks..... they agreed it was not the best boat for the circumstances until i made them tow it down to Devon for a weekend !

Your decision but i'd think hard about the type of hull
 
Quote;
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<span style="color:blue"> Lying St. Peter Port </span>
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Could be excluding the dreaded "Involuntary Membership of the EU" tax. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
I owned an S24 in Windermere back in 2000. Loved it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Great family fun. Just been in the lakes is great fun. Walking, biking touring around. Then you can return to the boat and chill out on the water.
I sold the boat 2001 and bought a caravan. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gifDid that for 3 years, but still loved the boating life.
Just sold the caravan and bought a new S25 moored in the Mariner Village. Just got it this weekend /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifGreat to be back. Speed ban does not matter. 10mph is still good cruising. Some poeple on this forum worry obout too much. People on the jetties are really friendly,great swimming pool for the kids, good bar for the Dad, and a sauna for the Mum.
Get it bought and look forward to seeing you there.


Simon
 
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