Is this a good deal? Regal 2250

In my view, the closer to the maximum weight you are getting the more difficult and stressful the towing gets. We tow our 2.9 tonnes / 8 metre long trailer configuration regularly and even with a most capable tow car it is a strain on the car and a strain on the driver. After a days boating including two way slip, trip out to sea and drive home its exhausting. When you are driving you have to be looking ahead as a 2.4ton car + 2.9 ton trailer cannot be thrown around, god forbid you get behind a cycling nazi pelaton.

Therefore, in my mind, anything bigger than this is moved occasionally, not regularly and you set aside a day for the move. So, for example, you would arrange to have the boat in Poole for the summer and move it down at the start and move it back at the end. Its just my opinion.

As for emptying the boat to get its weight down, the gear has to go somewhere and that would be the back of the car so your "train weight" is still the same. It is not practical to empty the fuel and water either. A quick think on our boat gives - 200 litres of fuel, separate water tanks in Transom shower and toilet, heater with diesel tank, wakeboard tower, ropes, fenders, cushions, lifejackets, water toys, anchor chain, camper covers, nav/radio system, tools, spare oil/belts etc. all on top of the basic boat dry weight when she left the factory.

The Searay is the size of boat that you would trailer to Spain and leave there for an extended period.

A lot of people buy a cheap Landrover Discovery just for boat towing as they can tow to the limit and as they are not the daily vehicle it does not matter if they are driven to destruction by the towing. This could be a way forward as the Nitro cannot tow a largish boat.
 
I used to tow 24 ft boat with 4.7l Jeep and that was ok in fact...to Falmouth and back from Solent. Used either that or the old version Cherokee for trailing and launching every weekend but I would say you need alot of grunt and a very good slipway.
Just to note when looking at cars you need to check the specific model for tow capacity as tow capacity varies alot within the same model name.
 
Mlines is right about the weight. With near empty tanks and and all the more obvious bits and pieces removed the boat and trailer were still 50kg over when checked on a weighbridge though the gross train weight was well under.
So we removed and weighed items till we had got 100kg off and transported them in the car. Main reductions achieved by moving trailer spare wheel, dinghy, tool kits and a heavy aftermarket wooden table. Emptying water tank is easy enough but running fuel low is a bit harder to predict.
Wether you are happy towing and launching regularly is subjective. If you have towed all sizes of boat half your life it will bother you less as you learn on the way but I can see that jumping straight to towing near the limits could be daunting. We had an 80’s Sea Ray 250 that we towed and launched most week ends for five years and that was fine. You just choose suitable slipways with good access. We were going to do the same with this one but having had a 31fter in a marina for five years we decided we were happy to pay for that lifestyle for five months of the year. We still tow to the French med for two weeks each year though.
A couple of comments on the boat you viewed. £3k on that engine and drive is a big bill and must have been more than just a service (circa £500?), worth checking what went wrong. The exhaust isn’t new so it wasn’t that (they look due a check / replacement to me).
The engine and bay look messy, dirty and scruffy, we saw worse, and better! I’d get someone to check it over and do compression checks for piece of mind.
Worth checking the Hull ID number as I would wager it is at latest a 1999 boat, not a 2000.
 
My further thoughts. The boat itself cosmetically looks fine, and a good looking boat too. My concern is the neglect shown in the engine room. Any engine in that state screams lack of maintenance, because any engineer worth his salt would be unable to leave such a mess behind. Now, the unit under the grime, may well be in good fettle, and a good Volvo engineer would be able to confirm that or otherwise. If it's good mechanically and electronically, then a good wash down of the engine and the engine room with a decent grime remover could well sort it out. However, without an expert report on it's state, I would walk. With a good report, then with some tlc, you could have a nice boat for around your planned offer, if accepted. Let us know the outcome.
 
dpb - again thanks the detailed comments and for having a look at the photos. Apologies for my ignorance but which photo is the exhaust in? And which photo(s) worry you the most re: condition of the engine/bay.

Here is a description of what was paid for in the 3k of servicings
DateInvoice£Description
10/05/2017S&T 4844£813.60 BSC, Antifoul hull, materials, launch, recommission
05/12/2016S&T 4749£397.44 Decommission engine & water system, liftout & power wash hull
27/01/2017S&T 4775/4779£2,430.54 Major service to outdrive, replace impellor & housing, replace oil feed fitting in transom, replace gear cable, trim/tilt senders, replace bellows

Have asked for Hull ID.

Nicho - cheers for your reply on the Regal. Currently more likely to go for the searay i posted about on p2 given I think we want a larger boat for more open water cruising. any thoughts on this?
 
Pretty much everything on the right of this photo is exhaust, there will be the same on the otherside.
https://anonimag.es/image/JT9sDy0
The rust at the joints suggests seepage which could be happenening on inside as well, very bad if left long term.
If engine starts quickly and runs smoothly from cold after being stood for a week then insides probably ok.
The £2430 describes more than just a service and still looks a lot of money but unfair to comment further without knowing the details.
Nothing there for you to worry about anyway.
No specific picture causes worry, just the overall impression as stated by Nicho.
If our experience was anything to go by, a lot of boats arn't much better unfortunately.
By the way, any anodes fitted may well be for fresh water only so would need changing if you are going to keep in salt water. Not a big deal but good to know.
As for your last question, the ability of the two boats in open water is not going to be different enough for you to go out in one but not the other on a particular day. The choice is more about the type of boating you want to do....only you can fathom that one out!!
 
thanks dpb

Will check the above and ask on the anodes (expect they will be sea as he took the boat on river from prior sea owner). Still waiting for a hull number

But on seafaring abilities ... the original regal 2250 is a cat c and this searay is a cat b..
Now I'm not saying this is the be all and end all but it must count for something
As surely does the extra draft, length and weight

Makes me feel that the searay would be more comfortable in swell.

P.S. Ideally we end up with a boat that could just about handle the passage between Denia and Ibiza - really keen for thoughts on the viability of t his
 
sj8070 said:
thanks dpb

Will check the above and ask on the anodes (expect they will be sea as he took the boat on river from prior sea owner). Still waiting for a hull number

But on seafaring abilities ... the original regal 2250 is a cat c and this searay is a cat b..
Now I'm not saying this is the be all and end all but it must count for something
As surely does the extra draft, length and weight

Makes me feel that the searay would be more comfortable in swell.

P.S. Ideally we end up with a boat that could just about handle the passage between Denia and Ibiza - really keen for thoughts on the viability of t his
Click to expand...

I am surprised that the Sea Ray is a Cat B.

It is to all intents and purposes the same size, weight and layout as our Sealine S23, yet that is only a Cat C.
 
While I would prefer an outboard myself, if you get one you will need to attach a pylon for your water sport towing. An inboard will have a towing eye
 
The Regal is a shed. Run away.
The Searay is also a mess for that money. Early boat (pre 2000), worn out cockpit seating, ugly cabin upholstery and aftermarket holding tank and calorifier, original exhaust (by the looks of it). You can get a nice 2000+ for under 20k.

But I don't really understand what you're going to use it for?
Are you saying you'll tow it to Spain and leave it there or holiday and tow it back?
Where will you keep it in the UK if you're planning that?
More info needed.
If you're keeping it in Spain then just buy one there? eg..
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1998/Sea-Ray-240-Sundancer-3059814/Spain#.WRMeKNQrLs0

This is what a 2000-2003 boat should look like (needs exhaust)
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2001/Sea-Ray-240-Sundancer-3076656/United-Kingdom#.WRMfjdQrLs0
edit...looks like the lower drive has a chunk missing? Anyway, you get the idea.
 
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Denia to Ibiza is a long way in a small boat.

Having skimmed this thread the boat is river based, and until you trust it ( really trust it) a boat that has been idling for years at 4 knots is not something you want to use for that trip in my view.

Please dont think the med is totally flat. It isn't!

without giving you an exhaustive list to do that you need to

a. trust the boat
b. have crew capable of doing it ( you are new to boating and will be a way ofshore)
c. carry spares and tool and know how to change filters and impellers
d. have safety kit ( epirb, radio, jackets)
e. make sure by real work tests that it has the fuel range

I am sure some on here will take small boats that far, but for me they are coast hoppers. It is a pleasure activity and you may not find the trip that leisurely.!
 
many thanks adey & jrudge for your thoughtful posts

adey
well where we would keep the boat would probably be dependent on what we settled on. For the bigger searay, we'd look to tow her to BCN and moor her there. a smaller cuddy could conceivably leave in a shed in BCN and drop her in the weekends we went out. my best pal lives in Barca, speaks fluent spanish and is happy to check on her / liaise with marina staff / mechanics as long as we take him with us when we're out!
Thanks for guidance on price, will keep looking or maybe consider a reduced off to the windsor chap.
Reason we have chosen not to buy one in Spain is 1.) ease of viewings, 2.) getting comfortable that the owner was careful etc. and 3.) would likely be spanish flagged and therefore would need a spanish license?

jrudge
Agree that it has been pootling about for 2 years, and if we bought (though we are a bit put off now!) would subject it to thorough coastal tests before attempting that passage.
Definitely don't think the med is flat but if forecasts are reasonably accurate there are plenty of days where swell is <1m in that passage. Again this might be showing my greenness
Agree on a,b,c,d,e and would look to tick these off before trying it
Again its more of a longer term aim to be factored into the purchase - would want to keep her for a long time
 
jrudge said:
Denia to Ibiza is a long way in a small boat.

Having skimmed this thread the boat is river based, and until you trust it ( really trust it) a boat that has been idling for years at 4 knots is not something you want to use for that trip in my view.

Please dont think the med is totally flat. It isn't!

without giving you an exhaustive list to do that you need to

a. trust the boat
b. have crew capable of doing it ( you are new to boating and will be a way ofshore)
c. carry spares and tool and know how to change filters and impellers
d. have safety kit ( epirb, radio, jackets)
e. make sure by real work tests that it has the fuel range

I am sure some on here will take small boats that far, but for me they are coast hoppers. It is a pleasure activity and you may not find the trip that leisurely.!
Click to expand...

Some very valid points there.

The longest single leg we have done in our 25fter was about 110 miles which took around 5 hours. After which we had both had enough and were glad to pull into port, moor up and grab a beer.

Even in nice conditions the constant corrections that a small boat requires is tiring. In less then perfect conditions the crash, bang, boom becomes an endurance challenge on longer passages!

Also fuel range can be at times tight. Our last long run last year of 110 miles we had great conditions for most of the trip and fuel wasn't an issue, we pulled into port with a little under half a tank left (tank holds 225 litres). The previous time we did the same trip the conditions were not so favourable and we pulled into port with the gauge showing half way down the red!

Not an experience I want to repeat in a hurry. As it happens our gauge is a bit on the pessamistic side and we still had 65 litres left in the tank, but when that is sloshing around as the boat is tossed around who knows how much of that the pick up pipes can get at?
 
CX54WEK said:
Some very valid points there.

The longest single leg we have done in our 25fter was about 110 miles which took around 5 hours. After which we had both had enough and were glad to pull into port, moor up and grab a beer.

Even in nice conditions the constant corrections that a small boat requires is tiring. In less then perfect conditions the crash, bang, boom becomes an endurance challenge on longer passages!

Also fuel range can be at times tight. Our last long run last year of 110 miles we had great conditions for most of the trip and fuel wasn't an issue, we pulled into port with a little under half a tank left (tank holds 225 litres). The previous time we did the same trip the conditions were not so favourable and we pulled into port with the gauge showing half way down the red!

Not an experience I want to repeat in a hurry. As it happens our gauge is a bit on the pessamistic side and we still had 65 litres left in the tank, but when that is sloshing around as the boat is tossed around who knows how much of that the pick up pipes can get at?
Click to expand...

thanks for this. agree it would unlikely be particularly enjoyable but could be worth it as part of a 10 day adventure in the balearics. roughly what size swell was your 110 mile trip in?
lets also remember that denia->ibz is about two-thirds of that journey...
agree on fuel tank and would probably take some 40litre jerrys just in case
 
sj8070 said:
thanks for this. agree it would unlikely be particularly enjoyable but could be worth it as part of a 10 day adventure in the balearics. roughly what size swell was your 110 mile trip in?
lets also remember that denia->ibz is about two-thirds of that journey...
agree on fuel tank and would probably take some 40litre jerrys just in case
Click to expand...

You could carry jerry cans but the chance of being able to get any of its contents into the tank whilst the boat is bobbing around at sea are slim to non!

Conditions ranged from pretty much flat calm to just under 1m but fairly well spaced out on last years trip.



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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvPfKAfqLXI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_KSWbIlDPc
 
I wouldnt want to do denia to ibiza in a 23-25 footer, well maybe id be game to go for it once with some likeminded mates but i doubt id want to do it more than once. I certainly wouldnt be able to get my wife to come along thats for sure. Youd need near perfect conditions for it to be anywhere near enjoyable.

If you could find some other boats to cross with that would make it more viable and potentially more fun i reckon

I have a 25 foot windy in majorca, and i havent yet attempted to cross from majorca to ibiza (circa 50miles which is about the same as denia to ibiza), ive done it before in our old sealine 34,but dont really fancy it in the smaller single engined boat, i suspect it would quickly feel like a test of endurance rather than fun

Id definitely do the crossing with some other boats though

I guess my main concern would be what would i do if i had an engine failure at the mid point that couldnt be repaired , i guess the likelihood of this happening must be small though so maybe its not worth worrying about.

Ive done simialr lengh trips along the coast,and maybe its arguably more dangerous to have engine failure near the coast than 15 miles offshore?

Having said all that you may be more hardy than me,so dont let my opinion put you off it, and im sure the boat itself could take the sort of sea youre most likely to face in a worst case scenario (assuming you dont deliberately set off with bad weather forecast)

Im also quite surprised the searay is cat b.

Edited to add , having read that back to myself im wondering why i havent attempted the crossing from majorca to ibiza in my windy,barring engine failure it should be more than capable of handling it,maybe ill give it a go this summer if i can convince the wife to give it a go.
 
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Denia to Ibiza is fairly easy. The problem will be coming back.
You can plan the outward trip and only go when it's totally flat. Then it's just a 2hr blast. A bit too lumpy and you can turn back. The trouble is the sea might not stay flat for the return and if you have to get back in a certain timeframe you might be tempted to risk less than ideal conditions...then the fun starts!

I'd be tempted to buy something in Spain. You don't need a Spanish licence, just register it on the SSR, like you would one in the UK.
Get your pal in BCN to look it over and take lots of pics? Towing a 24 footer all the way to Spain won't be fun or cheap.
A quick search... (not recommending any, just to give an idea...)
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2000/Crownline-266-BR-3053148/Spain#.WRNU49QrLs0
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2004/Regal-2400-3019176/Spain#.WRNVWtQrLs0
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2001/Sea-Ray-260-Sundancer-3050426/Spain#.WRNVjNQrLs0
 
Great stuff absolutely loving all the feedback

Julians - perhaps we can do it together this summer?

Adey - agree would wait for perfect conditions on way out then probably also for as good as possible on way back. Would leave enough time for this to be feasible (I have very relaxed working arrangements). Clearly there could be some eye watering marina costs in IBZ but worst case could anchor I guess
What do you think to the benefit of being able to meet and speak to the owner in terms of getting a sense of how it was looked after... not really possible in Spain
Towing from U.K. wise, could rent a car big enough and ideally leave it in a depot in Spain if from a mainstream company?
 
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