Jeanneau Merry Fisher 925

Sydneysider

Sydneysider

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Feb 2009
Messages
83
Location
Sydney Australia
Visit site
Hi all,

We are looking to purchase a 2009 Jeanneau Merry Fisher 925 as we would like a boat to stay overnight at our favorite boating spots and have some questions to ask, we thought we would come here as there seems to be a lot more of these sorts of boats in Uk and europe.
The boat in question is the non flybridge version, do you get good ventilation in the salloons of these boats when cruising and at anchor? as we enjoy the wind in the hair experience with our current boat a fourwinns cuddy cabin. I have noticed there are a lot of non flybridge designs around now and often wondered why, is it better handling due to lower centre of gravity or easier maintainence not having to look after a flybridge or associated canvas ? or other reasons ? The flybridge component seems to just bolt in, but would this be able to be retrofitted and avalable from the factory ?
Also i have read that this boat has a semi displacement hull, and is more seakindly than a planing hull, what are the differences between these two types of hulls and if semi displacement is more seakindly why dont all boats have semi displacement ?
We have also looked at the brand new Beneteau Antares 30 and Jeanneau Merry Fisher 10 but will need an extra A$50K to get into one of these with a flybridge, but would be good for the extra bunk in the cabin as we have 3 small children.
Any experiences or insights would be helpfull

Regards Scott and Genevieve

Photo: Cowan Creek; Heading North towards Broken Bay Sydney Australia

IMG_1738.jpg
 
Mornin Mate.
Well it is here!
Welcome to the Forum too.
Loads of advice on here.
I wiil answer one of your questions!
Semi displacement and Planing hulls/boats.
Very basically put I should add.
A Planing hull likes a nice flat water, cos it 'Planes' ie likes to sit kinda on top of the water to operate efficiently.
A 'Semi' - will almost plane but will also be more comfortable for the occupants when the water chops up a bit.
In general terms a planing hull will like to go fast and very slow but inbetween will not operate very well.
A 'Semi' hull will cope with most conditions.
A full 'Displacement' hull will only perform up to about 8 knots at the size we are talking about.
No matter how much power is available or how big the engine is.
So if you want a half decent turn of speed and a vessel that can cope with a rougher kind of sea than a planing hull.
The 805 or similar is the type.
 
A Merry Fisher 925 without a flybridge is rather unusual, certainly in the UK, i've never actually seen one.

I have the Merry Fisher 805, which is a bit smaller and also has no flybridge. With the saloon windows and patio doors open, there is good ventilation, but it can get hot and i wouldn't exactly say it was a "wind in the hair" experience. Accommodation would be OK with three small children, the bed in the saloon is a fairly large double, be no problem while they are small.

As for a flybridge retrofit, it's technically possible and i dare say you could get all of the parts to do it, but it would almost certainly be cheaper to buy a flybridge version.

If you like the MF925 and want a flybridge you could also look at the Jeanneau Prestige 32.
 
Hardly any were ever sold without a flybridge as it was a fairly cheap optional extra.
The boat will certainlybe worth a lot less without it than the cost of the extra when new.

It's not a bad boat, good hull, a little slow and the semi planning hull and relatively few horses (what engine does yours have, Nanni 320?) means it will struggle to break 20 knots.

This does mean she won't be enormously economical as you will always be pushing her fairly hard to plane (16+ knots) and she will fall off the plane fairly easily in bigger seas.

They tend to suffer from a slightly ow up attitude so make sure you have a good set of trim tabs.

A basic, but nice boat. Much cheaper alternative to the Prestige 32, but without the glitz and almost always on a single engine. The Prestige 32 with twin KAMD43's or above (avoid the TAMD41Ps like the plague, well underpowered) would make a luxurious alternative, but something slap in between would be a Beneteau 9.80.

Unless the 925 is cheap cheap cheap (15%+ less than the flybridge versions), avoid it as it will be nothing like as sellable without the baby flybridge.
 
Hi Sydneysider
I have a MF 925 with fly bridge and VP 260hp engine. A nice budget fly bridge boat, with this size come’s a trade off, ie everything is on the small side. I am in the progress of doing some mods to make our boat more comfortable.
With a clean underside we achieve 22knts at 3200 rpm and 2.5mpg slack water.
All the best
David
 
We have Prestige 32 (ref Paul Gooch's comment above) and have been very pleased with her. The P32 has a planing hull and two engines so will cost more to run, but you have extra security of twin engines and she will do 30k with a clean bum. Cruise about 21-23ish. Accomm is not bad, though the Galley area is a bit cramped. Worth having a look at though if you decide a FB is an option.

Some of our main reasons for buying were that she is on shafts, was under 35ft and had proper stairs to the Flybridge not a ladder She has a broad beam for her size making the boat feel bigger than it is.
 
Sydneysider said:
IMG_1738.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice pic folks.....there was a recent thread started by a bloke from the harbour who was buying a Bayliner 28 and eventually heading up your way as a preferred cruising ground.
This lead on to some general waffle (thanks Kwacka :D) about what a great spot it was etc....

Do you keep the Four Winns in the dry stack at Akuna Bay?

BTW good choice to ask the folks here about the boat... you'll get good advice.
 
I'll second the vote for the Beneteau 9.80. If you like the wind in your hair then the flybridge really is a must. The Benny will do 26 with the Nanni's and a couple more with the D4's and both will cruise nicely at 20knots. We've had ours out in all weathers and always felt safe. We've also cruised for two weeks with 4 adults on board and it worked OK, should be fine with nippers. I have one for sale right now, but it's a bit of a delivery trip from Brighton to you!!
 
AndieMac said:
That would be an interesting trip Tom..

Nth. Atlantic - Panama - Pacific or both the Atlantics - Indian - Southern. Pirate alley is still too active so no short cuts...:)
Click to expand...

PMSL!

Don't be silly!
I'd stick it on a ship to Sydney and enjoy joining it for the ride (it will need someone to keep an eye on it - did the same with the New Zealand Challenge Americas Cup Yacht in 1988 from Auckland to Los Angeles). Much cheaper than steaming it all the way and there would be nowhere for the extended tanks anyway...

Once in Sydney I'd happily help the new owners get used to her for a few days or weeks before they flew me home at the front part of the Jumbo.
 
Nautibusiness said:
PMSL!

Don't be silly!
I'd stick it on a ship to Sydney and enjoy joining it for the ride (it will need someone to keep an eye on it - did the same with the New Zealand Challenge Americas Cup Yacht in 1988 from Auckland to Los Angeles). Much cheaper than steaming it all the way and there would be nowhere for the extended tanks anyway...

Once in Sydney I'd happily help the new owners get used to her for a few days or weeks before they flew me home at the front part of the Jumbo.
Click to expand...


I should have made the smiley at the end of my reply into a big grin :D

Wonder how many of those 1000 litre plastic fuel containers would stack up in the cockpit.

Still, with the Oz dollar looking reasonable, currently, there may be some competitively priced French semi-D's, a couple of years old, lurking on the brokerage listings somewhere in Blighty?

I'm not sure about the personal escort though Tom :).....although isn't it a requirement with the Dockwise semi-submersible ships?
 
Wow..... so many replies so little time
Thanks Kawasaki for the hull explanation, it is mentioned that the 805 has semi displacement, does the merry fisher 925 and Beneteau 30.

Paul, cannot understand why the flybridge was not added as it is only about A$10-15k option. The boat was basically a cancelled contract sat on hard for 12 months, then sold and the present owner has had it in the water for about 12 months it has done about 20 hours, they want about A$165K for it. Would love a prestige 32 but they come in around
A$ 400k. A new Merry fisher 10 or antares 30 are about A$210 for base boat plus flybridge, anchor winch, etc, where the 2009 merrry fisher has anchor winch, bow thruster, TV basic electronics etc.

Natibusiness, the boat has a 260hp yanmar and trimtabs. I like the Beneteau 9.8 as well, one came up for sale a couple of years ago but the bloke had let it go and wanted far to much for it.

David, Glad to see you are enjoying your boat, what type of mods are you doing?

Ripster, prestige 32, your a lucky man

Andie, We trailer our present boat and keep it in our garage, we launch mostly from apple tree bay near Bobbinhead

Goochie, Would realy like a flybridge as we love the marine weather elements, but prefer not to have a sportscruiser layout or canvas when we are staying out. The 9.8 would do just fine. But we may have to comprimise for cost practibility, and the SWMBO will not look at anything over a couple of years old

Pls keep the comments coming

Regards Scott.

Macrel Beach, Pittwater
IMG_3425.jpg

Heading Back, lion Island in background
IMG_3412.jpg
 
Sydneysider
Have removed the tip up seat and extended the seating up to the chart table. Now have bum on seat area 99''x22'' from the 15''wide. Looking to fit electric toilet.
David
 
Major Catastrophe said:
Callum, you're making me jealous now.

Many fond memories of Coal and Candle creek. A bit of fishing up near Cottage Point and back to Akuna Bay for a well earned snack and a beer.

You can just see into the dry stack if you click here.
Click to expand...

Yes Major, had many nice snacks in the "Frayed Knot" (as it used to be called) cafe, I think it's gone more upmarket these days though.
It's a great drive through the national park from either the Terry Hills end or the Pittwater end, and as your picture shows the road runs very close around the back of the dry stack.

It was one of the very first dry stacks in the country, and in it's day the entire Akuna Bay site was just the epitome of all things wonderful in boating, in stunning surroundings. It's showing it's age these days however, and looking a bit tired.
 
Last edited:
Sydneysider said:
Andie, We trailer our present boat and keep it in our garage, we launch mostly from apple tree bay near Bobbinhead
Click to expand...

Scott, where do you intend on mooring the new boat?

I'm guessing because you launch at Bobbinhead you must be based somewhere in the northern suburbs. Is that the big ramp near the main popular picnic ground?
 
Kawasaki said:
Sydneysider said:
Wow..... so many replies so little time
Thanks Kawasaki for the hull explanation, it is mentioned that the 805 has semi displacement, does the merry fisher 925 and Beneteau 30.QUOTE]

Yep
Same as Mate.
Click to expand...

Not quite.
The MF inboards up to the 805 are very much semi displacement with deep keels and little planing profile.

The 925 does err slightly more towards semi planing with less keel and almost semi tunnels in the last part of the hull towards the transom.

On a different note:
If any of you Oz based chaps are passing, do me a favour and pop into North South Yachting in The Quays Marina, Church Point and say hello to my very good mate Mark Whitman.
He used to be a colleague of mine over here on the South Coast then decided he needed a change of scenery a year ago.
Click to expand...
 
Andie, We are looking at mooring at Brooklyn, about 20 mins drive from our home in Turramurra. Our closest marina is Empire marina Bobbin head Turramurra, the old Halvorsen yard, but it is nearly twice as much as a powered and watered berth at brooklyn.
The ramp at apple tree bay is about 1 km from bobbin head where the big picnic ground is.
We were also considering Apple tree bay on a swing as pictured, as they are quite resonable, but there is a few year wait and not as good as a berth.

Natibusiness, so what is the difference between semi displacement and semi planing and what are the on water characteristics with both?

Boat Ramp; Apple Tree Bay
PC140097.jpg

Apple Tree Bay Boat Ramp Pontoon
PC130093.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

boatmike
Merry Fisher 695
Replies
3
Views
208
Bouba
Bouba
Anibal
New to the Thames
Replies
2
Views
1K
Anibal
Anibal
H
Merry Fisher 645
Replies
4
Views
170
Phil_boat
P
S
How much does re-upholstery cost?
Replies
11
Views
464
Dino
Dino

Share this page

Top