Marine Trader 50 - worth it or not

[MT50]

As @jfm quite rightly points out fuel capacity is tiny. If you were based in the Solent this might not be so much of an issue but around Thailand and neighbouring areas you need to be fully independent. The next fuel pump might not be just around the corner.

The same is true for water. At the very least you need good water makers to provide reliable fresh water. Hot and sticky weather means lots of showers.

The generator will be running pretty much the whole time you’re on board. So do the maths there as well. I’d be wanting 2 weeks off grid with a boat in that part of the world.

It’s an old boat so regardless of builder make absolutely sure of the condition via a good surveyor then set aside a small fortune to work through the problems as you wake her up from her slumber. The surveyor can only report as they find on the day. They don’t have a crystal ball.

Asia has a make do and mend approach with bits sourced from all different places. Just be sure the basic functionality works for your planned usage.

Henry

Thanks for the advice. I think you are right about the fuel tank size and that scares me a bit. I have more homework to do but its not looking good. I think its just too much of a houseboat and the cost to make it a cruiser again is just too much.

 

[henryf]

Thanks for the advice. I think you are right about the fuel tank size and that scares me a bit. I have more homework to do but its not looking good. I think its just too much of a houseboat and the cost to make it a cruiser again is just too much.

I agree. Buy something that’s been in use regularly so you are unlikely to unearth problems and if it’s been used in your chosen cruising grounds it will have been adapted for the area or chosen in the first place based on the area.