Merry Fisher 625 v. Antares 650

[Local]

Hi everyone, I'm new to boating and want to start off with a small Merry Fisher style boat and have narrowed it down to the above Jeanneau or Beneteau with a 115 OB.

Boat will be used for everything apart from fishing - pootling round the solent with the family etc. I like the simplicity of an outboard and they seem much quicker than the inboard equivalents. Boat will probably be kept in the IOW and I doubt I would ever need to sleep on it.

Has anyone got any opinions or experiences of the above that will help me choose between them?

Thanks!

 

[Major Catastrophe]

Hi Local and welcome to the forum.

I am an Antares 650 owner and Arny is a MF625 owner and no doubt he will drop by later.

They are essentially the same boat built by sister companies, Jenneau and Beneteau.

The main difference is that the Jenneau Merry Fisher is fitted out to a higher standard than the Beneteau Antares and that is reflected in the price.

There are quite a few old discussions about these boats on the forum and a quick search took me to an old thread which can be read here.

More here.

And here.

Here.

And probably many other places, if you care to search for them.

They are remarkably good sea boats and very solidly built.

My boat has a 90HP Suzuki as I was of the opinion that for a couple extra knots the greater fuel consumption was not worth it.

I can get 25 knots on the 90, going downhill,, which is more than adequate. I also have a auxiliary engine to 'get me home' if needs be.

 

[SnaxMuppet]

Hi Local. Welcome to the "madhouse" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif,

As majorcatatrophe says... they are pretty much of a muchness when it comes down to it. We looked at both and went for the Jeanneau partly because they were doing the "Legende" version for their 50 aniversary and we liked the colour/spec/price.

Great boats... and for their size they handle the seas very well indeed.

We use ours quite a lot having done over 50 hours in the past 3 months and we stay away on her too. In fact, we are away on her for a full week starting this weekend so watch out for reports in a couple of weeks time! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

This is our 2nd Jeanneau. Our previous one was a Cap Camarat but we wanted something with some shelter - hence the MF625.

Ours is with the 115hp. Although I am happy with the 115hp I have heard many be just as happy with the 90hp so perhaps there is little between them.

We do have the full awning and if staying away on her then I strongly recommend that. We also have a sea-toilet instead of the chemical one as standard.

Pics at Arny's Boat Pics

Whatever you decide let us know.

 

[Bandit]

Its worthwhile also considering Ocqueteau Boats also built in France both Outboard and inboard Diesel.

http://www.ocqueteau.com/

Good well built little boats.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

[ QUOTE ]


Pics at Arny's Boat Pics



[/ QUOTE ]
"SnickerSnax doesn't have any photos available to you."

 

[SnaxMuppet]

Pics at Arny's Boat Pics

SORRY /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Still learning Flickr!

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

OK, I'll throw in my tuppence worth. We bought the Merryfisher 625, 'cos it was the one we looked at first and as my SWMBO has an inbuilt gut feeling for the right thing, that's what we felt was right for us and we haven't been disappointed. I will add that if i recall correctly the Beneteau has the bonus that the lazarette(?) can be opened with the folding seat in the use position, so it's down to personal preference, I guess. Either would be OK, the most important thing I think is to GET one! Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[KCook]

Has anybody ever drawn a comparison between these and Intermare?

Just curious,
Kelly Cook

 

[Local]

Thanks for the replies - I guess it is down to which one I fancy as they both seem very good boats.

I shall proceed directly to my bank manager and depress him! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

Dunno.

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

You do that. You won't regret it, we haven't!