Merry fisher 645 or 655?

[jb1]

Hello good people,
This is my first post on here!

I'm looking at buying my first boat for the start of next season.I want something around 21-22 foot with cabin space and as much deck space as you can get on this limited size range.
I started off being sure on a quicksilver 640 weekend,which is still of interest to me but at this moment in time i'm torn between a merry fisher 645 and a 655.

It seems a new 645 ready to go would be of the same price as a used 655 with low hours use and all the extras even some with electric windlass!
So,which of these should i pick and what are the pro's and con's of these two boats at the same price tag?

If anyone has any info,this would be of great help! .....oh and i would also like to know the fuel consumption of the 645 with a 115 suzuki ?

Many thanks, John

 

[MVP]

We have a QS640 Weekend, and looked at a MF655 before buying.

The layout and quality of the interior is far superior on the QS in my opinion, and a lot cheaper than the 655. Generally the boat is great, but has been let down by some trim quality issues (all handled without a fuss by IBS, the importers)

The 655 is diesel only, so will be noisier and slower than a petrol engined 645 or QS640WE

The 655 seemed like a lot more of a fishing boat than the 640WE, i.e similar to the QS640 Pilothouse

 

[me2]

We have had both the QS and 2 x 655's . The QS was an ok boat but as said kept falling apart (doors and fittings ) and leaking rain water(windows and 8 x roof hatchs) , but we did put 240 hours in 15 months and was costing to much in fuel . We p/xed it for a 655 ,the boat was alot better but we had the D3 and that was very bad , after almost a year we rejected the boat as the engine was a non runner for 30 weeks in the time we had it . We now have a 655 with the Yanmar in it and are happy with both the boat and the engine . It is not as fast as the outboard would be , I would not say its that noisy and outboard was noisy when going quick . If you have the cockpit seats then its no good for fishing as the seats take most of the room.
If you are going to keep the boat on a trailer then I would go for the 645 .

 

[PaulGooch]

We have a QS640 Weekend, and looked at a MF655 before buying.

The layout and quality of the interior is far superior on the QS in my opinion, and a lot cheaper than the 655. Generally the boat is great, but has been let down by some trim quality issues (all handled without a fuss by IBS, the importers)

The 655 is diesel only, so will be noisier and slower than a petrol engined 645 or QS640WE

The 655 seemed like a lot more of a fishing boat than the 640WE, i.e similar to the QS640 Pilothouse

Inboard diesels are not generally noisier than outboard petrols.

I have a Merry Fisher 805, inboard diesel and it is much quieter than a QS640 pilothouse with 115 outboard. It is also a much bigger boat, but doesn't use much more fuel and as diesel is cheaper, costs about the same per mile in fuel.

 

[Philiz]

Inboard diesels are not generally noisier than outboard petrols.

I have a Merry Fisher 805, inboard diesel and it is much quieter than a QS640 pilothouse with 115 outboard. It is also a much bigger boat, but doesn't use much more fuel and as diesel is cheaper, costs about the same per mile in fuel.

I find the diesel versions of the smaller MF and Beneteaus quite noisy, maybe it's a lack of sound deadening as my mates 805 is quiet enough as is my 9 series

 

[Ripster]

I started in a MF635 inboard diesel and agree it was a little slow and noisy but that had a Nanni 85. I also looked at QS's then, but my research at the time some 5/6 yrs ago found that QS's just did not have the quality of the 'eau boats. Have a look at Beneteau (same family as Jeanneau) and Arvour too.

 

[Great Harry]

I have just bought a second hand Beneteau Antares 650. Its probably a little smaller than the MFs mentioned at 20' 8" but is a great little cruiser/fisher. It has spacious accommodation for 2 and shares the same hull as the Merry Fisher 625. I cant find fault with it yet. With the cockpit tonneau cover in place the living space is huge.

If you want to tow, this boat is probably at the top end of what is easily practicable and even then requires a big tow vehicle. Mine came without a trailer and I am quite happy keeping it on a marina berth.

 

[whisper]

I find the diesel versions of the smaller MF and Beneteaus quite noisy, maybe it's a lack of sound deadening as my mates 805 is quiet enough as is my 9 series

Very much agree re. smaller peche promenades and engine noise with diesel power.
Half the problem seems to be that the engine compartment often extends under the wheelhouse floor area. This makes it noisier in the wheelhouse than in outboard powered boats.
At full chat I don't think there's much difference in the decibels between either types when standing in the cockpit, though the diesels seemed to vibrate rather more.

Ideal would be a petrol or diesel sterndrive with decent sound insulation in the engine compartment.

 

[PaulGooch]

I find the diesel versions of the smaller MF and Beneteaus quite noisy, maybe it's a lack of sound deadening as my mates 805 is quiet enough as is my 9 series

Hmm, had a day out on a QS 640 pilothouse and with the cockpit door open, the noise from the engine was pretty damn load. But, to be fair, was comparing it to my 805.

 

[jb1]

We have a QS640 Weekend, and looked at a MF655 before buying.

The layout and quality of the interior is far superior on the QS in my opinion, and a lot cheaper than the 655. Generally the boat is great, but has been let down by some trim quality issues (all handled without a fuss by IBS, the importers)

The 655 is diesel only, so will be noisier and slower than a petrol engined 645 or QS640WE

The 655 seemed like a lot more of a fishing boat than the 640WE, i.e similar to the QS640 Pilothouse

I may sway away from the 655 then. What sort of fuel consumption do you get on your QS640, i take it you have a 115 O/B?

I think the QS and MF645 are quite similar and i was looking at a second-hand QS but they don't come up that often. Which leaves me looking at buying new, and the reason i was going towards the 645 is due to prices at the moment.
It seems that due to over stock this year of the MF645, you can get them a few grand cheeper than the QS 640 w/e.

 

[MVP]

I can't really give GPH from our 115 Mercury 4-stroke, but I have learned that it runs very economically at about 7knts and 18-20knts (about 4.200 revs)

Between about 7-13 you're just pushing water and burning fuel, 14 or so and you are planing nicely. Get the revs up to 5000+ and you burn a lot more fuel for the bit of extra speed (29knts is the maximum speed achieved)

Compared to the cost of marina fees at Sparkes, the difference in fuel economy between a petrol and a diesel isn't a major factor for our 70 odd hours a year.

 

[Nautibusiness]

The layout and quality of the interior is far superior on the QS

I just fell of my chair when I read that!

The layout is certainly ok, but I guess you haven't looked very hard at how the whole thing is glued together.

The 655 will top out at about 22 knots, but cruise economically (15 litres per hour) at about 16 knots.
It's a sea worthy little boat and cuts through a head sea slightly better than it's big sisters.
It does seem a little noisey at first, but you get used to the chatter of the engine and the sound levels don't increase to obtrusive even at high speeds. You can still have a conversation.
The 645 is the natural evolution to the Merry Fisher 625. Bit bigger and a better weekending layout. At 4000rpm epect to be using around 20litres per hour. I suspect this will be in the region of 17 or 18 knots. Increase to 4200 and you should be getting close to a 20 knot cruising speed and fuel consumption will be up to about 25 litres per hour.
In the grand scheme of things not a lot more than the diesel, when you realise you are going that bit further for the fuel burned.
The 645 will be that bit nippier and feel a little more like a sport boat when just out for a day of fun. The downside is that it will also feel a little bouncier in the water than the sure footed feeling of the inboard 655.
The 655, being semi displacement will be quite a wet boat and so make sure you have the second windscreen wiper, you'll need it. Being wet isn't bad, it means the boat is right in the water, which is where a semi displacement should be!
Oh, back on the subject of noise. You'll find it is quieter on the outboard boats outside in the cockpit area. The wheelhouse and cabin area on all of the smaller pilot house models acts like a giant sound box. Noise levels at planing speeds will be very comparable between the diesels and the outboatds.

The QS640WE with outboard feels very flimsey on the water. You can see bits waiting to fail. The boat really feels like it needs another 30 or 40HP as it labours itself onto the plane and is hard to hold there in any form of sea as it needs so much throttle being piled on to climb a wave.
I am a little prejudiced against the QS, but I've been on so many and seen the daft things leaking and breaking on nearly all of them, whereas on the range of boats from the Eau groups these failures are rare (not nonexistant, just rare).
In QS favour, IBS are excellent and will work hard to fix your boat when it does break.

Forgot to say, if you are trailering then an outboard boat will be ten times easier to launch and recover than a shaft drive boat.

 

[Philiz]

We looked at the QS before we bought our MF625.

We felt the build quality of the MF and Beneteau was far superior to the QS. We also felt the MF was far more stable.

The 'eaus' also seem to have better resale values.

 

[PaulGooch]

I just fell of my chair when I read that!

<snip>

I was tempted to reply, but knew you'd be along soon

 

[Ripster]

I was tempted to reply, but knew you'd be along soon

Agree... when I was looking at used examples, the eau boats were, IMO, of superior build quality than QS.

 

[jb1]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and info.

I think i'll go with a merry fisher 645 package.
As a first boat it seems this would be a good all-rounder that i can't go too far wrong with.

Any 645 owners thoughts and veiws are welcomed.

Cheers!!

 

[Great Harry]

Oh, back on the subject of noise. You'll find it is quieter on the outboard boats outside in the cockpit area. The wheelhouse and cabin area on all of the smaller pilot house models acts like a giant sound box. Noise levels at planing speeds will be very comparable between the diesels and the outboatds.

I have got to agree with that. My Beneteau has a Suzuki 115hp and the engine does resonate the wheelhouse, although there is no rattling just a very loud low hum. In the cockpit the sound levels are much lower, even when you are sitting at the back right next to the engine, whereas the diesels I have been on are noisy wherever you are on the boat.

On speed and economy, mine climbs onto the plane at around 9-10 knots cruises most economically at around 3800 rpm 15 knots-4200 rpm 18knots and tops out at 5200 rpm and 28 knots, just like the brochure says (surprisingly). I reckon a similar sized MF will perform the same seeing as they share the same hull form.

I find QS s feel a bit cheap and flimsy by comparison.

 

[Nautibusiness]

I find QS s feel a bit cheap and flimsy by comparison.

That's because they are.
They were originally aimed to be the "value for money" version. They did that job very very well. Cheap and cheerful, did what it said on the tin. Nothing wrong with the value for money end of the market so long as it remains value for money.
In the last 18 months the price gap has closed to such a point that the Eaus are really by far the more sensible choice and the resale values are much better too.

As a matter of interest, not really relevant, but as has been pointed out, various Merry Fisher and Beneteau models are almost exactly the same, save for a few basic, cosmetic changes. This because they share the same production line at Ostroda and previously in France.

Arvor are Brunswicks inboard diesel European angling boat offering and you may think that the Quicksilver (outboard boats) look remarkably similar. Well that is because they are the same boat changed to mount an outboard. The rear third to half if modified to suit.
Another, "just for the record" is that Quicksilver is Mercury Marines (Brunswick group) brand.
The other sister company, Mariner Marine, has Passport boats as their brand. Passport, again are exactly the same craft just with a marginally different gel coat colour and decals. For some reason, Passport have never taken off in the UK where as Quicksilver and Arvor have both been a huge success. Maybe it's down to marketing?

Tom

 

[Dinks66]

I have a Beneteau Antares 6 which is identical to the MF 655 apart from a few cosmetic changes. They both come off the same production line. Mine is the Yanmar powered one but unless my GPS is telling lies it will not do 22 Knots as stated. It won't even reach 20 knots in fresh water at 3400 rpm, clean bottom, and factory supplied propellor. The maximum revs according to the handbook should be 3250 which makes me wonder why it will rev higher? May be worth an enquiry at the 50 hour service. I find the boat very economical and there is plenty room for the size of the boat(now that the cockpit canopy has been fitted). I find the seperate head a godsend as do any passengers I have had aboard. This may be worth thinking about as the 645 does not have a seperate head compartment. Good luck with your decision and I can only say that I am very happy with mine. You will need a big truck to pull one mind as it is almost 3 tons with trailer and about 12 ft high on the road but launches/recovers fine on a proper slipway although I wouldn't like to try and beach launch it. If trailering is your choice I would go for an outboard model unless you have a big 4WD. Hope this helps.