Merry Fisher 8 or Beneteau Antares 8

[kevingreystones]

Looking at both options secondhand all advice gratefully received.

Looking for shaft single diesel with bow thruster for ease of use.

Like the Merry Fisher 8 and the Beneteau Antares 8 with inboard 200hp Nanni .

If anyone has experience of either please shout !!

Thanks

 

[Steve 1]

Looking at both options secondhand all advice gratefully received.

Looking for shaft single diesel with bow thruster for ease of use.

Like the Merry Fisher 8 and the Beneteau Antares 8 with inboard 200hp Nanni .

If anyone has experience of either please shout !!

Thanks

Hi We bought a Merry Fisher 805 last year, I did look at an Antares however I felt the 805 was better built I liked having a door instead of a curtain to the forward cabin. We use ours as holiday home it is fantastic cruising the Cornish Coast where we live. It is a very stable boat and easy to handle with the bow thruster.

Steve

 

[kevingreystones]

Thanks Steve, very helpful anything I should look out for when scouring the market secondhand ?
I see that the boat has also been called a Merry Fisher 8 , 805 and 815 !!!

 

[Steve 1]

Thanks Steve, very helpful anything I should look out for when scouring the market secondhand ?
I see that the boat has also been called a Merry Fisher 8 , 805 and 815 !!!

The 815 is a replacement for the 805 it came out in late 2008 When we bought our boat I wanted an awning/Cabin heating/Radar/copper bottom/trim tabs and few other things so I looked for a for one that had everything and haven't regretted it. To add these items to a low spec boat would cost a fortune. The other thing I would say is don't worry to much about engine hours these engines in my opinion are bullet proof. We are going out on it at this weekend to do some fishing and then drop the anchor up the Helford for a night and few beers at the pub. If you have any other questions I would be happy to help if I can.
Steve

 

[Spi D]

When you decide on the budget (invest & operate), you can narrow the search down. You'll see many in the category but if you are firm on specific properties (door vs. curtain, height in cabins, closed saloon or open layout etc.) selection will limit itself.

For Nanni I run two of the same base engine (Toyota 3 liter) in the non electronic version (175 hp) and they never missed a beat.
Have heard and read that some are less happy with the 200 hp version. Spares are plenty available at not too steep prices.. just make sure you check around as some like to run a jewellery shop on the same parts other sell as commodities

BTW my Nanni's reside in an Ocqueteau, another boat built on the French Atlantic coast. Very happy about it as it meet my expectations - plus some.

 

[FirstMate II]

Hi kevin
I purchased a Antares 760 just last may . Fitted with a Volvo 200HP . Steamed her home from her home in North Wales to her new home southwest of Ireland . Have to say im more than happy with her and still feel like a child with a new toy . She had 160 Hours on the clock when we purchased and just reached 250 last week and every hour was a pleasure

 

[kevingreystones]

Thanks for all of your helpful feedback

 

[Falling Star]

PM sent

 

[kevingreystones]

Steve,

Secondhand prices seem to vary quite significantly, any idea why the range seems to be £70k down to £40k !!

 

[Spi D]

Have a read here, some possible reasons indicated:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...a-of-immaculate-and-no-expense-spared-differs

 

[stuartwineberg]

In the end we went for another boat altogether but we were struck that the Beneteaus nearly all seem to have a c shaped settee and no way for a second person to sit up front where the Merry fishers had a flip over nav seat that we preferred. Not sure if this applies to the models you are interested in