Merry Fisher 855

[Bubblegtt]

Well after just over 12 months of pondering on what direction to go in the future, I finely put in an order for a Merry Fisher 855.

We currently have a Prestige 34S which is a great boat, apart from those green things in the engine bay. They are not without their problems and although I haven't really had any so far, a couple of Prestige 34's in our marina have had to spend many thousands on them, not to mention the DPH outdrives and all their faults!

Having forked out a considerable amount on my drives, control cables, bellows and props this spring, the lure of a couple of outboards with a 6-year warranty on a smaller boat won the day. We looked at the 855 at the Southampton boat show, the London boat show before that and even the Southampton boat show last year. Can't rush into these things can you?

I managed to get out onto the water yesterday on an 855 and although smaller and a different type of boat to the Prestige 34S, it fits the bill. You can shut out the weather with the patio doors and the twin engines are so quiet. The visibility is far better and with the sliding door by the helm, I will be able to single hand it no problem. I never quite plucked up the curridge to do that with the 34. This was also an important factor, as SWMBO has a bad back/hip and is not as nimble as she used to be.

The Prestige 34S is going in part exchange and already sold, it will go to it's new owner in a couple of weeks once I have cleared the rest of our accumulated belongings from it. Just really the tender and outboard left to remove and store somewhere.

The 855 should get to the dealer early December, but it will probably stay in the shrink wrap until it is commissioned early next year. We went for twin engines rather than a single. Why?....well they look so dam good on the back and the dealer has already sold 11 855's this year, all with twin Honda 150's. I know that it is double the servicing costs and not quite as economical, but I'm used to twins now

 

[Matt341]

Excellent choice, I was very impressed with the 855 at SIBS. I initially looked at the beneteau 8.80 which was nice but the MF855 had some superb features. Namely the sliding side door, front dinette seat that converts into a crew seat and the bow cabin that can be completely closed off. The beneteau was a lot more open plan with nothing more than a curtain to separate the bow cabin.

Have you gone for the cockpit enclosure? Out of interest what will you do with your dinghy and outboard?

When we changed to an O/B boat the only small niggle was where to keep the dinghy. The broker fitted a cantilever bracket to the stern which is brilliant as the small outboard can double as an auxiliary engine if ever needed. After a couple of attempts we found a way of storing the dinghy on the roof. Not as easy as clipping onto a bathing platform but a small compromise.

Please post some pics when you have the boat.

Ian

 

[Bubblegtt]

Excellent choice, I was very impressed with the 855 at SIBS. I initially looked at the beneteau 8.80 which was nice but the MF855 had some superb features. Namely the sliding side door, front dinette seat that converts into a crew seat and the bow cabin that can be completely closed off. The beneteau was a lot more open plan with nothing more than a curtain to separate the bow cabin.

Have you gone for the cockpit enclosure? Out of interest what will you do with your dinghy and outboard?

When we changed to an O/B boat the only small niggle was where to keep the dinghy. The broker fitted a cantilever bracket to the stern which is brilliant as the small outboard can double as an auxiliary engine if ever needed. After a couple of attempts we found a way of storing the dinghy on the roof. Not as easy as clipping onto a bathing platform but a small compromise.

Please post some pics when you have the boat.

Ian

I agree with your comments regarding the Beneteau / Jeanneau and found the 855 far better for our needs, especially the sliding side door. I'm not sure what to do with the 2.7 meter rib and 5 hp Honda at the moment. I might put some wheels on the transom and keep it in the dingy park, as I do like exploring up the little creeks with it. I might look at buying a smaller dingy that I could keep in a bag and just inflate it when needed.

We have gone for the full cockpit enclosure, though I will probably leave it off most of the time and front sun cushions etc. but staying away from the Blue hull this time. They do look good for a few months, but then fade in my experience

 

[Matt341]

I agree with your comments regarding the Beneteau / Jeanneau and found the 855 far better for our needs, especially the sliding side door. I'm not sure what to do with the 2.7 meter rib and 5 hp Honda at the moment. I might put some wheels on the transom and keep it in the dingy park, as I do like exploring up the little creeks with it. I might look at buying a smaller dingy that I could keep in a bag and just inflate it when needed.

We have gone for the full cockpit enclosure, though I will probably leave it off most of the time and front sun cushions etc. but staying away from the Blue hull this time. They do look good for a few months, but then fade in my experience

We traded down from a 3.4 meter dinghy to a 2.3 meter round tail, we use the dinghy quite a lot so the dog can go ashore etc. I wasn't keen on the 2.3 roundtail as it was quite unstable with the outboard in use. So this season we changed to a 2.4 meter solid transom, huge difference in capabilities but it's still small enough to roll up in a small bag and store in the lazarette. As already mentioned, when using the boat regularly through the Summer I will often strap the dinghy to the roof, it takes 2 of us to lift it over the bow and then flip it onto the roof but it saves the hassle of deflating it and packing away.

Safe option with the hull colour, I must admit that I like a navy hull but having owned a navy hull boat for 15 years i'm now glad to have a (fairly) maintenance free white hull. There is a MF next to us in the marina with the navy hull and now 2 years old it's starting to go patchy. Nothing a good polish wouldn't solve but it all takes time!

Also like the addition of the transom door on the MF compared to the Antares.

Enjoy!

Ian

 

[Bubblegtt]

I delivered our Prestige 34S "Blue Otter" to it's new owner yesterday single handed (first time ever) from Walton on the Naze to Brightlingsea. Perfect conditions, no wind, flat water, cruising @ 32 knots all the way!

We are now boatless, which is a strange feeling. Some say that the happiest days of boating are when you buy one and then when you manage to sell it again......

So for a couple of months I don't have to worry about cleaning and maintaining a boat.... I suppose I could always do some decorating at home

 

[Nautibusiness]

Congratulations on your choice.
The 855 is a very clever boat. I hope you enjoy her loads!

I think the dealer may be exaggerating slightly about 11 boats with twins sold though...

Show us some pics once you get her.

 

[Bubblegtt]

Congratulations on your choice.
The 855 is a very clever boat. I hope you enjoy her loads!

I think the dealer may be exaggerating slightly about 11 boats with twins sold though...

Show us some pics once you get her.

I managed to sea trial one of their customers 855's and I was amazed at how quiet it was compared to the twin D4's in the Prestige 34, which are a bit boomy at certain revs and can get tiresome. The visibility is all round is excellent and I'm sure that I will get out on the water a lot more and get going single handed will not be a problem at all.

I don't doubt that Morgan Marine have sold 11 855's so far, as I have known Ric & Steve for a few years now, but I will challenge them on that fact They do have a new stock boat that was at SIBS, but I have gone for a factory fresh one.

One thing that we weren't too keen on was the interior brown fabric on the seats, so we will get those re-trimmed to match the helm seat and aft cockpit seat pads and in a slightly thicker, more dense foam too.

I will certainly post up a few pics once we get her

 

[Nautibusiness]

Interesting comment re the colour fabric.
I actually quite like it, but I sell them rather than own them these days (I'm a former 695 owner).

Would love to know your ownership experiences over the coming season.

I think she's a fabulously clever boat. One to be proud of.

Best of luck with her
Tom
PS: I know how many have been sold! ;-) But actually, the number is irrelevant...

 

[Bubblegtt]

The new 855 didn't arrive in December and nor was it there in January when we got back from the USA.....

It was finely due at the dealer on Saturday, but the lorry broke down in France.....ho hum

So hopefully it will be delivered to the dealer on Tuesday and then it's going straight into the workshop for Coppercoating, fitting the engines and VHF etc. We only have a couple of weeks to get it all done and then into her berth in Titchmarsh, before we are back in the USA to see our first grandchild.

So much to do and it's good that I like being busy!!

 

[Chamaerops]

Having got my 645 at last years SIBS, I do have the 855 on my shopping list for this year.
Just not sure how I'll pay for it yet
The blue hull does look smart, also twin Yam 150's and a bow thruster... Anybody know of any banks giving away money?

 

[Firefly625]

Having got my 645 at last years SIBS, I do have the 855 on my shopping list for this year.
Just not sure how I'll pay for it yet
The blue hull does look smart, also twin Yam 150's and a bow thruster... Anybody know of any banks giving away money?

you could try the Co-operative, they seem to be in a generous mood...

 

[Bubblegtt]

I got the phone call first thing this morning that a low loader was sitting outside Morgan Marine with both an 855 and a 755 on it. I got the mornings work done and went down late morning for a look

Never bought a brand new boat before, so pretty excited and sorry for all the pictures!!

Next job is Coppercoating, then fit the VHF etc. The clock is ticking to get her all done and then moved to her permanent berth in Titchmarsh Marina, Walton-on-the-naze, before we leave for California in two weeks time!

 

[Nigelpickin]

Many congratulations, looks a stunner
Will be interested to hear how comissioning/copper coating goes and comparisons with the 34s...
Well done and here's to a great boating year...its going to be a scorcher!

 

[Bubblegtt]

We ran out of time to launch before we went to California, but we landed on Thursday and I spent a jet-lagged day on Friday giving her a polish before launching today (Saturday).

I only managed to grab a couple of photos, while she was in the slings, having the Copper Coat abraded before launching at Morgan Marine in Brightlingsea.

We poodled up to Wivenhoe, to part bed in the new engines, then turned back and made our way to Titchmarsh Marina in Walton On The Naze. It was pretty windy with 19 knots and the state of the water was very lumpy! Wipers going most of the time with water crashing up and over the roof. A couple of waves almost stopped us dead when the bow dug into them!

She is now safe in the Marina in her new berth.

First impressions:
1. Petrol outboards are so quite and smooth compared to the twin D4 in the Prestige 34, which could be very boomy and tiresome at certain revs.
2. Non-electronic and cable operated throttle controls are going to take some getting used to and are probably the only thing that has bugged me so far.
3. Patio doors keep out all the cold weather, engine noise and it is one of the main reasons that I chose this boat.
4. 6-Year warranty on the Honda engines - Yay!! no more Green engines with their outdrives to give me grief.

Just need some good weather now to enjoy the boat.

 

[rustybarge]

Congratulations on a lovely looking boat.
Those Honda twins sure are cool, really set off the boat.

I would be very interested to hear how you get on with fuel consumption Vs. the 300hp single engined boat.

Outboards Rule OK!

PS: I guess 8 1/2 gals/hr at 25kts.

 

[ricky_s]

Congratulations! I love the look of the new Merry Fisher boats, we have an older 925 which we purchased second-hand last year but did have a new 625 in 2006 and loved having a brand new boat. Enjoy!

 

[SammyB]

Great pictures! So exciting to see it being unwrapped. Our Swift Trawler arrives on Friday, it has been a long wait since we ordered it. Happy Boating.

 

[neale]

We saw you out and about on Saturday. I was moored on the mid river visitors pontoon. We left on Saturday and headed out to sea at the same time as you. Nice looking boat.

 

[AdeOlly]

That's a lovely looking boat - you must be well chuffed. I've nearly bought peche promenade style (MF695 then 925) but the lure of speed has won me over each time so far! Maybe next time....

Interesting what you say about your P34. We have a P34S, that we bought from Ric through Morgan Marine as it happens, and at the time a lot of thought was put into whether to go for KADs or D4s. With the mixed reliability reports and the well known early DPH issues, plus my engineer screaming "buy the KADs", we went for KAD300s. Sounds like I made the right choice! The KAD300s are a delight and propel the boat to 38 knots on clean bum, though we've had a few gremlins that were probably caused through prior lack of use and dirty fuel.

 

[rustybarge]

Please post some 'wake shots' of the twin outboards doing their stuff.