Motor boat advice for newbie please!

Thanks again for all the replies. It is interesting to hear about the semi displacement option. To be honest we hadn't even considered it as it doesn't seem "us". Me with my lack of motor boat knowledge at this stage have simply referred to them as fishing boats, which is how they appear to me.

I guess with us being a younger couple (30 and 24) the sport type cruiser just seems a more appealing option, as they appear to have a slightly "older persons" look to them (at least the ones I have just googled do, unless anyone can post a link for me to look at!)

Interesting what is being said about the winds. Being a sail person before the sea was sometimes quite rough. In something like a S23 for example is going out in a 30 knot wind and slightly choppy sea state going to be a real issue for a vessel that size? Views from current owners of similar sized boats also appreciated.

Thanks,

Paul :)
 
Paulportsmouth said:
<snip> In something like a S23 for example is going out in a 30 knot wind and slightly choppy sea state going to be a real issue for a vessel that size? Views from current owners of similar sized boats also appreciated.
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Mate, 30 knot winds in a S23 will keep the RNLI very busy, you might be really lucky and get rescued before you drown.

If you were looking at a weather forecast for 15 knot winds, unless it was coming off the land and you could keep well in, you'd seriously stay in the marina.
 
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I have owned a Four Winns 268 (slightly larger than 248) and agree with your comments about space. The Four Winns does feel a lot larger down below and its slightly wider overall which makes a big difference on this size of boat.

Don't get hung up on side decks, the Four Winns has an easy walk through windscreen with good steps and a flat non slip foredeck, much better IMHO than small side decks on a boat this size.

But, as others have mentioned, on power boats you spend most of your time when awake in the cockpit and the cabin only gets used for cooking and sleeping. Look at the cockpit space, which one suits you the best ? Which has got the best covers ? Which has the best seating area ? etc

The Sealine would be a good choice, but so would the Four Winns. The only other boat in this segment with good head room is the Regal 2665, its got nearly 7ft of headroom.
 
oldgit said:
And dead handy for somewhere to keep your bars of Palmolive and Imperial Leather during the 11 long months the boats are unusable due to rain and cold.:)
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Nonsense.

Ours has been used all year round for the last 2 years. The heater is a god send for this though. We live quite comfortably on ours from Friday evening until Monday morning every week even in the deepest mid winter. It can be quite relaxing watching the snow falling around you whilst you are warm and cosy in the cockpit with the heater doing its job.

The OP and his OH are only young (about the same age as the OH and me) so some of these semi displacement jobbies may be a little on the old side for them just yet. Not everyone who buys a small sports boat gets rid after the first six months. Ok some have a habit of becomming yo-yo boats but there are many owners (ourselves included) who are extremely happy with our little boats and still manage to get some good use from them, when the owners of bigger craft are trying to save enough money for their fuel bills.
 
CX54WEK said:
Nonsense.

Ours has been used all year round for the last 2 years. The heater is a god send for this though. We live quite comfortably on ours from Friday evening until Monday morning every week even in the deepest mid winter. It can be quite relaxing watching the snow falling around you whilst you are warm and cosy in the cockpit with the heater doing its job.

The OP and his OH are only young (about the same age as the OH and me) so some of these semi displacement jobbies may be a little on the old side for them just yet. Not everyone who buys a small sports boat gets rid after the first six months. Ok some have a habit of becomming yo-yo boats but there are many owners (ourselves included) who are extremely happy with our little boats and still manage to get some good use from them, when the owners of bigger craft are trying to save enough money for their fuel bills.
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You took the bait and the rod there, you'll learn to ignore OG's rantings about sportcruisers :D
 
I am on my third boat, which is a US sports cruiser.

They do look nice but if I had the chance again I would go for something with a roof on it. Okay, you can have the canvas up but if you have a single engine without a bow thruster and it is at all windy then you will struggle to do the marina bit. But if you leave the covers off and go to sea there is a good chance you are going to get wet.

My next boat is going to be a sports fisher type, something like a merry fisher 925 or something. Good size and you can helm from inside without worrying and covers and has side decks.

US boats have the walk through which is okay most of the time but you can't quickly get from one end of the boat to the other if things go wrong and you need to fend off.
 
ricky_s said:
I am on my third boat, which is a US sports cruiser.

They do look nice but if I had the chance again I would go for something with a roof on it. Okay, you can have the canvas up but if you have a single engine without a bow thruster and it is at all windy then you will struggle to do the marina bit. But if you leave the covers off and go to sea there is a good chance you are going to get wet.

My next boat is going to be a sports fisher type, something like a merry fisher 925 or something. Good size and you can helm from inside without worrying and covers and has side decks.

US boats have the walk through which is okay most of the time but you can't quickly get from one end of the boat to the other if things go wrong and you need to fend off.
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Do you really struggle that much? You make it sound quite bad.

Just think, when it is warm do you really want to be cooped up in a conservatory when you could be outside in the fresh air?
 
CX54WEK said:
Do you really struggle that much? You make it sound quite bad.

Just think, when it is warm do you really want to be cooped up in a conservatory when you could be outside in the fresh air?
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I don't stuggle that much, we usually have the tent folded away unless it is raining or bloody freezing in the winter.

Last weekend for example, was quite windy but we managed to put her on her mooring fine, but it would have been a bit harder with the tent up.

Have had a couple of times where SWMBO is at the back as we go astern into our mooring and it would have been nice if she could have walked along the deck to fend off.
 
Chris_d said:
You took the bait and the rod there, you'll learn to ignore OG's rantings about sportcruisers :D
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There are a few old blokes on here who are convinced the only boat you should buy is the exact same one they've got (ie a knackered old diesel flybridge on shafts) and that anything that looks like it is designed to have fun with is not at all suitable for British weather, will cost a fortune to run and will in all probability blow up, if it doesn't break down first. :eek:
 
lovezoo said:
There are a few old blokes on here who are convinced the only boat you should buy is the exact same one they've got (ie a knackered old diesel flybridge on shafts) and that anything that looks like it is designed to have fun with is not at all suitable for British weather, will cost a fortune to run and will in all probability blow up, if it doesn't break down first. :eek:
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I think the particular old bloke in question has a knackered old diesel flybridge with outdrives. :) Mind you, these probably cause more ranting and outpourings of bile on his part than any US or Euro-soap dish ever could :D
 
ricky_s said:
I don't stuggle that much, we usually have the tent folded away unless it is raining or bloody freezing in the winter.

Last weekend for example, was quite windy but we managed to put her on her mooring fine, but it would have been a bit harder with the tent up.

Have had a couple of times where SWMBO is at the back as we go astern into our mooring and it would have been nice if she could have walked along the deck to fend off.
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Its been good the last few weeks though all this sun and light winds. You surely wouldnt want to change her just yet in this weather.

Not much you can do about the side decks other than work with what you have. If it is any consolation although we have side decks, one is smaller than the other and if the hood is up ours is a bugger to get up top (there are a few different canopy designs and ours is probably the worse for access to the bow when up) We are having it modified to make deck access easier.
 
CX54WEK said:
Its been good the last few weeks though all this sun and light winds. You surely wouldnt want to change her just yet in this weather.
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No plans to change her at the moment, don't get me wrong I love going out on the boat but given the choice I probably wouldn't get a sports cruiser again. :)
 
jhr said:
I think the particular old bloke in question has a knackered old diesel flybridge with outdrives. :) Mind you, these probably cause more ranting and outpourings of bile on his part than any US or Euro-soap dish ever could :D
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I don't think I'd keep a pair of old outdrives marinating in water year round - sounds like an expensive recipe for disaster. Much better to keep your outdrive nice and cosy out of the water, much less maintenance required. :rolleyes:
 
Proper roof, proper side decks, proper sunbridge up top, proper cockpit out back, no flappy canvas, windows that open if it's hot and close when cold, proper shaft on an inboard diesel, think i'm sorted.

I dunno, what are you lot like with your canvas and outdrives.




I'll get me coat, better make it an asbestos one :D:D:D
 
PaulGooch said:
Proper roof, proper side decks, proper sunbridge up top, proper cockpit out back, no flappy canvas, windows that open if it's hot and close when cold, proper shaft on an inboard diesel, think i'm sorted.

I dunno, what are you lot like with your canvas and outdrives.




I'll get me coat, better make it an asbestos one :D:D:D
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You got it Paul. Something like you have should be fine.:)
 
lovezoo said:
I don't think I'd keep a pair of old outdrives marinating in water year round - sounds like an expensive recipe for disaster. Much better to keep your outdrive nice and cosy out of the water, much less maintenance required. :rolleyes:
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Although I'm inclined to agree, my boat is involuntarily out of the water at the moment, receiving (expensive) attention, needed as a result of the engine bay getting flooded with water whilst she was stored ashore over winter. I'd love the opportunity to marinate the outdrive..... :(
 
PaulGooch said:
Proper roof, proper side decks, proper sunbridge up top, proper cockpit out back, no flappy canvas, windows that open if it's hot and close when cold, proper shaft on an inboard diesel, think i'm sorted.

I dunno, what are you lot like with your canvas and outdrives.




I'll get me coat, better make it an asbestos one :D:D:D
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But it is still a conservatory on water:D
 
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