Motor boat search

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Coriolanus

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Whilst not new to boating (we currently have a motor sailer), we’re looking to upgrade to a motor boat and are seeking advice. Our requirements are;

GRP motor boat approx 28-36 ft long.
Outboard or inboard engine/s? Pros and cons?
Planing, semi-displacement, etc? Pros and cons?
Minimum 4 berths in 2 cabins (ideally boat must be suitable for at least five consecutive days onboard).
Boat will be based on the Firth of Clyde (our primary cruising area), so comfort and stability are of importance!

Options under consideration include;
Beneteau Antares 9
Beneteau Antares 11
Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895
Have also been looking at second hand Dutch-built motor cruisers (steel and GRP).

Ideas, thoughts, suggestions and advice...?
 
Check petrol supplies on the Clyde as it’s not ideal to transport

having a list of boats you like is a good ideal but seeing what is on the market reflects the reality

don’t forget that boats of this size are transportable by road
 
Jeanneau Leader 805 also a strong contender, most American aft cabin type cruisers etc etc.

Outboards are cheaper to buy and maintain, but on a 28-36’ boat you will be looking at a single 250 - 300 or twin 150-200 types, and man will they get thirsty!

Diesel onboard the opposite - so dearer to buy, dearer to service abut much cheaper to run.

Petrol inboard. Almost worst of both worlds as in dearer to service and run (although cheaper to buy)

As said check that you can get petrol and lots of it waterside, as simply not practical to Jerry can the kind of fuel that would use!

If you will mainly pootle along at sub planing speeds, won’t matter too much - but if you plan on doing lots of hours or planing speed I’d go diesel if I could afford it.
 
scottie said:
Check petrol supplies on the Clyde as it’s not ideal to transport

having a list of boats you like is a good ideal but seeing what is on the market reflects the reality

don’t forget that boats of this size are transportable by road
Click to expand...
Must admit to not having thought about petrol supplies in our area (our motor sailer is diesel). This could well be a deciding factor AGAINST the boats we’ve started looking at, even though we’re not ‘boy-racer‘ types!
 
scottie said:
Check petrol supplies on the Clyde as it’s not ideal to transport
Click to expand...

I was based at Troon when I first bought my boat (diesel), and was speaking to a Merry Fisher owner further along the pontoon who said he had to go to Portavadie to refuel with petrol.
 
Try
Sealine S34 twin diesel, Hold there value well good build, planing 22- 24 knot cruising with about 7-10 galons an hour for twin Kad 32 on outdrives. Or older Princess 366 on shafts great at displacement speeds and cruises at 21 Knots great social rear cockpit on one level, just a bit darker down stairs. Also a Secco 11m Clipper have one for sale lovely boat made in the same factory as Windy and only 58K.
The older boats tend to be a better build, at the end of th day only you know the compromises you are prepaired to make. Sorry there is not the perfect boat made.
 
Reality61 said:
Try
Sealine S34 twin diesel, Hold there value well good build, planing 22- 24 knot cruising with about 7-10 galons an hour for twin Kad 32 on outdrives. Or older Princess 366 on shafts great at displacement speeds and cruises at 21 Knots great social rear cockpit on one level, just a bit darker down stairs. Also a Secco 11m Clipper have one for sale lovely boat made in the same factory as Windy and only 58K.
The older boats tend to be a better build, at the end of th day only you know the compromises you are prepaired to make. Sorry there is not the perfect boat made.
Click to expand...
The ‘perfect boat’ - for us - does exist, but it’s way outside our budget! Plus that‘s a subject for a different topic!?
 
Coriolanus said:
The ‘perfect boat’ - for us - does exist, but it’s way outside our budget! Plus that‘s a subject for a different topic!?
Click to expand...

Some detailed research on the debate of outdrives verses shaft drive may well be worth while .
It might assist you in your search and quickly eliminate certain boats from your list.
A quick search of the internet (or this forum) should be more than sufficient.
Petrol boats might be OK for quick trips round the bay and just maybe the odd night out ,but for anything else totally impractical for extended cruising .
Looking at your location and your requirements ................... its Diesel Diesel all the way.
 
Depends how you keep her too - sterndrives aren't too bad if maintained if on a dry stack, some prefer shafts if in water all the time.

I've had sterndrives in-water for many years without problems, but others disagree
 
Corvette 32 or 320.

Older 32 from ~ £45k to newer 320 ~ £110 - 150 k

Meets all your requirements. Generally twin diesel inboards on shafts. There is an older one for sale in Largs presently.
 
Now restrictions are easing, why not visit a Marina that you’re considering as a base and look at the boats in use And chat to anyone who is happy to discuss. If there is a local yacht club, members are likely to have advice based on experience in the area. There may be a host of local considerations that you‘d find helpful.
 
Seaward 29? How fast do you want to go? 25kn ish up outdrive or outboard planing hull. Lower speeds would bring in shafts and sd hull type.
 
GRP motor boat approx 28-36 ft long.
Outboard or inboard engine/s? Pros and cons? - ouboards need petrol,is it available easily? Inboard shaft drive drive diesel(s) simple and easy to look after.
Planing, semi-displacement, etc? Pros and cons? A planning boat with a deep V and a sharp forefoot to deal with UK weather.
Or possibly semi displacement for UK waters if you are mostly not in a hurry. Smooth ride but can still go fast when needed.

Have a look at Rodmans - very good hulls, designed for the atlantic, not the med. Nimbus and Marex also spring to mind.
 
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