New Boat Decision

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Nigel52

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Just returned to the UK from France where I had a 23ft day boat with large o/b. This was after 40 plus years of sailing. Now living in Poole I need to get a 7.5m to 9.5m length overall boat with the following characteristics :
Length as above
Single engine diesel.
Cruising speed 14-25 knots
Maximum circa 25-30 Knots
Occasional overnighter or weekends.
Large cockpit for socialising
Indoor helm position for inclement weather.
Age no older than 2012

boats I like and have considered so far:
Aquador 28HT
Jeanneau Leader 29/30
Jeanneau NC9
Bavaria S29/S30 Sport
Sargo 25
Rhea 800
Wessex Marine Targa 28

As most will know there is a huge shortage of boats for sale in the UK and although boats are cheaper in the EU one has VAT and import issues now.

have others got views on other boats I should consider ? Many thanks.
 
Post 2012 simply at a stage in my life where I don’t want major engine rebuilds or boat resprays. I have done this on a Sweden Yacht 36 where I completely rebuilt the boat stripping the engine out, all internal woodwork to rewire and replumb. Reconditioned mast and resleeve etc. My maximum budget is £150k but that is for the perfect boat ready to go for a season.
 
Thank you; I had considered that and actually of it's type and age it is a good buy having had a lot of work done on it. But the rear cockpit is a bit small.
 
I would suggest a Botnia Targa would fit the bill. The forward cockpit with a removable table makes an excellent sociable space at the expense of some accommodation compared to say a Nordstar,Aquador or Sargo.
 
I wouldn't disagree. I was down at Wessex Marine yesterday walking up and down the jetties looking at the Targa 28.1 but my budget doesn't get close. There are no earlier models around that I could afford.
 
They aren't easy to find, I suspect once you have one you keep it. I have a Tarfish 820 (fishing version of Targa27) and love it!
 
There was a Targa 31 for sale down here, 2008 I think. I saw it on one of the boats for sale websites. It was a private sale. A bit vague but maybe worth a Google search.
 
Farmer Piles said:
There was a Targa 31 for sale down here, 2008 I think. I saw it on one of the boats for sale websites. It was a private sale. A bit vague but maybe worth a Google search.
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Thank you everyone for your thoughts and suggestions. I have decided on a Quicksilver 905 activ weekend.
I will now close this thread.
 
Inboard 270hp mercruiser diesel..In the rear cockpit you have the sliding rear seat that enlarges cockpit or transom. Very cosy with heating when on Loch Lomond on Wednesday for trial.
 
Nigel52 said:
Inboard 270hp mercruiser diesel..In the rear cockpit you have the sliding rear seat that enlarges cockpit or transom. Very cosy with heating when on Loch Lomond on Wednesday for trial.
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Good choice, I'd love one of the pilot houses. Just a bit out of my budget.
Hope you enjoy to the max.
 
Nigel52 said:
Just returned to the UK from France where I had a 23ft day boat with large o/b. This was after 40 plus years of sailing. Now living in Poole I need to get a 7.5m to 9.5m length overall boat with the following characteristics :
Length as above
Single engine diesel.
Cruising speed 14-25 knots
Maximum circa 25-30 Knots
Occasional overnighter or weekends.
Large cockpit for socialising
Indoor helm position for inclement weather.
Age no older than 2012

boats I like and have considered so far:
Aquador 28HT
Jeanneau Leader 29/30
Jeanneau NC9
Bavaria S29/S30 Sport
Sargo 25
Rhea 800
Wessex Marine Targa 28

As most will know there is a huge shortage of boats for sale in the UK and although boats are cheaper in the EU one has VAT and import issues now.

have others got views on other boats I should consider ? Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Hi Nigel, I a new here, and your age and wish list is not dissimilar to me/mine. Can I please ask what you plumed for in the end? No need to talk money just the boat and if you like it. Cheers in advance.
 
Little Ricky said:
Hi Nigel, I a new here, and your age and wish list is not dissimilar to me/mine. Can I please ask what you plumed for in the end? No need to talk money just the boat and if you like it. Cheers in advance.
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At the time I was looking was at the end of COVID when boats were at an all time premium and difficult to find second hand. In the end I purchased a new Quicksilver 905WE very well speced with inboard diesel and outdrive. Nothing wrong with the boat but I really wanted a shaft driven boat as coming from sail I think shaft is less to go wrong and far cheaper to maintain. December 2024 I saw a Beneteau Antares 30s which ticked all the boxes I originally wanted. We bought this but eventually had to really dump the price on my Quicksilver to sell it. I am very pleased with the Antares and again very well equipped. The only real negative is manoeuvring with a single shaft whereas the single outdrive was easy to dock. I have bow and stern thrusters on the Antares which is absolute necessity. Ok costs and what I lost and cost of change.
Quicksilver 905 WE new March 2022. £165k with dinghy and copper coated.
Antares 30S 2015 boat purchased December 2024. £114k
Sold QuickSilver in April 2025 £90k incl dinghy. BTW the new owner took it straight from sea trial in Poole in the morning to driving it to Brixham in the afternoon. We tracked it on AIS and it averaged 20 knots not bad and the owner was delighted and knows he got a bargain.
Summary: a lot of money wasted buying the wrong boat for me. Nothing wrong with the quicksilver but not the boat for me. I am very happy with the Antares 30S but have not seen another one for sale in the UK. You can get the flybridge version a lot easier.
I am really not sure why more manufacturers don’t offer shaft driven boats in this size range. The new Viknes 10 is single shaft driven with best wishes & stern thrusters and is an ideal boat. We had one moored alongside us, but at over £400k with VAT out of my budget. Hope this helps.
 
Thank you Nigel for you comprehensive reply. My boating journey was supposed to start this weekend with my RYA Level 2 powerboat course, alas strong winds and rain have scuppered that so it is now the following week. I have 4 children so we are a family of 6, and 9 to 10 meters is really where I am looking. The in/out system of Merry Fishers and Beneteau Antares type boat (with patio doors) is not really for me as I don't like the two separate areas (my children are all under 10, so I like to know where they all are). I am thinking about a coupe style boat like a Jeanneau Leader 9 or 10 or perhaps Bavaria 33HT type boat, if I lived in Spain I'd have an open boat no question, alas in these chilly waters, some kind of inside space, I feel, is non negotiable.
 
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