Newbie here - 1st post

[Neil22]

Hello, I'm an old Portsmouth boy (now live inland - top of Hampshire) with some experience of the Solent (and other waters), I've crossed Portsmouth/Soton to the IOW several times by sail and power. The last time this week by sail (28' yacht) from the Itchen to Cowes and back as navigator/helm (with one rookie error - let me just say Bramble Bank.Just a bump or 2 but Sheesh, I can't believe it still.)
I now want to fulfill the boyhood dream of having my own boat.
I'm looking to buy a power cruiser about 8m (I'm really taken by Sealine) and am looking for advice. I've done a lot of research but I'm sure there's things I've missed.
I've seen advice that you should buy the newest boat your spec and budget allow which makes sense as older boats may well need more remediation which will offset the lower price.
I'm looking at a budget of £30K - £40K, so down at the lower end of the market.
Any comments/advice gratefully accepted.

 

[Greg2]

Age is a factor but not necessarily the most important - condition and maintenance history are often more important. If you are interested in Sealines then worth joining the Sealine Forum for information and advice. A friendly and helpful bunch

 

[Elessar]

Hello, I'm an old Portsmouth boy (now live inland - top of Hampshire) with some experience of the Solent (and other waters), I've crossed Portsmouth/Soton to the IOW several times by sail and power. The last time this week by sail (28' yacht) from the Itchen to Cowes and back as navigator/helm (with one rookie error - let me just say Bramble Bank.Just a bump or 2 but Sheesh, I can't believe it still.)
I now want to fulfill the boyhood dream of having my own boat.
I'm looking to buy a power cruiser about 8m (I'm really taken by Sealine) and am looking for advice. I've done a lot of research but I'm sure there's things I've missed.
I've seen advice that you should buy the newest boat your spec and budget allow which makes sense as older boats may well need more remediation which will offset the lower price.
I'm looking at a budget of £30K - £40K, so down at the lower end of the market.
Any comments/advice gratefully accepted.

Consider a boat share club. A monthly payment to see what you like doing on the water. Especially if you’re not really handy yourself. Bills on an old boat can add up to £££.
If you buy, Sealines offer a great deal of space for the size. I’m on my third.
I’d always pay the extra for diesel power as petrol is hard to get and expensive at the waterside.
And a diesel boat will be easier to sell when you’ve figured out what you like doing in the water and upgrade. (This will take a year or less!)

 

[Seastoke]

Hi Neil welcome to the forum , you could send big plumbs a pm,he has a S25 on the Norfolk Broads , if you let him use the loo on it when he is in the area , he may sell it to you . BB.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Hi Neil welcome to the forum , you could send big plumbs a pm,he has a S25 on the Norfolk Broads , if you let him use the loo on it when he is in the area , he may sell it to you . BB.

Do try and keep up it is an S24 and i wasn't aware it was for sale

 

[Sneds]

S23, 24 or 25
Great space and storage packed into a neat and tidy package, single engine so lower maintenance costs.
We had a 215 and loved it! Me and ‘er a week away with two dogs and no issues, well part from Minehead lifeboat but that’s a different story!

 

[QBhoy]

S23, 24 or 25
Great space and storage packed into a neat and tidy package, single engine so lower maintenance costs.
We had a 215 and loved it! Me and ‘er a week away with two dogs and no issues, well part from Minehead lifeboat but that’s a different story!

Great wee boats. I had a 218.
As for the s23/25. Not sure you’ll get a good one of these for less than 40k these days, perhaps.

 

[Seastoke]

Do try and keep up it is an S24 and i wasn't aware it was for sale
[/QUO. I will charge you 3% and empty your loo.

 

[Bigplumbs]

.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Something seems to be going wrong

 

[Sianna]

Everyone says their own boat but don't overlook the Jeanneau Leader 805, 8 m and a very capable boat, There is / was one for sale in the Hamble:

Jeanneau Leader 805 | 8m | 2001 - Hampshire | Boats and Outboards

also check out Nick Burnham's videos on boating, he owns one too and it will give you an idea of the real costs involved in running a boat of this size.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOrUltkUqy_NUp9VxavCTFeWPLQbo34Z2

I'm based down at Bucklers Hard but if you want to have a crawl over one let me know.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Everyone says their own boat but don't overlook the Jeanneau Leader 805, 8 m and a very capable boat, There is / was one for sale in the Hamble:

Jeanneau Leader 805 | 8m | 2001 - Hampshire | Boats and Outboards

also check out Nick Burnham's videos on boating, he owns one too and it will give you an idea of the real costs involved in running a boat of this size.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOrUltkUqy_NUp9VxavCTFeWPLQbo34Z2

I'm based down at Bucklers Hard but if you want to have a crawl over one let me know.

Very good boat the 805 but I dont like how the Canopy works. always looks quite a faff

 

[Sianna]

Very good boat the 805 but I dont like how the Canopy works. always looks quite a faff

Honestly BP everyone said the same to me before we bought it. But I find one person can take it up and down in 5 mins, the Bimini stays up or rolls up under its own cover, so you can take the screen and sides off and still get shade so lots of options, there is a knack to putting it up but once you are used to it, it's easy..

Up





and down ...



See how quick that was ??

 

[Neil22]

Thanks for all your comments/advice - good food for thought.

 

[Neil22]

Everyone says their own boat but don't overlook the Jeanneau Leader 805, 8 m and a very capable boat, There is / was one for sale in the Hamble:

Jeanneau Leader 805 | 8m | 2001 - Hampshire | Boats and Outboards

also check out Nick Burnham's videos on boating, he owns one too and it will give you an idea of the real costs involved in running a boat of this size.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOrUltkUqy_NUp9VxavCTFeWPLQbo34Z2

I'm based down at Bucklers Hard but if you want to have a crawl over one let me know.

Thanks for your offer, I'll take you up on that if I may.

 

[volvopaul]

I know where there is a lovely 218

 

[bowler]

Honestly BP everyone said the same to me before we bought it. But I find one person can take it up and down in 5 mins, the Bimini stays up or rolls up under its own cover, so you can take the screen and sides off and still get shade so lots of options, there is a knack to putting it up but once you are used to it, it's easy..

Up


View attachment 137254


and down ...

View attachment 137253

See how quick that was ??

Paul Daniels would be proud!

 

[Neil22]

A big thanks to Flip272 for showing me around his Leader 805, giving me good ideas, and imparting some interesting tips.
My only regret is I missed my chance to say "Take me to your Leader".
(although I expect people have already thought of that one.)

 

[Nigel52]

I recently went through a similar exercise to you and ended up short listing Quicksilver and Jeanneau Merry Fisher. I ended up with quicksilver with diesel inboard and outdrive. Also newer outboards have a lot of advantages in that you only maintain and service the outboard rather than engine and outdrive. Plus no antifouling issues on outboard leg.

 

[Bowlerhat]

I recently went through a similar exercise to you and ended up short listing Quicksilver and Jeanneau Merry Fisher. I ended up with quicksilver with diesel inboard and outdrive. Also newer outboards have a lot of advantages in that you only maintain and service the outboard rather than engine and outdrive. Plus no antifouling issues on outboard leg.

I have (basically) the same boat, Nigel, and agree completely re inboard v outboard. The decision for me was based on being able to use a tender easily, attached to snap davits on the bathing platform. It’s a trickier proposition with an outboard.