Newbie Query!

[jcwads]

Hi All

I am new to this forum and looking to purchase my first motor powered yacht.

I was hoping for some advice on my intended purchase and whether its up for the job for its intended use. Any help would be really appreciated.

I am looking at purchasing a Sealine F34. I would be using it mainly for weekend journeys around the Solent and Purbeck, but also for week long or more holidays over to the Isles of Scilly, Channel Islands and France.

It is just my wife and I using the boat, but I wanted to know if it would handle those types of journeys and be comfortable enough to stay in if it was anchored or moored up for a few days.

It would be also really helpful for any views on this particular boat in regards to ownership, reliability, and general info!!!

Many thanks for any help!!!!


Jonathan

 

[Momac]

I suggest you sign up the the Sealine forum sealineforum.co.uk

 

[jfm]

Good choice of boat. Popular, will sell on ok when time comes.

Get good at weather forecasting before doing x-channel and especially Channel Islands, and understand the effect of wind-against tide vs wind-with tide and how that affects wave height and shape. You don't want to be in a big sea in 34 feet. But zillions of people cruise the places you have listed in 34 feet and smaller, so good choice.

 

[CLB]

It I were in your shoes I would probably look for a F36 or F37 instead. I am a fan of outdrives for the right application, but in a flybridge boat, shafts will give you a better experience. There is a very cheap F37 currently at boats.co.uk. Don't know what your budget is but it might be suitable. No connection etc

 

[jcwads]

Thanks for responses so far. Very helpful.

CLB, can you give any more info on why the shaft set up will give a better experience with a Flybridge boat?

Thanks

 

[CharlieAlpha]

Thanks for responses so far. Very helpful.

CLB, can you give any more info on why the shaft set up will give a better experience with a Flybridge boat?

Thanks

I think that really a matter of opinion, the outdrives will give you more usable space which is important on a 34 footer. The handling between shafts and outdrives is slightly different at low speed the basic difference is the steering comes from the direction of rotating prop on an outdrive so you need to turn the wheel and apply a small amount of power to one of the drives, shafts on the other hand (at low speed) you leave the wheel (rudder) central and apply the power to the appropriate propeller some say the boat also feels more planted ie less likely to drift sideways in the wind. Their are those who don't turn the wheel when using outdrives when going slow and just use the throttles but I feel you get so much more control if you use the wheel. A small amount of training and practice and it all get easier from there.

Now back to buying, boats like being looked after so seek out the service history as a regularly and well maintained boat will reward you with less unexpected bills. Also as well as the surveyor (a must in my book) you might want to consider employing a marine engineer to give your engines the once over.

 

[RIN]

Hi All

I am new to this forum and looking to purchase my first motor powered yacht.

I was hoping for some advice on my intended purchase and whether its up for the job for its intended use. Any help would be really appreciated.

I am looking at purchasing a Sealine F34. I would be using it mainly for weekend journeys around the Solent and Purbeck, but also for week long or more holidays over to the Isles of Scilly, Channel Islands and France.

It is just my wife and I using the boat, but I wanted to know if it would handle those types of journeys and be comfortable enough to stay in if it was anchored or moored up for a few days.

It would be also really helpful for any views on this particular boat in regards to ownership, reliability, and general info!!!

Many thanks for any help!!!!


Jonathan

It is a nice boat with good accommodation and easy to get at engines. One point to note is that if you are new to the boat and berthing from the flybridge, you will be some distance from the mooring ropes and your wife and may not be able to see her so good communication and crew training will be important. (see the Crew that won't listen thread)

Also, the number of evenings when you can pass the crisp test on a flybridge (put a bowl of crisps on the flybridge table. If the crisps blow out of the bowl its going to be uncomfortable sitting there for your drinks) is relatively low However, having the flybridge gives you lots of airy accommodation in the cabin.

Lastly, I would stick with the outdrives on the 34, as I for one find it is much easier to manage delicate maneuvers when you have an easy way of moving the back of the boat around as this is more difficult with shafts (at least in my experience)

Good luck and have lots of fun