Nimbus 31c pros and cons

[Wightwill]

Going to have a look at Nimbus 31c with a couple of TAMD 31's under the sole. Any tips on what to look out for.
Any thoughts from anyone who has had one would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Hacker]

If it’s the one on Clipper then the state of the interior would make me want to look very carefully at the rest.

 

[ashtead]

I believe Colhel of this forum who I met in east cowes marina and whose other half is also from the Wight has a nimbus and might know other Nimbus owners.

 

[Wightwill]

If it’s the one on Clipper then the state of the interior would make me want to look very carefully at the rest.

Yeah that's the one I'm going to look at. Not to worried about the cosmetics as that can be sorted with a bit of elbow grease. My major reservation is the twins under the floor. Most of the other ones you see have a single engine so I wonder if there is going to be much room down there. She'll be quick but costly to run and maintain. In the current climate a bigger single would be a better option. There is a 29c north of the border that's in far better nick but don't know if I can be bothered to haul all the way up there for a look.

 

[Wightwill]

I believe Colhel of this forum who I met in east cowes marina and whose other half is also from the Wight has a nimbus and might know other Nimbus owners.

Thanks, hopefully he will notice the thread and chime in. There is a 280c for sale on the island but she is way over my budget.

 

[colhel]

The hull shape and layout from the wheel house forward is very similar to ours, but we have an aft cabin on our Nimbus 3003.
I just googled to confirm, tamd31s are nowhere near 230 hp each, looks like between 130 and 150hp. The hull on ours and with a single 200hp we like to cruise around 15 knots ,18 knots being the recommended but I think we're slightly uderpitched on the prop.
As you say, the interior can be sorted, I'm going through this ATM.
That's cheap for that model!

 

[Hacker]

The 29 has outdrives, so that rules it out for me. I’d be interested in what you think of her once you’ve had a look (DM if you don’t want to post). I would have had a look if she had been a bit closer.

 

[Wightwill]

The 29 has outdrives, so that rules it out for me. I’d be interested in what you think of her once you’ve had a look (DM if you don’t want to post). I would have had a look if she had been a bit closer.

Will do

 

[Wightwill]

The hull shape and layout from the wheel house forward is very similar to ours, but we have an aft cabin on our Nimbus 3003.
I just googled to confirm, tamd31s are nowhere near 230 hp each, looks like between 130 and 150hp. The hull on ours and with a single 200hp we like to cruise around 15 knots ,18 knots being the recommended but I think we're slightly uderpitched on the prop.
As you say, the interior can be sorted, I'm going through this ATM.
That's cheap for that model!

Oops I never thought to check that but did think 400+hp was a bit op.?
I'll see what the broker cones up with in terms of speed and gph.
Are you re-upholstering? If so would be interested to know more. This one is definitely going to need it.

 

[Farmer Piles]

My reservation is that the twin engines are shoehorned in and one of them, port I think, is almost impossible to service. You need to be sure that it has been done and kept up to date and that previous engineers haven't just given it a wipe-over with and oily rag. So I learned in our boat hunt last year and in 2020. A friend has a twin engined ACM31 and he grizzles about the lousy access to his port engine.

 

[Wightwill]

My reservation is that the twin engines are shoehorned in and one of them, port I think, is almost impossible to service. You need to be sure that it has been done and kept up to date and that previous engineers haven't just given it a wipe-over with and oily rag. So I learned in our boat hunt last year and in 2020. A friend has a twin engined ACM31 and he grizzles about the lousy access to his port engine.

Yeah that is definitely a concern. I'll let you know what it looks like as there was only one photo on the advert and it all looked a bit tight.

 

[colhel]

Oops I never thought to check that but did think 400+hp was a bit op.?
I'll see what the broker cones up with in terms of speed and gph.
Are you re-upholstering? If so would be interested to know more. This one is definitely going to need it.

I started a thread here,
Nimbus spruce up

 

[Wightwill]

So had a good look around and although the engines are quite tight there are a couple more hatches in the floor that give access to the port fuel filter and the starboard oil filter which had all been changed yesterday. Plus there is access to the backends from the lazarette. The broker flashed them up and they started right away with no discernible smoke. So although the access is not the best it is not impossible and the engines seem in good order, at first glance. If it goes any further I will get a pro to give them the once over.
The owner is an elderly gentleman who has decided its all to much now hence the appearance. He has cruised extensively through the European canals all the way to the south of France.
There is definitely work to be done but that is what winters are for.

 

[Wightwill]

Just a quick update.
The broker messaged to say that the person who looked at her the day after me put in an offer at the asking price.
Looks like I dithered to long on this one.
Oh well back to trawling the Web.

 

[Farmer Piles]

Ah, bad luck. I started searching not long before Brexit and then Covid came along. Couldn't have picked a worse time. Took two years to find our boat. Times are much simpler now, I'm sure you will find something over the winter. Ours was well worth the time spent searching and waiting.
We bought an Aquador 32C and we are delighted with her.

 

[ashtead]

Always annoying but plenty of Nimbi out there -it just finding the right one for you and as often said prices might drop over winter as interest rates go up to 9%,energy prices rise and discretionary spending reduces with higher tax etc and suchlike. I guess a post on the owners forum of a few makes does no harm to see what’s out there.