Older sunseekersHi

Robg71

Robg71

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Hi all, not sure if I posted this in the wrong area before, apologies if I had....
I'm new here, and looking at buying a new boat.
Could anyone offer advice on either of the sunseeker offshore 31 or preferably the rapallo 36.
I like the size and space these boats have, and the classic lines, but there are almost no reviews on them. I also like that the 36 has straight shafts and screws, no out drive to go wrong.
I have been around boats all my life, and work at sea, I have a 7 metre ribcraft and am looking for comfort now.
Also looking for advice on moorings etc, I will hopefully keep it local, but for weeks away etc will need to get it down the Humber, or across and out to the coast at Boston.
I also like the fact they are diesel, (for economy) even though I am a petrol head at heart.
Any advice accepted, as I feel this is quite a leap up from what I have had in the past.
Best regards
Rob
 
I can't really help you on sunseeker front other than as you have all ready said shafts and props are good, but I'm sure now I have said that some 1 come along and say other wise !!!
As for moorings where abouts are you? Taking it your Trent or Ouse based
 
Robg71 said:
Hi all, not sure if I posted this in the wrong area before, apologies if I had....
I'm new here, and looking at buying a new boat.
Could anyone offer advice on either of the sunseeker offshore 31 or preferably the rapallo 36.
I like the size and space these boats have, and the classic lines, but there are almost no reviews on them. I also like that the 36 has straight shafts and screws, no out drive to go wrong.
I have been around boats all my life, and work at sea, I have a 7 metre ribcraft and am looking for comfort now.
Also looking for advice on moorings etc, I will hopefully keep it local, but for weeks away etc will need to get it down the Humber, or across and out to the coast at Boston.
I also like the fact they are diesel, (for economy) even though I am a petrol head at heart.
Any advice accepted, as I feel this is quite a leap up from what I have had in the past.
Best regards
Rob
Click to expand...

Friend has a Rapallo 36 for sale. PM me if you would like more information.
 
Im close to the trent, and not too far from the humber. I have had a look at moorings in lincoln (burton waters) which look mint, but what puts me off is quoted 6 to 8 hours to get to the north sea. plus the fact they are a 50 minute drive away, and the trent is 4 miles away... I shall have to have a good look at all the pros and cons...
any pointers on other moorings.... good points or bad points ???

thanks Ash
I reckon the first question should be did you enjoy the rapallo,
What was her sea keeping like, and any particular areas, you did or did not like or had thoughts on
Any areas you think i may need to pay particular attenion to when looking for one, damage prone or fault prone areas???
Would you think it suitable for first time buyer of this size and type of craft.
Any thing else you may consider important.
many thanks
Rob
 
The Offshore 31 is a good boat, excellent Don Shead hull. Other older Sunseekers I can recommend are the Thunderhawk 43, superb hull again and great performance. One of my most memorable drives of all time was a Thunderhawk 43 fitted with three V8 petrol engines.
 
Sunseeker offshore 28 here also, very nice boat,very well built. Also handles well in rougher weather, twin outdrives, but no problems there ...
 
Burton waters is nice along with Newark and farndon marina, but as stated not instant humber access.
If you want to play in sea have you had a look at hull marina?
 
We will be berthing our boat at farndon for 2weeks in August. Along with a load more boats from our marina !
Ps what's the sea thing all about ? ? Have u seen the north sea !! It's not like the Solent or SOF !!!!
 
Racingfrank7 said:
We will be berthing our boat at farndon for 2weeks in August. Along with a load more boats from our marina !
Ps what's the sea thing all about ? ? Have u seen the north sea !! It's not like the Solent or SOF !!!!
Click to expand...

I like the sea, :)
I'm a saturation diver in the north sea, so it's like a second office. It's a bit lumpy out here today though.....
Just enjoy a bit of fishing, maybe the odd scuba dive etcetc...
I always fancied boating around the Scottish west coast, so that's my plan for next year. I get reasonable time off, normally around 4 to 6 weeks after a month in the bin (chambers), so plenty of time for messing about on the water.

I've been around the stuff most of my working life, and as a late teen my brother and myself had a16ft fletcher...
 
Ok fair enough !
I have been to west coast of Scotland it's awesome love it up there ! Just a long way from Yorkshire / Linconshire unless u buy a boat that is trail able like a sealine s24/ s25 and a trailer. ( just a example )
To pilot a boat up there you are going to need a lot of time, good fortune, and money.
Have u watched any of the videos on tube that mbm & haven knox's johnson of the 2guys that circumnavigated the uk?
If not get them watched ! ! Oban might be a shock
!!
 
I considered the trailer able size. Then thought sod it... :) if I really need to trailer it my neighbour has a scania with a 40 plus foot trailer..
I reckon if I take my time can either go the canal route to the west coast and up, or straight up the east coast to the caledonia. I know it's not going to be cheap, but I can set myself small goals until I get round there. And still disappear to work for a few weeks at a time. That's the flexibility I like.
My option was a static van or holiday home somewhere, or a boat... Even though they are money pits, but you only live once... The boat is definitely winning this argument...
 
Robg71 said:
thanks Ash
I reckon the first question should be did you enjoy the rapallo,
What was her sea keeping like, and any particular areas, you did or did not like or had thoughts on
Any areas you think i may need to pay particular attenion to when looking for one, damage prone or fault prone areas???
Would you think it suitable for first time buyer of this size and type of craft.
Any thing else you may consider important.
many thanks
Rob
Click to expand...

Yes we certainly enjoyed her. Sea keeping was great with that great hull, although when it's rough you have to sit down and look through the windscreen instead of having your head out of the roof, which limits visibility. No fault prone areas really, although the sabres do tend to smoke, although once going they don't. For a first time buyer it's brill as it gives great speed and also economy at lower speeds if you want it. The only problem is the lack of accommodation, ours was the fold away bed in the cabin type, although they did do them with a dedicated cabin and also an aft cabin type if you want loads of accommodation, but then you lose the aft lazzarette.
One with dedicated cabin
One with front cabin like ours and a home built aft cabin, but thats the same as the factory built one.
 
That's great, the accomadation is basically for me and the other half. Guests may have to rough it a bit. I'm hopefully home in a month and will start looking in earnest. May spend a week on the south coast looking at all the options...
Been some great feedback on here, really appreciated....
Any more pointers please keep em coming....
:)
Edit,
Hence some have a larger rear deck area, and other have a box there... I take it that's the aft accommodation....???
 
Last edited:
Yea the larger deep cockpit area are ones with no aft cabin and the ones with a raised box have a big aft cabin. It is worth noting that the aft cockpit does pull out into a mahoosive quadruple bed for guests. It can make quite a nice bed if you have a decent cockpit hood.
 
She would do 30Knts flat out-ish and then 25 cruise easy. We did 22miles in 50mins once, pretty quick, although at those speeds she did use fuel, to be honest we never calculated it. We probably did 50 miles on half a tank. On the river she didn't use much at all, mostly just tick over, go any faster and you wash people away.
 
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