Opinions please on the S24

[Alistairr]

Ok, so i may be about to join the Sealine clan on here, but i still have time to change my mind.

Opinions please on the Sealine S24, its built 2000 hull no. 312, and has the Volvo 4.3 petrol in it.
I will continue to boat on Loch Lomond for the foreseable future.

Good or bad lets hear it!!!!

SWMBO liked it and its deemed to be a better boat than what we have, especially if the nipper comes along.

Many thanks,

Alistair.

 

[duncan]

lots of internal space for the length - a pocket cruiser.

 

[DavidJ]

I had one for 5 years, great boat no problems I can think of except I think the anchor is under specified so carry another. towable with a good 4x4 also.
enjoy

 

[JKay]

Hi Alistair

check(PM) with dougie three bottles who just traded one in or cjrvernon who has had one for a while

cheers Joe

 

[[2068]]

Hi,

As you saw from the previous post, S24 hull no 336, built in 2001, KAD32 diesel (170hp), failed to keep up with my brothers Rinker 232 (270hp), but there's more to it than that.

S24 good points: 2 cabins, proper sea toilet, sink, cooker to do spaghetti, toast, tea and coffee, hot water, and just fine as a weekender. In diesel form, economical too. With the canvas up, acres of space for a 24 footer. The LHS seat removes, and leaves a space to wedge a pram in there, no problems ! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

S24 bad points: It just isn't any kind of high performance boat in the same way that the Rinker is. I hardly ever get above 20kts unless it's dead flat, the trim tabs have to be used a fair bit to keep the thing straight, and if you get it wrong in the chop, it crashes onto the chine flats and sounds like you just broke something, which you probably did.

It all comes down to the hull shape, which on the S24 is a bit odd. That beaky nose contributes nothing, there's a very fine forefoot which gives a soft ride right up to the point where the chine flats hit the water, then crunch... The Rinker, by comparison, "flies" over the waves, and hardly ever digs in.

If you look at the newer S23/S25, you'll see that the beaky nose has disappeared, and theres a bit more volume up front to keep the hull flying better.

I strongly suggest you get a test drive to see what you're letting yourself in for. It all depends on how choppy your crusing area will be. In a typical Solent chop, my bro's Rinker 232 makes my S24 look a bit daft. Maybe on the loch, it will be fine. Hope I haven't put you off...

dv.

 

[[2068]]

I sorted my S24 anchoring problems by simply adding more chain. 15m does the trick, no need to get a bigger anchor. Works at East Head in full flow, Newtown Creek at springs, when all about are dragging...

dv.

 

[Alistairr]

Thankyou all for your replies.

DavidJ, I had a look at the anchor on it last night, Its tucked away up inside that long nose on the front, And it doesn't look as though it would take a bigger size. As dv says, as long as there is sufficent chain, i would think it would be ok. There is an electric Windlass, and it looks to be a mountain of chain, if there isn't enough, i'd get some more.

Dv,
You must be the best person to compare both boats for me, Its funny, i didn't realise you were on a S24 when i read your 'Don't try this at home' thread.
Has your brother just got the Rinker? If so, he'll love it!! We do. Where did he get it from?
The reason for the change is, we love the Rinker, but do stay on it most weekends, and the accomadation is ok for the 2 off us, but we really need a bit more space for when the nipper comes along, And a proper Head and galley will be such an advantage, when we sleep over night on the anchor, which we do quite a lot.
I have been out on this S24, to begin with i wasn't too sure about it, but once we got the trim tabs sussed, it was a lot more comfortable. We did about 25knots, on lumpy seas, but i think there was still some in reserve. It was a bit noisier than the Rinker, but i take it that was because the first part of the hood was still up, Right?
A question about the canopy, because its 2 parts and joins in the middle, do you find it leak there??

Also if you don't mind me asking, The battery set up can you explain it please.
The way i see it, It has one Engine battery and one domestic battery.
If the engine battery was to run flat, is it possible to start the engine with the domestic battery, without the need for jump leads?
Is the domestic battery charged by the engine? or purely the charger when the shore power is connected?
Do you stay out over night on yours? How long do you think the domestic battery would last while on anchor, if using the Radio, lights and the odd thing?

Sorry for all the questions.

Cheers

Alistair.

 

[[2068]]

Some answers:
- The Rinker came brand new this season from the Cambrian Boat centre. Minor disaster on the maiden vogage: cooling hose popped off, sprayed and killed the alternator, requiring a tow back after the battery discharged to the point where it couldn't keep the engine going any more. Ooops. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Now repaired, and it's been fine since then.

- It is quieter running with no canvas.

- The canvas leaks a bit from the middle in heavy rain, mainly from the centre post. I've seen people use an extra canvas "boot" to stop this.

- Both batteries get charged either when the engine is running, or when you're hooked up to shore power and the battery charger is "on". If the engine battery goes flat (should never happen), then you can hold in the "link" switch on the dash, which will then use both batteries to start. No need for jump leads !

- We stay out overnight maybe four or five times a season. I've not managed to discharge the domestic battery yet: installed new compact 100Ah Squadron batteries last season, and the domestic was still going strong after an evening and most of the following day (running the fridge, lights at night, radio, water etc.).

dv.

 

[Jim44]

Not sure if this is what you want to her, but have you considered the S23/S25 I think you could pick up an earlier 2002 boat for £40k which is probably £5k more than the S24, but you would get the Diesel engine and the new shape boat which might hold its money better.

Just a thought

 

[Alistairr]

That was an option, but i couldn't find any at that price, and because of the boat we currently have, the best way to get rid of it, is too trade-in for a stock boat with a dealer.

 

[Alistairr]

We got our Rinker from Cambrians too.
Hope he's happy with it after the initial problem.

Your boat looks exactly like the one we are looking at.
Thanks for answering my questions, the battery setup, seems quite reasonable then, the only thing i may need to check is, the age of the domestic battery, and if its worth replacing with a more powerful one.

Here's the very boat we are looking at.:

BTW, its the one at the far side of the pontoon, not the one with the outboard!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[[2068]]

Looks good to me.
Fairly certain the blue tinted windsreen is non-standard...

dv.

 

[studgies]

did prossers not have a 23, they did last time I was there, seemed far cheaper than any others I could see.

 

[Alistairr]

Hmm they do have a few on display, but as far as i could see they were all over £45K.

 

[Alistairr]

[ QUOTE ]
Fairly certain the blue tinted windsreen is non-standard...


[/ QUOTE ]
I wondered about that!!

Is the VHF ariel and the remote spotlight on the arch normal??

Ali.

 

[[2068]]

Tricky to tell from the photo: the VHF aerial looks to be in the usual place, don't know about the spotlight, it was an option...

dv.

 

[Jim44]

Its the best looking S24 that I have seen. Its Looks a nice boat from the pictures

www.shepherdswindermere.co.uk have a S23 2002 @ 41,995 but dont think it is a stock boat so probably does not help

 

[Alistairr]

Thanks Jim, I may give them a call and ask.

It is in very good nick, and only 136hrs on it, Don't know if thats a good thing or not???

The inside looks untouched.

heres more pics.

 

[[2068]]

Indeed, a fine looking and well cared for S24: you could use that gelcoat as a mirror, but the best ???? Arrrggghh.... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Looks like I'll have to get the polish out tomorrow...

dv.

 

[[2068]]

With petrols, low hours is normally a good thing. Main thing to check on petrols is the risers/manifolds, and the belts. Cheapish to replace, expensive if they fail. I'm assuming that the loch is fresh water, which helps...

dv.