Our search for our next boat - Trawler Yacht style semi displacement

Nimbus has been mentioned a few times, with a bit of negotiation and a slight stretch of your budget this might work, but you would have to get it home from Stockholm, (awesome summer trip if you have the time next summer): Nimbus 340 Commander / D6 310 / 2006 säljes i Nacka - Blocket

or this one the larger 380 a bit closer: Nimbus 380 Commander, 2002 EUR 149,500 | The Netherlands | Motor boat for sale

appreciate both are listed above your budget, but would imagine the prices are somewhat negotiable.
 
@Jsu thanks for the links - we have looked at vid's and pics of the 380's and aren't keen on the seperated helm position, makes the saloon feel quite cramped we think. Other than that very nice boats (y)

@Dino yes, on our maybe list, hoping to pop out and look at one locally that a forumite has kindly offered to show us round:)

Cheers,

TC
 
So we had an interesting weekend, we were up in Norfolk for a long weekend so arranged to pop into NYA and physically look at a few boats. Made a few decisions easier and introduced some interesting discussions!

So first up, had a look at the Sealine Statesman 330 as an indicator of what a 330/360/F36 might be like. I really liked it and thought the interior and layout with the enclosed rear deck was really nice but Mrs TC found the decks far too narrow and was really not sure about the practicality of walking around doing fenders/ropes etc. So that made the Sealine a "no" unless the F36 has significantly wider sidedecks than the 330?

Second up had a look at a Corvette they had. Really liked the wide decks and space above deck and the layout below deck was nice. This one was very tired though which didn't do it any favours but Corvette definately still on the list - hoping to get out to see a much nicer example owned by a kindly forumite to get a feel for what a good one looks like soon (y)

And then the salesman suggested we looked around a Broom - a 1070 in this case. Well......... I can see why a number of you have suggested these are worth a look:D. The finish on what was a 1987 boat was excellent and the space was crazy. Mrs TC loved the interior :rolleyes:so now we are into debating raised aft deck/cockpit area versus heaps of interior space and lovely finish :unsure:

So Broom's in one guise or another have definately made it onto the list. (I actually quite like the Ocean 40 or Monarch 38, 40 is a fly with open rear deck, monarch is a aft cockpit but has a walkaround deck that goes round the aft as well, not just the sides.) Challenge with both of these is I think they may be a bit too big for us as our first proper boat and with just the two of us as crew.........

So really nice to actually get "hands on" with some boats which helped to make all this a bit more real :)

So updated list looks like this

Definate:
Corvette
Hardy 36
Broom (of some sort)

To Consider:
Mainship
Sabreline
Jeanneau Prestige 36
Targa 31

Struck Off:
Sealine 330 Statesman (side decks too narrow)
Nimbus 370/380 (seperated helm makes saloon too small)

Will try and keep the list updated now as a record of pro's and con's for future reference:D

Cheers,

TC
 
My uncle had a monarch (aft deck steering pos) same hull as the ocean 40 (flybridge). The Monarch is fabulous but they are an 80’s boat now. They were the top of the line for broom at the time and were built accordingly with a lovely interior. Various layouts but the angled double aft and V berths forward is best I think, lots of space on them. They are a big boat and need the 306hp Volvos. Can roll like a pig if beam on, we got caught wind against tide in it once, horrible conditions but the boat was fine. We were all a bit green however.

he has a broom 36 now but preferred the size of the monarch. Says the 36 is a better sea boat however.
 
NYA are a good place to go and it sounds as though it was worthwhile.

I think it is good that Brooms are on your list - they are very well built, high quality boats and this is reflected in the condition of many older boats. The interior teak woodwork on our 1992 Broom 41 was something to behold. Most have easy access around the decks - they were specifically designed with the European waterways in mind so easy to work locks etc. There is a trade off with the walk around cockpit that some have - you need a big boat to make that work in terms of the cockpit not being cramped. The 345 suffers from this. To my mind the 38CL is the smallest where this works. As previously discussed, height from the pontoon may be the consideration for you here.

I can’t argue with the ones you have struck off for the reason given and your list looks fairly sound, although I am not sure where the Targa 31 comes from? Are we talking Fairline or Botnia here? Worth saying that the Jeanneau is not in the same league as some of the others in terms of quality but that isn’t to say that they aren’t decent boats.

On the issue of size, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that something like a Monarch is too big for the two of you to handle....it isn’t. Sure, you need to learn and build confidence but larger boats can be better mannered than some smaller boats and if you get some training it will all slot into place.

When considering seakeeping, it is worth saying that there are pros and cons to the various hull types. For example, a planing hull such as the Broom 36 will roll less in a beam or quartering sea but will find a head sea harder going with the odd bit of slamming and a need to reduce speed. The Monarch has, I think, a round bilged semi-displacement hull which accounts for the rolling in a beam sea that Ferris mentions. It will probably plough into a head sea with ease. Our Hardy is a case in point - it rolls in a beam or quartering sea and can take a bit of work on the helm but with a head sea in lively-ish conditions today she just sliced through it. With this boat I would prefer it ‘on the nose’ and there is no question that she is a good seaboat overall.

Only you will be able to decide what is important and what you are prepared to compromise on and one thing is for sure, compromise is inevitable!
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Monarch is round bilge semi displacement. It also has a high freeboard so quite a climb up from a pontoon. The rear ‘cockpit’ is very good on them alright, sheltered and secure.
 
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Thanks @Ferris @Greg2 - Points noted about handling etc. From the Brooms the 35/36/38 variants are looking quite appealing and as they run through late '80- & '90's in various guises prices are achievable. I do like the step access from the swim platform rather than ladder access on the 35CL and 36's - that just feels a bit more flexible but tends to be later models which then drives price :rolleyes:

@Greg2 Botnia Targa is a throwback to where we started this search looking at Scandinavian walk around type boats. We loved the Sargo's but they hadn't been around long enough to fall into our price range, there are a few Targa's that might just fall into budget - great deckspace and very capable boat but compromised interiors. As you say, compromise is inevitable:D

Cheers,

TC
 
Hoping to have a look at a few more boats this week including Mainship, Sabreline and Prestige 36.

Quick question on two additions to the maybe's list.

Seen a couple of Trader yachts, there is a 41+2 come up which looks lovely inside if you can live with the rather odd placement of the kitchen. Advert say LOA is 12.5m but looks much bigger than that! Running twin 300HP volvo's with a suggested cruise of 13kn - does that sound realistic for a 14tonne SD with 600HP without towing a fuel barge alongside!

Also seen a few Humber's similar layouts to Brooms but not a boat I have really heard much about - any info on there pedigree?

Cheers,

TC
 
TheCoach said:
Hoping to have a look at a few more boats this week including Mainship, Sabreline and Prestige 36.

Quick question on two additions to the maybe's list.

Seen a couple of Trader yachts, there is a 41+2 come up which looks lovely inside if you can live with the rather odd placement of the kitchen. Advert say LOA is 12.5m but looks much bigger than that! Running twin 300HP volvo's with a suggested cruise of 13kn - does that sound realistic for a 14tonne SD with 600HP without towing a fuel barge alongside!

Also seen a few Humber's similar layouts to Brooms but not a boat I have really heard much about - any info on there pedigree?

Cheers,

TC
Click to expand...
Humber’s are class boats, built like the proverbial brick outhouse, good hull. Most were fitted out by Booker marine to a very high standard. Their woodwork is something very special.
 
Booker Marine also fitted out a few Aquafibre hull and superstructures. A friend has an Ocean 42 fitted out as a Humber. Very well finished inside.
 
So its all starting to get a little interesting now :D

Seen 3 boats over the last couple of days:
Mainship 350/390, not for sale but courtesy of a forumite, trawler style/build but with a forward cabin layout rather than the trad aft cabin, Creates a large rear deck at the same level as swim platform with flat walkthrough into the saloon which is a really nice feature. Nice one for sale oop North.
Jeanneau Prestige 36, just come up for sale, absolutely mint 2005 boat. Really nice and has the width of sidedecks to make Mrs TC comfortable handling lines but with a massive swim platform, lovely rear deck and cracking interior with proper moulded steps upto the fly. Only downside was twin KAD300's which have poor access and hour meters were broken but estimate 750 hours - might start a seperate post about this.
Sabreline 36, trad trawler style but with a walk around deck at the back. Very nice boat but a bit tired, best layout in a trawler we have seen, twin Cat 3116 on 1800 hours.....

Any thoughts appreciated on the above?(y)

So updated list looks like this

Definate:
Corvette (but we are struggling to find a nice post '92 boat in budget)
Mainship 390
Broom (looked at lots of pics and specs and reckon it will be a 36 (just in budget) or 35CL (probably a stretch)
Jeanneau Prestige 36
Sabreline 36/395

To Consider:
Hardy 36 (moved to maybe list mainly due to budget - could be a "next time" boat when we can release more funds)


Struck Off:
Sealine 330 Statesman (side decks too narrow)
Nimbus 370/380 (seperated helm makes saloon too small)
Targa 31 (lovely boat but not great sleeping accomodation for the high price)

Couple of questions on the purchasing process:
- typically how much should I budget for a decent boat survey?
- assuming I get a seperate engine survey how much should I budget for this?
- what would you "typically" expect to be able to negotiate on a £100k purchase price? I know it varies by boat etc and depends what seller is willing to take yada yada but just to give me a rough idea, 5%, 10% ? Not bought a boat before so not close to the market norms :rolleyes: (although it seems there is nothing normal about the market at the moment given how busy the brokers are :oops:

Cheers,

TC
 
In answer to your questions, prices for a survey vary (we had an outrageous quote from one outfit) but for a mid-30 footer maybe 5-600 quid. You will need to factor in a lift out and pressure wash for the survey and price will depend where you have it done but think 2-300 quid. Engine survey will depend who does it - volvopaul of this parish is to be recommended and did ours and it was less than the full survey.

In ordinary times prices can often be negotiated - no real set percentage as multiple factors affect it such as how realistic is the asking price, how many on the market, what condition, what service history, how long has it been on the market etc etc. Currently it is a sellers market and people I know in the trade are saying that boats are going for asking price or near to and there are stories of people who try to negotiate losing out to someone who just wants the boat and pays for it. That bubble may burst or maybe it won’t any time soon, particularly if staycation becomes the norm for a while.
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For boats that are popular, well maintained and in decent condition the Asking Price with the right broker could be within 5% of the price it will sell for.

And then we have the rest !

So, here is my approach and others may not like it. Brokers hate it, but its not their cash I am spending.

1 It is always always always a buyers market. Brokers will try to tell you otherwise - ignore them, they are not working for you.

2 Always try to think how you would feel if the role was reversed (as it will be some day).

3 Consider how easy or not it will be for you to sell on.

4 There are three prices to consider and % reductions on the first are meaningless, i.e. the Asking price; then next we have the Smile Price - the price at which the vendor will walk away with a huge grin on his face; Cry price - similar to Smile price but where the Vendor departs in floods of tears as he feels he has been molested and robbed, BUT was still prepared to accept said price.

So your task is to determine the Cry price.

5 No matter how low you offer the broker is obliged to inform his client; you cannot insult a vendor with an accurate offer pitched below what you assess the boat to be worth. So even an offer that may be thought of as an insult may receive a surprising response a few days or a week later.

6 You can never reduce your opening offer without good reason, e.g. undisclosed survey defect.

7 Rather than make an offer instead simply suggest a price you might consider - might flush out an unexpected and pleasing response.

8 This is the bit Brokers really do not like - insist upon your own terms being included in the contract offered - they wil tell you it is a standard contract and cannot be changed - it can, any contract can be amended.

e.g. I always require a walk away without explanation clause, entitling me to full refund of deposit (less any direct costs not otherwise paid for - surveyor fees, yard fees, etc).

Off course they do not have to accept your terms, but neither do they have to accept your cash !

And never ever join in a dutch auction. Always another boat to buy.
 
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Greg2 said:
In answer to your questions, prices for a survey vary (we had an outrageous quote from one outfit) but for a mid-30 footer maybe 5-600 quid. You will need to factor in a lift out and pressure wash for the survey and price will depend where you have it done but think 2-300 quid. Engine survey will depend who does it - volvopaul of this parish is to be recommended and did ours and it was less than the full survey.

In ordinary times prices can often be negotiated - no real set percentage as multiple factors affect it such as how realistic is the asking price, how many on the market, what condition, what service history, how long has it been on the market etc etc. Currently it is a buyers market and people I know in the trade are saying that boats are going for asking price or near to and there are stories of people who try to negotiate losing out to someone who just wants the boat and pays for it. That bubble may burst or maybe it won’t any time soon, particularly if staycation becomes the norm for a while.
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Click to expand...

Think you meant to say it's a "sellers" market Greg.
 
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