Petrol or Deisel

[oGaryo]

sorry sorry sorry. I know this one'll have been done to death and I will do a search for previous advice, honest but, I have no time today so thought I'd ask.

We'll be searching for a 10yo 25ft ish boat for use in the Solent hopefully a couple of times a month in the summer and occasionally in winter with a view to getting us from A to B rather than towing toys and the like.. max run is likely to be itro 20miles or so but I'd say we'd average a 10 mile run there and the same back for a typical trip.

Most boats I've scanned through in our price range have the Mercuiser 5.0l EFI fitted.. will this be fine or should I be looking at buying a diesel with higher capital outlay yet lower running costs?

thanks

 

[gjgm]

sorry sorry sorry. I know this one'll have been done to death and I will do a search for previous advice, honest but, I have no time today so thought I'd ask.

We'll be searching for a 10yo 25ft ish boat for use in the Solent hopefully a couple of times a month in the summer and occasionally in winter with a view to getting us from A to B rather than towing toys and the like.. max run is likely to be itro 20miles or so but I'd say we'd average a 10 mile run there and the same back for a typical trip.

Most boats I've scanned through in our price range have the Mercuiser 5.0l EFI fitted.. will this be fine or should I be looking at buying a diesel with higher capital outlay yet lower running costs?

thanks

Think 5.7l would be better, 5.0l might struggle a bit depending on the boat.
If its just short day trips, petrol will be ok both in terms of range and fuel costs. Question is whether you want to expand your horizons with a bit bigger boat.
5.0/ will be something like 10 galls p/h, and unless you keep it on a trailer, you wont be paying tesco prices for petrol at a marina, so do some sums and see if you start to cry !!
25ft is tricky.. its ok for petrol, but a diesel is going to be a tad heavy- or a dull diesel

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

sorry sorry sorry. I know this one'll have been done to death and I will do a search for previous advice, honest but, I have no time today so thought I'd ask.

We'll be searching for a 10yo 25ft ish boat for use in the Solent hopefully a couple of times a month in the summer and occasionally in winter with a view to getting us from A to B rather than towing toys and the like.. max run is likely to be itro 20miles or so but I'd say we'd average a 10 mile run there and the same back for a typical trip.

Most boats I've scanned through in our price range have the Mercuiser 5.0l EFI fitted.. will this be fine or should I be looking at buying a diesel with higher capital outlay yet lower running costs?

thanks

HI gary ......hope you got my txt this morn........as for petrol vers derv, there are so many for,s n against,s for both that the bottom line will probabley be the boat itself and what it comes with !!....my pref is derv (and you know how mine goes as you,ve seen it) but we can discus futher if you want, when you come round..till then bye

 

[Ianj68]

sorry sorry sorry. I know this one'll have been done to death and I will do a search for previous advice, honest but, I have no time today so thought I'd ask.

We'll be searching for a 10yo 25ft ish boat for use in the Solent hopefully a couple of times a month in the summer and occasionally in winter with a view to getting us from A to B rather than towing toys and the like.. max run is likely to be itro 20miles or so but I'd say we'd average a 10 mile run there and the same back for a typical trip.

Most boats I've scanned through in our price range have the Mercuiser 5.0l EFI fitted.. will this be fine or should I be looking at buying a diesel with higher capital outlay yet lower running costs?

thanks

Based on my experience you will really need to be 100% sure what you want out of it. I used to own a 25ft'er with a KAD32. It was very economical but forget towing toys or skiing. It's performance was sedate to say the least, and would struggle to get over the hump with say 5 or 6 of us onboard, especially with a bit of growth on the hull. That said, reading your previous posts suggest that you may be trailering or using dry stack so that may help.

Something else to consider, the berthholders assoc where I used to be based would not accept any 25ft or smaller petrol boats on their cross channel cruise in company trips (Poole to the CI's or Cherbourg for example) due to their lack of range. We crossed the Channel loads of times in ours.

So, if it really is just A to B then I'd go for Diesel.

Good luck with your hunt!

Ian

 

[CX54WEK]

It all comes down to personal preference and how you will use the boat.

For us it has to be diesel every time as we do a lot of hours per year (300 last year and looking as though it will be more this year). We currently have a 25ft Sealine S23 with the KAD32. It may cost more initially to buy but for us the low running costs were the main attraction. We enjoy getting away on our boat so fuel avaliability was a big consideration. Petrol isnt avaliable everywhere we cruise.

 

[Wiggo]

25 foot is just the wrong size for everything, IMHO. It's too big to be a ski/toy boat and too small to be a cruiser for anything other than a hardy and determined couple (with the exception of the S23, which is a proper pocket cruiser). It's too heavy to really run on petrol sensibly (unless you like humping endless jerry cans or have a fabulously deep wallet), and it's too small to really get away with a diesel engine.

I'd take a very serious look at the S23 and maybe a diesel Glastron (I think they did a diesel 249), and then see if you can push the boat out and stretch to a Sealine S28, Fairline Targa 28/29 or something that size. A big step up, but I think it might save you a season in the wrong boat...

http://www.ybw-boatsforsale.com/Boats/show/manufacturer/Glastron/id/106956
http://www.ybw-boatsforsale.com/Boats/show/manufacturer/Glastron/id/105402

 

[Ianj68]

Wise words from Wiggo. We had our 24ft'er for 10 Months before putting it back in for something a little larger. If I were in your shoes I'd be looking at S28's SR315's Bav 29's Targa 29/30.

 

[CX54WEK]

Wise words from Wiggo. We had our 24ft'er for 10 Months before putting it back in for something a little larger. If I were in your shoes I'd be looking at S28's SR315's Bav 29's Targa 29/30.

Smaller boats have their advantages as well. You just need to learn to live with the space that you have got and find where to store things. The trick is to keep the boat tidy with everything put away when not needed and make use of every storeage area you have avaliable.

 

[whisper]

sorry sorry sorry. I know this one'll have been done to death and I will do a search for previous advice, honest but, I have no time today so thought I'd ask.

We'll be searching for a 10yo 25ft ish boat for use in the Solent hopefully a couple of times a month in the summer and occasionally in winter with a view to getting us from A to B rather than towing toys and the like.. max run is likely to be itro 20miles or so but I'd say we'd average a 10 mile run there and the same back for a typical trip.

Most boats I've scanned through in our price range have the Mercuiser 5.0l EFI fitted.. will this be fine or should I be looking at buying a diesel with higher capital outlay yet lower running costs?

thanks

I'd choose diesel on cost of fuel basis alone. In the future I can't see fuel becoming cheaper - the opposite more likely. I believe therefore that diesel boats will retain their price better, come sale time.
Re. fun with a 25ft diesel boat the Botnia Targa 25 with a KAD44 has been known to pull a skier. This looks hilarious though.
It will also look after you better in rough weather and be far safer to move around on than would your normal 25ft sportsboat. However, it's only a 2 berth boat really, though it could also sleep 2 small kids. The hardiness only comes in when SWMBO has to use the outside privvy!!!

 

[rafiki_]

With a big V8 petrol, I think realistically you will be looking at 15+ gph, which is about £75 per hour. With the suggestions you have above, S23 and Glastron 249 diesel, I think you will be closer to 6 gph = £25-£30 per hour.

Quick sum to work out the return on investment, ie 50 hours per year = £2200 to £2500 more on fuel per year with the petrol. On a boat costing £30k to £35k this for me is a fair roi. if you then consider the residual with the diesel boat, it makes financial sense, let alone the other issues like safety and fuel availability. However, if your budget is below £20k ish, then it is a no brainer. I don't think you will find a diesel boat at that budget that does not need another £10k spent before it is usable.

 

[oGaryo]

I'm coming to the conclusion that the approach will be to save up the extra £10K or so and get a diesel in readiness for the 2011 season continuing to use the Fletcher over the winter for a spot of fishing.. no point in rushng in to a larger boat for cruising purposes when shortly after purchase, it'll sit on the hard waiting to be used. The only thing that'll make me do the latter is getting hold of a boat that I know will require work and do that work over the winter myself with the result being a boat ready to go for the new season with less outlay assuming I purchase at a very keen price.

Thanks for the advice, keep it coming even if it's to support my thinking

cheers Gary

 

[Ripster]

Assuming you dont want to tow and launch it yourself each time, I agree with the sentiments to look a little bigger. S28 - very good choice, Monterey, Regal, larson all 27/28ftrs and will give you a bog, bedroom, galley and cabin, plus plenty with diesel (S28 can have twin engines). I would defo stick with diesel - reason? - safety, reliability convenience to get it - let alone costs of running.

Whatever you choose, make sure its one that you can sell again easily though, because 10 months/year on it'll be 30-35ft FB cruisers....

Have fun.

 

[Mymobo]

Gary

As you have not been spoilt with size yet. Get yourself a S23 with a diesel.

I have a v8 petrol 7.4 in a 27 foot boat. The space is great but I don't enjoy the petrol habit and doing the jerry can walk.

 

[AndieMac]

Its wise to stay inside the parameters of good re-sale, and the diesel option for small cruisers in Britain appears a safe bet.

IMO working within a budget, I would rather own a really nice smaller boat, than a tired larger one.

I just did a re-power (local) costing for my own boat (23') between the Volvo 5.7 lt. MPI/complete package (GBP15K) and the newest D3 200 hp/complete package (GBP30K).
The dealer said the diesel option would not become cost effective until I had done 3000 hours, and at 50 hour per year usage (on a good year) it would take 60 years.

 

[BrendanS]

Gary,
It's unlikely you are going to keep to the 10 miles there, 10 miles back, once you've explored the near vicinity, and become more adventurous, so factor that in.
Either the family will like the boat and boating, and want to go places, or you won't be able to get them onboard, and won't use it, there tend to be few inbetweens with families and boating, unless you go by boat, and they meet you there.

 

[oGaryo]

Brendan. I'm going to go Diesel for the running cost side of things and resale, not so much from a retainment of value but from the perspective of ease to shift the boat should I decide to at a later date.. from what I'm seeing there's a good few out there that look well maintained, in the 25ft - 27ft size that are advertised somehwere between £23 and £27K.. a little keen negotiating and a few more months when the cold snap comes in and I should be able to pick up the boat we're happy with.... for now.. at least, that's the theory

thanks for the advice from everyone, it's clealry altered my perspective on the next boat so thanks for steering me clear of a potential mistake

 

[gjgm]

Brendan. I'm going to go Diesel for the running cost side of things and resale, not so much from a retainment of value but from the perspective of ease to shift the boat should I decide to at a later date.. from what I'm seeing there's a good few out there that look well maintained, in the 25ft - 27ft size that are advertised somehwere between £23 and £27K.. a little keen negotiating and a few more months when the cold snap comes in and I should be able to pick up the boat we're happy with.... for now.. at least, that's the theory

thanks for the advice from everyone, it's clealry altered my perspective on the next boat so thanks for steering me clear of a potential mistake

Just one thing to be aware of- this is going to be totally different boating to your present boat. There are a few sporty 28 ft about, but with most boats at this size being based around accomodation, its going to feel like a lump of lard to start with. So you will lose the zing, but you will gain in the boat's competence.

 

[oGaryo]

Just one thing to be aware of- this is going to be totally different boating to your present boat. There are a few sporty 28 ft about, but with most boats at this size being based around accomodation, its going to feel like a lump of lard to start with. So you will lose the zing, but you will gain in the boat's competence.

understood mate.. done the blatting around thing for a season and a bit and now want to go a visit a few places instead + stay aboard for the first time. We've found we tend to enjoy the 'got there' bit more than the 'getting there element' The last year or so has shown us what we really want out of boating as above, which is exactly what Wiggo said it would do when we first met up and I had a go at the helm of his docile flybridge.. Graham's words not mine Looking forward to the change

 

[CX54WEK]

understood mate.. done the blatting around thing for a season and a bit and now want to go a visit a few places instead + stay aboard for the first time. We've found we tend to enjoy the 'got there' bit more than the 'getting there element' The last year or so has shown us what we really want out of boating as above, which is exactly what Wiggo said it would do when we first met up and I had a go at the helm of his docile flybridge.. Graham's words not mine Looking forward to the change

Some of the smaller cruisers can still give fun handling. You neednt lose the fun element from the "getting there" part of the trip. Just remember to move anything breakable somewhere safe before messing around too much (speaking from experience when TV decided to fly across the cabin during a high speed manouvre)

 

[ricky_s]

Have you considered something like a Merry Fisher 805?

They are more expensive but at least with the sort of boat you don't need to be going fast all the time as you do in a 25ft sports cruiser. This sort of boat only has two speeds, very slow or bloody fast and on the plane.

I have a 24 ft Larson with a 5.0 Volvo petrol, does about 8 gph at 20 knots with a clean bottom. Next boat to be a single engine semi displacement boat like the one mentioned above.