please help with first boat purchase

[Bojangles]

You said you wanted a boat under 5m but all apart from the bayliner were bigger, you could buy a 16ft bayliner with your budget and get a lot of fun for £20 worth of fuel. My only advice would be to find out what minimum size of boats the Lisbon boaters have, is 16ft big enough for the local waters? A few years ago I had a 19ft sports boat and had plenty of great days out, no problem, as you say, just turn the key and go. Don't worry about the fuel, just don't travel too far if you don't want to spend too much every day.

 

[Nautibusiness]

Scrap the idea of "cool" because that isn't going to happen in under 5m and for 6K.

You can, however, get afloat in a very sea worthy fun motorboat that will do the trick, allow you to read your book, allow you to swim off the back, allow you to fish and also give you change from £20 per day.

Look at a Rib or possibly one of the smaller, trailerable angling boats like the Warrior 150 or possibly a centre console style such as an older Boston Whaler Montauk or Dell Quay style dory.

You won't find a safe Pilot House under 5m, the only one I can think of is horribly unstable so scrap that idea... and nobody will produce a safe sea worthy sports boat (a'la Maxum, Bayliner, Fourwinns) at that size.

Change the style of boat and you can still have enormous fun.

 

[Sheppy]

Sorry, totally disagree with the last post. Look for something like a Drago Sunday Fisher or a Selva. Whatever you have, you'll probably change it at some point anyway - plus fishers are very popluar and sell well while sports boat are harder to shift. If you have some decent cover/small cabin, you'll find the whole experience so much more enjoyable. The other beauty of many fisher designed boats is that their hulls are designed for stability while sports boats are designed for speed, meaning that most sports boats roll a lot when at rest in a swell. Different boats are designed for different purposes - it's worth getting it right, else you won't enjoy the experience.

John

 

[Lakesailor]

Here's a choice of fishing boats that will be turnkey and go a few miles for very little money.
The fishermen of Morecambe Bay use them daily.

 

[Kawasaki]

5 metre R.I.B would do you

 

[Nautibusiness]

Sorry, totally disagree with the last post. Look for something like a Drago Sunday Fisher or a Selva.

John

Do not buy a Selva, they really are somewhat below average when it comes to GRP build quality and finish. The engines look naff, but are tough as old boots though.

As it is, both the Selva entry level fisher and the Drago are a fraction either side of 5.5m so too big for the OP.
Pilot Houses simply are not built that small so it isn't a practical solution.

For the record though, all you say about the benefits of a Pilot House I agree with 100%. I own one (a Merry Fisher 695) and rave about their abilities and features.

The OP simply will not achieve the results he wants for £6K with a Pilot House.

 

[Sheppy]

Yes, to be fair, in hindsight, Nautibusiness is right about their length. But I've read many a review on the Selva and have had a couple at close quarters and I don't think they’re that bad for the money – but note, 'bad for the money'. The Drago Sunday Fisher is an ugly duckling but is highly under rated - just google for reviews. Most Selva engines (but maybe not all) are re-badged Yamaha’s which is why they're 'as tough as old boots'. And to be fair, I did say you'd have to stretch your budget - but remember your higher re-sale value too.

If you're really stuck at finding something under 5m, then you’ll have to get a Dory style or a simple power boat style, but just make sure you have a good bimini or all-over cockpit cover – you’ll need shelter from either the sun or the rain.