Sealine 255

ian38_39

ian38_39

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Hi all, i'm new to the forum and like all of you once am just about to buy my first boat, it will be used initially on the norfolk broads with up to 6 on board, have a budget of 20k and want outside steering so have decided on a sealine 255 twin 4 cylinder petrols, can anyone offer any comments
 
welcome to the forums - nice boats and should fit your bill well.

the hull is designed as a planning one suitable for open water but with twin engines it should track well an dbe very very manoevrable. With those it sholdn't be to thirsty but will consume more than your lawnmower!
 
If you are looking at broads use only, the fuel costs will not be to bad but remember two engines means twice the maintenance costs. Have you looked at the one at Fox's in Lowestoft? I looked at the 255 when i brought my last boat and ended up with a Fairline Carrera. If you have not looked at these then worth a look, slightly shorter but has the same beam and in my opinion offers more space. NYA in Brundall have one with a single V8.

Good luck with the search, where do you plan on mooring the boat?

Will
 
thanks looks like the last 2 years was not totaly wasted looking at boats and trying to work out which one suited.
like the idea of being able to throw any 4 number lotery wins away on breadon water in half hour too
 
Thanks, can you tell me if the carrera has a dressing area in front of the mid cabin as this was what swung the 255, will be female, male and more than 1 couple on board, I know its not big but it at least lets you get out of bed and pull some clothes on in some privacy.
Advice would be great on moorings
 
The Carrera does not have that but the Sun Fury I believe does, but this puts you back in to twin engine territory.

As regards moorings depends really on where you are and what you want. If you are North Broads you are a long way from Breydon Water and the coast. I have a mooring going spare at Waveney River Centre on the South Broads between Beccles and Oulton Broad as i have recently moved to Haven Marina to be even nearer the coast so unecessarily have two!! If this is of interest drop me an email or PM. Have you found a boat yet or are you still reviewing a few options?

Will
 
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but remember two engines means twice the maintenance costs

[/ QUOTE ]

but also means twice the chance of getting home if one has a problem! i found it usefull when i had a freshwater pump fail on my stardboard engine, at least i had the port one to get me home.

but yes, the maintenance costs are doubled!
 
Had thought of that and it was a factor in boat choice, the most likely boat has 3 litre Mercruisers in, do you know roughly the cost of a service parts pack for engines and external outdrive bits
 
Had one on the Thames many years ago - it was our second boat. It was really nice - spacious, reasonable aft cabin too. We had the Volvo 4 cylinder engines and they were quite happy to tick over all day as opposed to diesels that prefer to be worked. If you ever take it to sea at planing speeds, THEN it will become expensive.
 
[ QUOTE ]
roughly the cost of a service parts pack for engines and external outdrive bits



[/ QUOTE ] doesn't quite work like that............sorry!

do get the engines and drives throughly checked over before buying - they will appreciate running in fresh water but if they have had a hard life in sea water they could need some attention in the cooling system / elbows.

on the drives there's gators that should be replaced every 3-4 years, UJs that may or may not be sealed for life etc. At it's most basic maintenance should be really simple for the use you are going to put it but a lot will depend on where in the major service cycle the units are.
 
We have a sealine 310 and have just vacated the Broads as two/three seasons will do you, buy a boat big enough to go to sea as it so close and so much fun. Watch the rangers and the hire boats get some experience and contact me when you want to come out to sea. Yarmouth and Lowestoft are easy access points. Twin V8 will be approx £75 per hour at 25 knots cruising speed (we have deisels but cruise in company with a petrol boat) but a trip to Southwold over a weekend who cares once in a while? or just anchor off Lowestoft hey Will? have a beer and a swim could be the Med with current weather. Hope to see you around good hunting.
 
Thanks steve, was hoping that the 255 was big enough to do a little bit of sea work to wet the appitite, have hired on the broads about a dozen times and got through the bit where you hit everything in sight will now swear and scowl at any hire boat within 50 yards.
the engines are twin 4 cylinder so hopefully it will be less than the V8's but not expecting to run them for less than £40-50 per hour at cruising, just hope they don't cost much with just the one running at tickover at 6 mph.
Will definately take you up on the sea bit though
 
Thanks Duncan, think I may be being lulled into a false sense of security but am starting to lose the feeling that a boat is a hole in the water into which you throw endless amounts of money.
maybe I will hold off selling the house and buying that caravan
 
Ian,

Welcome to our Forum. Firstly the Sealine 255 is a good solid boat with a great layout of cockpit and cabin. Secondly I have just sold a slightly newer twin petrol boat with twin petrol 4.3 Volvos in it. The running costs of twin engines are mainly servicing and repairs, although if you get a well looked after boat with lots of reciepts and keep it serviced you should minimise risk of Huge bills. Allow £500 a year engine servicing and £950 a year outdrive. You can antifoul yourself as it is easy but hard work. Petrol running costs are dearer than diesel. However for standard broads chugin around expect £30 a w/e and then allow £100 a weekend extra if you go for a blast. It may seem a lot but you have a lot of fun! If you go cruising allow £100 - 200 a day, but take it steady and that will drop. Twin petrol good quality boats such as the Sealine 255 are a great way to get on the water and at the right price I would have no hessitation in recomending it to you.

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Thanks for the welcome Paul, seems to be around what I thought and all I did to arrive at it was double the costs that the brokers gave me.
 
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