Sealine 290 ambassador owner sticking up for sealine

robyonfrome

robyonfrome

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Just read an item with someone slagging off Sealine which is fair enough if they have had cause to, but I would just like to stick up for the brand name before they are all tarred with the same brush and become hard to sell.
I’ve had my 1990 Sealine 290 ambassador with twin 200 volvo diesels for 4 years now she’s gorgeous, we use her most weekends and for holidays, she’s probably had her share of problems but I guess no more than other boats of her age, she’s up for sale at the moment, only because I want to change to sail, but she’s a good strong boat with very reliable engines and I will gladly hang on to her if she doesn’t sell.
 
I think the probelm Sealine have is the shere volume of boats they build. When you produce so many, mistakes will be made but on the whole when mistakes do happen they seem to deal with them quickly and efficiently.

Sealine should also be congratulated as the last big brit builder still making boats for the average man. You can buy a brand new Sealine with all the big boat support and aftersales service for around £50k, compared to entry level boats from fairline and princess at over £200k.
 
The first thing I do when I buy a boat is inspect every nook and cranny, learn what cables do what, where they go etc.

I have to say i'm impressed with my S23. I'm happy with the build quality, cabling is tidy and everything works
 
The problem is that Sealines per se are not as well built as Princess and Fairline boats. In particular I ahve read a fair few issues over the years concerning Sealine hull defects. Such defects a virtually onknow for Princess and Fairline.

Of course there may be good and bad boats out there and Sealine do by and large have a loyal fan base.

Does all of this affect Sealine values? The answer is probably less. Nobody can argue that for example a Targa 29 will have held it's value better than an S28.

Pete
 
I dont know enough about either brand to make a definite statement either way, but it is true you dont hear of so many problems with the smaller fairlines.

As to the value, I think for many years used values were suported by the fact Peters controlled the whole new boat market and staunchly refused to discount new boats.

How this continues with all dealers now going direct to the factory and fighting for the same customers it remains to be seen.

Right now though, as someone with an interest in the smaller end of the market it does seem that really good examples of T29's and especially T30's seem to be holding their values well and commanding a premium
 
Being a Sealine (F33) owner for 5 years, all I can say is that I'm very happy with the boat and its construction - the only real problems I've had is mechanical, nothing to do with Sealine! Lovely starter boat and value for money - I'd love a Fairline etc etc but cannot afford it!!
 
Our 328 (gone now) was a great boat too built like a tank and proved totally reliable, save the usual volvo problems /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Stand by to be critisized for calling a 33ft flybridge boat a starter boat though /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I am told by my friendly broker that although sealine are arguably the 4th in terms of quality of the big 4 UK boatbuilders that as long as you "buy right" (by that I read not paying top dollar new off the stand full list price) they're fine but more importantly they seem good at keeping their customer base by offering good trade-in prices for peeps staying with the brand. But I've never owned one so what do I know.
 
I think the 328 is one of the best Sealines I have been on

on the other hand the 290 is the opposite of the 328, which if you have some not so good weather goes where she wants not where you want, apart the usual construction problems that some of them arised

this is not saying that it can be a great boat if well cared and you know its defects

on the other hand a year ago I did encounter a F28T which was also lacking much from the construction point of view, so there is not much between the 2
sometimes I guess its just how unlucky you are
Sealine do have a better service to dealing with construction problems
 
I'm impressed with their aftersales service too (at least from my perspective). Our last boat was a full Med cpec S37, 2000 year model. One winters' day in 2005, we arrived and within minutes we had both reverse cycle aircon units warming the boat, plus a 2Kw fan heater to help SHMBO warm up, the water heater was on and the electric blanket too. Oh! I forgot the battery charger was on too. Then, on went the electric kettle!!!

Soon after, a boating neighbour was hammering on the hull pointing to the smoke coming from the transom - yep, we had melted to shorepower input, which was smouldering nicely, and melted all the plastic in the plug.

Obviously, everything was switched off, and I called Sealine to see what I needed to do. The boat was 5 years old, and well out of warranty, but they insisted in sending two engineers from the factory the next morning, who changed everything for us free of charge. They also fixed a couple of other little jobs I was going to get round to someday, and after a mild lecture about the amount of ampage to use at any one time, went on their way. They would not even take the price of a drink!!

There are other manufacturers boat owners around that cannot get their boats fixed whist still under warranty, so not bad Sealine, I would say.........
 
Good on you!

There are always so called "experts" who will say "from what I have read".... "the problem is that Sealines per se are not as well built as..."

Funny that Sunseeker doesn't get a mention here. In the mags the offshores, superhawks, beautifully built - and hey watch for hull issues. Why? Because of the way they've been treated. Cynic might say doesn't suit the agenda....

Sure, Sealine undoubtedly build to a price. Good on them, as it gives people access to boats they wouldn't do otherwise. If there is a problem, then they generally seem to sort it. Many years ago when I was looking for a weekender, I looked at a new F T28, preferred the S290, but couldn't afford it. Almost bought a S285. Surveyed. Had the big v8s and some hull crazing (hey, just like a Sunseeker). Sealine would do a factory repair for less than a couple of grand. That's service for a 6 year old boat. Didn't buy it in the end, bought a 4 year old F Targa. Nice boat. But believe me not trouble free.

If we're talking about current build then personally, I view it as buyers choice - probably lower price for accomodation, more of them so higher depreciation (although worth thinking about % rather than absolute value lost - might not seem all that bad!), functional, very practical, and less gloss. Not everybody wants a Bentley.

So ok, I am biased as I have one but I'm not intending to sell so it makes no difference to me. But if we're talking the last 10 years or so, imho this is simply marque snobbery.

Anything used its caveat emptor, survey, and any repairs factor in to the price. Seems to me if you buy any of these great British marques, if it's been treated well, the chances are just as likely that structurally you'll get a fine boat. Maybe more likely with a P or an F, but treated decently probably not. But these are complex, hand built animals - don't expect it to be trouble free.

For family weekending, given a choice between a T28/29/30, a P266, and S290 and I was indifferent about age I know which I'd choose. And I'd get any and all of them surveyed.

And by the way, it starts with an S.

ItS
 
excellent post, honest , straight, & good advise to anyone in the market buying, well done. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
before i bought mine i spoke to people in the trade, engineers etc, they thoughts were build quality much the same between top4 since about 2000
my s28 has been brill and my neighbour has a t29 and hes complaining
i came close to buying a t31 and that had crazing
personally i dont think theres a lot in it especially looking at new sealine stuff
 
Been watching this thread with interest, being as we have just changed from sealine to fairline I can give quite an honest perspective.

Two boats side by side, one a Targa 28 the other a Sealine s28, simillar layout, price & condition , in all honesty which would you choose?

I think you need to take an expert opinion & read a few of the reviews from the mags from the last 10 years, then have a chat with a surveyor, he knows which is built to a higher standard & what to look for.

The sealine s28 is well built, never heard of problem with stress crazing on that model & is perfect in layout & design but the question remains, would you still buy it over the Targa 28?

It's not about brand loyalty or snobery as both are capable boats but sealine do build down to a price & untill you have owned different brands do you see the real differences.
we had three Sealines surveyed & only owned one which needed work, on the other hand we have only surveyed one fairline which we currently own, no work required & it's the oldest boat weve ever owned.

Good luck with the sale of your 290 ambassador.
 
"simply marque snobbery."

But you must admit that Sealine owners do get little defensive about their chosen marque.Owners of other builders tend to accept criticism of their particular boat and just get on with it.
Judging by the sheer numbers of Sealines around they have been a resounding success story,however arousing the ire of Sealine owners has always been a traditional method of passing the time around here.
 
Defensive? Moi? Mange tout mange tout!

Anyway, must leave the marque afficianados to carry on the dialogue... I'm going boating. Paimpol for the weekend.

Hope my S stays in one piece....

Have a good weekend....

ItS
 
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