Sealine S23 - Opinions

alt

alt

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Hi guys,
I've finally decided on my next boat, an S23. Going to go for a 2002 model if possible with a KAD32. I won't bore you with 'Why', but I have good faith in the KAD32 and I like the look of the S23, and perfect size for me.

My question(s) to current owners:
How do you find the S23?
What would you change about it?
Any gripes with the boat?
How do you find the 'fold up' bathing platform, is it strong enough?
What's your WOT speed with the KAD32?
Is the carpet in the cabin removable? Same goes for the deck

Unfortunately I can't just pop down and take a look at one as i'm in Ireland, so want to be certain of everything before flying over to inspect a boat and put a deposit down. If anyone wanted to take some pictures of their boat PM me and i'll give you my email address to forward them to.

They all seem to be going around the £40k mark - I was in contact with a broker who I got down to £35k cash on a 2002 for a quick sale (And I may take him up on that!). Problem is I hate dealing with brokers, i'd much prefer to talk to the owner of the boat instead of some person who's telling you what you want to hear
 
Hi Niall,
Don't you go listening to all the negative replies your bound to get :-) If you've made your mind up then go with it. In reply to your questions:-

<span style="color:blue"> How do you find the S23? </span>
Fab little boat - ideal for me and the girlfriend. I would say that with the KAD32 she is a little under powered but then again we traded up from a 17foot Fletcher.

<span style="color:blue"> What would you change about it? </span>
Both Anne and I are 5 foot 8 and the V berth in the cabin is a little on the small side.
Stowage in the cockpit is not fantastic and could have been designed slightly better down below (hatch openings are too small I feel).
The radar arch is far from sturdy and vibrates / shakes like a madman when at WOT. I feel it would have been better to have a grp arch.


<span style="color:blue">Any gripes with the boat? </span>
No major problems to report...can be a bit tempremental to start but this seems to be getting better and we still haven't got to the bottom of the problem.

<span style="color:blue"> How do you find the 'fold up' bathing platform, is it strong enough?
</span>For what? I wouldn't recommend a celidh although swinging a cat would probably hold up okay as that's about all it's big enough for. To be honest we tend not to use it.

<span style="color:blue"> What's your WOT speed with the KAD32?
</span> Manage to get 27 to 30 Knots with a tank of fuel and water - downhill with the wind behind you - but then again we should still have L plates on so we may not be trimmed exactly right :-)

<span style="color:blue"> Is the carpet in the cabin removable? Same goes for the deck </span>
Carpet in the cabin - haven't really looked into that yet.
Carpet in the cockpit - definately and that is a god send for us as we are berthed in a building yard at the minute.

Hope this helps - if you need any photo's/reminders etc of various bits and pieces then PM me and i'll get me camera out. Likewise any questions and I'll see if I can help.

Regards
Paul

P.S Price seems about right ours was similar at 2002 model
 
Nice little starter boat. Not much more to add in terms of the finnish etc, but they are very wind prone - i.e the bow lets go easily but can be controlled if caught early enough. The best I've had out of one powered by a KAD 32 is 32 knots in a flat sea and trimmed right out, half fuel and empty water. They can be temperamental on the trim tabs and we call them "the piano" because you have to play the tabs in certain sea states. Don't overload it, she will not plane and make sure that guests don't lounge on the stern seat when you try to get on the plane - it wont!4 adults is about the maximium

The canopy should be used in windless conditions - it is a sports boat and with the covers up it can prove "interesting" when berthing.
 
We used to have a 2003 S23. Good little boat but agree with Solitaire - very trim and weight dependant. We fitted an auto trim tab system to ours which really helped the constant trim adjustments.

Canopy a bit of a pain to get up and down. Great on fuel economy. We went X channel, Ci's, West country in hours (mostly in company).

Don't think carpets are removable in cabin - in fact I tried in vain to get to the holding tank (under table) when the full sensor failed.
 
Not owned an S23, only an S24, but Carpets in the cabin are glued down the same. It's not hard to remove, but you need new carpet trimmed to the right shape and more glue to put it back.

dv.
 
Thanks a million guy's, just the info i'm after! I currently have a 24ft sports cruiser with a KAD32. I'm just after something a year or two younger, hence the S23 came into my mind. I agree, the canopy in wind catches pretty bad and can make berthing 'fun'.

I am a little concerned about the power issue. My current boat weighs 1900KG and is on the plane within 3 seconds with the KAD32. I'm guessing the S23 is a much heavier boat?

The reason for asking about the folding bathing platform - I like to swim, lots. I also like to mess about on the boat when anchored ie. jumping/diving off generally acting the maggot.

The Radar Arch - Is it so unstable that you would think to yourself 'Is it going to fall off' or would it distract you at WOT?

One final question, is there any, any storage at all out on the deck? I don't fancy throwing wet wetsuits and a portable BBQ into the engine bay!
 
Hi Alt (Niall), Wow changing again so soon? Will we see a post in 24 months that goes something like "Fairline Phantom 50 - Opinions"? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]


I am a little concerned about the power issue. My current boat weighs 1900KG and is on the plane within 3 seconds with the KAD32. I'm guessing the S23 is a much heavier boat?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, it's a heavier boat - around 2,400 kgs - but you don't have an option on the diesel although the newer models are coming with the D3 190 as an option but that's in the S25 format (same boat re-badged). The S23 is not a sports boat by any stretch of the imagination, it's a good entry level cruiser. You may find the petrol version gives you more vra vra vroom. The only way you will know for your own satisfaction will be to sea trial one. In my experience however, every boat varies; some go like the clappers others are really quite sluggish by comparison.


[ QUOTE ]
The reason for asking about the folding bathing platform - I like to swim, lots. I also like to mess about on the boat when anchored ie. jumping/diving off generally acting the maggot.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess you have not really studied one in the flesh! The folding bathing platform gives about another 9 inches - it is not designed to lie on, it's more a shelf that folds away and saves a bit on mooring fees.

[ QUOTE ]
The Radar Arch - Is it so unstable that you would think to yourself 'Is it going to fall off' or would it distract you at WOT?

[/ QUOTE ]

Use the term radar arch very loosely! It's a metal frame that holds the canopy with a more substantial S/S structure for the steaming light etc. When folded up properly with the "sock" in place then the system is fine, get in only partly folded and it does "wobble" about a bit.

[ QUOTE ]
One final question, is there any, any storage at all out on the deck? I don't fancy throwing wet wetsuits and a portable BBQ into the engine bay!

[/ QUOTE ]

No! Apart from a reasonably sized anchor locker.

The S23/25 is a very good entry level sports cruiser and was originally marketed as a means of getting "first timers" into the Sealine brand. If you bought the diesel model, and you traded up to another Sealine model within two years you got the basic price back. It is not a quick boat but offers good accommodation for it's size. Make sure the model you buy has trim tabs, without them it's a dog! I have driven more S23/S25's than any other single boat - I sea trial them! Don't expect it to perform like a sports boat - it won't and start towing toys etc about and you will be disappointed. But as I say, as a first time boat they are great.
 
I take it you can't ski behind the S23 then?

I am looking for a boat that i can tow, sleep 4 on and hopefully ski behind, so far the only real option I have is the Bayliner 245.

Any Suggestions?
 
Only problem is that I will want to sell it at some stage in the future, Bayliners are acceptable with Petrol but I think a Sealine with Petrol will be a buy for life !!!
 
It can be done quite successfully, as we have skied behind our S23 but it would not be the most ideal boat to ski behind, as it takes a while pull out of the hole and a skier has to be able to counter the slow speed and then, when up to speed, the wake the boat leaves – not ideal conditions for a first time skier. Wakeboarding may be more suitable behind a 23 as slower pull can sometimes be more successful
 
Hi lads!
Excellent info here, I owe ye a pint of the black stuff. It sounds like the S23 may not be what i'm after. I need something that can plane quickly and achieve 33knots at WOT, with a decent bathing platform (All of which my current boat has, but I want something with sleeker lines I guess)

OceanFroggie - Hi! A Phantom? I guess I should start playing the Euromillions, but you never know!

Solitaire - Thank you for your comments, it's good to get feedback 'from the horses mouth', so to speak.

I think i'm just going to have to sea trial one and see what I make of it, but after reading comments here, I may be better off sticking with my current boat

Has anyone got an idea of what size fuel tank is in the S23? Local oil company requires a minimum of 200l diesel delivery at a time, current boat only has 160l /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Don't know if you are able to nip over to Scotland this weekend, Prossers have an open weekend on the Clyde and will have some of their boats on demo, I'd guess, but there is a good chance there might be an S23/S25 to try there!! Why not give them a call.

Cheers

Al.
 
jezbanks - Luckally I got in touch with a guy in Co. Cork who has invited me down to have a look around his S23, so that'll give me an idea.

I'm based on a 64 sq. mile lake (Lough Corrib) in the west of Ireland. Mainly cruising on this lake. Day's out will involve either 2 or 4 people on board, most trips will involve a 1 night stay over (We BBQ elsewhere so cooking facilities not important, just need a fridge)

I would like to take it onto the sea maybe once or twice a season, it would be inshore cruising.
 
I'm a diesel man! Strictly diesel! I put up about 150engine hours a season, it's worth my while to have diesel (We still have the cheap stuff over here)
 
jez - I'd be inclined to agree with you from what people are saying, sounds like the KAD32 may not be powerful enough, only a sea trial will tell (I do like a bit of speed, im only a youngun)
 
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