I am about to buy my first boat. It is a Sealine S24 with a Yamaha ME340 diesel sterndrive. Any info on either /both of these items would be gratefully received.
Don't know about the S24, but know several people with Yamaha diesel sterndrives. They seem excellent, very reliable, economical, clean and just seem to run & run. Never known anyone have any problems.
Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
We have a S24. Have had it 1 year, used in the solent. So far relatively pleased as we accept it is a starter boat and has the limitatioins any small boat has. It also depends what you intend to use it for, our usage is as a coastal day cruiser but when needed can go further afield and overnight on.
Saying that we have come home in some rough conditions, and it was fine if you slowed down. Side decks are really difficult to use when the canopy is up due to lack of hand holds.
The surveyor warned us of things to look for on S24, email me if you want more information.
Yamaha ME370STI on my boat. No problems, powerful clean & reliable. No problems getting serviced either - other new boats being fitted with them including Fletcher 22/25GTS models. Hydradrive very smooth.
Excellent boat, we had one (S240) for 5 years before upgrading to an S37. We had the petrol Volvo version. We always though the anchor was a bit underweight so best to buy a second emergency one. Also the S24 is towable behind a good 4WD so we have taken it to N.Spain, Elba, Sardinia over the years.
Bit tricky to handle in a marina with a stiff breeze but that will be the same for any single engine planing boat, maybe consider a bowthruster ?
Great great boat highly recommended
David