Sealine S37

DavidJ

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Sealine 330 Statesman £68,995 Farndon Marina Boat Sales
The Mercrusier diesel engined versions of both the F33 (older models but identical boat other than cosmetic details were called 330 Statesman) and the S37 tend to be priced lower than the same boats with Volvos.
Agree. Selling with Mercruiser they hang about a long time. Looks like folk with stretch the finances to buy the Volvo fitted Sealines first
 

Fusebox

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We had an 1997 S37, 2 x VP TAMD 41P engines with (I think) DP290 legs.
Top speed around 28 knots, with a modest weight load.
Ours had bow- and aft-thrusters, which compensated for (my) lack of maneuverability with outdrives (legs). Prior boat was on shafts. If you have a choice of boats, a solid bowthruster would be good. Ours was a bit small for docking in windy weather (don't remember size).

The layout of the boat is very nice and functional. I personally prefer U-sofas to the aft round-sofa, so was not too happy about that.
It "needs" an extended bathing platform as the standard is a little to narrow, but works well enough.
The "collapsible" davits, which were on our boat, was cumbersome.
The forward canopy was a nightmare to mount. Could be caused by some shrinkage, but seemed only normal tight when mounted.
The aft canopy compartment cover in the targa had some problems with the lock, causing some irritation.
Some hinges here and there were loose, some had lost their fastening completely. Seemed to me like a bit low quality on some fiberglass work.
Big storage compartment in the salon, for food/drinks, which were very nice.
Good size black water tank (from memory around 130 liters?) Easily accessible for service. Was a bit scared if I would ever need new piping/hoses due to tight spaces along the routes.
Good size fresh water tank (from memory around 300 liters?)
Very large and useful "technical room", accessible from the aft cabin. The aft anchor winch and rope bucket was housed here, which, I think, was not common?
Very large and useful forward locker for rope, fenders and access to winch.
Huge engine bay, with great access to engines and other technicals, room to sit on one engine and perform engine service on the other. Internal outdrive service, though, seems to always be a hassle with little room between engine and wall.

Sold primarily because of the maintenance and durability of said outdrives.

Great boat, loved most of it. Seemed very solid and seaworthy. Had it shafts, I would fix the forward canopy and it would still be ours :)

Edit: Just a quick remark on the newer boats, as the mentioned SC38, the newer electric control panel (cabin) seems to cause some trouble with can-bus(?). Not too sure about specifics, just that it may be a bit tricky to troubleshoot and repair (rumour, forum-chat, hearsay, no personal experience). Just beware and seek relevant information.
 
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jct1981

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Thanks for the reply.
We sail out of Portishead on the Bristol channel, typically to Cardiff, Swansea and Milford haven.
I'm considering both the f33 and s37, both have positives and negatives and I suspect it will come down to what we can afford. Either way, we'll be looking at early versions of both.
Regards
Rob
When I was little I always wanted a Flybridge, so the F33 etc have always been on my list. However we realised when we looked at a selection of sizes, it wouldn't suit the boating we do very well. Invariably we have at least 4 people with us, so we chose to have the more social group setting of a cruiser Vs the seperation between cockpit & fly. Also, being on the Thames we didn't fancy having to run up and down the stairs for all the locks.
The inside living spaces on the F33 are great, but do bear in mind that overall it's a smaller boat than the S37. The S37 and F36 shared a hull (95% confident on that), so that's more of a direct space comparison. We do comfortably fit 4+ around the saloon table downstairs on our S37 when needed, although we much prefer using the cockpit for social space.
 

Elessar

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Thanks for the reply.
We sail out of Portishead on the Bristol channel, typically to Cardiff, Swansea and Milford haven.
I'm considering both the f33 and s37, both have positives and negatives and I suspect it will come down to what we can afford. Either way, we'll be looking at early versions of both.
Regards
Rob
Do not get an F33 without a sea trial in a decent sea and make sure you are happy with it.

The S37 is a good sea boat. The F33 is terrible in a quartering sea, the upper helm is very exposed and visibility poor below. Even quite small waves from the quarter make them feel alarmingly unstable.

With a 15m tidal range and the associated sea conditions and some distances to cover, the S37 would be a boat and the F33 a caravan.

Chalk and cheese those two. It’s not that I don’t like small fly bridges, my 28ft Bayliner took me across the channel multiple times and had some big seas in the North Sea, it was much much more stable than an F33.
 

DavidJ

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Do not get an F33 without a sea trial in a decent sea and make sure you are happy with it.

The S37 is a good sea boat. The F33 is terrible in a quartering sea, the upper helm is very exposed and visibility poor below. Even quite small waves from the quarter make them feel alarmingly unstable.

With a 15m tidal range and the associated sea conditions and some distances to cover, the S37 would be a boat and the F33 a caravan.

Chalk and cheese those two. It’s not that I don’t like small fly bridges, my 28ft Bayliner took me across the channel multiple times and had some big seas in the North Sea, it was much much more stable than an F33.
Think also the best boat from a guest seasickness point of view. It only takes one bad experience you find your friends are suddenly not available :sick:
 

Scubadoo

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Chalk and cheese those two. It’s not that I don’t like small fly bridges, my 28ft Bayliner took me across the channel multiple times and had some big seas in the North Sea, it was much much more stable than an F33.
Out of interest, why is the Bayliner a more stable boat, is it simply too much weight high up of something more in the hull design? Do think the F34 is any better?

Some years ago I was behind an F33 from Poole to the Solent and I was quite surprised how far it was leaning while rocking, my smaller Sealine behind felt a lot more stable in the same sea state.
 

nicho

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We bought a brand new F33 for the Thames, and it was lovely. Great accommodation, nicely finished etc. Then we (me) decided to take it to the Solent,,where it was a different story. First time out from Hythe marina, we were hit by the wash from Red Jet fast ferry, and all I need to say was my wife flatly refused to go out again. We part ex’d it for a new S37 and what a difference. SWMBO was more than happy to cross the Channel, go down to the West Country etc. It really handled well. We then switched to an S41, again fantastic accommodation, but that blooming chine riding, unstable hull was a nightmare - reminded me of my forest rallying days,,with much arm twirling in any seaway. Chopped that for an S48 - now that was a real sea boat - I would take that out in anything (more or less). Over 80 now, so we have an easy to handle S34,,cracking little boat with AD41’s. Just need better health in 2025 to actually use it. Back to subject, go for the S37 - we had two, and our first one is currently for sale with Hutchins Marine “Why Worry”full med spec aircon etc.
 

Ichthyosaur

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We bought a brand new F33 for the Thames, and it was lovely. Great accommodation, nicely finished etc. Then we (me) decided to take it to the Solent,,where it was a different story. First time out from Hythe marina, we were hit by the wash from Red Jet fast ferry, and all I need to say was my wife flatly refused to go out again. We part ex’d it for a new S37 and what a difference. SWMBO was more than happy to cross the Channel, go down to the West Country etc. It really handled well. We then switched to an S41, again fantastic accommodation, but that blooming chine riding, unstable hull was a nightmare - reminded me of my forest rallying days,,with much arm twirling in any seaway. Chopped that for an S48 - now that was a real sea boat - I would take that out in anything (more or less). Over 80 now, so we have an easy to handle S34,,cracking little boat with AD41’s. Just need better health in 2025 to actually use it. Back to subject, go for the S37 - we had two, and our first one is currently for sale with Hutchins Marine “Why Worry”full med spec aircon etc.
Thanks for the info. I am pretty sure we will go for an old S37 or a slightly newer (but still old) S34.
 

Greg2

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No, ours went to the south coast when we sold in 2020. It has subsequently been sold on at an inflated ‘pandemic price’ but not sure where it went.
.
 

Elessar

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Out of interest, why is the Bayliner a more stable boat, is it simply too much weight high up of something more in the hull design? Do think the F34 is any better?

Some years ago I was behind an F33 from Poole to the Solent and I was quite surprised how far it was leaning while rocking, my smaller Sealine behind felt a lot more stable in the same sea state.
The Bayliner 28ft flybridge was much lower. From the cockpit you went down to the saloon and up to the flybridge.

The F33 has a level saloon so the fly is much higher.

When I first got my s37 I tied it alongside the Bayliner and the helm seat was the same height off the water even though the Bayliner was a fly.

I’ve never been to sea in an F34 so can’t comment but my expectations wouldn’t be good.
 

oldgit

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MBM tested the F33, it featured in a edition of the magazine.
Twas in the days when the magazine did not have to dance around the handbag of advertising revenue quite so much.
It praised the modern light spacious interior, use of space , value for money, mebbe encouraging a new bunch of folks into the world of boating, bit like JCL did many years before.
Sealine were building small ? boats that people could afford ,in a market abandoned by Princess and Fairline.
Need to find the original test not the later rather anodyne one by Nick B.
 
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