Sealine SC35 or Doral Boca Grande???

Nick_Pam

Nick_Pam

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 Dec 2003
Messages
665
Location
Warwickshire/Empuriabrava
Visit site
So here we are....fresh from Saturday's visit to Excel and a short list of two for our pending "conversion" from Raggie to Stinkpot.

So the exam question this evening please is:
Sealine SC35 or Doral Boca Grande?

We've priced them like-for-like
We've picked out our favourite features on each boat
We have no clear favourite
We've accepted that the only way to get every feature we like is to design a boat ourselves and we cannot afford that.
We've got prices which are so close that they are no longer a deciding factor between the two.

So.......any pearls of wisdom, guidance, good/bad experiences????

Joking aside - any thoughts you might have will be VERY gratefully received as we'd like to go back this weekend and progress a demo/order on one or the other.

Thanks in anticipation

Nick & Pam
 
Sealine SC35 is a bit of a marmite boat, but more seem to love it than hate it from what I've heard, so I think residual would be higher in the UK. Given that depreciation is probably the biggest cost of owning a boat, i'd go for the Sealine.
 
Not sure what the price comparison is but isn't it an open boat versus hard(ish) top? I haven't seen the Doral but from the link would go for the sealine anyday - the Doral just looks too similar to lots of other boats and that sealine top will be very handy if you are based in the UK!
 
I agree with the two above points, I'm not mad on the SC35 though it is unusual and the top will be a big bonus, and should hold its value - I liked the build quality on the Dorals but I assume Sealine are pretty close....
 
I was looking in Sept and spent a while looking I have done a sea trial in both andthe Fairline Targa 34 and looked in every nook and crack possible and we decided to go for the Boca to be here in Feb.(cant wait)

There were many factors that made my mind up one was weight, the boca is heavier and held the water far better. Build quality was next, if you look at cushions, carpets on the Boca they are by far better than the sealine, as I found the Sealine cushions square and uncomfortable and the wood tacky. The carpet on the sealine below was hard as you walk on it.

The helm on the Boca is just great loads of toys.


The next factor was what boats you see on the water, and everywhere you go Solent/ Cowes area the boats are Bavaria, targa 34, or sealines. I didnt want to be in that bracket and if I sell my boat (I hope I dont for a while) I dont want to put it up with 100 others same year same age.

I have a Doral Eleganti at the moment have never seen another one on the water I have seen 2 other Boca's.

As I say I get mine in 3 - 4 weeks you are welcome to come down to the South Coast and have a play and a good look round and try it in rougher weather.

You try buying a second hand Boca at the moment rocking horse S*** comes to mind. EBY have one on brokerage and thats it. This must tell you something. I wanted a secondhand one and there were not any available, someone said to me the Doral is a Canadian secret and I agree with this, they are not well known here and for this reason people ignore them, but a very nice boat, the touches are what makes it the name in the table, their pennant, the name in the seats all make it that little bit special.

Im not saying they are the best but for the money they are, the new fairline Targa 38 is nice but out of my price range.

Hope that helps.

If you need any more info PM me, I took some pics of the boca at the show if you want a copy to refresh your memory email me

PS who are you dealing with? I am going back on Sunday we want some more bits I will happily meet you for coffee and go through some bits.

DP
 
When I was faced with a split decision as it were, albeit not with the type of boats you are thinking of, it came down to the sea trials. I found one just felt much better (handled better and felt more secure) than the other and the decision was made. If you're still undecided by the weekend, then I'd arrange trials on both.
 
It mite be worth looking at the after sales service available too, sealines have a world wide next work for after sales service, I do not know the other ones coverage. So I would ask that question of them and see what they say. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Hi Nick. A few extra pieces of info you could provide might enable folk to offer more pertenant suggestions or advice:

<ul type="square">[*]What is your intended type of use (ie day boating, short hops, extended cruising, offshore v inshore, etc)?
[*]Where do you plan to use a boat (ie UK, Med, etc)?[/list]The type of boating or cruising you expect to do has a big impact on the layout and style of boat that might best suit your needs. Do you anticipate sleeping on board a lot or just the odd night over a weekend or for a few weeks during holidays, etc. Will you need accomodation for guests or children sleeping on board, etc.

Anyway enjoy the "quest" for your ideal boat!
 
Hi nick&pam the Doral is indeed avery good product it allways comes out very well in boat tests,we owned a sealine a few years ago in 1st year fuel&water tanks split&started to show stress cracking needless to say we sold it the 2ndyr,we then got into failine&would'nt change for the world,a 1 or 2 yr old fairline imho would be a better bet the two you mention regards m m 1.
 
Consider carefully the after sales service , Having owned 3 Sealines I have found the back up service very good , especially compared to others at our marina including , Aquador & Doral. Sealine brand is a cruiser type boat , with space / accomodation a major feature . use it in this mode
and it will serve you well , if you want sports performance
consider other boat , if accomodation , cruising , after sales
care is tops then the Sealine scores high.
 
For what it's worth, the ten year old Sealines in our local brokerage are falling to pieces trim-wise, while the Fairlines simply look ten years old.

This may have changed.....
 
between the 2 I would go for the Sealine SC 35
I personally love the line of the boat and it's hard top will be a good resale value in the time to come, apart the other mentioned factors
as someone suggested overhere may you can also try a bet on a used 2 year old 38 Targa which might cost you the same
I also would put Cranchi in the picture for quality, still if you don't like the boat forget what I just said....
 
I've owned two Sealines, an older (1990 vintage) 310 Statesman and my current F43 (1998), and they have both stood the test of time very well. People comment on the particularly good condition of my current boat.

All the woodwork is extremely good and there are very few squeaks and rattles. I've had to replace a couple of door catches and that's about it! So I'd have no qualms about recommending the Sealine.
 
Can you give any more details on years , models & more information on the falling apart bit, would be interesting to compare with few mates who have 1996 & 1995 boats not sealines.
 
All

We're really grateful for all the comments and pick up OceanFroggie's comment that we were less than clear about the intended use.

We will be using the boat both as a floating caravan for about 12 weeks a year in the Med, and a sports cruiser for day trips in the Bay of Roses and longer trips down towards Barcelona/Balearics and up into France (in good weather, not wave bashing!!) We are a couple with occasional friends/family visiting.

We both love the freshness of design and below decks space of the SC35 , and the open plan layout, perceived build quality and some of the design/engineering touches of the Doral. The debate about hard(ish) top versus targa arch/bimini rages at home!!

We are likely to be doing a part-exchange deal against our Jeanneau to get us out on the water in time for the season and so delivery times and locations are part of the decision process.....not sure we should do that really, but our leisure time & enjoyment is money I guess.

As it is likely to be a boat we keep for several years as we slide into semi-retirement, we would prefer to buy new and get the advantages of warranty etc....as for the Fairline, I'm afraid it's out of the question as I can't get into the engine room to check the fluid levels etc (large size and bad back!!)

We will definitely take a demo of both before signing so that may well alter our view after we've bounced off a few waves!!!!

Confused????
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
We still are!!!!!!!!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks again all for your comments.

Nick & Pam
 
On that basis i'd change my advice, I don't think small hardtops are a good idea in the med. You will need the roof closed a lot of the time in the summer, or you'll fry in the sun, but then you will be enclosed on 3 sides in a greenhouse and it will get roasting hot. With an open boat you can put the bimini up, but still have airflow through the sides.
 
There are a few on here who have mentioned the hard top of the Sealine, Please remember that the Doral now comes with a T top and has a great design with the Chrome bars coming off it.

I was not impressed when the salesman at Excel slide the roof back on the sealine and caught the canvus in it, if you do that a couple of times you would put a hole in it very quickly and I guess to replace one woould not be cheap.
 
[ QUOTE ]
On that basis i'd change my advice, I don't think small hardtops are a good idea in the med. You will need the roof closed a lot of the time in the summer, or you'll fry in the sun, but then you will be enclosed on 3 sides in a greenhouse and it will get roasting hot. With an open boat you can put the bimini up, but still have airflow through the sides.

[/ QUOTE ]

with my work in brokerage it seems that at 60% of requests of Sports Crusiers from 40 - 50 feet are already asking for HT boats, with the Pershing 43 being the most requested boat I have
I have also have seen in the last year a higher requests for real open boats like Itama, Magnum and the like
still over here it might be a different market then it is in the UK, but the trend seems also increasing in smaller dimensions like the Bene MC HT have received a few requests for this boat but only in hard top mode and also come friends of mine seemed pretty amused by the new Sealine....
 
[ QUOTE ]
you will be enclosed on 3 sides in a greenhouse and it will get roasting hot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is there an A/C option for the hardtop?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top