Searanger 48 or Grand Banks 42MY

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madorwhat

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As we narrow down our next boat search , honest opinions required.

Searanger 2004 with TAMD75P with 600 hours , GB42MY year 2000 with Cat 3208's with 1100 hours
 
madorwhat said:
As we narrow down our next boat search , honest opinions required.

Searanger 2004 with TAMD75P with 600 hours , GB42MY year 2000 with Cat 3208's with 1100 hours
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Either I would sell a body part to own. A GB 42 MY is simply a classic IMHO, a gentlemanly motor yacht of sublime style. A sea ranger has a more modern feel, I would find it very hard to make the decision, but although probably more maintenance in the long run, it would probably be the GB.

edited bit.... just had a quite google and possibly found the GB42MY you may be considering.... and I am sticking to my view. Simply gorgeous
 
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Yes , might need to sell a body part for either too ! The GB42 is lovely and the rest of the family's favourite. I am confused between them , hence the question.
 
madorwhat said:
Yes , might need to sell a body part for either too ! The GB42 is lovely and the rest of the family's favourite. I am confused between them , hence the question.
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I have just been looking at the Sea Ranger (the one at NYA?).... I am now very confused.

The Sea Ranger is a more modern boat.. & dare I say the engines slightly more main stream so I would think may be easier/cheaper to service... . Beautiful & more modern finish inside. A Sea Ranger came into Yarmouth the last time we were there, certainly had a presence about it. I have heard great things about the quality fit & finish of the Sea Ranger... But a GB42MY is a different beast, and has a much deeper appeal for me.... but its not me buying so enjoy your decsion making.
 
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Honest opinion, the GB42 is a old fashioned slow plodder and the Searanger 48 is nearly modern fast hybrid planing/SD boat with an interesting and by all accounts very effective hull which allows a very wide range of cruising speeds from slow to fast. Another thing I would be slightly concerned about is the Cat 3208s in the GB. Are these the 425hp versions or lower powered? I'm a big fan of the 3208 having had them in 3 boats myself but I've heard that a few of them have had to have rebuilds at beyond 1500hrs when they are having to work very hard in SD boats like the GB. Get them checked out and have an oil analysis done. Apart from that, I bet the GB42 uses more fuel than the Searanger at any given speed because it's hull was never really meant to plane whereas the Searanger was designed from the start to go well past 20kts
Obviously the GB build quality is second to none and the 42 should still have plenty of life in it but the couple of Searangers I've looked at in the past have also appeared to be well screwed together. However, Searanger is a small builder so a full survey is more essential IMHO. Overall though, my vote goes to the Searanger for the wider range of speeds available from the hull, better fuel consumption and bigger/more modern interior
All IMHO
 
Putting the boats aside as I like both, the Volvo is a far more modern engine with edc control etc, the cat which I have had in past years is a 1950s engine which is 10400cc !! And will eat fuel, but is cheaper to service in my view than the Volvo as it has two oil filters, one fuel filter, an impeller, two belts and a few anodes, that's it.

The Volvo has a long list including air filters at £150 each round figures, plus all the other bits like two oil filters, 6 zinc anodes, the list goes on but there a great motor.
 
Although both these boats look to be from the same kind of stable..... There is a world of difference in them. If I was looking I would be very hard pushed to decide but that said..... The type of cruising I do it would have to be the GB and yes I'm a little biased.

Fuel wise, the Gbo will be much more frugal for cruising.

Tom.
 
Deleted User said:
We've had this conversation before! Why would it be more frugal?
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In fact I'm going to answer my own question because, being an anorak, I've got back copies of the MBY tests on both boats, Sept 92 for the GB42 and Feb 98 for the Searanger

GB42 with Cat 3116 engines (likely to be more frugal than Cat 3208s)

11kts 1.00mpg
16kts 0.80mpg
18.8kts 0.70mpg (flat out)

Searanger 44/8 with TAMD73P (430hp) engines

11kts 1.38mpg
15.8kts 0.91mpg
18.6kts 0.83mpg

The Searanger is flat out at 26kts

Looks like the Searanger is more frugal and faster. I don't believe that the GB42 will show any great fuel consumption advantage at displacement speeds because its 2.5t heavier and drags a great big keel around. I'm not saying the GB42 is a bad boat. In fact its renowned as a great sea boat and would probably make an excellent buy if it is in good condition as it might keep its value better than the Searanger. Its just not more frugal.
 
Robg71 said:
Could i be cheeky, could you email me a copy of the searanger, cos i think thats a cracking looking boat. (Only if its not too much trouble, don't want to be a nuisance
Cheers
Rob
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Yes no problem. PM me your email address

PS I hope nobody at MBY is looking because strictly speaking we're breaking their copyright;)
 
Deleted User said:
Honest opinion, the GB42 is a old fashioned slow plodder and the Searanger 48 is nearly modern fast hybrid planing/SD boat with an interesting and by all accounts very effective hull which allows a very wide range of cruising speeds from slow to fast. Another thing I would be slightly concerned about is the Cat 3208s in the GB. Are these the 425hp versions or lower powered? I'm a big fan of the 3208 having had them in 3 boats myself but I've heard that a few of them have had to have rebuilds at beyond 1500hrs when they are having to work very hard in SD boats like the GB. Get them checked out and have an oil analysis done. Apart from that, I bet the GB42 uses more fuel than the Searanger at any given speed because it's hull was never really meant to plane whereas the Searanger was designed from the start to go well past 20kts
Obviously the GB build quality is second to none and the 42 should still have plenty of life in it but the couple of Searangers I've looked at in the past have also appeared to be well screwed together. However, Searanger is a small builder so a full survey is more essential IMHO. Overall though, my vote goes to the Searanger for the wider range of speeds available from the hull, better fuel consumption and bigger/more modern interior
All IMHO
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Yes , they are the 375hp 3208's. Rebuild at 1500hours ? That frightens me.
 
madorwhat said:
Yes , they are the 375hp 3208's. Rebuild at 1500hours ? That frightens me.
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I did hesitate before saying that in my post. I am definitely not an engine expert but when I used to use the services of an experienced engine technician for my servicing (now retired) and he told me that the 3208 was an excellent engine but he was aware of a few of the 425/442hp versions (3208TA) which had needed rebuilds at about this time when used in heavy boats in which they were working hard all the time but he did say that as far as he knew, only the max rated 425/442hp versions of the 3208 had exhibited these problems. This same engineer saved me from buying a boat in the Med fitted with 3208TA engines which were badly worn. Having said that, I have had 3 boats with the Cat 3208TA engines fitted and they performed faultlessly (except for 1 alternator failure) but I sold them before 1000 hrs. AFAIK, the 375hp and lower powered versions of the 3208 have proved fine but as with any engines in an older boat, you have to get them thoroughly checked out before you buy
 
Deleted User said:
I did hesitate before saying that in my post. I am definitely not an engine expert but when I used to use the services of an experienced engine technician for my servicing (now retired) and he told me that the 3208 was an excellent engine but he was aware of a few of the 425/442hp versions (3208TA) which had needed rebuilds at about this time when used in heavy boats in which they were working hard all the time but he did say that as far as he knew, only the max rated 425/442hp versions of the 3208 had exhibited these problems. This same engineer saved me from buying a boat in the Med fitted with 3208TA engines which were badly worn. Having said that, I have had 3 boats with the Cat 3208TA engines fitted and they performed faultlessly (except for 1 alternator failure) but I sold them before 1000 hrs. AFAIK, the 375hp and lower powered versions of the 3208 have proved fine but as with any engines in an older boat, you have to get them thoroughly checked out before you buy
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you may have already done this, but quite a fun exercise to sit down one evening and do. Big sheet of paper, GB on one side, SR on other. and have a scoring mechanism for both boats, from say -1 for a small irritation, to -10 for a possible ongoing engine issue, positives measured in the same manner....then see which boat has the highest score.... it will get you to a logical answer. If that answer matches what you heart wants... then great. If not, start looking for something else, as neither are obviously 100% right for you..
 
Firefly625 said:
you may have already done this, but quite a fun exercise to sit down one evening and do. Big sheet of paper, GB on one side, SR on other. and have a scoring mechanism for both boats, from say -1 for a small irritation, to -10 for a possible ongoing engine issue, positives measured in the same manner....then see which boat has the highest score.... it will get you to a logical answer. If that answer matches what you heart wants... then great. If not, start looking for something else, as neither are obviously 100% right for you..
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If buying a boat was an exercise in logic, we wouldn't buy one in the first place. I got thinking the other day about how much money I've wasted over 23 years of owning and keeping boats and the numbers started to get very scarey so I stopped thinking about it. They say you can't take it with you but maybe there are more sensible ways of enjoying your money:)
 
Deleted User said:
If buying a boat was an exercise in logic, we wouldn't buy one in the first place. I got thinking the other day about how much money I've wasted over 23 years of owning and keeping boats and the numbers started to get very scarey so I stopped thinking about it. They say you can't take it with you but maybe there are more sensible ways of enjoying your money:)
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No money spent on boats is wasted!
 
Firefly625 said:
No money spent on boats is wasted!
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MMMmm , not sure . Was involved in motorsport ( and still am a little) before I got into boats and you certainly dont want to sit down and work out what that costs you !

Funnily enough , I never had this issue when buying a rally car. I always knew which one I wanted.
 
madorwhat said:
MMMmm , not sure . Was involved in motorsport ( and still am a little) before I got into boats and you certainly dont want to sit down and work out what that costs you !

Funnily enough , I never had this issue when buying a rally car. I always knew which one I wanted.
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Deal done ! Which one am I collecting on Thursday ?
 
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