Second Hand Boat Buying Advice

Danfarry said:
I filled at the pontoon. Was the same as the forecourts. Pretty sure your fuel costs will be dwarfed by the berthing fees at Conwy, Deganwy even more so. Before I bought my first boat I was very concerned about fuel usage and associated cost. Berthing fees, maintenance, insurance, upgrades soon make you realise your fuel spend is one of the smaller costs relatively. Hope I'm not putting you off!
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Spot on
This 'thing' about fuel be it petrol/diesel, is not the be all and end all of motorboating
Having been in the motortrade as well, 'Won't buy a petrol, has to be diesel'
Heard it all for 50 years
We buy a boat to enjoy life, have fun, make memories etc etc etc
It's not about the fuel it's about the Fun!!!
 
Conwy marina must have come down then but when I had my petrol inboard I used to take it off it's mooring, put it on a trailer and tow it back to Colwyn to fill up. And what happens when the OP takes it in his head he wants to go for a holiday cruise further than Holyhead?
And be honest Dan. Would you go back to petrol now that you have diesel? Outboards have tempted me but the one thing above all else that puts me off them is the lack of swim platform and ready place to keep an inflatable tender without the faff of trying to inflate / deflate it on board when getting to one's favourite beach / anchor spot. That seems such an inconsequential detail but can actually end up dictating how one uses the boat.

BTW. Dan fell from grace. He used to be a Conwy man but now hides in Vicky dock which is one block lower down from the pirates. A social leper, best avoid :p
 
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BruceK said:
BTW. Dan fell from grace. He used to be a Conwy man but now hides in Vicky dock which is one block lower down from the pirates. A social leper, best avoid :p
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Well blow me down Bruce I hadn't realised Dan was in Victoria dock permanent like. Another source of a free drink bacon butty etc close to Home!!
 
Kawasaki said:
Well blow me down Bruce I hadn't realised Dan was in Victoria dock permanent like. Another source of a free drink bacon butty etc close to Home!!
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Fekin el kwackers you cleared me swimbo out of two pigs a churn of milk and a tea plantation , on Sunday
 
Thanks for the kind words Bruce! I do miss my outboard, the noise was lovely and the response and handling great fun. Diesels are good as I now have a calorifier and proper heating. What is nice about outboards is you get back, lift them up, flush them out and go home without a care in the world. Thanks for letting kwackers know I'm in Vicky Dock, I have been out every weekend since June apart from when we went away over Christmas, including last Saturday. Depending on the weather you just turn left or right.
 
Danfarry said:
Thanks for the kind words Bruce! I do miss my outboard, the noise was lovely and the response and handling great fun. Diesels are good as I now have a calorifier and proper heating. What is nice about outboards is you get back, lift them up, flush them out and go home without a care in the world. Thanks for letting kwackers know I'm in Vicky Dock, I have been out every weekend since June apart from when we went away over Christmas, including last Saturday. Depending on the weather you just turn left or right.
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Hi dan how did you find buying off boats.co and did you stop in hotel close by roy
 
Very good to deal with, I dealt with a chap called Darren Pilbeam. I just drove there and back in the day on both trips.
They sorted the lifts, transport, engine service, anti foul and a few thing on the survey such as stuck seacocks. All I had to do was get the old boat to Conwy in time to be lifted out.
 
She went like a rocket I'll give you that Dan. But your new joy is a beauty. As for Kwackers I don't see why Roy and I should have to shoulder the burden solely. Time for you to step up to the plate too :p

Would you be interested in a convoy holiday trip next season? It would be good to get several boats out for a week or two. Had a great time out with Chris for 2 weeks last season. May have 4 boats interested in repeating it this coming season. Late July / August time up in the air at the moment.
 
Hadn't even considered an inflatable tender for getting to secluded beaches, adding swim platform to the search criteria! All this research and I'll still end up with a boat which I've missed a useful piece of kit off.
 
A tender is a must, how else? .....

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BruceK said:
She went like a rocket I'll give you that Dan. But your new joy is a beauty. As for Kwackers I don't see why Roy and I should have to shoulder the burden solely. Time for you to step up to the plate too :p

Would you be interested in a convoy holiday trip next season?
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That's a good idea. I could light a fire to guide you into where I am at like me Forefathers did!!
 
The info and breadth of expertise right here is as good as it gets. Structural and engineering/equipment survey is essential. A PB/MC RYA intrcutor might be a useful set of eyes before and after purchase. My personal preference Sunseeker Mohawk from your initial choice despite its age. I've driven both the V8 and Diesel versions across the med many times in a variety of entertaining conditions. It has a real retro timeless look, its quick, strong and another British built quality classic.
 
Few comments from my own experience:

After my first cuddy cabin boat I realized a good hull was first on the list, hence first big boat was a Sunseeker Portofino 31. Nice to have confidence in the boat if the wheather is a bit worse then you expected and you have a good hull to get you home fast. Not sure of the mohawk's engine package but according to my tech 290 duoprop drive are pretty forgiving. Estimate they cost as much as an engine to maintain. If you keep up with maintenance the major expense is cone replacement at around 100 hours. Older low tech diesel is not a bad combination with this. The ability to lift a drive does have its merits depending on the boating area. Obviously shaft driven is cheaper but a whole different model of boat.

Happy hunting
 
Just when i was putting the retro Sunseeker idea out of my head..... genuinely though, really appreciate all the input. Finally starting to home in on what I'm after, as for the portofino 31, beautiful boat and love the seating layout. That said the rapallo 36 is a nice boat too with reliable shaft drive. I'm currently away from home in the Middle East, earning a living, but when I get back it's time to get in the car and visit some boats.
 
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