Coastline
New Member
I have been offered a 1999 Birchwood Comando and would welcome any advice on the boat.
Should I buy a Birchwood Comando
- Thread starter Coastline
- Start date
steverow
Well-Known Member
Hi, welcome to the forum.
It depends on what sort of boat you want.
If you want a semi-displacement cruiser then the Birchwood hull,which has been around since about 1978 is noted for it's seaworthiness and stability.
Ths hull is still in use today on their S.D. range.
However, the Commando 370 is a planing boat and a different ballgame.
It depends what the price differential over similar boats is that would prevent you from looking around at other manufacturers, there's nothing wrong with Birchwood, it's just that planing boats up until fairly recently have not been their speciality.
There are loads of planing boats around, and they are all a bit of a muchness.
As they say you pays your money and takes yer choice.
Have a good look around first.
Steve.
It depends on what sort of boat you want.
If you want a semi-displacement cruiser then the Birchwood hull,which has been around since about 1978 is noted for it's seaworthiness and stability.
Ths hull is still in use today on their S.D. range.
However, the Commando 370 is a planing boat and a different ballgame.
It depends what the price differential over similar boats is that would prevent you from looking around at other manufacturers, there's nothing wrong with Birchwood, it's just that planing boats up until fairly recently have not been their speciality.
There are loads of planing boats around, and they are all a bit of a muchness.
As they say you pays your money and takes yer choice.
Have a good look around first.
Steve.
tcm
...
Hiya newbie.
Birchwood Commando. This should be a swooshy boat BUT unfortunately they are godawful ugly. Gag! Ooh, they are nasty and ugly. ugly ugly ugly. This might sound irrelevant but in actual fact si the most important thing about the boat - cos it is blimmin difficult to sell, cos of the ugliness. Thus you need this to be disgustingly cheap. I mean cheap cheap. And not intending to sell it for a while and not mind if some people like well, me anyway say glurk cripes thats a bit nasty-looking.
How much are they asking?
Birchwood Commando. This should be a swooshy boat BUT unfortunately they are godawful ugly. Gag! Ooh, they are nasty and ugly. ugly ugly ugly. This might sound irrelevant but in actual fact si the most important thing about the boat - cos it is blimmin difficult to sell, cos of the ugliness. Thus you need this to be disgustingly cheap. I mean cheap cheap. And not intending to sell it for a while and not mind if some people like well, me anyway say glurk cripes thats a bit nasty-looking.
How much are they asking?
carlton
Well-Known Member
You've gotta be taking the p!ss !! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif There's one for sale here;
http://www.boats-for-sale.com/fullspec.a...OATDETAILPOPUP2
http://www.boats-for-sale.com/fullspec.a...OATDETAILPOPUP2
tcm
...
Nope. Birchwood legendary ugliness has been spoken of many times hereabouts. But beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that. They have taken the pic from a flattering angle.
all imho
all imho
petem
Well-Known Member
I agree, they're horrible. I remember seeing one moored outside a Birchwood dealer. It was almost new but was looking very grubby. I suspect the dealer was too embarrassed to be seen cleaning it.
Is it a 370 or 510 (not that it's important they're both grim)?
Pete
Is it a 370 or 510 (not that it's important they're both grim)?
Pete
Coastline
New Member
Is 80K cheap enough to put up with any short comings
petem
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't settle for £80k. I'd ask them to give you at least £100k.
Seriously, it's a fair bit of boat for £80k.
Seriously, it's a fair bit of boat for £80k.
Coastline
New Member
I also know of a Fairline Targa 37 in the South of France for about £100K with cad 44s. Is it realistic to bring a boat like that back to the UK either sailing it or by road ?
hlb
RIP
Is this the scatter gun aproach to boat buying??
What do you want it for.
What do you want it for.
Coastline
New Member
They are asking 80K for it
petem
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I also know of a Fairline Targa 37 in the South of France for about £100K with cad 44s. Is it realistic to bring a boat like that back to the UK either sailing it or by road ?
[/ QUOTE ]
Nothing stopping you bringing it back to the UK. Easiest way is by road and will set you back a few grand. Make sure all the paperwork is pukka, particularly the VAT certificate.
I also know of a Fairline Targa 37 in the South of France for about £100K with cad 44s. Is it realistic to bring a boat like that back to the UK either sailing it or by road ?
[/ QUOTE ]
Nothing stopping you bringing it back to the UK. Easiest way is by road and will set you back a few grand. Make sure all the paperwork is pukka, particularly the VAT certificate.
tcm
...
offer £62.5k. You can always go up. The 500 quid means you have thought seriously and drops the bargaining to lumps of £500, not £1k. The broker will go bonkers but ignore that. I know a bloke bought a 2.5 yr old sunseeker loads under list cos wrong colour. Whereas this is a bit wrong shape.
Actually, it is quite good for uk - the too-big side windows mean that the windscreen protects you. Whereas in the med it means no wind in hair.
Actually, it is quite good for uk - the too-big side windows mean that the windscreen protects you. Whereas in the med it means no wind in hair.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Now this IS ugly.............
Only a mother could....
Only a mother could....
pvb
Well-Known Member
Good advice...
That's good advice. Is the boat in the North-West? If so, it's been for sale for 18 months or so, I believe, so sellers are probably desperate. But bear in mind it'll be equally difficult for you to sell one day!
I always thought that Sutton-in-Ashfield-sur-la-mer was a particularly incongruous place to build boats.
That's good advice. Is the boat in the North-West? If so, it's been for sale for 18 months or so, I believe, so sellers are probably desperate. But bear in mind it'll be equally difficult for you to sell one day!
I always thought that Sutton-in-Ashfield-sur-la-mer was a particularly incongruous place to build boats.
Nautorius
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the Forum.
I would not rush into such a purchase. As said before Birchwood have their place in the market with aft cabin SD boats. Lots of room and good value if you like that kind of design. The problem with the Commando is that it is a 'Sports Boat'. That on it's own would be fine but they had little experience designing them and a few things (to look at) went wrong. The boat market is quiet at the moment and the right boats sell at the right price. This means you can look at more established builders popular in the UK such as Fairline, Sealine, Princess and even Jenneau and Cranchi (although the later is more med than UK).
Often the first boat is traded in/changed soon after purchase as you learn what you need/want from a boat. That means you should try and get one that you can move on easily. A cammando would not be that easy to sell. However if that is what you want follow HLB's advice and start low. The market is quiet and you are a new buyer.
Feel free to keep asking us but narrow down what you want from a boat first and your budget. Then you will get lots of great recommendations. (all different)
Cheers
Paul
I would not rush into such a purchase. As said before Birchwood have their place in the market with aft cabin SD boats. Lots of room and good value if you like that kind of design. The problem with the Commando is that it is a 'Sports Boat'. That on it's own would be fine but they had little experience designing them and a few things (to look at) went wrong. The boat market is quiet at the moment and the right boats sell at the right price. This means you can look at more established builders popular in the UK such as Fairline, Sealine, Princess and even Jenneau and Cranchi (although the later is more med than UK).
Often the first boat is traded in/changed soon after purchase as you learn what you need/want from a boat. That means you should try and get one that you can move on easily. A cammando would not be that easy to sell. However if that is what you want follow HLB's advice and start low. The market is quiet and you are a new buyer.
Feel free to keep asking us but narrow down what you want from a boat first and your budget. Then you will get lots of great recommendations. (all different)
Cheers
Paul
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Paul, do you know that Birchwood have recently gone bust which makes it the third time, I think. That has caused big variations in build quality over the years. Also, whilst tcm's description is hardly subtle, I do agree that the Commando certainly hit a lot of branches of the ugly tree on the way down. If you really like this boat, I would make a very low offer because it wont sell easily, say £60k
A targa 37 would certainly be a safer buy even if its a bit of a lemon because its a popular boat and therefore re-saleable. Bringing a boat back from the Med is certainly viable. Reckon on £2-3k if you're willing to wait for a return load
There was a thread a few days ago on the subject of buying a boat in Europe here
A targa 37 would certainly be a safer buy even if its a bit of a lemon because its a popular boat and therefore re-saleable. Bringing a boat back from the Med is certainly viable. Reckon on £2-3k if you're willing to wait for a return load
There was a thread a few days ago on the subject of buying a boat in Europe here
pheran
Well-Known Member
I can't see much difference in looks between the Birchwood and the Sealine range. Both pug-ugly IMHO, both built down to a price.
Coastline
New Member
Thanks for all your comments much apreciated.
