Should I buy Doral Monticello / Prestancia? Views and help please!!!

[Markhammond]

I'm new to this forum and to boating and about to take that scary first step and purchase a motor boat. After loads of research I am considering either a Doral Monticello or Prestancia but wanted to get some views from those more in the know than me.

After seeing some other similar posts it seems helpful to say a bit about myself. This is my first boat and I'm due to take my RYA powerboat level 2 shortly. I hope to berth this in Brighton to access the south coast as well as use this as somewhere to stay overnight with the family (wife and four year old daughter). I was leaning towards Dorals due to the age of the boat, classy finish and open plan (so we can always keep an eye on my daughter whilst on the water). So that's a bit about me, what I was hoping to get some views on:

- Doral as a manufacturer. Are their boats reliable, are they easy to maintain, are there any known problems or things to look out for?
- Should I be concerned that Doral are no longer trading, is it possible (or easy) to get spares or accessories?
- Given my budget £35-55k, is there anything else out there you recommend that is under 10 years old? - And for a boat of this age, what is acceptable level of hours used?
- Any other advice you would give to a novice?

Sorry if these seem stupid questions, but any responses would be extremely gratefully received.

Thanks all!

Mark

 

[rubberduck]

I am in Essex on the river Crouch where Essex boatyards are based. They used to be a Doral dealer & there are still many such boats around here that all seem to be good.
I had an Elegante which had a few problems due to being made at the time Doral were hitting difficulties,which in fairness were fixed by EBY & Mercruiser, but nonetheless annoying. so anything made before 2007 should be good, but this is only my opinion

 

[Markhammond]

Thanks, I've paid a visit to them actually and also heard good things about them as a broker on this forum.

 

[neale]

The thing about boats is that very little is actually builder specific outside of the fibreglass mouldings. The engines and pretty much all of the other bits bolted on will have been made by someone else who is probably still in business, although no guarantees in this climate, which means that stuff will be relatively easy to obtain. As far as reliability is concerned it will have an engine built by one of the few engine manufacturers in that market, probably Volvo, Mercuruiser or Yanmar, and these will be reliable as long as they have been are are looked after. A Doral will be as easy to maintain as any other boat, as long as access to the engines is good.

If you are planning to put some miles on it, I would suggest getting diesel, rather than petrol, as it is more readily available and you will get through less. It is also cheaper to buy the fuel, although the boat will be more expensive. Remember when you come to sell you will get some of this extra outlay back.

Boats typically do around 50 hours per year. Anything from 20 to 100 is pretty normal though. I would be more wary of a boat with very low hours than one with slightly high hours. ie better a boat with 150 hours a year than one with only 5.

If Essex have a suitable boat in stock I don't think you will be disappointed with their customer service. Lots of good comments about them hereabouts.

 

[Markhammond]

Sound like, as with cars, full service history and receipts of any works done are a must. Thanks for the advice on diesel by the way.

 

[Solitaire]

Sound like, as with cars, full service history and receipts of any works done are a must. Thanks for the advice on diesel by the way.

Dorals are nice little boats, but as others have said, the components are all basically the same. So, yes service history etc is important.

My question to you is why Brighton? I guess because you live close by! However, I would suggest you think again. While yes it is the "South Coast" there it just about stops! Entrance in strong Southerly winds is bad, unless you are experienced in navigation and have a few years under your belt there is really nowhere to go. Oh, it is cheap! But then ask why?

With a young daughter, you don't want to scare her (or for that matter the good lady) or else your boating days will be numbered and you will want to sell the boat pretty quickly because the family won't want to go out.

Sorry to be the bringer of negativity, but Brighton is not the place for a new boater who wants have a boat such as a Doral or anything really sub 30ft and get value.

Spend a bit more time in the car and look to the Solent. Yes, it is busy, but you will have more places to go, be less affected by weather and get the family to more places. You will have more use and more fun!

 

[SwanseaBoat]

Hi Mark
I was in your shoes about 4 years ago but with two nippers and a wife never been boating.
I also looked at and liked the Doral, but it is very much a US style open boat.
Now Brighton has better weather than Swansea, but we went down the enclosed cabin / high side cockpit design route, and have settled comfortably in a Merryfisher 925.
Much slower of course than your Dorals/ Rinkers etc ....
So far this year, we have had two beautiful days at sea, heater on, door shut, cup of tea in hand, dog snoring. Lovely.
Try and get a ride out just to see if you like the motion on the ocean.
Enjoy, Dan
ps. Not maxfac MarkHammond by any chance?

 

[rafiki_]

Mark,

Welcome to the forum!

With your budget, you might also look at the Sealine S28, which will be in your budget, and twin Diesel engines. These are great boats for the UK Coast, and several forum members have these boats, so Hubert will be a wealth of knowledge and help too. I am not against US boats! having owned a couple of these myself! and if I was in the up to £25k budget, would definitely go down this route.
Anyway, good luck with the hunting!
Brighton Marina is a great place, lots to do when it is not the weather for boating, enough to keep you wife and daughter interested. It is not the boating paradise of The Solent, but not a bad place to moor.

 

[mercuryman]

A heads up on the MerCruiser diesel powered Monticello's is water ingress to the turbocharger housing. The exhaust waterline height is right on the limit.

Changed loads of turbos on these. Also as the the waterline height is low the steering seal is below the waterline.

 

[oGaryo]

We also looked at the Doral but decided not to go with one after a friend who owned one suggested they sat stern heavy in the water. not sure how true that is so check it out. We went for the S28 buying her front Brighton as it goes and driving her over to Southampton once purchased. I can concur with the comment about Brighton marina, not alot to do other than motor around in open seas when the weather permits.

The weather (just s force 5-6) kept us in the marina for an extra 24hrs before making the passage to Southampton as we decided it wouldn't be fun trying to get out the marina with the waves coming over the top of the breaker.

2 mins and beyond will give you an idea of what it was like on the first day (that Steve bottled it )

 

[oGaryo]

The 2nd vid shows us leaving in calmer weather

If you berth around Portsmouth / Southampton, you'd be able to take the boat out on both days in my opinion rather than being marina bound on one of them

 

[Markhammond]

We're in London, so whilst not close it's just over an hour to Brighton. I was originally trying to find a berth on the Thames around Docklands, but struggled to find anything and the wife's not keen on Chatham so as a fall back I started looking at Brighton. But I may now reconsider because, as you say, I don't want to put of the ladies in my life!

 

[Markhammond]

Good advice, whilst we've done a bit on rivers the sea is gonna be another kettle of fish. And sorry not the maxfac Hammond ;o)

 

[Markhammond]

Thanks also for the advice of the mercy and the alt opinion on Brighton. Maybe a sea test down there is in order (but not on a day like that first video!!)

 

[rafiki_]

Please consider the date of Gary's vid, November. Glassy sea states are few and far between in most coastal regions at that time of year.

 

[Markhammond]

That's a good point, until I get some experience under my belt there is no doubt I'll be a fair weather sailor!

 

[RogerRat]

We're in London, so whilst not close it's just over an hour to Brighton. I was originally trying to find a berth on the Thames around Docklands, but struggled to find anything and the wife's not keen on Chatham so as a fall back I started looking at Brighton. But I may now reconsider because, as you say, I don't want to put of the ladies in my life!

Hi Mark and welcome to Fora fun. :encouragement:

I'm not sure what part of London you're in but the A3 leads straight down to Hayling Island 50-60 mins and then onto Portsmouth. Hayling has two marinas' run by MDL: Northney, by the bridge as you go on to the island with a harbour run to the sea approx 25 mins. and Sparkes marina, very close to the Sailing club and 5 mins from the sea. 'Flower Power' on here has a Sealine S28 (and plenty of experience) in Sparkes and I'm sure he would help you more on this model.

Hayling Island is the West side of Chichester harbour and is a very good location for new to boating families as the harbour is busy, yet quite beautiful, multiple rivers to explore and sandy beach to anchor by at East Head. Plenty of wild life too, including a seal colony. When the weather is good, it's only 15 Nm to Cowes and if bad, you can have a nice day out in the harbour.

If you like the Doral, I would say it's a must to speak to Essex Boat Yards as they were the importer and their techy team know all the answers.

Don't rush in, get your PB2, speak to other owners as you meet them on boats you like the look of and then try and find out why they chose that particular boat. There are many and your views and goals may be a moving target right now. You can always ask on here and then even more variable feedback.

Don't worry tho, your first and second boats will be wrong! :ambivalence:

RR

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

My question to you is why Brighton?

Obviously because it is the centre of the universe!

To the OP, I started my boating in Brighton 15 years ago, because I live here. I liked it because the marina is 15 mins away from the house (7 on a motorcycle...) and just for the convenience it was great. I like the fact that there is very little here, because it does mean that on a sunny afternoon in the height of the summer you can just drift around on the tide a mile or two off, and not encounter anybody else at all.

But ... the general comments made by others are accurate: Brighton marina is cheap for reason, which is that it is a long way to anywhere else. The great pleasure of the solent and environs is that there are lots of places to go, right on your doorstep. From Brighton, either you're going nowhere (ie to the pier and back) or it's a 45m schlep to the solent to the more interesting stuff. The downsides of the solent though are that as an extremely crude rule of thumb you will pay 50-100% more than Brighton for berthing, and there's much more boaty traffic, which at times (particularly, in my own experience, in Chichester harbour) can get a bit wearing.

If you just want to float about, bit of wakeboarding, bit of mackerel fishing, stay on board in the marina, weekend shopping in town, chain restaurants on your doorstep, cheap berthing - Brighton's a reasonable shout. If instead you're imagining trips to other marinas, anchoring out, kind of mini-holidays away on the boat, then head for the solent.

Best of luck with it though. PS RogerRat has it spot on - don't worry too much about getting the first boat exactly right - it's bound to be wrong and you'll buying another one soon enough. Ask oGaryo!

 

[Solitaire]

Obviously because it is the centre of the universe!

To the OP, I started my boating in Brighton 15 years ago, because I live here. I liked it because the marina is 15 mins away from the house (7 on a motorcycle...) and just for the convenience it was great.

But ... the general comments made by others are accurate: Brighton marina is cheap for reason, which is that it is a long way to anywhere else. The great pleasure of the solent and environs is that there are lots of places to go, right on your doorstep. From Brighton, either you're going nowhere (ie to the pier and back) or it's a 45m schlep to the solent to the more interesting stuff. The downsides of the solent though are that as an extremely crude rule of thumb you will pay 50-100% more than Brighton for berthing, and there's much more boaty traffic, which at times (particularly, in my own experience, in Chichester harbour) can get a bit wearing.

If you just want to float about, bit of wakeboarding, bit of mackerel fishing, stay on board in the marina, weekend shopping in town, chain restaurants on your doorstep, cheap berthing - Brighton's a reasonable shout. If instead you're imagining trips to other marinas, anchoring out, kind of mini-holidays away on the boat, then head for the solent.

A very fair assessment by the man who IMHO is the expert on Brighton! I was waiting for him to arrive on the scene:encouragement:

The main problem with boating is that everything is a compromise, no matter the boat or the berth or the location. Very few get it right first time and it is really only experience that comes to your aid! Based on your location you have more options than just Brighton! The A3 with the new tunnel has opened up the Solent area to those in London!

Roger Rat is right about Chichester, but again there are limitations due to the restrictions that can apply to exiting the harbour itself in strong southerly winds. But you can happily potter around the harbour until your hearts content. I would probably opt for Sparkes Marina as opposed to the larger Chichester Marina at the top end of the harbour which while having good access of the main roads, is locked and is a long drag down to the sea. There is also Northney Marina which is worth a look.

Roger Rat will no doubt pop in and give more comment on Sparkes where he was based for a number of years.

Heading further west from the A3 brings you to Portsmouth Harbour. Here my preferred options would be to look at Haslar, Gosport or Clarence Yard marinas. Although these three have not the most salubrious drives from the M27, they have the advantage of being close to the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour. I hate Port Solent! Although it has it's own self contained shopping and restaurant/entertainment area. It is again locked with a long drag down through the harbour to the playground of the Solent.

Before you decide on where you put your boat, take a trip down with the family and check out the different options. Go to Brighton when the weather is less than clement and have a good look out! Spend a day going around the Portsmouth Marinas and then another checking those out around Southampton and the mid Solent/ Hamble You will get advice from all and sundry, listen to those that have experienced several locations. And ask why they moved from one to the other.

I have some friends who live in North London and have been in the Hamble for many years but are now bored with the Solent and are considering moving down to the West Country to find new cruising grounds! But they don't have kids and will just jump on the train on a Friday and head back to London on Monday! Que the Med converts at this point!

There is not a marina (probably!) I have not been in from the Crouch right round to Penzance, I know the ones I prefer but they would not suit everybody. More relevant perhaps are those that I would not go to and as the saying goes that is all based on location, location, location. And then add what you want from your boating .

Your other option of course is that have a look at what the River Crouch has to offer you if you go up to Essex Boat Yards.

As I said everything will be a compromise at some point, just a question of sorting out the best. Good luck.

But back to your original question re what boat? Again look at as many as you can, Doral are good little boats, as has been suggested the Sealine S28!is a great boat probably my favourite in its class! Look at the newer Bayliners and Montereys. You are spoilt for choice and options will lead to insanity. Have a good look at the interiors and consider what you want in terms of accommodation. With two ladies on board, a bucket/portaloo will not endear themselves to your choice! Consider the youngsters attention span- go to far and boredom will set in and with that irritation. Shorts hops with time ashore and things to do will enhance your personal boating experience !

 

[rafiki_]

Mark, you have more to consider than the perfect cruising ground. Your 4 yo daughter is not going to be a 24/7 sailor at her age. Lady wife's moods are going to in some ways be dictated by how content your daughter is. The thing to consider is what are you going to do at a marina, when daughter/wife are crotchety? Lovely marinna's at Chichester/Portsmouth/Southampton etc, but miles away from anything a 4 year old is intersted in. At Brighton marina there are attractions inc cinema, plus everything else Brighton sea front has to offer, 10 mins away. Of course, closing the deal is the knowledge that Jimmy t' Builder is a local resident.