Small accomodation on motorboats

I think it depends how long you want to spend looking for the right boat. As others have said, it's likely to be fairly old ('80s or'90s), petrol or a displacement diesel. But within that range, there are some good boats, and some real old dogs. As I've found, there are some "good" brands which have been let go to the point where they have virtually no value (often through lack of use) and yet the owners still think they are worth good money. Obviously, mechanical conditional is a vital decider - regular use and maintenance is essential if you don't want to spend time and money putting right what might be decades of neglect.

FWIW, I bought a '92 Regal 255 to faff about in, off an owner who kept it upriver. There seemed to be quite a few seagoing boats on the rivers. Many not worth spending time on, but some well maintained boats used as floating caravans. Why someone wanted a boat with a 250HP V8 and a 19 degree deadrise on the River Avon is beyond me. Anyway, I paid £7.5K for the boat and moved it to the sea. Good seagoing boat, if a bit gawd help us to look at. Might be worth a look at some of those inland boats.
 
I don't think the OP is being fair.
Have you ever seen a Shetland?
They do 4 berth boats from as small as 18ft (The Shetland Family Four) with all creature comforts.

Viking and Atlanta also make comfortable small end boats.

For more offshore use try Trusty or Hardy. I would generally say mobos are more spacious inside than yachts for almost any given length.
 
I have repowered over 30 Dracos from the 18ft through to the Twincab, I did the first Mercruiser 1.7 diesel twin installation on a Twincab, I took out two VP 130hp petrols and fitted two 112hp diesels, I clocked it at 40 knts during testing which was more than it ever did on the petrols!
A little known fact is that Draco was the largest producer of glass fibre boats in Europe during the late 70's early 80's with boats from 18 to 29ft and even produced patrol boats for foreign navy's.
IIRC Poole Power Boats ( Sunseeker) were a Draco dealer who then began to make their own boats, and the little blue speed boat they display at boat shows looks suspisciously like an early Draco, so maybe they based the design on a Draco.
In later years Draco and Windy combined and the early Windy's had Draco hulls, then hard times came so Draco was dropped and Windy continued, then hard times came again and now Windys are no longer produced in Norway, all production has gone to Poland and just the largest Windys are made in Sweden. But 3 yrs ago the Draco name was revived with the 3 new models now produced.
 
Ive finally worked out what i mean. Its the Windows. Sailing boats of 24 footish have cave like accomodation with just slit like windows to let a bit of light in. The bulkheads are then free for lighting, shelving etc. It makes a more cosy liveable feel. The boating experience is outside, and the inside is just for living,whereas on many motorboats, like the shetland series, there is loads of plexiglass about for looking out of.
 
gordmac said:
If your wife doesn't like sailing but otherwise the boat suits, could you not just use it with the engine all the time?
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Have you not followed FireFly's thread 'I don't get it'?
If we all hate someone for converting a sailboat to a motorboat how can we encourage someone to use a sailboat as a motorboat? It would be as if all the forumites don't agree on everything:cool:
 
Think we are not comparing a the right level ... what you need to be looking (spacewise and pricewise) at is not a planning hull with expensve 200Hp engine(s) capable of 30 knot + ... What you need to be looking at is a displacement cruiser similar to the ones you find in Scandinavia, cruising at 6 - 8 knots with reasonable accommodation and which was very popular between 1970 - late 1990's.

Can mention the Norwegian built;

Tresfjord 26
Fram 25
Nidelv 24
Viksund 27
Albin 25

etc...
 
kennyh said:
Yes can agree, a Bayliner 245 is very comfortable with Double berth, V berth, enclosed head and shower, good sized galley with hob and microwave, sink, fridge, mains power etc. Importantly (if you are after size) it has a wide beam and great headroom.

You can also sleep a couple kids in the cockpit area (due to a fill-in cushion in the rear seating area).

It has very comfortable seating throughout, far from having a couple of hard benches, with seating in the cabin and seating for 6+ in the cockpit.

My previous boat was the above; I now have a Jeanneau 30s motorboat which has considerably more room than my brother's 30 yacht as his boat has a very narrow beam, with his forward v berth bordering on useless.

In my view/experience there's good and bad design in both yachts and motorboats.

Did you post this thread as you are after a motorboat to suit your needs? If so what kind of budget are you working to?
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Our first boat was a bayliner 2455 and I am convinced it is the most boat for the least money you can buy. Is is a really roomy boat too.
 
Bouba said:
Have you not followed FireFly's thread 'I don't get it'?
If we all hate someone for converting a sailboat to a motorboat how can we encourage someone to use a sailboat as a motorboat? It would be as if all the forumites don't agree on everything:cool:
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Most sailboats are motorboats for a large part of their use! From what I understand most of the time the wind is too strong or not strong enough or from the wrong direction or the wrong type and they just use the engine.
 
gordmac said:
Most sailboats are motorboats for a large part of their use! From what I understand most of the time the wind is too strong or not strong enough or from the wrong direction or the wrong type and they just use the engine.
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In the Med that is certainly true as winds tend to be non-existent or strong - apart from long term liveaboards who can wait a few days for the right winds. Not so true around Britain where winds wander through a full range of strength and direction , although you will always get a few people who will only use the sails if conditions are perfect.
 
Sorry, pressed button too soon hence previous blank page' what I trying to say was that for offshore motoring it is the English Harbour 29 (the 27 is for inland waterways). Fantastic boat now manufactured by Broom. The quality and lay up are of a different order to the cheap imported (Jenneau etc.) boats.
 
OceanSprint said:
I have a 24 foot sailing boat. It can comfortably sleep 2 adults and 2 kids
Has an enclosed heads, a kitchenette, storage, a decent domestic power supply and is downright comfortable to live in at least for a weak.

Motorboats of the same size seem to have a couple of hard benches and thats about it.

I get that my cockpit is not full depth, and it is not a planing hull, but why cant small motorboats have as decent accomodation as yachts?
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Many years ago, I had a Birchwood 25, it slept 6. I suspect you haven't actually looked at many motorboats this 'weak'
 
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