Small displacement boat recommendations.

domlee

domlee

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I was originally thinking of obtaining a boat like an Antares 760 or Sealine S23 but all that frenetic energy (and potential fuel costs) gave me a headache.

I then came across an ad. for a Bella 703 and although it nearly but didn't quite come up to the mark, I thought "a small, sea kindly craft with passable accomodation for 2 adults and 2 kids with a displacement speed of 8 - 10 knts and a fuel consumption of circa 1gal/hour at cruising speed" could be a viable alternative to the aforementioned fast fisher/sports boats.

So, dipping into the pool of wisdom that I know exists out there, could anyone advise of alternative types of craft nearest to the specifications of the Bella 703? - I shall ignore references to a MacGregor 26s with 20hp outboards etc.
 
Not sure there is such a thing as a sea kindly small boat, you either plain above it or wobble about in it. It's either bash or wobble. Course these days you can actually drive a fast boat slowly. Think the biggest mistake folk make, is to go for sports type boats, forgetting the British weather. Warmth and ease of getting round the boat, are number one. Lounging areas can be improvised, warm areas cant.
 
LeeMan, I see you are based in Nothern Ireland.
There are probably places about you which have a fair old tidal range.Think on about punching a 5 or 6 kt tide.
Most small displacement vessels won't cruise much above 8 kts.
The Channel Island 22's mentioned by Banjansailor are tremendous sea boats for their size.
I have done many a mile in the Irish sea with one.
They will potter and shift along.
Mine cruised at 14 kts through seas that would frighten some peeps.
At 3 galls and hour.
If you don't mind working the tides something like the Bella is a ok but can be restricting if the area you boat has strong currents if you get my Drift /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Don't forget the likes of your S23 will use less than 1gall/hour at displacement speed as well, there are plenty of these pottering up and down rivers at 4-5knts just sipping fuel, but you will have the option of going for a blast if you want too.
 
LeeMan, I agree with Kawasaki. I don't know where you do your boating but a 6-7kt displacement small boat is going to struggle in big tides. IMHO, you ought to be looking at well found semi displacement boats which are capable of comfortable cruising at displacement speeds but can get up and go when needs must. I don't know your budget but all of these manufacturers make good little sea boats
Orkney
Hardy
Harley 25
 
Unfortunately a true displacement boat of around 21' will only have a max speed of about 6kts maximum. Anything going faster than that will be either a semi displacement or planing boat.

I had a Channel Islands 22 for about 8 years. An excellent boat, well worth a look but a family of 4 will basically be camping on board. So as always with boats I can see a compromise having to be reached................
 
dont get too carried away about fuel consumption. Unless you have some big beasties, zoom along, and clock up alot of hours, there will probably be other expenses that give a bigger headache !
Most smaller boats do about 50 hours a year engine running, so do some maths and see if the potential for 20knots or so would really break the bank?
Remember alot of boating isnt "under way" > There s alot of lounging off coves, having lunch at anchor, tying up somewhere and going to the pub. 50 hours engine might be 200/300/??? hours of boating !
 
How about a Ningret. 22' with 25hp gets you about 18kts. Semi displacement boat two berth porta potti kids could camp in cockpit. It's a sea kndly small boat designed by John Atkin the American designer. I'm currently looking for someone to commission a build. Cold moulded plywood construction. Here's a link. http://tinyurl.com/ac6jv6 It might suit and would look very smart.
 
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I would be very surprised if that did 18 knots with 25 hp!


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I'd be amazed!!

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Certainly not with you in it, ljs /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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Semi Displacement hulls require a lot less power

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In a different universe, with different laws of physics, that may just be true. :-)
 
I want something similar (a sea kindly displacement boat) and have been looking at the Trusty 23 - although it is expensive at £60k plus new and no secondhand ones apparently on the market. If anyone has experience of the Trusty I would be interested in their views.
 
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