Sorry, another what boat thread...

[paulbrown22]

I'm thinking about getting a motor boat again. I used to sail quite a lot and can still be found out in a dinghy most weeks during the summer.
I've had Hardy Pilots in the past which I have found slow and quite heavy but well built. Never used the cabin.

I reckon my requirements are:

Inboard/diesel/shaft
Harbour pottering and occasional Solent use. If it can get onto the plane so much the better.
6.5m /21ft max overall (small boat offer in marina)
Small cabin/cuddy, very limited insides, easy access to foredeck
Self draining
Not white if poss(!).
£15k

Is it a small Arvor?

What engine(s) did you have on the Pilot(s) and what do you consider to be the desired cruising speed if "getting on the plane so much the better". My Hardy Navigator with a modern Suzuki DF50A happily does 24kn, and a friend with a Pilot SE and brand new Honda 50hp maxes out around 20kn.

Personally I think in that size range a well cared for Hardy with a suitably sized modern outboard is hard to beat as an all around package, but if you want a bit more cockpit and less cabin any of the Quicksilver/Merry Fisher type fishing cuddy boats would fit the bill, maybe e.g. Mayland Kingfishers too. But in that size most will likely be outboard powered. I have (or have had) boats with outboards, inboard shaft and inboard stern drive, and in that size in the Solent I wouldn't rule out a decent modern injected outboard.

 

[paulbrown22]

I'm thinking about getting a motor boat again. I used to sail quite a lot and can still be found out in a dinghy most weeks during the summer.
I've had Hardy Pilots in the past which I have found slow and quite heavy but well built. Never used the cabin.

I reckon my requirements are:

Inboard/diesel/shaft
Harbour pottering and occasional Solent use. If it can get onto the plane so much the better.
6.5m /21ft max overall (small boat offer in marina)
Small cabin/cuddy, very limited insides, easy access to foredeck
Self draining
Not white if poss(!).
£15k

Is it a small Arvor?

What engine(s) did you have on the Pilot(s) and what do you consider to be the desired cruising speed if "getting on the plane so much the better". My Hardy Navigator with a modern Suzuki DF50A happily does 24kn, and a friend with a Pilot SE and brand new Honda 50hp maxes out around 20kn.

Personally I think in that size range a well cared for Hardy with a suitably sized modern outboard is hard to beat as an all around package, but if you want a bit more cockpit and less cabin any of the Quicksilver/Merry Fisher type fishing cuddy boats would fit the bill, maybe e.g. Mayland Kingfishers too. But in that size most will likely be outboard powered. I have (or have had) boats with outboards, inboard shaft and inboard stern drive, and in that size in the Solent I wouldn't rule out a decent modern injected outboard.

 

[wombat88]

Mooring fees were for Premier Chichester. It is less than 10 minutes from home. Could be slightly cheaper if an 'unserviced' berth is available.

Both Hardys had Suzuki DF50s. With a clean bottom and tabs once managed around 17 knots but felt it was a bit of a struggle.

The other was very cheap and had a DF50 that had managed only 100 hours in 20 years. I should have known better.

I have been on a Hardy with a 70, very different.

 

[paulbrown22]

Mooring fees were for Premier Chichester. It is less than 10 minutes from home. Could be slightly cheaper if an 'unserviced' berth is available.

Both Hardys had Suzuki DF50s. With a clean bottom and tabs once managed around 17 knots but felt it was a bit of a struggle.

The other was very cheap and had a DF50 that had managed only 100 hours in 20 years. I should have known better.

I have been on a Hardy with a 70, very different.

Agreed, on the slightly smaller Navigator a modern 50hp 4 stroke is perfect but the larger Pilot/Pilot SE/Bosun benefit from at least a 60hp motor (which from many manufacturers is the same block as the 50hp so no weight increase), or something like the lightweight Yamaha 70hp.

 

[wombat88]

Agreed, on the slightly smaller Navigator a modern 50hp 4 stroke is perfect but the larger Pilot/Pilot SE/Bosun benefit from at least a 60hp motor (which from many manufacturers is the same block as the 50hp so no weight increase), or something like the lightweight Yamaha 70hp.

I forget the name but Hardy made a 20ft 'Fisher' that looks a lot like Bosun with reduced cabin. Did they do the same with the Navigator?

 

[paulbrown22]

I forget the name but Hardy made a 20ft 'Fisher' that looks a lot like Bosun with reduced cabin. Did they do the same with the Navigator?

Ah yes, I forgot about the fisher variants! They did both an 18 Fisher and 20 Fisher. The 20 had a reduced cabin but still some accommodation, whilst the 18 (attached) really just had a small forward cuddy.

 

[Scubadoo]

Mooring fees were for Premier Chichester. It is less than 10 minutes from home. Could be slightly cheaper if an 'unserviced' berth is available.

Both Hardys had Suzuki DF50s. With a clean bottom and tabs once managed around 17 knots but felt it was a bit of a struggle.

The other was very cheap and had a DF50 that had managed only 100 hours in 20 years. I should have known better.

I have been on a Hardy with a 70, very different.

The price quoted for a 6.5m mooring at Premier Chichester, you could get a 7.5m marina berth at MDL Shamrock for that price. A bit further to travel and maybe not so nice scenery, but might be worth the cost savings.