sos lady in distress! Need help!

[Maz]

Am looking to buy 1st boat. We are a family of 6, although my 2 older boys won't be coming with us all the time, so am looking for 4/6 berth (boys don't mind sleeping up top).
Am looking to spend between £10/£20,000
Have come across 2 hopeful prospects
Fairline Sprint and Fairline Carrera (both mid 80's)
Like the look of the Sprint - one engine but will it be big enough for crossing over to France etc? (Baring in mind I suffer with sea-sickness!)
Like the look of the Carrera - nice and roomy, with sunbathing on front option! But will it be alot more expense with 2 engines compared to Sprint?
We live very near the Solent so will be making lots of short trips to Isle of Wight and alone coast etc. Looking to go further afield in future.
Please Please Please can you help us decide!
All ideas and replies welcome x

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Talon]

Let me get this straight:

Your 1st boat?/forums/images/icons/smile.gif
A mid 80's 4/6 birth with single engine for £10 - £20k?/forums/images/icons/frown.gif
You suffer with sea sickness?/forums/images/icons/frown.gif

.... and you want to go to France in it?

You are a very brave person! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif



<hr width=100% size=1>Alex

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mad-als.com>http://www.mad-als.com</A><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Talon on 08/03/2004 21:20 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[oldgit]

Re:distress! Need help!!

Welcome to the forum.Think you may be wise to have a good look around some of the forum postings before coming to any firm decisions on your proposed new boat and any future trips.I am quessing wildly here but if that boat of yours has got a 50 gallon tank it will go about about 100 miles or less before running out of fuel.Boat simply does not have endurance for that trip to France with any margin of error.Even a trip to and from IOW should be planned with care.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[lanason]

Don't think even David would take Solitaire (his re-engined Sprint) to France - well maybe in convoy but surely not solo.

My single engine Holiday is between the Sprint and Carrerra in size and I have done the IOW trip.

I suggest what ever you buy - THE most important thing is a Engine survey cus thats what causes the problems.


<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>Kelisha</A> Nothing is better than a Holiday

 

[Renegade_Master]

Re:distress! Need help!!

Err 100mile range, thats enough for France innit? should have the range with some to spare, depending on leaving point of course, I mean under 30 miles from Dover .
Now endurance thats another thing, dont know these boats /hulls so cant comment. Plus as Talon says endurance of possible "sea sick" owner may be in question.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.suncoastmarine.co.uk>Sun Coast Sea School & Charter</A>

 

[mainshiptom]

Welcome to the forum !

With a boat of this age, I would always go for two engines !

You will have the comfort of getting back to port if one failes, also when things go wrong on one negine you can always borrow a bit from the other engine to find out if this is the failling part in question !

With planning trips, once you have done lots of small trips, you will get to know the boat and its range ! The longer you run a boat the better you will know what to look out for !

Possibly have as many sea trials as possible, you will know which boat is right for you !

Good luck !

Tom

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Solitaire]

Adrian, I intend to cross to France this year in Solitaire. As to doing it solo - I would certainly consider it with diesel in! However no way would I do it solo with the petrol engine in a boat/engine combination our vintage. Range is a problem on the petrol anyway - certainly from the Solent. Used to get around 80nm's out of petrol engine, but that is not allowing an "reserve" essentila in the event of hitting tricky seastates etc. Also would need a good weather window.!

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[Talon]

They have gone very quite, do you think they have been scared off by us?/forums/images/icons/frown.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mad-als.com>http://www.mad-als.com</A>

 

[Solitaire]

/forums/images/icons/wink.gif Contemplating the implications I suppose! You really need to plan well B4 making a Channel X in a small boat. The distance in itself is not the problem - a cruise from Hamble to Weymouth is just about as far as going accross the pond, but it's the sea state which can develop out of site of land! I crewed a Sealine F33 back from Jersey at the end of November 2003 - realtively big boat but hated the seas. Took around 8 hours and averaged 13.5 knots. The sea was not rough, just coming in from all directions and at times really struggled to make any real headway. To the less expereienced it can be very testing - and frightening.

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[apollo]

Maybe worth considering something a bit older?

To be honest, Sprint not exactly a spring chicken any more, so not much between an 80s boat and a 70s boat.

Fairline Mirage springs to mind but mostly petrol.

Also

Fjord 27 / Selcruiser - not so many of these around but they did come with single Volvo 106Hp Diesel which would give approx 12Knots. Owned one myself in the past and it was an excellent sea boat plus had aft cabin to lose the kids in.

Best thing to do is to look at as many in the flesh as possible.

Good Luck

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Talon]

Have you considered Eurostar?/forums/images/icons/wink.gif

It will get you to France and sea sickness will not be an issue.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mad-als.com>http://www.mad-als.com</A>

 

[Kevin]

My two pence worth would be get yourself an early wide body bayliner 2655 around late 80's, loads about, spares easy to get, space abound for you and your family. its loads of boat for your money. with it being around 29 foot long and 9 foot 6 inch beam it will sleep six in the cabin ( at a push). look at many of the boat mags or online sites ( www.buyaboat.co.uk), im sure youll get one from between £15,000-£20,000. the reason i say this boat is that you are getting a biggish boat for your money and in many respects bigger and heavier means safer, and value for money you cant beat bayliners, i dont think, they have got more people onto the water than any other make.

Once your experienced it will get you to isle of white no problems, tiny boats do that trip regularly, ive been across in a 15 footer. France takes much more experience and planning but would be wholly achievable, perhaps you could get to know other boaters and set up a flotilla or something.

I appreciate what the other responses have been but i fear that they may have frightened you off, when im sure that wasnt their aim!

As i say Bayliner 2655 wide body, it will have single petrol engine, but if looked after it will be fine and many boats of that age will have had major engine refit or rebuild anyway so the engine is likely to be 'newer' than the boat itself.

there is somebody on here with the exact boat(late 80's wide body 2655) im talking about perhaps if he sees this he may be able to help you.( sorry cant remember his name)

Kevin

 

[Johnnygil]

can agree selcuiser is ideal for family as with two cabins loads of room but as for channel x mine allegedly has done it but think I would only try in a group and loadsa spare diesel on board

what was name of your selcruiser?

J

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[apollo]

Actually had two (its a long story!!) One called "KEWBEE 3" and one much later called "VIKING LADY"

Whats yours called?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Maz]

Ahoy shipmates!!
Thanks for all your help and relies!
Been a bit under the weather - not sea sickness yet!
Speaking of which, how do we go about getting a sea trial? Preferably with someone at the helm! Need not only to get a feel of the boat but also to see how sick I'm gonna get and is it worth spending £££££'s on something that I'm not going to want to do for long distances!
Any help grafefully recieved x
Also concerned about fuel consumption for Carrera, does anyone know how much per gallon/hour it does? Thanks again x

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Maz]

Hi Shipmates!
Thanks to all who have kindly replied!
Information has been taken and is slowly being digested
About sea trails - is there anyway of going out with someone at the helm? And without large deposit
Need to know how the boat is and more importantly how long I can go without puking! No point in spending lots of £££££'s on large boat when can just about manage to get out of harbour without seeing last nights din dins!
Also would be grateful to know how much per gallon/hour a Carrera is? Us ladies like to keep an eye on the dosh, whilst you guys like the feel of power under you! Oops! Well you know
what I mean!
Anyway help always gratefully recieved
Thanks again x

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ashanta]

Hi Maz!

I'm a raggie so the advice may not be the best here but my wife suffers from SS and has perservered over the years to the point that she has not cruised for the past 2 seasons. She has decided to to have another go!
She has been to France, channel Isles, Scillies, south coast and the North east coast. She has in the main enjoyed all the trips but when she has been sick she feels like she never wants to sail again.
She got into a routine when she felt sick by going down below to her bunk and remaining there until whatever the conditions were that was causing the problem went away or we reached our landfall..
She always handled her condition better than other sea sick crew members I have had on board who always insisted on staying in the cockpit moaning and getting in the way.
I hope you get a boat to take you to the Channel Isles and France because you will firstly, achieve a great goal and secondly you will enjoy yourself.
Good luck!

Peter.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Maz]

Good one Talon,don't laugh to much your false teeth will fall all.
onnly joking lol

<hr width=100% size=1>I'm sure we've missed the IOW darling they don't speak English!

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Maz, have sent you PM re selcruiser.

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.