Sports cruiser buying advice.

[Calders67]

Hello! New to the board and to boating , always had an interest in boats but barring a couple of weeks on the broads as a kid that’s about it.
im looking at buying a sports cruiser , single engine, below 10m petrol or diesel and budget of approx 40 to 50k , bay liner 2855 seems the most appealing atm and keeps cropping up. What are the main things to check ? Obviously I’ll be checking service history and general condition myself. Would you recommend having a full boat survey ? I’ve been told to check manifold/risers Etc. Been also toying with the idea of buying abroad, a few have come up on the east cost of USA, i realise I’ll have to pay duty , vat, shipping, what would I pay from Europe obviously being post brexit. Many thanks!!

 

[Bajansailor]

Welcome to the Forum Calder.

Re all your questions above, you can be guaranteed to get a good response!
Arguments re the pros and cons of importing, and pros / cons of outdrive legs, and diesel vs petrol, generate almost as much passion as threads about anchors
Yes re a full survey (unless you are very familiar with marine engines or Bayliners).
I think the general consensus re importing a boat from the USA is that it is not worth the hassle.
If you import from Europe, I guess you would have to pay VAT at 20%?

 

[Elessar]

Hello! New to the board and to boating , always had an interest in boats but barring a couple of weeks on the broads as a kid that’s about it.
im looking at buying a sports cruiser , single engine, below 10m petrol or diesel and budget of approx 40 to 50k , bay liner 2855 seems the most appealing atm and keeps cropping up. What are the main things to check ? Obviously I’ll be checking service history and general condition myself. Would you recommend having a full boat survey ? I’ve been told to check manifold/risers Etc. Been also toying with the idea of buying abroad, a few have come up on the east cost of USA, i realise I’ll have to pay duty , vat, shipping, what would I pay from Europe obviously being post brexit. Many thanks!!

I imported a bay liner from the US. A 2858.
You need to pay import duty and VAT.
I had to get a CE mark. Gawd knows what you need now.
It was worth the effort and I I had loads of fun going up the Thames, and to France and the Channel Islands.
But…….,,
I got $1.98 to the £.
I don’t think it would be worth it now. It might be, but do your maths.

 

[Elessar]

If you import from Europe, I guess you would have to pay VAT at 20%?

Your guess is correct.

 

[Mr Googler]

Welcome to the forum

If you are looking at UK coastal use, I’d also consider UK brands. I spent a lot of time on a Bayliner 2655 in the Solent. Not a bad boat but quite light and shallow V so not the most comfortable in a bit of chop.

Here, for example, is a proper solid built cruiser with the advantage of a recent re power. Owned by a forum member too so he’s already been guided by the forum armchair experts ??

Fairline Sunfury 26 Used Boat for Sale 1986

 

[madabouttheboat]

My advice, fwiw, ignore petrol and get a diesel. Any real reason you have chosen single engine?

For your budget, and if you are happy to get a twin engine boat, look for a Sealine S28. Great sea boat for its size. Good accommodation and decent performance.

Only downside is that today’s silly prices may make finding one in budget difficult. A few years back you could pick them up for £40k all day long.

 

[petem]

Also have a look at the "Jeanneau 805 Leader" - see Aquaholic on Youtube.

 

[Elessar]

My advice, fwiw, ignore petrol and get a diesel. Any real reason you have chosen single engine?

For your budget, and if you are happy to get a twin engine boat, look for a Sealine S28. Great sea boat for its size. Good accommodation and decent performance.

Only downside is that today’s silly prices may make finding one in budget difficult. A few years back you could pick them up for £40k all day long.

Agree with going for diesel but disagree re twin engines. Single up to about 32 ft wins for me. Economy of servicing and operation and reliability due to access for servicing makes it a better choice.
Chance of a mechanical breakdown that’s not fuel related (affects both engines) is low enough for me. I’ve done cross channel plenty of times with a single engine.

 

[Calders67]

Thanks for all your help and advice , I’ll certainly take it onboard ,learning a lot as I go along, reason for single engine preference was purely down to running and servicing cost. Off to look at 2 bay liners today, will certainly update in due corse.

 

[madabouttheboat]

Agree with going for diesel but disagree re twin engines. Single up to about 32 ft wins for me. Economy of servicing and operation and reliability due to access for servicing makes it a better choice.
Chance of a mechanical breakdown that’s not fuel related (affects both engines) is low enough for me. I’ve done cross channel plenty of times with a single engine.

I don’t disagree re single vs twin, but availability of single diesel sports cruisers of that size in that budget is quite limited whereas twin are much more common and easy to find. There is also the issue that the budget limits the age of the boat and ergo the age of the engine. Sealine did an S28 with single, but the engine options at that time meant it was only 230hp and somewhat underpowered. Now we have 300hp+ four cylinder diesels it makes more sense, but these boats will be out of the OPs budget.

 

[LBRodders]

The minefield of looking at used boats within the lower ends of the price spectrum.

Some good advice here, but what you will find in your search is that you can only buy what is available, too many constraints and that limits choice further.

A good adage is that when buying a motor boat, you are buying an engine with a free boat attached.

In a good proportion of cases, older planing boats are now underpowered, so performing is a key attribute to look out for on a sea trial. Even boats at the top end of your budget will have engines at 15years+.

Other than that, any boat with full reputable service history beats one without.

Good luck!

 

[Momac]

Diesel is usually preferred because petrol at the waterside is scarce in many areas .
Sealine s28 is a good suggestion. There is one advertised on the Sealine forum at a reasonable price .
(not my boat if anyone was wondering)

 

[russ]

Ditto what Mr Google said. Our 265 Bayliner was a great starter boat for us but after years of ownership I wished we had gone for something with side decks whilst on the Thames and a deeper V hull whilst on the Solent.
Someone said to me a long time ago, go for the largest boat you can afford as you will just waste the money stepping up in size after a short period of ownership. Both in selling and then buying another.
S28 is a good choice.

 

[alt]

For 25-26ft I think the 'best' out there is the Jeanneau Leader 805 with a KAD43. The problem is that it seemed when purchased new, a lot of 'essentials' were 'extras'.

Personally, the following a must (some may be standard, but double check)
Trim Tabs
Calorifier (Immersion both 240v and off the engine)
Shore Power
Extended swim platform

The only negative I could find (apart from the fact it was built by the French) was the canopy, but everything is a compromise. Also, no radar arch so not ideal if you want to get a VHF / TV antenna high up / out of the way.

I would avoid a Sealine S23 at all costs. A great little boat if you don't plan on going anywhere, but they're a nightmare to helm.... constantly bobbing from side to side (sometimes violently) and seemed under-powered.

 

[LBRodders]

Diesel is usually preferred because petrol at the waterside is scarce in many areas .
Sealine s28 is a good suggestion. There is one advertised on the Sealine forum at a reasonable price .
(not my boat if anyone was wondering)

View attachment 124761

I bet the caravan bit is lovely.
The problem is that's a planing boat with 260hp via two 24 year old units. It's performing days are over.

Nice pic tho ?

 

[Scapegoat]

Also depends where you mainly
plan to use it. If Thames, for example, then side decks are safer for lock work.
Always worth visiting the intended area and chatting to local boaters for local advice

 

[Boat2016]

I bet the caravan bit is lovely.
The problem is that's a planing boat with 260hp via two 24 year old units. It's performing days are over.

Nice pic tho ?

Not sure where that theory comes from…please explain???

Also it’s likely to be 300hp not 260.

 

[petem]

Not sure where that theory comes from…please explain???

Also it’s likely to be 300hp not 260.

Perhaps he could also explain why engines with just 500 hours logged couldn't achieve near new performance (with fresh turbos and injector tips if required).

 

[LBRodders]

Not sure where that theory comes from…please explain???

Also it’s likely to be 300hp not 260.

I thought the AD31 were 130hp. If not, I stand corrected.

Its not a small boat for even 300hp. Add on the family, fuel, water, dinghy etc and come the end of the season you will need all that hp.

 

[LBRodders]

Perhaps he could also explain why engines with just 500 hours logged couldn't achieve near new performance (with fresh turbos and injector tips if required).

That's not what this thread is about

So, shall we ignore what the OP wants, offer a boat well over budget and say btw you possibly need new turbos and injector tips?

As previously said, service history is key. Otherwise it'd be 'trigger's broom'.