Sports cruiser buying advice.

The week before last we were 3 knots down from brochure top speed (boat was made in 2003) but that was after seven months in the water with no mid season scrubs, the bimini up, 1000kg of fluids onboard, a tender / outboard and all of the usual paraphernalia that one accumulates over time.
 
@LBR/Bruce
Sorry, sold her several years ago to go bigger.
Originally had AQ171s but dropped a valve from a broken cam belt so I re-engined with FSDTIs from Mike Bellamy. Was a major engineering project as LBR knows but once the props were sorted to suit, she was a great package.
Still have video of creaming along at 30 kts and would handle big seas confidently.
Classic - They don't make them like that nowadays
 
tico said:
@LBR/Bruce
Sorry, sold her several years ago to go bigger.
Originally had AQ171s but dropped a valve from a broken cam belt so I re-engined with FSDTIs from Mike Bellamy. Was a major engineering project as LBR knows but once the props were sorted to suit, she was a great package.
Still have video of creaming along at 30 kts and would handle big seas confidently.
Classic - They don't make them like that nowadays
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Fantastic - good to hear.
Dig out the video and get it on you tube!
 
Looked at a couple of bayliner 2855 yesterday, both at the same marina, I was shocked how tatty and shabby they where tbh, many silly little low cost faults not repaired, gel coats cracked and scuffed, gas struts not working, both needed new canopy’s IMO. Both 40k plus, didn’t get as far as service history I’d seen enough by then, boats appeared very dirty like they’d been sitting for a long while and no sales preparation whatsoever .
forgot to mention in my original post, the boat will be moored in Torquay so will only be used in Torbay and surrounding areas hence the reason for no preference over diesel or petrol as petrol is easily available shoreline.
thinking of viewing a Monterey 265 cr next week, have to push the budget a bit, so any thoughts on montery would be appreciated. Many thanks again fo all the help.
 
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You probably do have to see past a bit of dirt. It would be rare to find a boat that is presented with everything exactly as you would wish it to be.
 
Fully understand that! But to not bother fixing simple low cost things like gas struts, door hinges , latches . Tells me a lot.
That appeared to run throughout both boats, I dread to think about preventive maintanance and service history and a bit of simple sales preparation and even a jet wash would of certainly changed my first impressions .
 
Calders67 said:
Looked at a couple of bayliner 2855 yesterday, both at the same marina, I was shocked how tatty and shabby they where tbh, many silly little low cost faults not repaired, gel coats cracked and scuffed, gas struts not working, both needed new canopy’s IMO. Both 40k plus, didn’t get as far as service history I’d seen enough by then, boats appeared very dirty like they’d been sitting for a long while and no sales preparation whatsoever .
forgot to mention in my original post, the boat will be moored in Torquay so will only be used in Torbay and surrounding areas hence the reason for no preference over diesel or petrol as petrol is easily available shoreline.
thinking of viewing a Monterey 265 cr next week, have to push the budget a bit, so any thoughts on montery would be appreciated. Many thanks again fo all the help.
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Only 60 miles to Guernsey. Don’t limit your horizons. Diesel better in so many ways - including resale.
 
I have a Sealine S23 with a KAD32 . The last time I had it at any sort of speed was 2019 and it was doing 30knots. I don't see why it shouldn't do the same now with a decent clean and a service. Despite what 'alt' said earlier about avoiding them at all costs, I find it quite a capable little boat so far and I'm still looking forward to bringing it to the Solent next year. I did have some good feedback about these from this forum at the time of purchase . Its all about the maintenance budget. Personally I would struggle to maintain and fuel a twin engine boat. But that's me.
 
Diesel for me. The boat will cost you more but the re-sale value will be much better and the boat will be easier to sell. Cheaper to run, safer and much more readily available. Service costs I believe will be a higher but I don't know by how much £ exactly. I know its a bit more complex with diesels.
Torquay, nice! I'm sure whatever you purchase you'll have a great time.
 
Calders67 said:
Fully understand that! But to not bother fixing simple low cost things like gas struts, door hinges , latches . Tells me a lot.
That appeared to run throughout both boats, I dread to think about preventive maintanance and service history and a bit of simple sales preparation and even a jet wash would of certainly changed my first impressions .
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A lot boats will come come onto the market in the Autumn and there's plenty of time until the 2022 season starts.

Don't feel pressurised into taking something that's not been well looked after. But make sure you visit some brokers in person and build up a rapport so that you're the first person they call when a good boats comes onto the market.
 
Calders67 said:
Looked at a couple of bayliner 2855 yesterday, both at the same marina, I was shocked how tatty and shabby they where tbh, many silly little low cost faults not repaired, gel coats cracked and scuffed, gas struts not working, both needed new canopy’s IMO. Both 40k plus, didn’t get as far as service history I’d seen enough by then, boats appeared very dirty like they’d been sitting for a long while and no sales preparation whatsoever .
forgot to mention in my original post, the boat will be moored in Torquay so will only be used in Torbay and surrounding areas hence the reason for no preference over diesel or petrol as petrol is easily available shoreline.
thinking of viewing a Monterey 265 cr next week, have to push the budget a bit, so any thoughts on montery would be appreciated. Many thanks again fo all the help.
Click to expand...

I watched a documentary a while back that showed how Sea Ray started and grew to dominance in the US market. It began as a paradigm shift from the concept boats should be long lived / owned for a lifetime. They should be more like cars, a short to medium term disposable item. Built cheaply and replaced every 5 to 10 years. These were small runabouts but it started a certain ethos in the US market in the lower end. (take a look at the price collapse of these boats in the US market on a 15 year old boat of a few of these genres). These are starter boats in their mind. I would be wary of the build quality full stop. In so saying I have had a Sea Ray and it was a great little boat that did everything well or well enough, but is still not up to the same build standards as their more prestigious brands or European ones. I say this because 40k seems awfully steep for what you are buying and have seen plenty Regal boats of similar size go for mid 20's before Covid and I would put them on a par with each other. I'd hang back a little bit and see what my 40k could really buy. I know you think I am bias but I'd really take a Sun Fury over a Cierra any day of the week for sea keeping and build quality even given the disparity in years. If you're boating for two you are doing yourself a disservice not having a look at LBRodders boat, or any like it. Brand new engine and electrics in a legendary hull. Build like the proverbial and immanently sea worthy despite her size. What's more is you will know what you are buying. Or you can buy baubles and bling. Some people prefer that. We cater for Roy too ?
 
I would look at a French boat, outboard powered and a more recent vintage. Perhaps something on a trailer. Just my two cents worth ?
 
Just to bring some facts, based on first hand experience, into the thread. A Sealine S28 with twin AD31 (150hp), will top out at 30 knots and cruise at 22 knots give or take. It is also a very capable boat, far more capable than just a Solent hack. Cross channel, no problem at all and a far better hull than it is generally given credit for.
 
And planing boats don’t track well at low speeds, especially if single drive. I had to constantly make small steering corrections whilst boating on the Thames in our Bayliner.
 
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