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pij27

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Hi, looking to start boating on a small budget, approx £2500. Looking for a boat to use for a day or weekend use. Not sure if need a powerboat or displacement boat. Consideration of running costs and comfort. Have performed some sailing before but possibly want to try a motor and go where I want.
 
So where are you wanting to boat? Coastal, rivers, lakes / inland?

Where you want to boat will have a big impact on your options and choice.

And what do you want to do with it? Slow cruising, fishing, water sports, days with the family / kids, how many on board?

Do you intend to keep the boat at a marina, on a mooring, in the driveway, do you have a car suitable for towing?

All will have an impact on what type of boat your best suited to.

So more info please.
 
At a low budget like that, you will get a lot more boat for your money buying an old small sailing cruiser. Remember a sailing cruiser has motor as well, so think of it as a displacement motor boat that has an alternative quieter means of propulsion for when you are so inclined.

As an example, my 18ft sailing cruiser cost me under £2K including the motor and a trailer.

Compare that to a friend of mine who's interest is fishing. the best he could find was an Orkney Longliner with motor and trailer for £2500

I would much rather have my larger boat with it's cabin you can sleep in than his open small mobo. Granted his will go faster than mine.
 
Seashoreman said:
I would recommend you look at a Shetland 535. I had one for a number of years when I had a small family.
Can be towed. A decent outboard is a bonus.
should pick one up within budget.
Click to expand...

Agree with that. I used a Shetland 535 down in the Algarve. Runs from Vilamoura to Spain. Ok at sea and would take 4/5. Had a 70hp main with a 5hp 'get you home'.
 
what sort of running costs are there for a boat with an outboard of +50hp? Don't want to end up with a boat where the running costs to use for a few days ends up costing alot.
I understand that they run outboards, but seem to see even small boats with large hp outboards.

Sorry if seems a negative thought, but when see semi displacement boats have 5-20hp diesel and small ribs and cabin cruisers with 50-100hp outboards
 
pij27 said:
what sort of running costs are there for a boat with an outboard of +50hp? Don't want to end up with a boat where the running costs to use for a few days ends up costing alot.
I understand that they run outboards, but seem to see even small boats with large hp outboards.

Sorry if seems a negative thought, but when see semi displacement boats have 5-20hp diesel and small ribs and cabin cruisers with 50-100hp outboards
Click to expand...

From the description of your intended usage. For reasons I could 'list' ( but would clog the internet and take so much time) on here. What others have Posted a Shetland 535 would be just so ideal I think.
Think about how many times a Season you are going to go afloat in anger
15 maybe?
'No you reply- ' I am going on my boat at every opportunity, load more than that'
Mate you will be bloody lucky if you do
Commitments and the weather will stuff that Theory, believe me
Lets say a Shetland type boat with an old generation outboard is shoving it along at 18 kts. You are out for two hours that's 36 miles
Lets say an older generation outboard will burn 25 litres an hour
Yep, that might sound a bit scary to the wallet
Think of it like this
10 times out in the season
70 quid for fuel
700 quid for the season
Paltry in the overall boaty world of Costs
If you get a displacement 'put put' diesel vessel, not as much fun, take longer to get anywhere and if it gets a bitty choppy ages to get back in and her indoors will not like it!
 
Kawasaki said:
'No you reply- ' I am going on my boat at every opportunity, load more than that'
Mate you will be bloody lucky if you do
Commitments and the weather will stuff that Theory, believe me
Click to expand...

I'd like to prove you wrong there :p That <ahem> "Formula for disaster" is going to bite you on your bum one day :D ;)
 
A lot of small planing boats like the 535 (good boats, I have had two, old though need proper checking) come with engines that are too small. I would say a minimum 50 hp otherwise you will never plane her particularly if there are a few people on board.
 
Kawasaki said:
From the description of your intended usage. For reasons I could 'list' ( but would clog the internet and take so much time) on here. What others have Posted a Shetland 535 would be just so ideal I think.
Think about how many times a Season you are going to go afloat in anger
15 maybe?
'No you reply- ' I am going on my boat at every opportunity, load more than that'
Mate you will be bloody lucky if you do
Commitments and the weather will stuff that Theory, believe me
Lets say a Shetland type boat with an old generation outboard is shoving it along at 18 kts. You are out for two hours that's 36 miles
Lets say an older generation outboard will burn 25 litres an hour
Yep, that might sound a bit scary to the wallet
Think of it like this
10 times out in the season
70 quid for fuel
700 quid for the season
Paltry in the overall boaty world of Costs
If you get a displacement 'put put' diesel vessel, not as much fun, take longer to get anywhere and if it gets a bitty choppy ages to get back in and her indoors will not like it!
Click to expand...

I agree, I have a 535 but with an old 75hp which gives 28 kts which is a bit thirsty but there is also the "get you home" 3.3hp on which you could potter all day without noticing the cost. If you don't want the fun of planing occasionally go for something a bit bigger but you may live to regret.
On the Shetland Owners site there is a 535 for £500. http://www.shetlandowners.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3728
 
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Looking at your location its going to be mainly the Thames and Sea Reach on your doorstep. If you go for small displacement cabin boat perhaps moored in one of the tidal creeks then your choice of days out will be limited mainly by tides and boat speed.
Loads of folks find this entirely satisfactory for their purposes.
A nice stable comfortable boat to potter about in on a fine day. Maybe even with an weekend adventure across the Swatchway to Queenborough and beyond up the Swale to Conyer or Faversham.
You need a couple of berths, a bog and a cooker.
On nice day Sea Reach can be full of small displacement boats out for the day doing bit of fishing, not many handy slips so not vast amounts trailer launched stuff.
A Shetland or similar will extend your area somewhat but you will have to find somewhere to launch each time you go out and somewhere to store it when not in use.
You will need something to tow it.
Launching single handed can be fun, recovery a pain in the bottom especially if the weather is rough especially on an exposed beach/shoreline.
The Shetland will be quicker but much more lively at anchor and the "shelter" is basic to say the least.
It will travel much faster but you may not end up wanting to go very far in it or staying aboard.Easier to maintain tho. than a boat on a mooring.
Probably depends on if you enjoy going boating alone or prefer the company of wife/kids etc.Day trips or going away for weekends.
You need to be very careful what ever you buy to avoid getting stiffed with somebody elses problem boat, loads of boats to choose from in your price range choice especially around the Thames Medway esturaries
Several non poncy boat clubs with budget moorings in your locality, worth searching one out, all WILL have a few boats for sale in them.
If you do go down the displacement route, you will come across the evil outdrive conundrum many small boats only came with these.
The ideal is a shaft driven boat with diesel but you get what your money will buy.
Caveat Emptor and Good Luck :)
 
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Sounds like there is no simple answer. Have seen some small cabin cruisers that look like river boats in the sea. So really need to work out whether a displacement boat or plaining boat is what I need.
 
At your budget you are probably going to end up with something like this:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/192355565311
Or this
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/222705225796

The most important thing is to buy a good engine and, if you need one, trailer. These are the bits that can cost lots if you get it wrong. The rest of the boat can be fixed up and improved easily and cheaply, so don't be swayed by a nice looking boat with old engine and dodgy trailer.
 
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now that I am based in two locations, tilbury and the isle of wight, will be looking for a small boat which is good for exploring the rivers, estuaries and also short coastal cruising (Keeping close inshore). So either a cabin cruiser with an inboard diesel/petrol engine or a trailable boat with an outboard. The shetland looks like a good bet, but any other ideas? Is a river/estuary cruiser a better option with an inboard or is the trailable the better way to go.
Most of the time the boat is going to be used for a day trip, going short distances and a whole days enjoyment. Not looking to be racing or bouncing from wave top to wave top.
 
The age old dilemma!
I've had both, moored on the Swale. A 15' Icelandic flying 15 with a 40hp outboard that cruised at 20 knots because, of course, I wanted the speed for fishing trips.
But, absolutely no shelter and no comfort whatsoever soon made me realise I needed a slow displacement boat so I bought a Colvic 20 with a 1.8 inboard diesel.
Slow, comfortable and completely stable but took absolutely forever to get anywhere at all.
Now I have a Channel Islands 22 which is semi displacement, quite fast and supremely stable but too heavy to tow and cost more than the other two combined.

I think you really need to decide what your priority is, and try and make a decision based on that but be aware you probably won't know what the answer is until you've tried both.

As suggested above, recovery on a trailer can be a real nuisance but, of course, is a cheaper option overall.
A Shetland is a very good shout, but "accommodation" is at an absolute minimum, which of course will always be the trade off if you want something trailerable.

Good luck!
 
Maybe so Jim, but you can fit two 50 hp outboard engines on a Marina 16 G.T....However, fitting only one would better suit the OP's requirements. The 16 G.T. is lighter than a 535, making it easier to tow, launch and recover...It also offers a bit more more cabin space than a 535 but in a slightly more compact package. For a given hp outboard, it's also faster and/or more fuel efficient than a 535. Finding a tidy one will be more difficult though.
 
hi ---you say you have some sailing experience but have you any experience of small power boats??-----------------i prefer the motion of a small displacement boat-----might be better to beg a ride in both types before you make a decision
 
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