suitable used boats

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gordmac

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Hi, new to these forum thingies!
I am looking for a bit of advice from the collective wisdom please as I am thinking of getting a bigger boat. I am on the west coast of Scotland quite far from any facilities, to get anywhere in a reasonable time a cruising speed of 15-20kn would be handy, as would the ability to keep up speed safely and comfortably(ish) even if the sea became a bit rough.
Would like to be able to take her out of the water on a trailer so I would say 7-8m length, diesel engine preferred (running cost, reliability, range). Able to cope with four on a weekend away, decent heads. Weather in this part of the world can be a bit damp so some kind of shelter over the helm would be nice but being out in the open in the sun would also be nice!
I am not bothered too much with shinyness but reliability and seaworthiness are important. Which makes/types would be suitable and what to avoid?
Given the present climate I would hope to get something sitting on my mooring with a trailer (can buy seperatley) and change from £10k.
Any suggestions/comments greatly appreciated, I have been rattling round the internet for a while trying to learn what is good, bad or indifferent with little sucess!
 
It's a tight budget you have there for your requirements, looking for 20knots & diesel power doesn't come cheap.

You would need to look for a project & an old one at that so what may seem a bargain may not turn out that way.


There is this, however

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRACO-POWER-BOAT-D...A1%7C240%3A1318


Old but probably ticks all your requirements, not sure if it's the style you wanted so please expand further your prefered style of boat.

For my Money I would be trying to haggle for something like this;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sealine-215-Envoy-...A1%7C240%3A1318
 
don't fancy your chances, I think you might well have to make a compromise or three or up your budget somewhat.
Still, you never know till you try! There are some bargains out there, best of luck! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Have a look at 'Channel Island 22'
Don't ask me to put a link up or any of that trickey stuff.

Stopped being produced in 91.
However tough little ships.
the ones with 140 hp turbos will do the speed.
Not for a trailer though.

One of these ticks your boxes.
You might need to stretch the budgett a little for one that needs no work though.
 
Even with the market like it is I dont think its possible to achieve your spec for 10k. The Ebay Draco looks good but I think the reserve will be well over your budget.

I realise getting hold pf petrol in Scotland is difficult, but a petrol boat may be your only answer at that price.

I would suggest late 80's to early 90's American 25ft trailable sportscruisers are as near to your spec as possible.

Bayliner 2455,2655/2651
Searay 240
Four Winns 238
Chapperal 240
And lots of others.

Or possibly one of the Brits
Sealine 240/255
Falcon 23

You may find the odd diesel reengined Sealine 215 hanging around, but they are few and far between and a lot smaller than those above.
 
You may be scoring an own goal here, and buying a bit of a dog, in order to tick other boxes... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Good find,seems to tick all the boxes, but I'm not sure I fancy that 80's BMW engine and leg. They used the same combination in Fletcher sportsboats, they had problems with them even when new.
 
My Dad bought a 1988 Sealine 218 with the Volvo AQ205 petrol engine last year for under £14,000. I know it's a higher cost than you're hoping for, but I've been all over these forums asking questions about it and the general feeling seems to be they're very good (especially the 205 engine - don't go for a 171hp, no pulling power. You'll get about 23 knots easily. She planes comfortably around 10mph). I've had to do a little bit of work (mainly cosmetic) but she's been a great boat. I'm six feet and stand comfortably in the cabin and the heads. If you get one with decent covers over the helm, so much the better. She's been on the Clyde, then Loch Lomond and now she's back at Rhu on the Clyde waiting for this season. I'd really recommend the boat. Hope this helps.
 
The engine leg marraige did not last long and had a bad reputation.
Sometimes not all together true.
The engine is based on the Italian VM unit.
Which itself has a bad reputation.

Although I know at least one Forumite who recently re- engined his boat with one and it is fine!

I have driven that particular Shetland model on numerous occasions.
Albeit with an outboard configuration.
Not a bad hull.
Off the plane though it is not very comfortable in the rough, like most small planing hulls of that size.

Not many were fitted with inboards.
I,m not too sure that set up suits the hull.
The boat is very close to where I live.
Seen it but not studied it.
Think I will give it a peep for interest!
Could report back.
As said it ticks boxes.

But is it 'tickety boo'?

Been for sale for a while too.
 
I know of a very solid Princess 25, complete with trailer for sale. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Not a diesel but very reasonably priced, as I have a new boat to play with now. (plus an accountant asking why I need two boats!)

Ask Kwaker for an unbiased opinion. PM me if it's of any interest.

Bob
 
You mention a bigger boat, so what do you currently have?
I doubt you can fulfill your bill at £10k, especially if reliability is a credential!
First, I d reconsider that diesel objective. Is it based on range? In which case, do some sums , speed,distance,consumption and look at where has petrol and see if petrol driven isnt in fact ok.
Next, four for w/ends ? That needs a fair amount of space, and I d have to assume two of them arent adults? Just how often are you really going to be more than day boating? If its a couple if times a year.. how about b+b?
How often are you really going boating in the rain? A shower is one thing, but would you really go out if the forecats is several hours of rain?
Just how important is the heads? For boys anyway, the bucket and chuck it is a very cheap solution... just how many hours will you be on the boat, that whoever cant "hold on" !!
So, maybe reconsider the must-haves, and maybe more ideas will come up /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Id suggest you try to pin down the good times, when you really want to use the boat, and on a small boat, get it right for those occasions.
 
Hi, thanks for all your posts. The Draco might be interesting but maybe a bit bigger than I really want (fussy, I know!). The Shetland has been for sale for a long time, crops up on ebay regularly with a starting bid of £7k but never any bids, not convinced about it for some reason. I will be very surprised if the Draco gets a bid never mind gets near reserve. I have been looking at boats on ebay for some months, the same ones keep appearing. At what we could call the lower end of the market (ie me!) boats on ebay will get to maximum bids of around £5k and if the reserve is higher they don't sell. For example Sunseeker day cab 23, tidy looking boat on a trailer but petrol £5100. Private and brokerage boats I have kept an eye on don't seem to be moving much either. Sad as it is for the people who have them and can't sell, it would seem to me the market value for an older 7 or 8m planing type boat is about £5k and the options are sell at that kind of price or hold onto it for a long time. That is my logic (?) on pricing but I would appreciate comments.
One other thing that was on ebay recently was a two year old demonstrator with 10 hours on the clock, an evolution 265. From what I can see the highest actual bid would have been well under £20k, possibly £25k. Relisted at just under £20k no bids.
I quite like the Channel Island 22 or the Seaward 23 but with the right engine asking price is around £20k don't know if anything is selling at that price but optimistic as I am, getting one of these below £10 is not looking good.
When I was sugesting enough room for four for a weekend what is more like I meant was a run somewhere, go to the pub and then crash out on the boat!
My logic for diesel is maybe a bit flawed, petrol usage about 10gph? diesel maybe half that? but even with the higher speed and lower cost of a gallon with petrol, diesel will maybe go 50-70% further on the same money. Ok a petrol boat should be cheaper but if you spend the difference on fuel the money is gone but if you spend it on the boat the money is still in the boat.
At the moment I have a Shetland 535 which I like but it is a bit small and won't plane with more than two aboard. Before that I had a 8m displacement cruiser which was good for pottering about and fishing but too slow to actually go anywhere.
Comments please!
 
Hi, ive got a shetland speedwell thats 20ft.6" loa that ive completely refitted for coastal cruising hols for 4 persons over the last 7 years, everything apart from hull deck and screen has been renewed by myself in a labour of love (even alley cleats and fairleads) its got oven/hob/grill, marine loo in seperate heads, dinette/double berth in main cabin with two 6ft berths in cockpit, full standing headroom in cabin, power is from a mint year 2000 yam 40hp commercial giving 17.5 knts with 4hp aux, new canopy front flaps back or completely down easy, usual navs of gps, log, depth, vhf fixed and heldheld, lcd tv with bi aerial, trailer is 10 months old, she will only fetch cost of parts, so someones in for a nice purchase, ive got receipts for £10k and engine was only £1.5k (yes a real bargain) trailer was £1.5k, you can buy these for as little as £2k for a wreck or something new for £25k, at £10k she makes a wise choice as she is by far the best example of this model, only selling as going bigger, just thought i would mention it as maybe ticks alot of boxes and to be realistic with your critera above, what can you buy for £10k that your not going to spend another £5k on if your looking for a safe reliable comfy boat? her range at full chat with current 20 gall tanks is around 100 nm sipping around 4gph, i was based on the river forth down river from bridges and she takes the sea very well, she is classed as inland/coastal, im now based at ramsgate kent and will undertake channel crossings in the knowledge she is safe and equiped.

cheers

trev
 
Hi Trev I am familiar with speedwells, there is one locally which is unfortunatley in a sorry state (due to ill health of the owner I understand). Your boat does sound like a good one and I will bear her in mind but at the moment not the way I want to go. Good luck with her.

I have perhaps drifted a little away from what I called the thread, I imagine people here will have a fair bit of knowledge and experience. What I was looking for (hopefully I am not alone in this!) would be some advice on what type/make of the 7-8mish size would be safe and useable in poorer conditions or perhaps more importantly what wouldn't.
Not a lot of point in a boat that can only be used with any degree of comfort or performance in the calm!
On a related note anyone know anything about a Fox Sports Fisherman, made by Cleopatra I believe?
One problem when you live where I do is that the boats for sale are mainly in the South of England so not so easy to see anything.
 
hi gordon, do you want to legally be able to tow your next boat or simply drag her in/out to save lifting costs? as this decision makes quite a bit of difference on your possible choices to buy, ie max beam for towing is 8,6" if i remember rightly? and your looking at range rover size tow car, i cant really add any more suggestions than above as what springs straighgt to my mind is channel islands 22, princess 25, birchwood 25, fairline holiday or the sealines, but im either an outboard or shaft fan as i personally wouldnt touch an outdrive with a bargepole as sooner or later it leads to open wallet sugery which i expect would come sooner rather than later with a £10k budget, if i see anything interesting i will post it for you

cheers

trev /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
The nearest boatyard with storage is about 25miles away, the idea of a trailer would be to get her out of the water for maintenance. I could get a boat out of the water about three miles away and have a bit of room about the croft.
Other problem is of course that all the boats for sale are a long way away and a trailer would maketransport easier.
I would tend to agree that shafts are better than outdrives as there is less to go wrong. I bought (cheaply!) a Fletcher speedboat with a V8 needing a leg basically to learn something about them. Someone removed the leg stripped it and lost or broke a fair bit of it! I bought a secondhand one and am in the process of replacing the Gimbal bearing and rubber bits before I attempt to fit it although being the rainy season progress is a bit slow! There isn't much space to work in and I am not sure how to get it all together and the clips tightened but I have, so far, worked on worse-old Alfas for example!
 
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