Sunline 31

[picardy]

I am interested in purchasing a Sunline 31 with twin Mercruiser 120hp 1.7 diesels. I previously owned a Sealine S23 so am drawn by the extra space and comparatively good value.

I have been unable to find out anything about these boats on the internet so would be really pleased to hear from any existing or previous owners. I am used to Volvo engines so my main questions are

1. Are Mercruiser engines with outdrives relatively reliable and are parts and servicing expensive more or less than Volvo? ie are they known for any major issues
2. Are Sunlines well made - they seem similar in style to Sealine but perhaps not quite to the same standard of build.
3. Can I get parts for the boat easily and if so where from
4. Are the manufacturers still in business?

Comments greatly appreciated and thanks in advance.

 

[Sneds]

I'm sure MBM did a test on one a while back, may be worth looking at their "test report to buy" web site, if you know what I mean.
There is one in Portishead and another in Penarth - looks fine as far as you can tell from the pontoon.
And yes, a little Sealine-ish but loads cheaper!
I think they may be made in Poland but not sure.

 

[solitaire11]

i think they were originally made in stratford on avon? or somewhere in that area.. rafiki a poster on here has one, i'm sure he'll be along shortly.

 

[Whitelighter]

I came very close to buying one of these new in 2002. Even then they were decent value for money with a well specced twin diesel boat costing less than £100k (about £93k but my memory may be wrong there).

They are British, and built in Birmingham and most certainly not Polish.

The company was started in 2000/2001 by ex-sealine staff and outsiders hence the somewhat sealine look especially to the nose.

Early boats had a curtained rear cabin but later boats were upgraded to a door an bulkhead. Not the last word in style, but not bad and they were well made. I was drawn to it because I wanted four permanent berths and a saloon, not the usual V berth you got in 28-30ft boats. The unusual across ships saloon works well with a galley the same size and location as that of an S28. The forward hop in berth is also transverse and makes a comfortable double.

They made the boat with an inland option - folding or no radar arch and a weedy single diesel. Obviously unless you are going inland avoid these.

The twin Mercruiser set up is leisurely rather than fast, the boat I sea trialled had the bigger 160Hp Volvos but I believe the Mercs are very reliable.

The cherry wood interior is the nicest but the cockpit upholstery was all the same and was pretty good. A nice boat and I would consider one now - but only at the right price.

I bought a Bayliner 285 in the end because I couldn't stretch to the Sunline. In many ways I wish I had but there you go.

 

[Whitelighter]

Meant 2005 not 2002 when I was buying

 

[[2068]]

Nothing wrong that I can see practically, other than somewhat clonky exterior styling.

Also, the small build numbers will mean that when you come to re-sell, the market will be smaller than that for an S28 or T30.

 

[Sneds]

Don't know why I thought they were Polish - must be thinking about something completely different!

 

[lovezoo]

I'm sure MBM did a test on one a while back, may be worth looking at their "test report to buy" web site, if you know what I mean.

IIRC it was one of those "We just bought one" owners reports. The report concluded by saying that sadly Sunline had just gone bust.

To answer one of the OPs other questions, here is a thread from last year comparing the merits of Volvo and Mercruiser:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=244104

BTW most of the fittings on the boat will have been bought in from third parties, so spares should be easily available.

 

[rafiki_]

Apologies, but I have been away and missed this thread.

I bought our Sunline in Oct 2008. She was launched at Upton in 2003, spent a couple of seasons on the river Severn, then went down to the south coast, then up to Glasgow, where I bought her.

I looked at 2 others, before Rafiki, both single engines, but I wanted the twins, and a bow thruster, and she came with teak cockpit and bathing platform, which I also really like.

We are now into our third season, and feel no reason to change. The twin Mercs are very economical, and reliable (to date), as are the outdrives. Most of our boating has been ditch crawling on the RSevern to date, but we plan to venture further afield this season.

Parts are fine to get, even though, as others have said, Sunline went into admin in 2008. They were built in Bromsgrove, near Redditch, and to my mind to very robust standards. The fit and finish is good, and below decks she is very roomy, good galley, heads, 2 cabins, albeit open plan.

if you want to know anymore, please don't hesitate to PM.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

There is one in our club. Nice looking boat and roomy inside and out. Reasonable welly on unrestricted bits too.