Thinking of buying a motor boat

[NicholasD]

Hi, I'm seriously considering to buy the Beneteau Antares 8 OB. Would anyone here have anything to say about it from experience? In hindsight, would you have opted for a Jeanneau or anything similar?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing from you!! First-timer buying a boat, so I'd really appreciate anyone's kind feedback.

Nicholas

 

[ST840]

Depending on your budget look at the Parker 700 or 800 weekender. Much better build quality and IMO sea keeping.

Parker 800 Weekend - £69995 at Cambrian Boats

Buy PARKER 770 WEEKEND Motor boats

 

[superheat6k]

The Antares or similar Merry Fisher I believe are ideal starter boats because they are popular and hence easy to sell on when you want to change, and most newbies will want to change within the first season or two, and nothing worse than having bought an obscurity as a first boat, and then find yourself stuck with the thing. Worth checking the fishing sites and forums for these sort of boats as the fishermen love them.

 

[NicholasD]

The Antares or similar Merry Fisher I believe are ideal starter boats because they are popular and hence easy to sell on when you want to change, and most newbies wil want to change within the first season or two, and nothing worse than having bought an obscurity as a first boat, and then find yourself srtuck with the thing. Worth checking the fishing sites and forums for these sort of boats as the fishermen love them.

Thanks a lot both of you for the kind advice. My main concern is maintenance. Would you have an idea of the costs to maintain it and keep it within the guarantee/seaworthy?

 

[Kawasaki]

Maintaining a ‘Merry Fisher’ type, with an outboard
Is about as cheap as it gets in the World of pleasure motor boating
I agree too with superheat6k’s comments above

 

[ST840]

Having owned both a MF and a Parker, I’d suggest you go look at both. Open and close doors and cupboards etc, take note of the quality of finish around the bare edges etc etc. Take each out on a sea trial . You will find the Parker is a far superior boat. You won’t have trouble selling either.

 

[superheat6k]

Thanks a lot both of you for the kind advice. My main concern is maintenance. Would you have an idea of the costs to maintain it and keep it within the guarantee/seaworthy?

No matter how big or how small cost p.a. rule of thumb is 10% of the boat's value is the annual running cost including insurance and berthing, but not usage costs, such as fuel or visit fees etc. Lots will criticise this, but works fairly well from a £100 rowing boat to a £100M superyacht.

 

[nicho]

No matter how big or how small cost p.a. rule of thumb is 10% of the boat's value is the annual running cost including insurance and berthing, but not usage costs, such as fuel or visit fees etc. Lots will criticise this, but works fairly well from a £100 rowing boat to a £100M superyacht.

Mmmm, 10%? Not sure about that. Our Bavaria 34 (sail) is in one of the cheaper South coast “big two“ marinas and the cost is more like 20+%. Boat’s worth around £35k, and total running, marina and maintenance costs works out around £7500 per annum.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

No matter how big or how small cost p.a. rule of thumb is 10% of the boat's value is the annual running cost including insurance and berthing, but not usage costs, such as fuel or visit fees etc. Lots will criticise this, but works fairly well from a £100 rowing boat to a £100M superyacht.

I disagree with this, it's an urban myth. The berthing cost varies widely across the UK, is never based on value but is usually proportional to length and goes up every year with inflation. A Hamble marina pontoon might be 10x the cost of a swinging mooring in Oban. Servicing and maintenance depends on the mechanical spec and goes up every year with inflation and possibly engine hours; and increasing unreliability may mean massive bills on a cheap old boat.

Take an example 12m boat, at 20 years old now and worth 100k you could get all of that for £10k? Maybe. But if it was new and worth £400k, it would somehow cost 4x that? And in 10 years time when it's only worth 50k, you can now do all of that for £5k a year? Don't believe it. If you said, 10% of a new equivalent then there might be something closer.

 

[pumpsmynads]

Marina costs are the highest portion for me. But then I’m in Poole harbour on a pontoon.
£40k boat.
£5k mooring.
£300 insurance.
£600 outboard service with liftout/clean.
£500-£1000 fuel.

 

[markspark7]

Marina costs are the highest portion for me. But then I’m in Poole harbour on a pontoon.
£40k boat.
£5k mooring.
£300 insurance.
£600 outboard service with liftout/clean.
£500-£1000 fuel.

Pretty much agree with this spot on.
£50 k -40ft boat
£5k mooring.
£300 insurance.
£700 liftout/clean and anti foul
£500-£1000 fuel.
In Liverpool city centre.
However I do most of my own electrical work plus I have a full machine shop / tool room at work for any mechanical's other than the engine servicing.

 

[superheat6k]

I disagree with this, it's an urban myth. The berthing cost varies widely across the UK, is never based on value but is usually proportional to length and goes up every year with inflation. A Hamble marina pontoon might be 10x the cost of a swinging mooring in Oban. Servicing and maintenance depends on the mechanical spec and goes up every year with inflation and possibly engine hours; and increasing unreliability may mean massive bills on a cheap old boat.

Take an example 12m boat, at 20 years old now and worth 100k you could get all of that for £10k? Maybe. But if it was new and worth £400k, it would somehow cost 4x that? And in 10 years time when it's only worth 50k, you can now do all of that for £5k a year? Don't believe it. If you said, 10% of a new equivalent then there might be something closer.

I have seen this question asked many many times, and yes there are many variations and % someone can quote, but I stick by the view that as a very general rule 10% is about right, but when read on a very broad scale from as low as 5% to as high as 20%. All the boats I have ever owned comply with the 10% rule and that is ~ 10 so far.

 

[superheat6k]

Mmmm, 10%? Not sure about that. Our Bavaria 34 (sail) is in one of the cheaper South coast “big two“ marinas and the cost is more like 20+%. Boat’s worth around £35k, and total running, marina and maintenance costs works out around £7500 per annum.

Suggest you get a motorboat as it is far cheaper, more space and no tacking.

Boat value ~ £55 k

Mooring £4,000
Insurance £250
Maintenance £1,000

Yes if I kept it in an MDL Marina on the Hamble my moorings would increase to ~£7,000 - I spend consideably less than £3,000 each year on fuel, and each time I have to lower my radar pole to pass under the A27 bridge I mentally tell myself thats another £50 I am being paid to do just that.

 

[cstewart37]

Parker all the way & outboard motor:

Parker - 800 weekend in Strathclyde, Scotland | Boats and Outboards

 

[jrudge]

10% works ok for new boats.
The older they get they don’t shrink and require shorter and cheaper moorings , and they need more maintanence not less !

 

[hangingtree]

Hi, I'm seriously considering to buy the Beneteau Antares 8 OB. Would anyone here have anything to say about it from experience? In hindsight, would you have opted for a Jeanneau or anything similar?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing from you!! First-timer buying a boat, so I'd really appreciate anyone's kind feedback.

Nicholas

When would you like to buy the boat? In near future or would you like to wait a little longer like a few months? In my opinion, you’ll find the best affordable boats in winter. However, the offer is greatest in spring. But that is also when the boats are the most expensive. But make sure that you can still try out sailing!

 

[nicho]

Suggest you get a motorboat as it is far cheaper, more space and no tacking.

Boat value ~ £55 k

Mooring £4,000
Insurance £250
Maintenance £1,000

Yes if I kept it in an MDL Marina on the Hamble my moorings would increase to ~£7,000 - I spend consideably less than £3,000 each year on fuel, and each time I have to lower my radar pole to pass under the A27 bridge I mentally tell myself thats another £50 I am being paid to do just that.

Recently sold our mobo to go sailing again. Our Sealine S48 was a cracker, but £1400 quids worth of fuel for a trip to Dartmouth and back was a bit steep in retirement. Hence sailing again, but if we do have to motor, then just 1.9 lt/hr cruising.

 

[volvopaul]

I disagree with this, it's an urban myth. The berthing cost varies widely across the UK, is never based on value but is usually proportional to length and goes up every year with inflation. A Hamble marina pontoon might be 10x the cost of a swinging mooring in Oban. Servicing and maintenance depends on the mechanical spec and goes up every year with inflation and possibly engine hours; and increasing unreliability may mean massive bills on a cheap old boat.

Take an example 12m boat, at 20 years old now and worth 100k you could get all of that for £10k? Maybe. But if it was new and worth £400k, it would somehow cost 4x that? And in 10 years time when it's only worth 50k, you can now do all of that for £5k a year? Don't believe it. If you said, 10% of a new equivalent then there might be something closer.

I’d agree with that , for example you only need to blow an engine on an £80k boat and it’s best part of 15 k plus to fix that plus moorings , fuel insurance , service etc .

 

[Sailing Pivo]

Hi, I'm seriously considering to buy the Beneteau Antares 8 OB. Would anyone here have anything to say about it from experience? In hindsight, would you have opted for a Jeanneau or anything similar?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing from you!! First-timer buying a boat, so I'd really appreciate anyone's kind feedback.

Nicholas

I can't respond about the specific boats you mentioned, but I would advise you to get a survey.

Hello,

I would like to ask for advice on the best process for survey and sea trial for the purchase of a used boat. We're looking to buy an SC35, having previously owned a share in a yacht. We have nothing lined up at present, but we expect to be spending in the region of 130-150k for something between 6-9 years old.

I will likely shy away from anything which has not got a recent service history, although I realise that any history from more than 3-4 years ago will be a bonus. My question is, as I am relatively new to boat ownership (certainly at this price point) what sort of pre purchase due diligence would you go through and is there anything which you think is more important?

Once we have had an offer accepted, we will need to arrange for the boat to be lifted for a survey. Is it normal for a single surveyor to cover the boat, engines and sterndrives? Or is it preferable to instruct more than one surveyor? We will then need a sea trial but as we’re new to motorboat ownership we will need some support. Is it preferable to take the surveyor used for the boat survey, or an engineer to check the engines? Or Both?

One or two brokers we have spoken to are suggesting that for a boat of this age a survey is not really necessary (understandable for them as it can only lead to the price going one way). Does anyone have an opinion on this? Would you say that a sea trial with a Volvo specialist on board is more useful than a lift and survey?

I have read some forums which have made my head spin with all of the suggestions. I know it is possible to completely go to town on the pre purchase work but I am trying to understand the middle ground of what is normal and acceptable for a boat of this age and price.

Any advice would be much appreciated and if there are any suggestions for suitable surveyors on the south costs, I would be very grateful.

Thanks,

I can't speak to the specific boats you mentioned, but I would say to absolutely get the boat surveyed!! We went through 3 surveys (two failed) before buying our girl!

Most importantly, you need to choose the right marina. But also, be prepared to wait a lot, to overlook small defects (but also walk away if there are any big-ticket issues), and realise that the negotiating isn't over even if the survey goes well.

Make sure you do your research to find a good surveyor, if you're using one. Remember, they are looking at everything: the hull and any potential blisters or osmosis, the seacocks, the electrical system, the electronics (VHF, chart plotter, depth sounder, etc), the galley equipment (stove, fridge, freezer), dinghy, and the sails. Note that a marine surveyor typically doesn't look too closely at the inboard diesel engine, the outboard engine, or the standing and running rigging, so you may want to hire an extra surveyor for those.

Boat buying is a tough process, so try your best to sit back and enjoy the process. You have little control over the outcome. Once you have a survey that passes, the process moves very fast, and then suddenly, you've purchased your first boat! You realise you should have enjoyed yourself more along the way.

Keep believing that soon you'll find your perfect boat, and you'll be sailing and adventuring around the world, living in different wonderful places!

Good luck!
Danielle, Conor, & Pivo on SV Satori