Trader 50

[TheBishop]

Hi to you all,

After 20 years up and down the channel with rag and stick I have crossed to the dark side. Family commitments have led me to get a Trader 50...Sunliner version with 375 Cats. The gludy saga made interesting reading, but does anyone on here have any comments to make on the Trader 50? Idea is to spend a couple of years in UK waters whilst JuniorBishop gets his sea legs then maybe move the boat to the Med and use her there as a weekend/holiday retreat.

 

[Whitelighter]

I think the general concensus is fine, so long as you don't by a new one and the previous owner has ahd at least 5 years to sort the issues out.

 

[chuckaduck]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the general concensus is fine, so long as you don't by a new one and the previous owner has ahd at least 5 years to sort the issues out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep I concur a used one is best

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Ah ha, another convert /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Concur with the others. A good used one should be fine especially with the Cat3208 375hp engines which have a reputation for reliability
Have you bought the boat already or are you considering buying the boat? And how about the fuel consumption? How do you feel about going from a saily boat using 20gals a year to a big mobo using 2 gals/mile at speed?
Got any pics? If so, please post them on the forum and keep us updated on your progress

 

[Gludy]

I concur with what the others have said on this - I wish you many happy hours sailing in her.

 

[volvopaul]

Great boat, watch the woodwork, get a proper survey, osmosis is the main hull problem, will req a lot of maintainance as its a big boat with many on board systems.

Cat 3208, mike always likes them but then again he had some good ones, I work on a few so watch out for eratic tickover, overheating, paint burnt on exhaust maniolds, get an oil analysis on engines, check gearboxes for dark and burnt oil, as the clutches may slip on these heavy boats.
Bid the sellers low as its a buyers market at the moment.

 

[Miss_DANKA]

Has it ever occurred to anyone that Traders are all as bad ? and it was unusual for one to get used !

Most stay in Emsworth puddle.

Some may venture out to the solent on a nice day but the majority remain in Chichester harbour.

When you are abroad you see loads of Sealines in use but Traders are rare, any I have seen have been owned by old retired couples who can choose calm conditions, they could have made the same journey in a narrow boat !

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thats bollox. You see quite a few Traders in the Med and many have made their way there from the UK on their own bottoms so they can't be all bad. I've seen many in Majorca where they have a sales outlet
Yes, gludy had big probs, yes Tarquin, particularly Chappell, are piss poor and, yes, they're maybe not built to the high quality that their marketing suggests but many Traders have ventured far and if they were that awful, people would'nt continue to buy them

 

[MapisM]

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When you are abroad you see loads of Sealines in use but Traders are rare

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True in my experience, but even without knowing the detailed production numbers I'd expect them to be in a different order of magnitude between those two builders...