Upgrade ‘imminent’ having bought a boat that was far too small.

[mil1194]

Hi guys,
After a few years out of the water i jumped back on in February for a little Searay 240 Sundancer thinking it would be a fun thing to get us into the water. We then had horrendous weather, then two weeks lock lockdown due to maintenance then of course we’ve had CV19. However since some lifting of the rules we’ve been out 3 times in two weeks and I wish we’d bought a bigger boat....

Today I have been on a Turbo 36 and was amazed by the interior space and have been searching Europe tonight for something that might replace/ go along side the little Searay. I know the turbo 36’ has a lovely a cabin and comes with either the 225 or the 306VP, I would instinctively go for the 306 unless there’s a very good reason why not to. These are available from 45-65k. There are also 36 Sedans available for the same sort of money which I think are a much better looking boat but I gather you loose the aft cabin. Having not seen the Sedan in person what happens to that space?
I have also been looking at various Birchwoods from 37 to 55 and have seen some beauties up to 55ft for around the 80k mark although with Different engine configs. I’ve seen some bizarre engine configs - tiny petrol 4 cylinders which I have dismissed straight away - and I’ve seen later VP diesels with up to 370 each side. I’ve also seen the Detroit’s within this bracket for the Birchwood within the 80k with reasonable hours etc.

I am struggling with the beauty of the 36 Sedan, taking the age onboard and keeping it for 10yrs plus and spend spend spend on maintenance and wishful thinking would be that there would be no depreciation or spending another 30k and getting either a more recent Birchwood or a much larger Birchwood of a similar age and just spend on maintenance.

Am I missing something important or does my reasoning make sense? Having bought a boat that is far too small for our family needs (8-15people) I am keen not to make the same mistake again but I had to start little to get everyone ‘onboard’,

Any comments welcome - even rude ones!


PS. This will be berthed in Swansea marina if that makes a difference .

 

[Mr Googler]

I had a sedan 36.... loved it. If you can get one with the windows in the hull....they look timeless. Mine was earlier so had rectangular windows in the gunwales. Where does the space go...a hoofing great lazerette!?



8.5kw generator....4hp outboard and a a/c water chiller air con unit....still room for more crap!

few more pictures to convince you?



you can sit 8 people across the back easy!

go for the 306hp 61a’s. It ain’t a light boat. I could cruise 20 knots...flat out 27 knots but then gennie and a/c added weight. 80-100 litres per hour consumption combined I reckoned at cruising speed. Might have been a bit less.

 

[BrendanS]

you can sit 8 people across the back easy!

is that with 2m or 1m distancing?

 

[longjohnsilver]

is that with 2m or 1m distancing?

He's from a large family.

 

[Mr Googler]

He's from a large family.

Or from the Isle of Man where that ended weeks ago! Keep up at the back ???

 

[Bandit]

I had a Sedan 36 1986 no 2 off the production line same hull as Turbo 36 they built about 550 boats on that hull 2/3 were Turbo's. I had it for 6 years, a good seaboat the very last ones were called 39's to reflect the length of the swim platform which all boats had.

Saloon good size, two reasonable cabins, good solid build, We had a canopy similar to the one in the IOM a good entertainment area seated 12 at a push, a large lazarette as we had no genny.

Mine had a pair of 225's TAMD 60's it was gutless. I repowered with a pair of 370hp TAMD 63p's then it was decided the family had outgrown it so we bought larger.

All these boats and engines are getting a bit long in the tooth and can become money pits, the engine rooms are tight to work in and the stern seals are a tease.

Also consider the Fairline Phantom 38.

 

[Mr Googler]

Your not wrong on engine access! I cut access holes to get to impellers and alternator belts.

mime also had the oil filter relocation kit fitted otherwise you’d have no hope on the starboard engine. turbo 36 would be the same I guess....worse for getting to gearboxes!

 

[ebbanflo]

Hi guys,
After a few years out of the water i jumped back on in February for a little Searay 240 Sundancer thinking it would be a fun thing to get us into the water. We then had horrendous weather, then two weeks lock lockdown due to maintenance then of course we’ve had CV19. However since some lifting of the rules we’ve been out 3 times in two weeks and I wish we’d bought a bigger boat....

Today I have been on a Turbo 36 and was amazed by the interior space and have been searching Europe tonight for something that might replace/ go along side the little Searay. I know the turbo 36’ has a lovely a cabin and comes with either the 225 or the 306VP, I would instinctively go for the 306 unless there’s a very good reason why not to. These are available from 45-65k. There are also 36 Sedans available for the same sort of money which I think are a much better looking boat but I gather you loose the aft cabin. Having not seen the Sedan in person what happens to that space?
I have also been looking at various Birchwoods from 37 to 55 and have seen some beauties up to 55ft for around the 80k mark although with Different engine configs. I’ve seen some bizarre engine configs - tiny petrol 4 cylinders which I have dismissed straight away - and I’ve seen later VP diesels with up to 370 each side. I’ve also seen the Detroit’s within this bracket for the Birchwood within the 80k with reasonable hours etc.

I am struggling with the beauty of the 36 Sedan, taking the age onboard and keeping it for 10yrs plus and spend spend spend on maintenance and wishful thinking would be that there would be no depreciation or spending another 30k and getting either a more recent Birchwood or a much larger Birchwood of a similar age and just spend on maintenance.

Am I missing something important or does my reasoning make sense? Having bought a boat that is far too small for our family needs (8-15people) I am keen not to make the same mistake again but I had to start little to get everyone ‘onboard’,

Any comments welcome - even rude ones!


PS. This will be berthed in Swansea marina if that makes a difference .

My first boat was a TS37 and we loved it. With the convertible dinette and pull out sofa in the saloon, we once had 8 people on board overnight! While not as fast as the Turbo 36 (which has a planning hull rather than the Birchwoods semi displacement) mine could do 26 knots with its Volvo D6 310's. It was for sale last year in Chatham, but looked like it had not been maintained for 10 years and probably worth less than £40K.

 

[Rocksteadee]

Come and buy my Turbo 36.
Currently advertised with a Solent dealer.
I have had her for near 9 years.
The space will spoil you for every next boat you get as internally they are like a Tardis.
Sea keeping she is brilliant, I have quite happily bounced around in a 3m sea, her limit is definitely the crew.
one of my fav pics when a mate popped over to say hi

 

[Silvercloud]

Fantastic picture and I also love my T36

 

[Portofino]

He's from a large family.

Called “ Johnson “ ?

 

[Elessar]

I had a sedan 36.... loved it. If you can get one with the windows in the hull....they look timeless. Mine was earlier so had rectangular windows in the gunwales. Where does the space go...a hoofing great lazerette!?

View attachment 93843

8.5kw generator....4hp outboard and a a/c water chiller air con unit....still room for more crap!

few more pictures to convince you?

View attachment 93844View attachment 93845View attachment 93846View attachment 93847View attachment 93848View attachment 93849View attachment 93850View attachment 93851

you can sit 8 people across the back easy!

go for the 306hp 61a’s. It ain’t a light boat. I could cruise 20 knots...flat out 27 knots but then gennie and a/c added weight. 80-100 litres per hour consumption combined I reckoned at cruising speed. Might have been a bit less.

wow you've kept that nice. Fantastic.

 

[Seastoke]

thats when he bought it , when he sold it , he had fitted a a pole for dancing a log burner a mirror ball and a double record deck and that was just for his male friends.

 

[Mr Googler]

wow you've kept that nice. Fantastic.

Thanks Elessar....when I bought it.....she looked like this:


Had a third bedroom and no galley too????


Goes to show the build quality under all that dirty.....thank god it wasn’t a Sealine!

i Don’t think you can go wrong with either a sedan or turbo.

 

[Rocksteadee]

Thanks Elessar....when I bought it.....she looked like this:

View attachment 93875View attachment 93876
Had a third bedroom and no galley too????

View attachment 93877
Goes to show the build quality under all that dirty.....thank god it wasn’t a Sealine!

i Don’t think you can go wrong with either a sedan or turbo.

They also come in white

 

[BruceK]

....thank god it wasn’t a Sealine!

Roy is now not only mortally wounded at that jibe but also now having seen the state at which you got it is thoroughly deflated at losing his Champion Boat Polisher crown.
There will have to be a contest. My boat is available.

Winner gets to do losers side. Loser supplies required beverages.

 

[Elessar]

Oh ?

 

[Mr Googler]

Oh ?

View attachment 93885View attachment 93887

my comment was purely for Seastokes benefit? Please ignore unless you’re a rude stokey

 

[oldgit]

You will not go far wrong with either the Sedan 36 or the Turbo 36, just need to make sure you get loved one.
We have 9 Turbo 36 on our club moorings and 3 Sedan 36, all with the 306 engines.
Most of the skippers have had their boats for some considerable time, nearly 20 years. in a couple of cases.
By now all of the Turbo 36s will have had holes cut in the shower floor to gain easier access to stern gear.
The big advantage of the Turbo 36 is interior space , especially that full height aft cabin, nothing built with that hull length since ever came close.
The down side , you will always see skippers helming from above , no matter what ever the weather. You can hardly see anything out the front down stairs while on the plane and bugger all out the back no matter what speed.

 

[Dino]

There are 14 Turbo 36’s listed on Apolloduck at the moment so plenty of choice.

Farsco and Ellesar, I’ve read the articles about the refits of both of your boats. Farsco in the December 2017 issue of Motorboat Owner and I think Ellesars was in MBY. Both were fantastic transformations. That’s the sort of stuff I read boating mags for.