What boat please?? Jersey-based motor boat

[richardm47]

My son and his family are moving to Jersey. He’s asking me about his first boat. He'll have a marina berth. Young family will be keen on beaches and swimming. Speed maybe 10 to 15 knots, waterskiing etc not needed. Sunshade and toilet a big plus. Street cred too. Probably reasonably tough and good quality.

I tried to interest him in a Beneteau GT40 that another young family moored beside us in St Malo. Then a Targa 30. I really like the Rhea boats. I would love to "help" him use any of those! They have inboard diesels and could visit all the lovely French ports round Jersey. Sleep onboard. All a bit big and expensive though. So I’m thinking maybe a rib or semi-open boat? Say 28 to 30ft. Maybe have to resort to outboards.

The trouble is I am a cruising sailor who lives aboard a 35 foot HR every summer, and who knows little about smaller motor boats. So my prejudices may not be very helpful.

Can you suggest some boats to look at? We’re going to the boat show on Sunday.

 

[Offshore57]

A lot of the inboard cuddy cabin boats have cockpit canopies for plenty of shade when needed....have a look on the Rinker stand, on the land at the show, my wife really liked the 290 EX.....
We have a 30 foot Sea Ray with a good canopy for shade and a reasonable cabin....needed it during the summer we have just had as well.

Dave

 

[Neil_Y]

Aquastar? great sea boats as it can turn quite lumpy quite quickly around those headlands when the tide is running.

An 91 Aquastar 33 is up for sale at £60K.

 

[{151760}]

A good friend of mine has a Merry Fisher with a diesel inboard. It runs easily at 10 knots. His is the 625; the accommodation is a bit limited, the 7- metre plus would be better I guess if funds allow. They seem to be excellent versatile boats.

 

[KBG]

+1 for the Merry Fishers.

The MF805 (or MF8) should do all he needs as a first boat. Popular model, decent size, inboard diesel (though a bit noisy at speed) and fairly easy to sell on when he works out what he really wants.

 

[gordmac]

Seaward? Botnia Targa?

 

[Seajet]

It has to have two engines with independent fuel supplies, and be able to do a sturdy 10 knots plus with 20 hours endurance, not a fishing boat design with open aft deck, more of a ' pilot boat ' design - and good nav gear - to really cope there.

IF he really stays inshore, a RIB with a cuddy / cabin - I've seen the things, look expensive but don't know the brand name - may be the answer, around there I would not mess about, twin engines & fuel, decent anchor, nav & radio systems ( thick fog is common as are pointy rocks and very strong tides ) - look up the loss of ' Maricelia ' in ' Heavy Weather Sailing ' by Adlard Coles - if it's not in modern editions it will be on google.

That is not a place to prat around with a young family aboard, I have seen and tried to help such situations, they still make my toes curl.

If he goes out with a well equipped mind and boat first they'll be fine.

 

[gordmac]

10kn is an awkward speed, likely above hull speed but below planing so not efficient. Seaward would meet what Seajet is suggesting, as I said worth looking at a Botnia Targa though. Without an idea of budget hard to say what.

 

[Keith-i]

It is difficult to know what to suggest without knowing budget, age of children or experience. However, working on basic principles I would be looking at something around 8m as a sensible minimum if you want to travel the French ports and also have the ability to sleep comfortably on board. Perhaps a Merry Fisher or Antares type of thing with decent outboard would be a good starting point. I have a 6.7m rib and a 10m semi-d motorboat which gives us the best of both worlds. You really want 15kts plus to avoid boredom on trips between the islands and France.

Fog is an issue but normally well forecast. Wind against tide is the most common thing to contend with.

 

[richardm47]

Thank you all for good points to keep under consideration. And several interesting suggestions.

My son and I did get to the boat show on the last day - and it was windy! Big thanks to the quick-thinking exhibitor who spirited up a broom to rescue my sinking hat.! We saw and went on many boats of about the right size. There was no conclusion about my son's first boat. Lots of enthusiasm and possibilities.

But the big success was about my son's second ie subsequent boat. I think it’s fair to say he was inspired when he saw the Beneteau GT40 that I had liked. I think something like that might well come about in a few years. Perhaps the best result of the day was to have started up dreams for that young family having holidays on the water.

Moving well into fantasy realms, we were both blown away when we strayed onto a Grand Duchy 36. Great styling, fantastic quality and beautifully appointed. I’d give up sailing if .... ah well, back down to earth now.