What boat to get after an S23?

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Right so I have that itch to upgrade for a while now, but, I don't know what to get. Any nice upgrades I seem to have to be adding a LOT of money to get the same 'bang for buck' as the S23.

Ideally i'd like a 27ft'ish boat with a nice wide beam. Even a 25ft with a wider beam than the S23 would be fine.

Soft top is fine too - to go hard top is a lot extra money and closer to 30ft in size

Must be diesel (Volvo KAD preferred) and planing capable of at least 28knots

Extra toys would be nice, like heating, gas cooker, usable heads (basicly everything the S23 has)

The only thing I can narrow that search down to is a Leader 805 - Surely there's others?? Even with the leader 805 the canopy is a right boll1x, i'd have to install hot air, i'd have to install a new immersion so I could heat off the engine calorifer. And the factory electrics on tan 805 are very agricultural, i'd have to do a bit of work there installing seperate banks with isolator etc..


Can anyone think of anything else?
 
Many 805's have heating and hot air and the trick with the cover is to start from the screen and work backwards.
Few have factory electronics as the old Furuno stuff was basic. Many had aftermarket Raymarine or at worst Navman kit fitted.

Look around, you'll find a good one and the beam gives phenomenal stability on the pontoon or at anchor. Very sea worthy, a little firm if you catch a wave under the chine, but soft otherwise.
 
A nice S28 perhaps. Better value than the newer S29 and if you look around the newer S28 model (with the same trim as the S23) can be had for reasonable money.
 
Can anyone think of anything else?

The thing to do is surely just fix your budget and then have fun trawling the brokers n boat yards looking at everything and anything,you may well still end up with yet another uneconomical unstable pocket rocket with no accomodation but there is hope for you yet.
:):):)
 
I was thinking S28 alright, but then i'm going into 2 engine world. It's managable financially, but it would add to annual costs.
 
Out of interest why have you discounted an S28? It seems to meet all your requirements, and no-one does internal space better than Sealine. If it's just price, could you go older?
 
Hi Nick,
I have not ruled the S28 out, and it's on the top of my list deep down as I honestly love them. The one thing, is just like the S23, there isin't much cockpit space, but it's a quality built boat.

I had planned to view a single engined S28 in N Ireland before but got (educated) advise that they're under-powered, so it would have to be the twin engine for me I think
 
You already knows this - but the S28 ticks all the boxes. Ok, so you have an extra engine to keep together, but you also know how bullet proof a well maintained KAD32 is. It's also an engine that you are familiar with.

The S28 offers bags more of everything over a S23 (which is in it'self, a boat that I have an incredible soft spot for).
 
Have you looked at the usual N American fare, several of those with diesel engines around that size. Chaparral do a 27 footer with diesel engine(s), called a 270 signature. I had a couple of Chaparrals and was pleased with them.
 
You guys are right, the S28 DOES tick all the boxes and I know it, was just checking if there were any alternatives to consider.

Nick - I was about to book the ferry to buy a 250 Montecillo but it sold the day before, so went with the S23. I had looked at the 270, but there's something that brings me back to the S28 (possibly the practical galley)

I guess i've answered my own question
 
How old are you willing to go and how much budget?

An S28 would suggest somewhere around £60 - £80k and years between 1996 and 2004.

I would look at the Fairline Targa 30 if your looking at the top end of the assumed budget and the Targa 29 if looking older than 2000 and towards the bottom of suggested budget.

These will both be twin Kad 32's.

If you like the idea of a larger single engine take a look at the Bavaria 29 sport.

My gut instinct however tells me you would really be happy with the newer sealine 28 with sliding roof, some nice deals around at the moment but be quick as there is a lack of second hand boats around.
 
enterprise - I reckon the S28 is 'the one' for me alright. The SC29 you speak of is an amazing boat, truly gorgeous. But it's out of my budget and it's got the D3's, which I would just never be comfortable with living in the west of Ireland (No support)
 
We run a Targa 28 with twin Kad 32's, and looked at the sealine s28 as it's a direct competitor before we bought.
There are quite a few s28's around to look at so it's a buyers market,you can pretty much choose your spec as there are so many around, but this is the only downfall to the s28, there are always plenty for sale which knocks the prices a little.

I would suggest keeping an open mind and look at as many 28ft boats as you can before you decide, look at the newest s28 you can afford as some of the older interiors are starting to look dated.
We traded from a sealine 240 to our current Targa 28 and don't regret the move one bit, the 28ft in comparison to 24ft is a very much more usable boat, so whatever you decide the move will definitely be worth it.
 
We bought Poltergeist's 2005 S28, fully fully loaded, fantastic, buy one with twin Kad 32's you will not regret it. As already said buy the latest you can.

There are photo's on poltergeists photo album page, of our new baby, well worth a look!:):):)

By the way Jerry did you get our pics from our weekend away on the S28??

Mark
 
Merry fisher 925 amazing boat job done!!! Had an s25 for 3 years this new boat is different class trust me u wont be dissappointed...
 
I think you need to ask yourself what you want that the S23 has not got.

We have spent hours trawling through boat mags and brokerage websites looking for something to replace our S23 but whenever we have found something we like the look of there has been a compromise too far somewhere.

For now we have decided to stick with the S23 and enjoy the low fuel consumption, low maintenance costs and easy handling as well as the go anywhere size and self sufficiency she offers.
 
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