What should I buy ........?

[Guest]

Comfort, safety, good sleeping accomodation and just reasonable size engines were the considerations on our list. Speed was not important compared with economy.
We chose a Trawler Yacht type. Cummings engines. excellent sea keeping, good berthing manners, a full size walk round double bed that takes "normal" bedding (no special sizes or shapes), a big fridge freezer, and believe it or not a bath TUB!
Full American person height and solid as a brick .... house.
The down side is 13 knots but displacement uses so little fuel compared with planing.

Only took us 5 boats to get to this one!

Good Luck
Bernie

 

[DavidJ]

Re: hear hear!

In the stern drive (Z drive) catagory in Europe, Volvo have complete domination. Although Mercruser and Yamaha are, I'm sure, equally as good (or bad!) secondhand boats with them in are difficult to shift.
It worries me how much Volvo squeeze out of a basic block designed for 200hp. The KAD 43's produce 230hp the 44's about 240 I think but the KAD 300 285hp. However I've heard of no additional problems due to the 44 and 300 upgrades so maybe they can take it
David

 

[hlb]

Re: hear hear!

Must not forget the outragous prices for spares. V*lv* like to skin their customers alive, slowly.

<font color=red> No one can force me to come here-----------
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Haydn

 

[Guest]

Fully concur with Kevs comments about Brooms very airy and light inside lots of room good build
quality good after sales service etc........

"The Med has got me" (no not the Medway the other Med)

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Hey, Kev, thanks for the plug

 

[Guest]

Good morning, You have had some good advice re your question. I would say--
When buying the main types of power boat are- Planning (flybridge/sports boat) Semi displacement (Broom Nelson etc) and displacement boats( Traders Grand Banks) They are all different qualities
Planning boats speeds up to 35 knots plus. They do not rock anymore than the others
Semi displacement speed upto 25 knots Can be wet in a sea
displacement speed upto 14knots Again can be wet in a sea
Then there is the question -- what do you want to do with the boat ie sea trips or inland waterways ( europe)
Sea trips then you have no height restriction -Flybridge cruisers
Inland waterways restriction for europe to Med is height of 3.5 m
Next-- do you wish for an aft cabin boat? ie Broom etc these whilst give extra privacy also only have one helm station and less stowage as the in place of the lazorete you have the aft cabin.
I have a Princess 430 fitted with volvo's and have had no trouble with them at all. I think with engines its a case of making sure they are serviced by the right people, as one person said the standard engine hours in a season is about 100 Which is about a months work in the engines of a car/lorry and they certainly don't give problems every month.
Next extra's buying new is OK but the standard boat spec leaves a lots wanting--
ie if you wish to be indepedant you certainly need a generator, holding tank, heating, a good radar plot system ( I have raytheon RL80C radar chartplotter below with an RL70C repeater up top. VHF DSC radio is a must dual station with mine-- as is Navtex if you are going farther afield ie to the med, its a confort to know what the weathers doing in your area in english.
Another good plus especially with a generator its not to have any gas on board, its both dangerous and sometimes difficult to get hold of.
Anyway thats a lot of rambling but it you would like to know anymore let me know regards

 

[miket]

You beat me to it.

Very commodious interior, good outside seating on rear deck/ command bridge and nice wide decks for easy movement. Low airdraft for Euro Inland rivers and canals for trip to Med' and modest draft of 3.5 ft.

Yes they can do 30 knots, but the hull is not full planing, so the smaller hp engine options may be of more appeal. I think the 250hp yanmars or 265hp Perkins sabres still give 20knots max.

C J Broom are also very good to deal with.

Also try Atlantic 42, 444 or 50. Very similar to Broom but a little more adventurous on interior styling.