What would you buy?

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andyjcox1

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Hi,

Was just wondering what others would do in my position. I currently have a Fletcher speed boat, 15ft and want to move up so I can stay overnight, go abit further afield and go out in the roughter weather. Boat will be moored in Poole on a pontoon, so want capability to head to Solent and beyond. I have a small family (wife and baby) and a dog, so need some space and ideally a loo for the wife, although I do alot of boating single handed so need it to be easy to manoevre and moor on my own.

I am considering 3 potential options:

Karnic 2050 - 90hp 4stroke outboard. Good for fuel efficiency, easy to handle on my own, but limited accomodation and seating

Sealine S200 or 218 - 147hp petrol - Good for accomodation, higher fuel bills, and maybe not as easy to handle on my own, but should be OK.

Fletcher 19 GTS- Petrol inboard - average accomodation, nice outside space, cuddy is on the small side but will have good performance for skiing etc, also should be easy enough to handle on my own.

Fuel and Maintance costs are a big consideration.

Any thoughts most welcome, as I can't make up my mind.

Andy
 
andyjcox1 said:
Fuel and Maintance costs are a big consideration.
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Sounds like you need an older generation diesel then. Good on fuel and easy to DIY maintain.

Might struggle to find a boat at the size you are looking at, (19-20ft), but they are around. Mercruiser did/do a little 120hp diesel that would be perfect in a boat of that size and must have been fitted to a few over the years.

Alternatively, go a bit bigger and get better accommodation. Single handing a 25 footer is not much different to doing it in a 20 footer and there is a much greater choice of diesel sportscruisers at that size.

I know of one not a million miles away that might ft the bill :D
 
neale said:
Sounds like you need an older generation diesel then. Good on fuel and easy to DIY maintain.

Might struggle to find a boat at the size you are looking at, (19-20ft), but they are around. Mercruiser did/do a little 120hp diesel that would be perfect in a boat of that size and must have been fitted to a few over the years.

Alternatively, go a bit bigger and get better accommodation. Single handing a 25 footer is not much different to doing it in a 20 footer and there is a much greater choice of diesel sportscruisers at that size.

I know of one not a million miles away that might ft the bill :D
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I was going to suggest something like a Merry Fisher 625.... but just looked at neale's Bayliner.... I have got to say that boat for the money is a bit special... can't believe I have said that of a sports cruiser and a Bayliner (sorry, no offence!!!) , but this boat has had the benefit of some unusually good upgrades..!! I also believe it now has a teak effect bathing platform.?
 
Hi Neale,

Your Bayliner does look alot of boat for the money. I had set a max budget of £12k but that seems to limit me abit. I do want a diesel but it seems impossible to get one in a boat in the 20ft mark. I was also considering buying one with a petrol, and then putting in a KAD diesel, did it cost much to do?

Looks like I will have to try and find some more money, or compromise will be the name of the game.

Andy
 
andyjcox1 said:
Hi,

Was just wondering what others would do in my position. I currently have a Fletcher speed boat, 15ft and want to move up so I can stay overnight, go abit further afield and go out in the roughter weather. Boat will be moored in Poole on a pontoon, so want capability to head to Solent and beyond. I have a small family (wife and baby) and a dog, so need some space and ideally a loo for the wife, although I do alot of boating single handed so need it to be easy to manoevre and moor on my own.


Fuel and Maintance costs are a big consideration.

Any thoughts most welcome, as I can't make up my mind.

Andy
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In my opinion and based on what appears to be your budget, there is only one candidate and that is the Fairline Sprint. I am biased as I had one for 8 years and went from petrol, to lpg and then finally had her converted to diesel. She was a great little boat but could sleep 5 as I did on more than one occasion. She was called Solitaire (hence my user name) and I sold her reluctantly when I was teaching so much I could not find the time to use her.

The last I heard she was in Scotland and was in fact up for sale again, but a search for Sprint's on the web should pull up a few options. I know of one with the 205 petrol in it at Deacons Boat Yard in Swanwick up for £12.5k - I'm sure there are some diesel versions around. I would happily buy one again and maybe do it as a project. The hull is great and I have done many miles in a Sprint.

solitaire5.jpg


solitaire6.jpg


solitaire16.jpg
 
Firefly625 said:
sorry to butt in, but far more than would be economical!! but interested to hear what the figure is... would be many £k's!!

Best case scenario would be to find a boat that has already been re-engined.... :rolleyes:
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I re engined for £6k complete and that including rebuilding the transom as I put a Yamaha 370 STI on a hydraglide leg - beautiful! Engine was bought 2nd hand.
 
andyjcox1 said:
Hi Neale,

Your Bayliner does look alot of boat for the money. I had set a max budget of £12k but that seems to limit me abit. I do want a diesel but it seems impossible to get one in a boat in the 20ft mark. I was also considering buying one with a petrol, and then putting in a KAD diesel, did it cost much to do?

Looks like I will have to try and find some more money, or compromise will be the name of the game.

Andy
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I reckon it cost me around £12K to put the diesel in that boat. And that was with me getting the engine for a very good price because it was one of the last of the KADs. Volvo had already launched the D3 but I really wanted the simplicity of the KAD.

I don't think it ever really makes good economical sense to re-engine a boat. Do it because you want more power, do it because you want reliability, do it, as I did, because you want to use the boat for serious cruising and the petrol engine was holding me back, but never do it thinking it makes good economical sense. I think it is always better and cheaper to buy a boat with the right engine in the first place.
 
Hi Andy,

Much has been covered here but I do have a Fletcher 19 Sport Cruiser so thought I’d add my two pence worth. I have the GTO (outboard as opposed to stern drive) model so better on fuel than the larger inboard models. There are a few about with the MerCruiser 1.7TD engine and economy is supposed to be good – but they do hold their value, so might be a little outside your budget. Petrol models can be picked up well within your budget. I'm very happy with my boat and can still water ski and have the same fun as with a smaller boat but yes you do get a cuddy, loo, lots of storage, cooker, sink and good cockpit space. It's considered a 2+2 sleeper, 2 in the cockpit and 2 in the cuddy. As standard they come with all the goodies like table, enclosed canopy cover etc.. The cuddy isn't that big - but big enough. Very happy with my boat as it offers everything I want. As and when I change it, it'll be for a sailing boat due to rising fuel costs. The bigger the boat, the bigger the bills....

John
 
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I owned a Fletcher 19GTS for about 4 years, mine had the 4.3 Mercruiser. It was a great boat, cheapish to run, good performance, excellent for watersports and we even stayed on it a few times. As a day boat with a very occasional overnight, its a great choice.

But if your primary use will be staying on board, especially with a baby, I think you need a little more room. If you want a cuddy I would be tempted to go for the Sealine S200, you get a bigger cuddy and a better arrangement of the cooking and toilet facilities and with a decent set of covers it gives a lot more useable space than the Fletcher.

Performance will not be as good, but even with a 3.0L mercruiser it will cruise happily all day at 25kts, and it will be cheaper to run than a 4.3L. I have seen them around from about 6k, 10-12 should get you an excellent example.

The Sealine 218 is a different boat all together, its a proper pocket cruiser, with facilities for extended holidays. Of the 4 boats you mentioned the 218 will give you the most scope, but as you have realised it will be the most expensive to buy and run.

The Karnic is a well thought out boat, but it has even less accomodation than the Fletcher, and with an outboard you will struggle to carry a tender.
 
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Nautorius said:
In your possition I would get a Searay 215 weekender. Lots about in your price range and brilliant pocket cruiser that looks and feels like a cuddy! they look like this one
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/fishing-boats/searay-215-PBY428

Paul
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We bought a Sea Ray 22ft cuddy, kept it for 3 months. then bought the 25ft cruiser, with the space we really wanted. The cuddy was neither 1 thing or another. Too small for us to use for a stopover, purely space to clutter up.
 
we have a wellcraft cuddy See Pic, has been a good boat brought her for £3500 4 years ago spent 2 years doing it up sorting all the loom and engine faults, removed the engine twice.


been usering the boat now for 2 years and its been great for us and our two young children aged 3 and 4. have added lots of extra, but now what shore power which im looking into and kids want a lcd tv in the cuddy, have not slept in her yet but if we had to its workable.

price whise may be buy something that need attention spend 6 months doing it up, and you could end up with a bargain.

sea wise the wellcraft 20 excel has been realy good in all sea states, the children is what makes it a go or no go, frighten them now and they will allways have a bad feeling.
 
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