which boat

[joeyflier]

I am looking to buy my first boat for weekend / day activities with children and grandchildren. We would use it all year round so a bit of comfort, safety and warmth would be good.
I have looked at Beneteau Antares 760 which looks to fit the bill nicely as it has good accommodation (nice cabin, and room for 2 more in the wheelhouse). I would like max 25' for reasons of keeping costs down. I am thinking of 200hp Volvo diesel or similar and would like some creature comforts (hot water, shower, bow thruster, cabin heating etc).
I would also like cruising speed 15 - 20 knots with top speed over 20 knots. I have seen a lot of boats which quote top speed of 13 knots and I don't think this will be sufficient.
What alternatives are there in this category?
Any advice gratefully received.

 

[superheat6k]

Your wish list has a few conflicting issues.: Space, 25' and 20 knots plus, also all the homely attractions of hot and cold water, shower, loo, heating.

I think you will struggle to get all you require in 25' and single engine.

However, if you can make do with say 15-16 knots then The Antares as you mention, but also Nimbus, Botnia Targa, some early Fairline and Princess, or Sealine S25.

What is your budget ?

 

[Firefly625]

Hardy mariner 26

Perhaps a foot over your desired max, but actually pretty identical to Antaris 760, but built like Bentley rather than a Ford...

I had one, cruised at 16 knots, max around 23knots, superb Yanmar 230hp engine which is pretty bullet proof. Good proper boat.

Stuartwineberg on this forum had one for sale, worth a look if still available..

 

[joeyflier]

Thanks for the replies, my budget is around £35,000.
Speed is only rough but what I am after is something that will be able to make reasonable progress against tide/wind. I've seen a lot of boats available with cruising speed c 10 knots which doesn't seem enough.
I did look over a 760 a couple of weeks ago and it did have a lot of nice features but quite compact.

There is a Hardy Mariner that's just sold on Boatshed and it does look very nice and not much longer. I'll have a look through the forum later to see if Stuartwineberg is still for sale.

The length thing is just because my marina have fingerettes which have a limit of 25' and are £2,000+ a year cheaper.

 

[Paul_S123]

I just bought an Quicksilver Activ 705 and really like it. If you have any questions about this boat, just ask.

 

[Firefly625]

Once you have finished rushing around you realise that a slower cruising speed is actually fine. Our Mitchell's cruising speed is 11knots, as true semi displacement and built to go though most weather we cruise at that speed in all weathers and everywhere. My boat has be right round the uk, Ireland, iom, France, etc etc.

But my advice is if you want a boat to look after you and your family don't scrimp on quality, yes you can own a newer French boat (built probably in Poland..), or buy something of better quality. I always find it interesting to compare the weight of boats, can give you an insight into its build...

Good luck with your hunting

 

[Mike k]

I just bought an Quicksilver Activ 705 and really like it. If you have any questions about this boat, just ask.

I have the 750 and it has everything the OP wants except a shower and its 250hp and 5 berths.Never misses a beat.

 

[Whitelighter]

[Content removed]

This is the second time you have been so bold.

 

[Lantic Lass]

Hi
Apologies,apologies,in my haste,I was not thinking properly about exactly I was writing.
I don't use the computer,or forum that much.
APOLOGIES again.

 

[Whitelighter]

Hi
Apologies,apologies,in my haste,I was not thinking properly about exactly I was writing.
I don't use the computer,or forum that much.
APOLOGIES again.

Sorry if I was a little blunt - I don't mean to be.

It's just the forum is pretty good from an advertising point of view but that can easily be let slip

 

[beebok]

a different idea,we had 4 kids we had a cuddy cabin boat Sealine and Windy 22 and a caravan on a camp site that we could launch the boat from or today we would have used a boat rakes.Gives you more options with the kids and the Sealine with outboard would do 30knts the Windy would easily do 50knots and tow 4 skiers and pull them out of the water with ease.

 

[CX54WEK]

We have a Sealine S23 which would seemingly fit your requirements.

 

[kevingreystones]

Interesting dilema, I looked seriously at the newer Beneteau Antares 8 which superseeded the 760 as at the time I preferred the look of the newer 8. As part of our research we also considered the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 805 , which also had the same features, shaft driven , single diesel etc.
I was close to buying the Merry Fisher as I felt that the Beneteau looked a bit " plasticky" , my previous boat was a Jeanneau 635 Cap Camarat which was a great boat but I required more accomodation.
In the end I bought neither !! I remembered that safety was so important to me when walking around the front of the boat that I opted for another Nimbus , even though it is 12 years old it still looks new.
Single diesel with bowthruster , seperate toilet , rear deck shower ,heater etc so simple to anchor and safe to walk to the front etc. Amazing boat at sea and a real head turner .
I suggest that you try before you buy , children and grandchildren may get bored in the cabin and in reality will you actually use the boat much in the winter .

 

[Jim@sea]

I had a Skibsplast 700D. It was ideal although a bit small, 2 bunks (and 2 extra if you put the hood up) it had a 130 Yanmar diesel and would do 25 knots, planed at 15, one disadvantage was that it was unsuitable for a crowded marina as with an enormous propeller at tick over it would be doing 5 knots. Very economical as at just over tick over it would be doing 7 knots using less than a gallon an hour.
These are the sort of boats which should be made today as with the price of Red Diesel being under 50p a liter our boat manufacturers should be moving from outboards back to inboard diesels.