which cruiser

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russ

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What would be recommended for a first time buyer. Looking to buy a 25' 4 berth cruiser that i can trailer home. About 30k to spend. I have already looked at bayliner 245 & Regal 2465. One petrol the other diesel.
I would appreciate any advice on buying and running a boat.
 
I think the two examples are very good choices for the type of boat you are looking at. There are other examples, (Rinker, Sealine, ...) but the two you mention would be on top of my list

Most owners of a Bayliner I know are very happy with them. Bayliners have a very good price performance.

Regal, no personal experience, but I know they have a very good reputation.

Gas or diesel depends on your usage, if only occasional use, gas is ok, but if you want to do long legs, and very regular use, you will be more happy with Diesel. Also resale of a diesel is much easyer.

as a starter boat these are OK, but make sure that swmbo is enthousiastic about it, as with that size of boat you need her (or someone else) to help you with the trailering and with the mooring, at least the first season.

make sure you get some good training !

if you are a little bit handy, don't worry about the trailering,
make shure the tow is well ballanced and the trailer in a well maintained condition,
and take your time, for the towing as well as the trailering
 
Hi if you want a 25ft Towable,You will need to go for a light build boat,Like the Oqueteau or Merryfisher,I have a Rodman 700 23ft @ 3 tonnes Its heavy and I have a Land Rover 90
 
Thanks for the info.
I will be getting some power boat training as soon as i get the the boat.
As for trailering i have a Chevy Silverado 4x4 which should pull 3.5 tonnes.
I may consider leaving it moored up at the river for the first year until i get used to handling her but mooring fees are so high that i could probably buy a trailer for that cost anyway. Lots to think about:confused:
2nd year i will venture out on the sea but on reading my RYA book even that seems a lot to learn.
 
I would go for diesel every time! reasons as follows:

1. Safer on boats, fire etc.
2. More reliable than petrol, petrol engine and damp environments don't always go well together.
3. Better resale value.
4. Diesel easier to buy than petrol around the coast and inland waterways.
5. Better fuel consumption/miles per hour

Enough reasons?

Barry
 
To decide on petrol v diesel, this will depend on how much you are prepared to pay. Diesel boat will be £5k to £10k more expensive to buy, and you are unlikely to recover this cost in usage, especially on a river, where you will use 1-2 galls per hour. You will recover the difference when you sell, and usually find it easier to sell a diesel than a petrol boat, for the reasons described by others.

With the make or type of boat, this will depend on personal preference. If you are happy with the boat, then go for it. Please consider that you are unlikely to keep your first boat for more than 1 season, as you learn the ropes, and see others that maybe fit your needs better.

On a river, a small sports cruiser like you describe is not the best choice, as she will have less accommodation than a river boat, and be more difficult to steer/moor than a displacement river cruiser. However, you will see many of these on the rivers, with owners who are very happy.

In your 22"-25" bracket, the Sealine 22/23 is probably the best depending on age and how well maintained. Generally British/European boats are usually better built and more robust than US boats, and the accommodation is far superior, but will be more costly.

Whatever you go for, you will find support on this forum, and above all, enjoy your boating. There is nothing better for chilling out, but you will have your frustrations as well.
 
the big advantage of a trailable boat is that you can discover different cruising grounds, and you still have the option of leaving the boat in a marina for a few weeks / months when needed or wanted.

we use our boat in Belgium, Holland, France and Croatia.

with the boat type you have in mind you have to be carefull with your total weight (including fuel, water and all other bits and pieces)
we had to go for an alluminium trailer.

If you have no experience with trailers, you could visit Dusseldorf Boat show in january, there are many brands on display, and while talking to different manuf. you learn a lot.
Have a look at Harbeck, they are one of the best in Germany.
 
Cheers Guys.
I have considered the Sealine s23 and also saw a Bavaria which didn't sound like a common make. So i guess servicing and parts will not be easy to get?

I have heard that the Bayliner range are a cheaper mass built boat and therefore are not as well made.

Does anyone know where i can get free test reports on all the boats on my lists?

Where would there be an economical place on the Thames that i could moor or store a 25' boat?

Are there any boat clubs in my chosen area(Chertsey,Windsor,Staines etc) that i could join with not owning a boat as yet?
 
Thats a pretty tough tow vehicle you have, the long wheel based pick-up/ute will have no problem with anything you have mentioned.

One of them passed me on the open highway a couple of weeks ago, towing at least 3500 kgs, up an incline at 120 kph!

If you have the room at home, and the launching process doesn't daunt you, maybe a trailer option could work.
 
how much

Just had an email from a dealer selling the 245 and 2465 listing all the costs on top of the purchase price. Cant quite believe its going to cost me this much just to turn the key.
Two way lift and chock £265
Pressure wash £53
Engine survey £150
Hull survey £300
Engine service £420
Leg service £228
Re-anti foul £432
Machine polish/glaze etc £895
Cockpit clean £75
Engine/bilge clean £50
Acid treat leg/tabs £45
Safety cert £225
River license £297
Mooring £2247
Ins £250 up
Nearly £6000 plus the 15% vat.
I could buy a boat for that.
Guys is this taking the 'P**s or is this an annual cost i will have to pay? If so i think its all been just a dream.
HELP!:eek:
 
Cockpit clean!?!?? Do it your self and for polishing you could do it your self for £200 or less if you borrow equipment.
 
At the size and type of boat you are looking at I would go for petrol, you will get a newer model, they are quieter, they dont smell and they have better performance. If you buy fuel at Tesco when the boats on the trailer the differential in fuel prices is not that huge. While a diesel boat will be worth more when you come to sell it, you will have paid a lot more to buy it in the first place. Petrol is more volatile than diesel, but maintain the engine properly and vent the engine room when starting and its perfectly safe.

If you use a trailer you can reduce the costs stated a lot. You wont need lift fees, antifoul or mooring. You can do all the cleaning yourself very easily when its on the trailer (savings nearly 4k), you also get the advantage of different cruising grounds.

The other costs e.g. for servicing the engine, should be reflected in the purchase price, but the survey fees and river fees are essential. You can avoid the Boat safety cert cost by buying a boat thats already done.

Nautotrious has given a good list of boats, they are all very similar and will have very similar engines, my advice is to go with your partner and have a look at a few. Even at the sizes you are looking at each boat will have a different 'feel' e.g. Regal excellent quality, Bayliner will feel huge in the cabin, Chapparal has tight access to rear cabin etc.
 
Thanks Mark
I can do most of the work myself which I believe is all part of owning a boat.
I still have my industrial polisher and mops etc(What cutting paste,wax and glaze do you use, is it the same as for car paint)?

As for mooring I do have a place to keep it on a trailer for £10 a week but I thought I would get more use if it was moored up most of the season.

My first thoughts were always with the Bayliner 245 but people have said they are cheaply made where as the Regal i looked at seemed a better quality boat but this one was a diesel.

They have said i can take them both out for a test drive up the river, but they want a refundable £500 for some reason?
I did notice on the Regal that the bow tops side was very sloped and therefore looked a little difficult to stand when tying up at locks etc.
The Mrs liked the Regal more but i think i will take the advice earlier about looking at a Sealine.
 
A lot of this stuff you can do yourself. You will get much help and advice from other boaters on how and save yourself a packet. Hey its all part of boating.

take a look at the falcon 22s and 23s better build quality then bayliners and roomy for size.
 
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