Which small motorcruiser?

[pauls_SPT]

Hello,

I'm hoping for some advice here - any thoughts will be much appreciated...I posted this in the wrong forum to begin with and got told off /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I'm looking at buying a motorboat, about 20' LOA, that can sleep two people comfortably. I want to keep it out of the water on a trailer, so it has to be easy to launch and light enough to tow with my 1.9 VW Transporter. I'd really like to be able to approach 20kts in it, so I can go adventuring without running out of time on the weekends. Ideally, I'd like something that can take twin outboards, about 40 to 50hp, as that seems safer to me than one big outboard and a 4hp wing engine in case things go wrong...

I live in Cornwall and I'd use the boat around Falmouth and the South Coast of Cornwall. That said, I'd love to be able to make it to the Scilly's if the weather was good - how safe that would be in a 20' boat, though, I don't know...

I regularly sail a Drascombe Lugger and I've got my Yachtmaster (Theory) certificate, but this would be my first foray into the world of motorboats...I just want to go further in less time than the lugger lets me do...the only motorboat I've helmed so far is a 30' dive support RIB with a 115hp engine on the back, although I've only really done than five or six times so far (I've not run any divers down yet, though) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Oh yes, and my budget for the boat is about £3000.00, not including the engines, electronics etc...

I've been hunting through the internet to get an idea of what's out there and I like the look of a couple of Shetland boats, the 570 and the Kestrel. I can't quite see what the difference between them is and suspect the Kestrel *is* the 570...does anybody know if that's right?

Is there any benefit to having two medium outboards as opposed to one big outboard, or is that just a fuel-hungry waste of money? The 570 and the Kestrel only seem to take one engine, in any case.

What I was wondering was if anybody knew of any other boats which might be worth looking at or what they thought of the 570/Kestrel? As I said, any help, thoughts, advice, beard-stroking will be much appreciated.

All the best,

Paul

 

[Davy_S]

Just a couple of pointers, I would say that a single 100 hp engine is far better than two 50s. It would be faster and use less fuel. regarding the 4hp wing, this is not big enough for a 20ft boat 9/10 hp is better.
100 hp on 20ft will give you 20 knots.
I will let the peeps from your area give advice about local sea conditions
Good luck.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Have a look at the Fletcher range, good boats but again will only have space for a single engine. 50-60hp will be plenty to get it planing at 20kts. Also consider a Tremlett 21, excellent sea boats. And the Shetland range you've already found is a well tried and tested make.

As for trailering these, you'll need to check the weights and towing capacity of your camper van, suspect this will be your main limiting factor.

 

[aquaholic]

Not sure about the local waters, single or twin, both have good and bad points, personally would go for a big single and a 10-15 hp auxillary, as a very rough guess you could be looking at around 1 GPH for every 10hp at full throttle.
Would have thought a 90hp would be the smallest you would go for inorder to cruise at 20knts with a full load. Shetland boats are very capable boats and have a good reputation

 

[Cliveshep]

From my experiences with small outboard cruisers years ago at sea you always run the risk of getting "pooped" with a drowned engine(s) and that can be a serious situation to find yourself in. I converted my last 20ft (back in the early 70's when you were a lad my boy) to inboard with a stern drive and got the transom/stern deck properly glassed in. This increased my transom freeboard to that of the rest of the hull, gave me an engine that stayed dry, and oodles of power coupled with economy. And yes, I have been "pooped" off Portland/the Chesil years ago - scary that was! Powerless on that coast close in is no fun believe me!

What I'm advocating therefore is any deep vee hull, inboard/outdrive propulsion, petrol for power/speed probably best in such a small boat, trim tabs (can be fixed ones) and an lifting outboard bracket and a "get-you-home" lump like an old Seagull for safety if you do get a problem. Economy is likely to be good as well with an inboard unit. Ideas, well, up to you, mine at the time was a Norman 20 aft cockpit, 2+2 berth, I did regular "regardless of weather" runs between Bembridge and Langstone and it often got pretty lumpy in winter but it always took whatever the sea threw at it and stayed reasonably dry. I couldn't always sit at the helm mind you, at least not without spinal injury, but the hull drove well with power and behaved impeccably in seas so long as one was careful not to leap off tops of waves and submarine through the next ones!

Good luck in your search.

 

[gjgm]

er, not told off.. I was pointing out that (if you want any responses) you would do better asking on the motor boat forum... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[pauls_SPT]

Thanks all for your advice/help.

The wing engine guidance is helpful - I was only going by what the Lugger uses, so thanks for that.

So twin outbords doesn't have any real advantages, then? How about inboard vs outboard? I fancied having an outboard simply from an ease of maintenance point of view...

Leaping of waves and submarining sounds...well...actually pretty exciting, but largely terminal as well, I suspect... I was on the dive RIB when we had it clean out of the water, prop and all, when we hit a big wave one day and how the hull didn't just shatter as it crashed down again, I don't know!

Thanks for your help - any other thoughts/opinions will be gratefully received.

Paul

 

[aquaholic]

I would prefer an inboard-but I wouldnt let it stop me from buying a particular boat.
If the RNLI, Coastguard and police use outboards I am sure ot will be ok for your boat.

 

[Davy_S]

I have a petrol inboard driving a 290 leg, the weight distribution is far better, and would buy the same again. The drive legs have to be serviced, but dont let this put you off! If you get the workshop manual and are an able diy, its less than a days work, I can take the leg off on my own under an hour including fag break!
If you see the right boat with an outboard though, go for it.
IMHO you will not cruise fully loaded at 20ft with 50/60hp, at 21ft I need 150hp and wish I had more hp. Would have to be a lightly built boat I think.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Yes agree that 50/60hp not enough for a 20 odd foot boat, but should be ok for the shetland/fletcher type around 17'

 

[ontheplane]

Go to:- http://www.shetlandboats.co.uk/socindex.htm

All the info you want is there.

I would say a 570 with a 100HP would fairly shift bearing in mind it only weighs 730KG - and then have a small aux engine around 10HP

From my experience they are good (if basic) boats