White Shark, Karnic or Boston Whaler?

ducie

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I am looking to upgrade my Linder Arkip 460 and have been looking at the; White Shark 205, Karnic 2050, Trophy’s 1903 & 1902 and Boston Whaler 200 Dauntless.
I need a boat no more than 20ft so that I can keep my mooring at Christchurch. Also I would like the use of a portable head.
I have no idea which make and models out there have the reputation for the best ride and build quality. Anyone got any suggestions as to which would make the best investment?
 
Are you loking at new or used? What sort of budget do you have? All the makes you list abovce are pretty good - the Karnic range especially is gaining a good reputation and always seem to offer a lot of boat for the money. Boston Whaler have a big following but you seem to almost pay for the boat twice they cost so much.

Is 20ft really the limit or can you stretch it a bit?
 
All good boats - which we've recently concidered (ended up with Yamarin - but we were looking for a WA of Cabin under 24ft...)
Make a list of your non comprise musts (heads, engine size,cost etc...) it's amazing how few boats you'll end up on your list once you've scrutinized your requirments with whats available. i.e heads are limited on these size of boats which narrows your options down, affordability, Boston are great but do cost significantly more etc...
 
Agree with that. Boston Whalers always seem to be priced way above the others. Anyone explain why?
 
Haven't been on a White Shark or Karnic but Whalers do feel very solid indeed, for their size.
They cost a lot because the company are for ever sawing them in half, to show their "unsinkability" when they produce another brochure /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Also consider Cap Cameret W/A with cabin and heads .
Boston Whalers are great but as others have said expensive probably becuse of the double skin and foam that makes them unsinkable seen pictures of one cut in half and still floating .

Karnic are produced in Cyprus I think and have a very good hull but make sure you get the bigger engine as quite heavy hull depending on what model you go for some come with diesel outdrive .

White shark looks similar to the Jeaneau and Beneteau open boat models so not sure if its the same .

Trophy is another good model produced in the States good hull but again look at the engine size dont go for minimum rated but somewhere closer to the max if you want good performance .

Plenty of Fast Fisher types on the market now offering toilets and limited accomodation have a look at Sportsboats and ribs magazine or website for boat reports that could help narrow it down for you.
Tim
 
Cheers for your advice. Unfortunately 20ft is my limit if I want to keep my bow on mooring. I could maybe think about changing my mooring but I like the advantage of being able to step on and off the boat without having to use a tender.
I have noticed that Boston’s seem to be a lot more pricy then other manufactures? Not use why?
I was thinking of new as then you have the security of the warranties ect. Don’t know enough about boats/outboard engines to have the confidence to go second hand. But if I went through a reputable broker that maybe ok? I suppose you might be able to pick up a great deal on the second hand market at the moment?
 
If you are actually limited to 20ft and no more, be careful.

Some of these WA/Fast Fishers have a protruding bow platform that could take you over your limit. Furthermore, if this is fitted and the o/all length is still within 20ft, then the rest of the boat will be smaller than on one that hadn't got this feature.

Whalers are the cream of the crop but whether they are worth the extra money is debatable.

In your situation I'd look for a "nearly new" version of what you want, bought from a dealer or well known broker. There should be some bargains about at the moment.
If you buy new, you are having to pay extra because of the weak £.
 
timg, what do you know about the Cap Camarat series, particularly the 755? I have a 25ft RIB in the UK and I am considering selling it and getting a walk round boat with a bit of accomodation and the CC looks quite good
 
Hi Deleted User
Taught a family on a 635 wa with a single Suzuki 175 hp on the back very nice boat big flared bow that deflected the bow wave giving a very dry ride the sundeck was ok for a spot of snoozing in Osbourne bay as well, nicely fitted out handled the chop well . The 755 does come with the option of twin outboards so marina parking a doddle if you go to www.jeaneau.fr/2007/?r=yacht&p=boat&n=233&nl=2 they have a video and a virtual tour of the model you like , I quite like the model sat on the bow .
Cheers Tim
 
I've got a Karnic 2250 with a Suzuki 200hp which I've had from new in 2006. It has been a great all-rounder that can turn its hand to cruising, water skiing, fishing or just blasting about with friends. There's masses of space for people on board and a surprisingly spacious cuddy for kids and porto potti if needed. The basics are simple but solid. Some of the details aren't up to Boston Whaler standards and it doesn't handle as well as a true sportsboat but it's a good, useable, practical, easy to look after boat at a sensible price. Paul Reed at dealer/importers Yellow Penguin in Poole is a top bloke and seems to look after his customers well. I would see if he could do you a deal on a new or nearly new 2050.
 
dont know the situation, but I'd give consideration as to whether you really need a heads. Maybe you do, but I reckon in about 6-7 years of boats with portapotty types, it was used once. Bucket seemed alot easier!
 
The real question is are you sure your ms' needs a heads...?
The answer is usually yes, even if (like us) it's only used once a year... seawater toilet goes a long way IMHO compared to a porta potti (ughhh).
 
I'd disagree with that. I spent many a long hour last season desperately crossing my legs in my RIB after a couple of pints (whoops, can I say that?). It's not as if you can point percy over the tube in the middle of Yarmouth harbour. I mean you could in France but we don't do that sort of thing here. The result was that I found myself peeing over the side quite often in the middle of the Solent at 30knots last season which is dangerous and often pointless as I'd get just as wet had I simply peed my pants. The trouble with a porta potti is that somebody's got to empty it and I know who'd draw the short straw everytime. So, I want a proper enclosed head with a sea toilet, hence I'm selling my RIB
 
hmm, why not slow the boat, pee into a bucket, and chuck it over ?
Anyway, as I said, I dont know his circumstance.. may/may not be appropriate
 
[ QUOTE ]
why not slow the boat

[/ QUOTE ]

If I wanted to do that, I would have bought a yacht /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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