yottie needs power boat advice

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johnphewitt

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I am a yottie who wants a power boat. I have always admired Fairey Huntsman 28 ft aft cockpit but am scared of the maintenance. What boat is the logical successor to the Huntsman? My budget is £50,000 and I don't mind a reasonably old boat provided it is GRP. For use as day boat with heads and shelter on Yorkshire coast and Humber.

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There are so many good boats on the market in your price range. For something similar to the Fairey (in looks anyway) take a look at a Freeman 33 'Sportsman'. The Moonraker 350 is also in that range, as are several of the 'Princess' range (33 and 37).
You really have to buy the magazines and get around the marinas to look at what's available and talk to the owners of similar craft.

<hr width=100% size=1>Trev
 
How about a Fairey Spearfish, think they were all GRP, best chap to speak to is Burgundyben, why not send him a PM, he is our resident Fairey expert.

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<font color=blue>There are lots of boats around but a Fairey is a Fairey is a Fairey and nuffink else falls into their class in the production line of boats. There were one or two clones but they are rarely around as so few were made. If you want to be "one of the chaps" then there is no alternative. In short there are plenty of Ford Cortinas but only one Lotus Cortina.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk
 
Oh, Fairey Boats, my favourite subject, the Huntsman 28 is of course the best boat ever built (I may be slightly biased....), the spearfish is basically a grp aft cockpit Huntsman 31 and a very good boat indeed, the H31 and spearfish hull gives an excellent soft ride and has a much greater flare ot the bow and hence is much drier than the H28.

The Spearfish is of course only aft cockpit and so the accommodation is limited, there is also the Fairey Fantome in GRP, basically a spearfish with an aft cabin, also a great looking boat and with a pair of 300's will do 36/37 knts.

I can thoroughly reccomend Fairey boat ownership, pride of having one is immense, as Byron says, few imitations and good boats in their own right, Tropicana, Tantarella or Omega 828 all Sonny Levi designs are credit worthy but not Fairey boats....

As a guide, with a H28, expect anual maintnance to be around say 50 to 100 hours and about £3k, remember they are hot moulded and so not like a traditionally constructed wood boat in the slightest. £35k should buy a bloody perfect H28.

Your £50k budget should get you a decent Spearfish, you could keep an eye on gavin-j-poole.net he brokers most of the Fairey boats, but be careful, he is an ex ford car salesman I beleive...

also have a look at www.faireyownersclub.co.uk

any further questions I would be more than happy to wax lyrical at length

<hr width=100% size=1>"Who was he?"
 
In the same vien as the Fairey's, have a look at the Toughs Cobra and the Python. Bloody good boats IMHO. Well within your budget.

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<font color=blue>Having owned a Cobra 33 back in the 70s I can safely state they are a better sea boat than the Fairey. Having said that I will also state the quality of the interior is woefully below that of a Fairey, the general finish is abysmal and the speeds attainable not a patch on the Fairey. I don't speak with Ben's authority but I did moor at Hamble Point when they were still Fairey Marine and became very familiar with them. Indeed I aspired to a Fairey but could only afford a Cobra.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk
 
Another not-mentioned-so-far GRP option would be an Omega 828. They can be purchased for under £20,000 but Bob Brinton has one for sale that has had a no-expenses-spared refit of, so far as I can tell, new everything including decks and engines for about £39,000. They had a nice teak over grp laid deck and didn't look too plastic.

I also used to own a Spearfish called "Uno Too" and Ben is right to say they were very dry. I just used to whang it flat out through everything, but they are a bit spartan.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
 
Re: Huntsman 31

No good if you want GRP but a good friend has a gorgeous 31 aft cabin.
Think it was one of the last built with hugely superior interior fit and finish.
If you are interested PM me and I will put you in touch.

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Totally agree with BurgundyBen, Except perhaps the bit about H28 being the best of the best. Get yourself a Spearfish, or if you like a bit more shelter An ex- military or police Spear. They are usually a bit cheaper than the Spearfish. They are the same boat but with a wheelhouse. All the benefits of Fairey ownership without all the wood to worry about. Sounds perfect for your needs.

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If you were refering to the Huntsman 31 Aft Cabin, and were worried about the maintainace with a wooden hull, the Fantome 31 was the fiberglass alternative, and still a propper Fairey.
They are few and far between, which may be why no one has mentioned them yet, and as such do command a premium that may stretch your budget.

They are a truly superb vessel, my father owned a couple of them between the various Huntsmen and Spearfish he has and still owns.

There was an example of the Fantome for sale recently, asking 80,000 euros.
There is a spearfish In Salterns marina Poole for sale, price unknown.

My father would rather have both legs chewed off by rabid gerbils than sell his!

All the very best, and happy hunting.

Dog

<hr width=100% size=1>Work? You call this Work?
 
I agree about the Spear, but for ex. service patrol and customs boats they look very over priced, dragged along by the Spearfish market.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
 
Hang on a mo!!

I did mention the Omega 828 and I mentioned the Fantome, obviously no b*gger read my informative post. Hurrumpf, I'll buy my DSC elsewhere!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>"Who was he?"
 
For sailing person's power vessel in your spec, call 01590 675921.

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Re: Hang on a mo!!

P'raps t'was further down thread, I'm notorious for not reading beyond line one of anything...ask the Inland Revenue. Apologies for denting your armour.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
 
Yottie thanks all those who replied. Now totally confused. Have seen the Spearfish in Salterns, no for sale sign on it. who is selling it as it is a beauty.

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