Wondering about a boat...

Author
Discussion

The Moose

Original Poster:

22,821 posts

208 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
As the title says, am wondering about a boat.

Would like something that is trailer-able if necessary.

Ideally sleep 4 so can go away with friends etc, however could make do with only 2.

Prefer outboard engine as my preconception is that it's easier/cheaper than an inboard/outboard.

Suggestions on a postcard please chaps and chapesses smile

R8Steve

4,150 posts

174 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
You'll probably be looking for an older 21 foot cuddy cabin with that criteria. Can sleep 2 in the cabin and 2 under cover at the back (it would need to be a fairly warm night though). Anything bigger than 21 foot can become a pain for storage/transport.

You're seriously narrowing your options in both boat model and size by going for an outboard and I'd probably recommend considering an inboard as well. Going for something like a mercruiser 3.0 or even 4.3 shouldn't be an issue and I find them more reliable than the outboards.

Something like a 3.0 bayliner 2052 or maxum/regal 21 would be my choice

ndtman

745 posts

180 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Hi. I quite like the look of the MacGregor 26. I'm sure someone will be along to say they are rubbish. I hope not as it seems to tick a lot of boxes.




Quick eBay search http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/macgregor-26-yacht-/2518...

R8Steve

4,150 posts

174 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
ndtman said:
Hi. I quite like the look of the MacGregor 26. I'm sure someone will be along to say they are rubbish. I hope not as it seems to tick a lot of boxes.


Quick eBay search http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/macgregor-26-yacht-/2518...
The macgregors are quite cheaply made and the quality does reflect this. It's a good concept as a first boat and if you're not sure what to buy next - power or sail.

It's quite a big boat to be towing about and with it being a motor sailer is a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none.

The fact that you don't see motorboats fitting sails on and sailboats fitting large outboards on the back of them says it all...there is a reason for this wink

The Moose

Original Poster:

22,821 posts

208 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
I'm not interested in being a raggie wink

The outboard I've not got my heart set on, it just seemed like a reasonable idea - am open to suggestions smile

No doubt I'll end up with something totally different!

R8Steve

4,150 posts

174 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Can I just check as well reading back the OP if you meant by trailerable if necessary did you mean you'd be keeping it in the water? If that's the case it opens up a lot more possibilities as pretty much any boat can be trailered somehow (not necessarily with your average car/van though)

What budget were you thinking of?

ndtman

745 posts

180 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
R8Steve said:
The macgregors are quite cheaply made and the quality does reflect this. It's a good concept as a first boat and if you're not sure what to buy next - power or sail.

It's quite a big boat to be towing about and with it being a motor sailer is a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none.

The fact that you don't see motorboats fitting sails on and sailboats fitting large outboards on the back of them says it all...there is a reason for this wink
Ta for the insight.

The Moose

Original Poster:

22,821 posts

208 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
R8Steve said:
Can I just check as well reading back the OP if you meant by trailerable if necessary did you mean you'd be keeping it in the water? If that's the case it opens up a lot more possibilities as pretty much any boat can be trailered somehow (not necessarily with your average car/van though)

What budget were you thinking of?
I'd hope to be able to tow it with the LandCruiser smile

Would keep it either in the water or dry stack I expect.

R8Steve

4,150 posts

174 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
The Moose said:
I'd hope to be able to tow it with the LandCruiser smile

Would keep it either in the water or dry stack I expect.
You should have no problem towing up to about 26 foot with a landcruiser which again broadens your options. At 24 foot plus you start to get into decent 4/6 berth cabins with toilet/shower/dining areas. You would definitely be looking at inboards for that size of boat though.

What kind of boat you get from there is all down to how much you want to spend really

maser_spyder

6,356 posts

181 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
If it's UK towing, and you're not an old git, you'll need to take your trailer test if you haven't already.

I towed my old 25' fin keel sailing yacht back from France a few years ago with the Landcruiser. Make the car look tiny. hehe

Sleeping 4 is going to be an inboard most likely, but that shouldn't put you off too much.

Motor boats generally have much less 'sleeping' space than an equivalent sized sailing yacht, and the sleeping bit is always a bit of an afterthought. Most towable stink boats won't have luxury cabins so it'll be a bit like slumming it (to a certain extent).

Awesome way to spend some free time though, you won't regret it.

The Moose

Original Poster:

22,821 posts

208 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Already done my B+E for racing smile

Am open to suggestions all round really. Looking for some suggestions to get started and researching etc.

Slyjoe

1,500 posts

210 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Not helpful, but I was once told - "If it Flies,Floats or F@cks - rent it"

Simpo Two

85,148 posts

264 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Slyjoe said:
Not helpful, but I was once told - "If it Flies,Floats or F@cks - rent it"
Nope. Success can be measured thus:

1) Sports car
2) Boat
3) Aeroplane

maser_spyder

6,356 posts

181 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
The Moose said:
Already done my B+E for racing smile

Am open to suggestions all round really. Looking for some suggestions to get started and researching etc.
Excellent, that takes weight juggling out of the equation then.

Budget? Even a cluesy? Otherwise I'm gonna start with Riva and work down to Binliner. wink

maser_spyder

6,356 posts

181 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Maxum 2400SCR (or 2500 if you can find one). 2700 is better but a teeny bit on the big side for towing regularly.

Not the best ever, but bog standard engines so parts are easy, and the brand is obsolete so plenty of bargains to be had.

The Moose

Original Poster:

22,821 posts

208 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
maser_spyder said:
The Moose said:
Already done my B+E for racing smile

Am open to suggestions all round really. Looking for some suggestions to get started and researching etc.
Excellent, that takes weight juggling out of the equation then.

Budget? Even a cluesy? Otherwise I'm gonna start with Riva and work down to Binliner. wink
Most likely not a Riva!

Simpo Two

85,148 posts

264 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
The Moose said:
Most likely not a Riva!
You can afford a Riva:



And change left over for a raft to put it on, and an outboard too biggrin

piecost76

271 posts

173 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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Having owned both a Yacht & a trailer sailer, my comment is that there is an awful lot of "faff" with the trailer sailer in that you obviously have to rig & de rig it every time you want to use it.

Then there are the launching points & tides to consider so it is not plain sailing if you pardon the pun!

At least with a moored boat, you can usually just hop on & go as opposed to fighting the wind & tide to rig & launch her. Recovery is also a right pain if the conditions are not favourable!

Most yacht clubs have swing moorings which are a good compromise between cost & ease. Keep your tender at the clubhouse & just fit the outboard 2 mins before you head out to your boat.

Fishtigua

9,786 posts

194 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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We look after this Flyer 701. Okay, it's made by Bendytoy but for the space vs price, you get a lot of bang for you buck. And it trailers.

http://www.lovellyachts.com/used-boats/boat-detail...

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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^^ The link says 'Tax not paid'. Would this mean a tax liability - such as VAT - if you wanted to bring it into the UK?