Which boat for next summer?
Discussion
pequod said:
Louis Balfour said:
I am looking at it on my phone. It looks like a bare boat, no plotter etc.
Low hours though.
I wonder what it’s story is.
It's got a Garmin plotter, vhf, and the bowthruster, plus other bits and bobs (rod holders!!Low hours though.
I wonder what it’s story is.
) but it's not overly equipped however that's not a bad thing IMO.Worth a call to the Broker to ask what the history is but I imagine it's a genuine boat that has only been lightly used? It might be strange but there are many folk who live aboard their boats in Brighton marina and travel up to town on the train, but seldom use their boat for seagoing trips., but is considered a more cost effective and nicer accommodation alternative to a grotty flat.
Don't forget a survey, just in case it has been grounded or crashed/repaired and a recent engine service although those Yams are pretty bulletproof.
I've messaged the broker.
Edited to add: Do people really use something that small as an overnight stay in Brighton?
Simpo Two said:
Louis Balfour said:
I am at Burton Waters Marina as I type. We’ve just had a look over a Merry Fisher 695 and a Bayliner Ciera 8. I understand why an knowledgeable boat owner would buy the MF. I like that you can just close the patio doors and leave it.
I was going to suggest you need to get out and start looking at boats. The internet can only get you so far. The more boats you look at, the better you'll know what you want and what to look for/avoid. Even the smell can tell you something about it.Louis Balfour said:
Ideally I would spend £25k...
Louis Balfour said:
I would hope to get a decent one for £40-£45k.
Welcome to boats.You know when you get the feeling that you're about to mug yourself? Asking a redhead on a date, agreeing to join in a drinking game or lending someone a value possession?
pequod said:
Well done for getting to see both in the flesh as it's very much down to your own personal preferences and which will suit your needs. Good healthy budget will help find a nice one and this 2017 model at Brighton would be worth a look over and is fitted with a bowthruster (an expensive option) which can make life a lot easier when trying to get it on a trailer or marina berth in any sort of crosswind. Incidentally, all up I believe you will be looking at 2.5 tonnes towing weight so it will need a decent 4x4 car to handle it.
Although the asking price is above your max I would expect an offer of £45k to secure this one!
https://www.theyachtmarket.com/en/boat-for-sale/19...
I am going to go and have a look at the 695 above later this week. It has done 38 hours.Although the asking price is above your max I would expect an offer of £45k to secure this one!
https://www.theyachtmarket.com/en/boat-for-sale/19...
The broker said that it is virtually unused, but has sent me snaps (at my request) of any dings, marks or blemished. It has bits and bobs like this:
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/sejf2BgW[/url][url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/UXQ5UxWf[/url]There are a few more odds and sods like that.
Basically the ad on Yachtmarket appears to use photos of the boat when new. It is now on the water.
If I drove a car that had done 38 hours it would probably look new. Are boats more fragile / more likely to pick up dings than cars?
Simpo Two said:
Louis Balfour said:
If I drove a car that had done 38 hours it would probably look new. Are boats more fragile / more likely to pick up dings than cars?
Yes. One touch of the hull on a landing stage and the gelcoat will be marked or scratched. Keeping it perfect below the gunwales is not going to happen! If you want perfect, you'll have to buy new - and scratch it yourself 
I am hopefully going to see a 795 too.
pequod said:
Don't equate the low engine hours with it being unmarked as it could have left and returned to the mooring after an hour or two of motoring and that it is when boats incur a few bumps, particularly in inexperienced hands.
Damage to upholstery and internal woodwork is down to carelessness and whilst annoying, is sometimes inevitable but only you can decide if they are something you can live with or have repaired/replaced.
As a beginner you will be very, very lucky if you don't add a few more scars during your ownership!;)
I realise this. Which is why I don't want to spend a lot....says the man whose budget has doubled in a week.Damage to upholstery and internal woodwork is down to carelessness and whilst annoying, is sometimes inevitable but only you can decide if they are something you can live with or have repaired/replaced.
As a beginner you will be very, very lucky if you don't add a few more scars during your ownership!;)
NickCQ said:
None of that looks unreasonable. The marine environment is just so much more harsh than what a car experiences.
Engine cover just looks like salt crystals or mild abrasion, doubt it's rust (famous last words)
To my eye that engine cover looks like it’s had a couple of chips or abrasions and salt has got in. But I don’t know boats.Engine cover just looks like salt crystals or mild abrasion, doubt it's rust (famous last words)
Simpo Two said:
Before handing over £45K, if you're seriously considering this boat, you should get a survey done (see 'marine surveyors'). This includes lifting the boat out and checking all the gubbins underneath, and you can ask him all your questions. A survey is not foolproof but it gives some peace of mind, might give you a bargaining point, and might be needed for insurance (depending on the age of the boat).
I looked at a dozen boats before buying my first one; that way you get to see the form, what to look for and what to avoid. But I may have mentioned that before!
i couldn't find your link - how old is that boat?
2017 with 38 hours.I looked at a dozen boats before buying my first one; that way you get to see the form, what to look for and what to avoid. But I may have mentioned that before!
i couldn't find your link - how old is that boat?
IforB said:
Simpo Two said:
Louis Balfour said:
To my eye that engine cover looks like it’s had a couple of chips or abrasions and salt has got in. But I don’t know boats.
Before handing over £45K, if you're seriously considering this boat, you should get a survey done (see 'marine surveyors'). This includes lifting the boat out and checking all the gubbins underneath, and you can ask him all your questions. A survey is not foolproof but it gives some peace of mind, might give you a bargaining point, and might be needed for insurance (depending on the age of the boat).I looked at a dozen boats before buying my first one; that way you get to see the form, what to look for and what to avoid. But I may have mentioned that before!
i couldn't find your link - how old is that boat?
A survey is a must on a boat like this.
Simpo Two said:
Louis Balfour said:
2017 with 38 hours.
Thanks - and on this machine I can see the photos too.38 hours over 3-4 years if true is incredibly little. I'd ask why he wants to sell it.
The imperfections are minuscule and would certainly not stop me buying it if I wanted it. If you want perfect you'll need to buy a new one. A boat is more like a small house than a car; people don't just sit in it for a bit then get out again, they walk about in it, cook in it, eat in it, sleep in it and go to the bathroom in it...
Only you can decide whether to pounce or not. The only thing missing in your decision-making arsenal IMHO is that you haven't looked at any other boats so have no comparison.
ETA: 'Basically the ad on Yachtmarket appears to use photos of the boat when new'. I wonder why? It costs nothing to take decent photos.
Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 27th October 14:46
I am in no hurry whatsoever to buy a boat. I've got 6 months before I will get much use from it.
Why would they use snaps of the boat when new? Well, they supplied it new. Perhaps they didn't have access to it to take photos initially. Or it was full of the owner's personal stuff.
But I am quickly realising that boat advertising makes Gumtree appear the paragon of probity, currency and accuracy.
Thankyou4calling said:
Hope this one is genuine!
A Merry Fisher on EBay.
I know nothing about them (Bayliner owner) but it’s older and the price appears to reflect that.
Might be worth a look.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JEANNEAU-MERRY-FISHER-6...
I like your opening gambit! Priced like it's real, but I want something newer.A Merry Fisher on EBay.
I know nothing about them (Bayliner owner) but it’s older and the price appears to reflect that.
Might be worth a look.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JEANNEAU-MERRY-FISHER-6...
pequod said:
Simpo Two said:
Not always, Norfolk Yacht Agency and others are professional. In fact have a look if you haven't already: https://www.nya.co.uk/boats-for-sale/
No MF for sale I note! Are you suggesting our new boat chum should consider a Broom?We viewed some Merry Fishers today. Four of them, new and used.
We definitely need the standard boat as opposed to the Marlin.
One of them was a second hand 795. Quite tidy with 280 hours on a 2017 boat. It has a bow thruster, plotter, vhf radio, sea toilet. Manual windlass though.
Tomorrow we are seeing a used 695.
I must say that whilst I liked the 795, the 695 has an appeal of its own being more compact. It seemed to find favour with the family.
We definitely need the standard boat as opposed to the Marlin.
One of them was a second hand 795. Quite tidy with 280 hours on a 2017 boat. It has a bow thruster, plotter, vhf radio, sea toilet. Manual windlass though.
Tomorrow we are seeing a used 695.
I must say that whilst I liked the 795, the 695 has an appeal of its own being more compact. It seemed to find favour with the family.
pequod said:
Louis Balfour said:
We viewed some Merry Fishers today. Four of them, new and used.
We definitely need the standard boat as opposed to the Marlin.
One of them was a second hand 795. Quite tidy with 280 hours on a 2017 boat. It has a bow thruster, plotter, vhf radio, sea toilet. Manual windlass though.
Tomorrow we are seeing a used 695.
I must say that whilst I liked the 795, the 695 has an appeal of its own being more compact. It seemed to find favour with the family.
This bit in bold is the most important hurdle to cross and the 695 is a easier size for towing and handling albeit the larger boat has more space.We definitely need the standard boat as opposed to the Marlin.
One of them was a second hand 795. Quite tidy with 280 hours on a 2017 boat. It has a bow thruster, plotter, vhf radio, sea toilet. Manual windlass though.
Tomorrow we are seeing a used 695.
I must say that whilst I liked the 795, the 695 has an appeal of its own being more compact. It seemed to find favour with the family.
As for the difference between engine makes, I wouldn't be concerned with either of those and provided they have been looked after, will cause you few problems for youe intended use.
And the 795 is already out of the water so I presume the survey costs would be lower.
Edited by Louis Balfour on Wednesday 28th October 19:55
pequod said:
Louis Balfour said:
I would add that the 695 and 795 we are viewing are about the same price...
And the 795 is already out of the water so I presume the survey costs would be lower.
It won't make any difference to the cost of a survey 'and' sea trial as both will need to be launched and recovered (or the other way round) to assess them properly.And the 795 is already out of the water so I presume the survey costs would be lower.
Edited by Louis Balfour on Wednesday 28th October 19:55
Incidentally, you won't be in charge of the boat during the sea trial as it will down to the owner/broker and surveyor to operate the boat at sea. Once clear of harbour you may be allowed to get your hands on the controls but the object of the sea trial is to assess whether all the systems work as advertised!
Edited by pequod on Wednesday 28th October 20:06
How practical do you think it would be for me not to be involved with the sea trial? Is one even necessary?
If I decide to buy one of the boats I have seen today I was hoping to do it remotely and have it delivered.
pequod said:
Louis Balfour said:
Thank you.
How practical do you think it would be for me not to be involved with the sea trial? Is one even necessary?
If I decide to buy one of the boats I have seen today I was hoping to do it remotely and have it delivered.
No you don't need to be there for the survey and sea trial. As for whether a sea trial is necessary ask yourself how the engine will be assessed if the boat is not in the water, or the other equipment that can only be tested when afloat?How practical do you think it would be for me not to be involved with the sea trial? Is one even necessary?
If I decide to buy one of the boats I have seen today I was hoping to do it remotely and have it delivered.
I always attend the survey!
If tomorrow’s boat is a possibility I will post up both boats for criticism.
Okay so I have now viewed the two main contenders.
This one as spotted by Pequod For £50k. Belmont.
And this one I found for £51k. Queen Bee.
The bigger and slightly more expensive boat is nice. It has done 280 hours and has a good spec.
It has a few marks and the chrome is a little green around the rod holders. But it has just been serviced and anti-fouled.
I was very much looking forward to seeing the 695, but was disappointed.
It is immaculate but does not have many of the things we would like. It has no sink or basin in the heads. It doesn’t have patio seating or table. It also needs a service and anti fouling. There was quite a lot of weed trailing from the engine mount.
So, the 795 was the more suitable boat, but with higher hours. It also benefits from a pensioner tent, which would be useful if we decided to boat through the winter.
So, how does Queen Bee look to the PH cognoscenti? Worth making an offer or should we wait?
I must say that whilst I LIKE the bigger format 795 there is something quite appealing about the 695 format.
This one as spotted by Pequod For £50k. Belmont.
And this one I found for £51k. Queen Bee.
The bigger and slightly more expensive boat is nice. It has done 280 hours and has a good spec.
It has a few marks and the chrome is a little green around the rod holders. But it has just been serviced and anti-fouled.
I was very much looking forward to seeing the 695, but was disappointed.
It is immaculate but does not have many of the things we would like. It has no sink or basin in the heads. It doesn’t have patio seating or table. It also needs a service and anti fouling. There was quite a lot of weed trailing from the engine mount.
So, the 795 was the more suitable boat, but with higher hours. It also benefits from a pensioner tent, which would be useful if we decided to boat through the winter.
So, how does Queen Bee look to the PH cognoscenti? Worth making an offer or should we wait?
I must say that whilst I LIKE the bigger format 795 there is something quite appealing about the 695 format.
pequod said:
The 795 is obviously a better option if you are not intending to trailer it around regularly as it will be quite a lot more effort to launch and recover and will need a much larger 4x4 to tow with and at over nine feet wide will be quite a handful, unless you are used to towing a big lump?
That particular one (Queen Bee) is nicely specced and having a cockpit enclosure does extend the season and affords somewhere else to sit and enjoy food/drink, even in the Summer evenings when temps can drop once the sun sets. Saying that, you did say previously that you and the family weren't intending to stay on board overnight so having a larger, more comfortable boat to 'live' on makes buying one with all the creature comforts, somewhat moot!
As for the 695, I understand you viewed a new one previously and that would be the mk 2 model which has undergone a few changes including more seating in the cockpit and maybe the boat you saw had a few more optional extras such as a handbasin in the heads and cockpit table both of which were available on the mk 1 (such as Belmont)? A cockpit table is a straightforward retrofit should you wish to get it fitted, as should a handbasin in the toilet. Can't easily add the extra seating as it was a change in the deck moulding but the transom seating is the same on both and cockpit cushions are readily available.
More of concern is the weed on the outboard. Was it hanging on the bracket as you suggested and, if so, would suggest it was a bit of loose weed or was it attached to the bottom of the leg (below the prop) in which case that is not good and shows the boat hasn't been out of the water for months, and possibly longer! I assume the outboard was in the raised position? The underwater hull will also be thick with weed too if the outboard is heavily fouled as you suggest but without seeing more photos I can only guess.
If you're still keen on it, it may be worth asking a MF agent to find the cost of adding the extras you would like to have and then adjust your offer accordingly and as I have already suggested an offer of £45k then I would deduct further for those too!
Would you be keen to buy it at £42k?
The weed was attached on the bottom of the bracket that attaches the engine to the transom if that makes sense. It wasn't just something that had snagged on the way into the marina, the whole area was green. It was growing there.That particular one (Queen Bee) is nicely specced and having a cockpit enclosure does extend the season and affords somewhere else to sit and enjoy food/drink, even in the Summer evenings when temps can drop once the sun sets. Saying that, you did say previously that you and the family weren't intending to stay on board overnight so having a larger, more comfortable boat to 'live' on makes buying one with all the creature comforts, somewhat moot!
As for the 695, I understand you viewed a new one previously and that would be the mk 2 model which has undergone a few changes including more seating in the cockpit and maybe the boat you saw had a few more optional extras such as a handbasin in the heads and cockpit table both of which were available on the mk 1 (such as Belmont)? A cockpit table is a straightforward retrofit should you wish to get it fitted, as should a handbasin in the toilet. Can't easily add the extra seating as it was a change in the deck moulding but the transom seating is the same on both and cockpit cushions are readily available.
More of concern is the weed on the outboard. Was it hanging on the bracket as you suggested and, if so, would suggest it was a bit of loose weed or was it attached to the bottom of the leg (below the prop) in which case that is not good and shows the boat hasn't been out of the water for months, and possibly longer! I assume the outboard was in the raised position? The underwater hull will also be thick with weed too if the outboard is heavily fouled as you suggest but without seeing more photos I can only guess.
If you're still keen on it, it may be worth asking a MF agent to find the cost of adding the extras you would like to have and then adjust your offer accordingly and as I have already suggested an offer of £45k then I would deduct further for those too!
Would you be keen to buy it at £42k?
Also you could see barnacles above and below the waterline. The broker said it had last been out of the water early 2020...I maybe believe him, maybe not.
Belmont lacked heads basin, sink, water storage, patio table, patio corner unit, fridge. It also had the reversible co-pilot seat where you have to pull the back out of the holes and reverse it. The 795 and I think the Mk2 have the seat that pivots.
I don't think I want THAT 695 at any price, because I sense that it is a boat that someone specced lightly and has potentially not taken out of the water ever. It's very tidy though.
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