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Hi,
I've been thinking about buying a small boat: based down in Devon and sufficient for popping into estuaries, maybe some small scale fishing and possibly even occassional water-skiiing. Problem is I have no idea what to start looking for... or even asking about. Hoping that I can get a few pointers from here on the type of boats to look into, where it could be kept, new / seocnhand and what is within a reaosnable budget. Probably not looking to spoend more than circa £15k for a first boat so I guess that limits options.
I'll be visiting the London boat show for starters but hoping to start the reserach before then
thanks for help
I've been thinking about buying a small boat: based down in Devon and sufficient for popping into estuaries, maybe some small scale fishing and possibly even occassional water-skiiing. Problem is I have no idea what to start looking for... or even asking about. Hoping that I can get a few pointers from here on the type of boats to look into, where it could be kept, new / seocnhand and what is within a reaosnable budget. Probably not looking to spoend more than circa £15k for a first boat so I guess that limits options.
I'll be visiting the London boat show for starters but hoping to start the reserach before then
thanks for help
mateus said:
Right if your in a yard stick to a dory / mastercraft they cant damage the tubes. Sorry only know the costs in the south are £600 ish but they will lift the boat and have it ready in the water for when you arrive ..very cool and hassle free.
Best off luck.
since when did mastercrafts and dories have tubes?Best off luck.
pgtips you have some serious thinking to do before you decide on which boat.
Mastercraft is a tournament ski boat
Dories tend to be used as utility craft, rescue, ferry etc
Do you want a deep vee hull? best for offshore work or are you happy to stay in sheltered waters in which case a flatter profile will suit (more stable at stop).
If you want to fish you'll probably want a small cuddy up front. It can get quite cold just sitting around on the water.
Ribs as mentioned above take the best of offshore powerboats (Pretty well all ribs are ex powerboat moulds) and stick a tube round them for safety and utility (you can bang into stuff without causing a problem)
A dedicated fishing boat such as an arvor or similar will not really double well as a ski boat.
A dedicated ski boat will not really fish well as the space on board is suited to seating not standing with a 10ft uptide rod in your hand and the vinyl seats will soon be shot from bait, hooks etc
Have you been out with others yet, if not I would advise doing so and note the shortfalls of each type of design.
Be wary of ribs, the smart money is saying that they are coming toward the end of their life. Manufacturers are moving back towards making traditional powerboats due to oversupply.
Petrol or diesel? whilst diesel is cheap at the moment it's going in 2008 and you will get a lot more boat for your money specifying petrol. A single diesel will typically be circa £10k more for the sort of thing you have in mind. How long before you get that investment back.
Mastercraft is a tournament ski boat
Dories tend to be used as utility craft, rescue, ferry etc
Do you want a deep vee hull? best for offshore work or are you happy to stay in sheltered waters in which case a flatter profile will suit (more stable at stop).
If you want to fish you'll probably want a small cuddy up front. It can get quite cold just sitting around on the water.
Ribs as mentioned above take the best of offshore powerboats (Pretty well all ribs are ex powerboat moulds) and stick a tube round them for safety and utility (you can bang into stuff without causing a problem)
A dedicated fishing boat such as an arvor or similar will not really double well as a ski boat.
A dedicated ski boat will not really fish well as the space on board is suited to seating not standing with a 10ft uptide rod in your hand and the vinyl seats will soon be shot from bait, hooks etc
Have you been out with others yet, if not I would advise doing so and note the shortfalls of each type of design.
Be wary of ribs, the smart money is saying that they are coming toward the end of their life. Manufacturers are moving back towards making traditional powerboats due to oversupply.
Petrol or diesel? whilst diesel is cheap at the moment it's going in 2008 and you will get a lot more boat for your money specifying petrol. A single diesel will typically be circa £10k more for the sort of thing you have in mind. How long before you get that investment back.
MOTORVATOR said:
mateus said:
Right if your in a yard stick to a dory / mastercraft they cant damage the tubes. Sorry only know the costs in the south are £600 ish but they will lift the boat and have it ready in the water for when you arrive ..very cool and hassle free.
Best off luck.
since when did mastercrafts and dories have tubes?Best off luck.
Obviously lost in translation.
And what is a dorie??
I think a Dory would suit your need both fast stable and you could ski from a resonably small outboard to keep the cost down / fuel & service, as the boat is stable and interor space is unrivaled makes it good for comfy fishing.
Edited by mateus on Saturday 15th December 22:25
Mastercraft , Noooooooowwwww, Flatish bottom ,expensive and under water appendages are to easily damaged, its a fixed shaft and rudder assembly, basically a pro ski / wake board machine.
It depends totally what you want with the boat. Dory's are what as know as Cathedral hulls. Stable when static but slam badly in a seaway.
In- board or outboard.
Now one big thing which came to light over the last 2 summers was weather protection.Some speedboats have camping canvas , which is full length Bimini, side screens , aft screen these can be individually taken off. The Bimini's to fold away so very versatile and fully enclosed.
Or maybe a fishing style boat with wheel house.
RIB's are ok but exposed, i spend most of my summer in a RIB so it can tell you first hand. Plus not the best for fishing. There are a great thing for all weathers and teaching in however.
I would say you best bet is something like a Fletcher 19 GTS sports cruiser, with full camping canvas, outboard or inboard. They also have self draining cockpits high free-board so if you ever want to leave it on a swinging mooring the you are generally quite safe.They have all the features of a 40ft motor boat,sink cooker,table ( drops to make sunbed), cabin , porta potti and well built with a deep V hull.
There are a huge range of boat of this style, so lots to choose from and price are very very reasonable 8-15k. 10-12 Should get you a real nice one hardly used boat. try www.boatshed.com . If you see something you like on there contact me.
Here is a link to a sold one http://www.boatshed.com/fletcher_19_sports_cruiser...
It depends totally what you want with the boat. Dory's are what as know as Cathedral hulls. Stable when static but slam badly in a seaway.
In- board or outboard.
Now one big thing which came to light over the last 2 summers was weather protection.Some speedboats have camping canvas , which is full length Bimini, side screens , aft screen these can be individually taken off. The Bimini's to fold away so very versatile and fully enclosed.
Or maybe a fishing style boat with wheel house.
RIB's are ok but exposed, i spend most of my summer in a RIB so it can tell you first hand. Plus not the best for fishing. There are a great thing for all weathers and teaching in however.
I would say you best bet is something like a Fletcher 19 GTS sports cruiser, with full camping canvas, outboard or inboard. They also have self draining cockpits high free-board so if you ever want to leave it on a swinging mooring the you are generally quite safe.They have all the features of a 40ft motor boat,sink cooker,table ( drops to make sunbed), cabin , porta potti and well built with a deep V hull.
There are a huge range of boat of this style, so lots to choose from and price are very very reasonable 8-15k. 10-12 Should get you a real nice one hardly used boat. try www.boatshed.com . If you see something you like on there contact me.
Here is a link to a sold one http://www.boatshed.com/fletcher_19_sports_cruiser...
Edited by Rum Runner on Friday 20th March 16:06
I have had a number of boats for similar use but think the RIB i have at the moment has been the most practical! (6m Ribtec with 115HP outboard)
I would like one a little bigger but the dinghy pontoon at my yacht club only accepts upto 6m!!
I use mine as a tender to a bigger boat so coming along side is easier and safer with tubes, but I also go fishing, exploring , etc. The ribtec is a fairly deep v hull so handles a seaway pretty well..As I said it would be nice to go bigger but then storage , mooring etc also gets a little more expensive. Also at 6m I can tow it behind a family saloon without a problem, and in the winter I can deflate the tubes and put it on my driveway without it being an eye sore
I guess tubes will put a few off but i think there are more advantages than disadvantages...
If a ribs a no go, then there are plenty of good "sea" boats around just try and avoid shallow v hulls and those sort of speed boats named "blow J**" that you alway see being towed back to port on seaside rescue!
I would like one a little bigger but the dinghy pontoon at my yacht club only accepts upto 6m!!
I use mine as a tender to a bigger boat so coming along side is easier and safer with tubes, but I also go fishing, exploring , etc. The ribtec is a fairly deep v hull so handles a seaway pretty well..As I said it would be nice to go bigger but then storage , mooring etc also gets a little more expensive. Also at 6m I can tow it behind a family saloon without a problem, and in the winter I can deflate the tubes and put it on my driveway without it being an eye sore
I guess tubes will put a few off but i think there are more advantages than disadvantages...
If a ribs a no go, then there are plenty of good "sea" boats around just try and avoid shallow v hulls and those sort of speed boats named "blow J**" that you alway see being towed back to port on seaside rescue!
Edited by DumpTruck on Friday 20th March 16:32
Edited by DumpTruck on Friday 20th March 16:34
You wouldn't go too far wrong with one of these.. You should find a good S/H one within your budget!
http://www.bostonwhaler.co.uk/
http://www.bostonwhaler.co.uk/
The tubes are generally around the gunwhale and out of the water!!! if you hit something in the water its usually with the grp part of the hull. so no difference to any other boat!
Bushmaster said:
Question on RIBS - how do the tubes fare if you hit some floating debris - say a bit of wood - do they go bang and sink, gradually deflate and sink, or bounce it off? Does someone have to go over the side with a bike inner-tube repair kit?
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