Boat buying assistance
Discussion
Morning !
After our last year's venture into small boat ownership spiralled upwards until it ended up with a monster of a machine in a syndicate (then realised neither of which we wanted and it went nowhere), I have won approval to start this idea again, from the start and keeping our needs in mind! There seem to be a few fans on here so I thought I would ask away
Our situation is myself, wife, 3 year old and -2 month old. My wife likes the idea of gently cruising round Sydney's sights, having breakfast on it, driving to beachfront restaurants and exploring a little. We're looking at a power boat as we want to step on, go somewhere and step off and as much as I like sailing I would be doing everything myself which would get to me after a while. The 3 year old and baby removes a requirement for a speed machine and adds a requirement for a small cabin that they can have a nap in / be kept out of the sun / spray when it gets too much. A toilet is pretty much a necessity when emergencies call.
Other considerations are we have a tow vehicle, but nowhere to store a boat at the house. And as we don't know how long we're staying in Aus yet so want to buy a model that's popular and hence easier to sell when we need.
We're in Mosman, Sydney yet have noticed that most of the boat facilities are the other side of the bridge, most of them a fair way away. Although we can tow a boat we're not so sure that we would do much of it in the first year due to just getting into it and having a new baby, hence have considered a swing mooring off Balmoral (it's about $4k a year) as that's the nearest to us.
Regarding models my research keeps bringing me back to a Whittley 550. It appears to be a gentle cruiser, has a half cabin, toilet, is trailer-able, practical, popular and about the right price range.
Our timescales are nothing rushed - I'd quite like to get something sorted by November. We haven't had a look at anything yet, (not a Whittley 550) but are planning to visit that big place in Mona Vale on the weekend to have a chat about our needs.
In the meantime, there are 2 of these for sale in NSW, but I can't understand why the price is so different from the adverts. I know that selling boats is very difficult, but is this a case of one bloke has priced it at what he thinks it's worth and the other wants to sell it? Both have about the same running hours but the more expensive appears to have a few more options and is a year newer. The more expensive one has better pictures and I prefer the colours but the other doesn't look tatty/worn. What am I missing?
2003, $29k Link
2004, $37k Link
Also, can you get an expert service to check out the boat professionally before you buy - in the same way as you would do a car?
All comments, thoughts, suggestions welcome!
Thanks,
Ben
After our last year's venture into small boat ownership spiralled upwards until it ended up with a monster of a machine in a syndicate (then realised neither of which we wanted and it went nowhere), I have won approval to start this idea again, from the start and keeping our needs in mind! There seem to be a few fans on here so I thought I would ask away
Our situation is myself, wife, 3 year old and -2 month old. My wife likes the idea of gently cruising round Sydney's sights, having breakfast on it, driving to beachfront restaurants and exploring a little. We're looking at a power boat as we want to step on, go somewhere and step off and as much as I like sailing I would be doing everything myself which would get to me after a while. The 3 year old and baby removes a requirement for a speed machine and adds a requirement for a small cabin that they can have a nap in / be kept out of the sun / spray when it gets too much. A toilet is pretty much a necessity when emergencies call.
Other considerations are we have a tow vehicle, but nowhere to store a boat at the house. And as we don't know how long we're staying in Aus yet so want to buy a model that's popular and hence easier to sell when we need.
We're in Mosman, Sydney yet have noticed that most of the boat facilities are the other side of the bridge, most of them a fair way away. Although we can tow a boat we're not so sure that we would do much of it in the first year due to just getting into it and having a new baby, hence have considered a swing mooring off Balmoral (it's about $4k a year) as that's the nearest to us.
Regarding models my research keeps bringing me back to a Whittley 550. It appears to be a gentle cruiser, has a half cabin, toilet, is trailer-able, practical, popular and about the right price range.
Our timescales are nothing rushed - I'd quite like to get something sorted by November. We haven't had a look at anything yet, (not a Whittley 550) but are planning to visit that big place in Mona Vale on the weekend to have a chat about our needs.
In the meantime, there are 2 of these for sale in NSW, but I can't understand why the price is so different from the adverts. I know that selling boats is very difficult, but is this a case of one bloke has priced it at what he thinks it's worth and the other wants to sell it? Both have about the same running hours but the more expensive appears to have a few more options and is a year newer. The more expensive one has better pictures and I prefer the colours but the other doesn't look tatty/worn. What am I missing?
2003, $29k Link
2004, $37k Link
Also, can you get an expert service to check out the boat professionally before you buy - in the same way as you would do a car?
All comments, thoughts, suggestions welcome!
Thanks,
Ben
said: is this a case of one bloke has priced it at what he thinks it's worth and the other wants to sell it?
Seems to be the standard aussie pricing strategy for anything that moves!p.s. I love that these boating threads are back. I'm in the process of getting a suitable tow/off road vehicle and the boat is scheduled for 12 months time for us - new baby on late Oct will knock out half the season for us this year.
I recently went out with friends on their 40' yacht from Pittwater and it was glorious, sailing over to a bay slightly up the coast and swimming/lunching.
Unfortunately this also coincided with the OH arriving and banning me from buying one! Apparently I don't use the TVR enough to justify it, and a boat would be the same...
Unfortunately this also coincided with the OH arriving and banning me from buying one! Apparently I don't use the TVR enough to justify it, and a boat would be the same...
, I would advise against a Harbour mooring for a boat that size. There's so many reasons but main ones are;Boat will degrade rapidly in that environment
You'll need to get full covers
You'll still need a tender (if mooring isn't a serviced one)
You can't effectively flush the motor or boat with fresh water
Boat will need anti fouling
Seagull sh!t takes for ever to get off!
You'll still need to park a trailer somewhere
But if you really want a mooring my brother runs a marina in Neutral Bay (he can also do inspections but his forte is wood yachts). He can advise on costs and locations available.
Onto the boat:
1st up. Do you need a toilet? My wife also said absolutely and we've used ours once!! Yes once in 3 years!! There's so many toilets around the Harbour it just isn't needed. And number ones are usually done off the rear ladder (waist deep).
2nd, the Whitely has a decent freeboard its got a nice v hull so should ride better than a more lake orientated yank boat of similar length like a sea ray or four winns.
3rd bow riders are popular as theres a lot of useable space, if you're thinking of two families consider that no one can really sit in the cabin (youll dump all your bags in there, trust me on that) so does it have enough space out the back for you all?
4th I'd really question the cabin thing, all decent boats have Biminis and all the young kids on our boat just crash out on the benches somewhere. Also I tend to 'nose first' into beaches and people jump off the front, going to be a little harder with a cabin (and the hatch looks small) so think about how you'll get people off at a beach. It looks like a jump in waist deep effort which women tend to dislike but kids and blokes have no issue with.
5th 115hp may be a little weak if you have a loaded boat and want to waterski.
Anyhow, these are just my observations....
Boating Season is pretty much here, water is cold but conditions are great nonetheless. Going to be a great summer!!
If you're sold on mooring, consider something like this:
http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdet...
http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdet...
robm3 said:
If you're sold on mooring, consider something like this:
http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdet...
oh, should have said this boat is about 6K overpriced. Plenty of similar around.http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdet...
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the feedback.
I really am new to this - didn't appreciate all of the swing mooring / trailering considerations!
Regarding your points :
The mooring service we have in mind (Balmoral) provides a tender.
Degrades outside - got it
Full covers - got it
Can't flush the boat or motor with fresh water - is this something that needs to be done after every use? What do people do who keep their boat on a mooring?
Anti-fouling. Is this a 12 month thing that can be done with a service?
Seagull stuff - got it
Trailer - do I need one? How about if I get something that doesn't have a trailer?
Toilet - rechecked with the wife and she says 100% essential, even if just for emergencies.
Whittley - spent some more time on their site and really quite like the way it's all laid out. We're off to see some tomorrow.
Bow riders - I like them, but am thinking more in terms of a baby and a toddler safely out of the sun and asleep.
Cabin thing - But the biminis don't appear to cover the front. (Do they?) As well as the sun/shade angle we like the safety of knowing they're down there, out of the way asleep. The bow riders look like a toddler could wake up and go for an explore / jump off. Appreciate what you're saying about nose in & jumping off.
Thanks for the suggestion of a SeaRay Express. A combination of a) it being our first boat and not sure how much we'll be into it, b) the cost, particularly that one being $6k overpriced, c) we want to keep on a mooring so an old one that already lives on a mooring would be ideal. Also with the cabin and toilet - we have a great suggestion
We're off to look at some on Saturday. Mainly to get a feel around sizes / shapes / options. Where we're currently at is something to see if we like it, is appropriate for the baby and is moored for an easy stroll down, get in and go option. If this goes well after 12 months we figure we'd understand things more, be more adventurous and possibly considering trailer rather than mooring and a bigger / different boat. We particularly like (the look of!) the Four Winns Horizon 190.
What's behind the mooring / trailer idea is partially laziness and partially lack of understanding. We like the idea of walking to the boat that's already in and ready to go. What's not so appetising is I (as in "man's work"!) would have to drive to the place it's stored (I don't know if 5 mins or 30 mins away), then to the launch point (again, whereabouts I don't know), then launch it on my own, park the car - then all of the reverse at the end of the day. I've got no problems with getting my hands dirty / the physical aspect.. but only if it's necessary. Also we'll probably move after 12 months when we would have to go down this trailer route anyway.
Anyway, boat buying seems fun so far. Just have to reel in the wife from bouncing the spec up to things we don't want, need and don't justify
Thanks for the feedback.
I really am new to this - didn't appreciate all of the swing mooring / trailering considerations!
Regarding your points :
The mooring service we have in mind (Balmoral) provides a tender.
Degrades outside - got it
Full covers - got it
Can't flush the boat or motor with fresh water - is this something that needs to be done after every use? What do people do who keep their boat on a mooring?
Anti-fouling. Is this a 12 month thing that can be done with a service?
Seagull stuff - got it
Trailer - do I need one? How about if I get something that doesn't have a trailer?
Toilet - rechecked with the wife and she says 100% essential, even if just for emergencies.
Whittley - spent some more time on their site and really quite like the way it's all laid out. We're off to see some tomorrow.
Bow riders - I like them, but am thinking more in terms of a baby and a toddler safely out of the sun and asleep.
Cabin thing - But the biminis don't appear to cover the front. (Do they?) As well as the sun/shade angle we like the safety of knowing they're down there, out of the way asleep. The bow riders look like a toddler could wake up and go for an explore / jump off. Appreciate what you're saying about nose in & jumping off.
Thanks for the suggestion of a SeaRay Express. A combination of a) it being our first boat and not sure how much we'll be into it, b) the cost, particularly that one being $6k overpriced, c) we want to keep on a mooring so an old one that already lives on a mooring would be ideal. Also with the cabin and toilet - we have a great suggestion
We're off to look at some on Saturday. Mainly to get a feel around sizes / shapes / options. Where we're currently at is something to see if we like it, is appropriate for the baby and is moored for an easy stroll down, get in and go option. If this goes well after 12 months we figure we'd understand things more, be more adventurous and possibly considering trailer rather than mooring and a bigger / different boat. We particularly like (the look of!) the Four Winns Horizon 190.
What's behind the mooring / trailer idea is partially laziness and partially lack of understanding. We like the idea of walking to the boat that's already in and ready to go. What's not so appetising is I (as in "man's work"!) would have to drive to the place it's stored (I don't know if 5 mins or 30 mins away), then to the launch point (again, whereabouts I don't know), then launch it on my own, park the car - then all of the reverse at the end of the day. I've got no problems with getting my hands dirty / the physical aspect.. but only if it's necessary. Also we'll probably move after 12 months when we would have to go down this trailer route anyway.
Anyway, boat buying seems fun so far. Just have to reel in the wife from bouncing the spec up to things we don't want, need and don't justify
So basically you want a cuddy cabin type speedboat that you can trailer and can also just jump on and drive?
Boat:
Something roughly like this?
http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdet...
Where:
Sydney Boat House, speak to James, we pay $300 a month to keep our bowrider there, its the other side of the harbour and Anzac bridge for you but they drop it in and out and flush it etc and put it back on trailer and its on the harbour. Its also ready right when you want it.
http://www.sydneyboathouse.com.au/
Boat:
Something roughly like this?
http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdet...
Where:
Sydney Boat House, speak to James, we pay $300 a month to keep our bowrider there, its the other side of the harbour and Anzac bridge for you but they drop it in and out and flush it etc and put it back on trailer and its on the harbour. Its also ready right when you want it.
http://www.sydneyboathouse.com.au/
Yep, that's exactly the thing we've been looking at - except now we've seen it we like the bigger model.
The Sydney Boat House sounds just the ticket. It might be a bit of a distance from us but as the route is so fast, it wouldn't actually take that long for us to get to. As for pricing, it's about the same as a swing mooring locally. Thanks. I'll give them a call later
The Sydney Boat House sounds just the ticket. It might be a bit of a distance from us but as the route is so fast, it wouldn't actually take that long for us to get to. As for pricing, it's about the same as a swing mooring locally. Thanks. I'll give them a call later
said: except now we've seen it we like the bigger model.
Yep, welcome to boating. Agree a budget......... and then expect to add a bit to it....standard! said: The Sydney Boat House sounds just the ticket. It might be a bit of a distance from us but as the route is so fast, it wouldn't actually take that long for us to get to. As for pricing, it's about the same as a swing mooring locally. Thanks. I'll give them a call later
I speak to James, I'm Tom and have a Monterey Bowrider there. We are very happy with them.That didn't go so well.
Phoned up and James wasn't available but the lady said she could answer my questions. She said they could store it on a hard stand and have a crane that comes in on Friday and Monday which could booked for putting a boat in/out of the water at those points. The remainder of the dry storage wasn't built, wouldn't be for 18 months and when it was places would be available for sale not rent.
What is it that you've got that James would tell me if he was available?
Phoned up and James wasn't available but the lady said she could answer my questions. She said they could store it on a hard stand and have a crane that comes in on Friday and Monday which could booked for putting a boat in/out of the water at those points. The remainder of the dry storage wasn't built, wouldn't be for 18 months and when it was places would be available for sale not rent.
What is it that you've got that James would tell me if he was available? Mine is stored with storm cover on its trailer, its in a secure yard, they drop it in on request for the week or weekend. When they take it out they flush it on mufflers and cover it up. Works fine for me as I can come and collect on trailer or just ask tehm to drop it in.
Storm cover is more than good enough to stand up to the Sydney weather and they do a fairly good job of everything. its kinder to the boat then a mooring and they have on site mechanics (seperate company).
Is there something specific you were hoping for?
Storm cover is more than good enough to stand up to the Sydney weather and they do a fairly good job of everything. its kinder to the boat then a mooring and they have on site mechanics (seperate company).
Is there something specific you were hoping for?
The service I was after is
They store it
They put it in the water and take it out for you.
Need an hour's notice for the above
They flush it out before re-storing.
They have parking on site
Easy to get to from Mosman
Basically, I was hoping they did what these people do http://www.highndrystorage.com.au/?boat-and-traile... (only they'll take me a long time to get to!)
They store it
They put it in the water and take it out for you.
Need an hour's notice for the above
They flush it out before re-storing.
They have parking on site
Easy to get to from Mosman
Basically, I was hoping they did what these people do http://www.highndrystorage.com.au/?boat-and-traile... (only they'll take me a long time to get to!)
Well I looked around a lot about a year and a half ago with Eastern Suburbs as a requirement and this was the best option. There ae more options in places like DeeWhy but on the harbour it is what it is!
The only thing they don't do is store it on a rack. Its ready to go on the trailer when ever I want it so if desperate I pick it up and drop it in myself at Rosebay or where ever otherwise I have to be a bit organised to get it in the water ..ie call on Thurs or Mon....but other than that its fine and its really not that hard. Its stored outside but with a storm cover on, all thats uncovered is the lower leg and the lower hull. They clean and flush if for me.
Good luck on your search anyway. There might be somewhere on the north side I am not aware of.
The only thing they don't do is store it on a rack. Its ready to go on the trailer when ever I want it so if desperate I pick it up and drop it in myself at Rosebay or where ever otherwise I have to be a bit organised to get it in the water ..ie call on Thurs or Mon....but other than that its fine and its really not that hard. Its stored outside but with a storm cover on, all thats uncovered is the lower leg and the lower hull. They clean and flush if for me.
Good luck on your search anyway. There might be somewhere on the north side I am not aware of.
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