Boats - Bigger sports cruisers 30ft+ it is worth it
Discussion
TLDR; My brother and I are considering a 34-ft motor boat with 2 x diesel engines and outdrives - are we mad?
We are considering changing our very economical and very reliable 2014 15-ft Fletcher with a 75hp Etec for a 1998 34-ft Sealine with 2 x KAD42 on outdrives. Even accepting the significant increase in costs, I need PH help with my man maths!
We live in Poole, I work 5 mins from the marina. We use the boat regularly, a bit of ringoing and cruising but mostly anchored up in Studland Bay with the kids. We are somewhat limited in range and usage depending on sea conditions and wind. Even within Poole harbour, it can be unpleasant for other family members if the sea conditions are not fairly smooth. Even modern 2-stroke outboards are pretty noisy. It's a faff having to transport, inflate and deflate a SUP in a boat that is not much longer than the paddleboard! You can't sit on the dry stack and have a glass of wine in the evening. Going out at night to watch fireworks is hairy AF as you really need to see the sea. I am approaching 50 and hauling myself into a 15 foot boat is getting... ungainly.
IF we had a Sealine S34 or similar, we would be able to take the extended family to Studland, the Solent or Devon and stay overnight. Maybe even France. We would also be able to have food and drinks from a table, rather than sandwiches and cans perched on the floor. I have a wife and 2 daughters, they would much rather we had onboard toilet facilities! A shower would be pure luxury.
Most of these requirements suggest a boat 30ft+ - I don't see the point in a bigger version of what we have (open sports boat / bowrider) or a small sports cruiser such as a S25 which is still limited by sea conditions / range.
We currently have our little Fletcher in a dry stack and the overall costs are £4000pa. An S34 on a pontoon would be £12000pa and we would need some finance and a tanker load more fuel. It would be jointly owned with my brother so we can split running costs.
Is it madness to invest / spend so much on a 25 year old boat? Anyone bought something like this and regretted it?
We are considering changing our very economical and very reliable 2014 15-ft Fletcher with a 75hp Etec for a 1998 34-ft Sealine with 2 x KAD42 on outdrives. Even accepting the significant increase in costs, I need PH help with my man maths!
We live in Poole, I work 5 mins from the marina. We use the boat regularly, a bit of ringoing and cruising but mostly anchored up in Studland Bay with the kids. We are somewhat limited in range and usage depending on sea conditions and wind. Even within Poole harbour, it can be unpleasant for other family members if the sea conditions are not fairly smooth. Even modern 2-stroke outboards are pretty noisy. It's a faff having to transport, inflate and deflate a SUP in a boat that is not much longer than the paddleboard! You can't sit on the dry stack and have a glass of wine in the evening. Going out at night to watch fireworks is hairy AF as you really need to see the sea. I am approaching 50 and hauling myself into a 15 foot boat is getting... ungainly.
IF we had a Sealine S34 or similar, we would be able to take the extended family to Studland, the Solent or Devon and stay overnight. Maybe even France. We would also be able to have food and drinks from a table, rather than sandwiches and cans perched on the floor. I have a wife and 2 daughters, they would much rather we had onboard toilet facilities! A shower would be pure luxury.
Most of these requirements suggest a boat 30ft+ - I don't see the point in a bigger version of what we have (open sports boat / bowrider) or a small sports cruiser such as a S25 which is still limited by sea conditions / range.
We currently have our little Fletcher in a dry stack and the overall costs are £4000pa. An S34 on a pontoon would be £12000pa and we would need some finance and a tanker load more fuel. It would be jointly owned with my brother so we can split running costs.
Is it madness to invest / spend so much on a 25 year old boat? Anyone bought something like this and regretted it?
Yes, do it - but also do all the necessary research first (as you've started to do) to avoid making a mistake born from boundless enthusiasm - ie go in with your eyes open and you'll have a better experience with fewer nasty surprises.
Man maths - owning a boat will never make actual practical sense - so that's that covered
Man maths - owning a boat will never make actual practical sense - so that's that covered
Financials and boats never make sense, so disregard that. If you and your family love spending time on the water, do it. Live is short.
And 34 over 15" is a VERY BIG difference in regards to safety and comfort.
I also have two kids and run a 34" open and would not want it any smaller - and thats on a lake.
Mine just looks good but is useless in terms of usable space. But it is amazing how much usable space can be hard from some hard top and fly boats out there in 34".
Best of luck!
And 34 over 15" is a VERY BIG difference in regards to safety and comfort.
I also have two kids and run a 34" open and would not want it any smaller - and thats on a lake.
Mine just looks good but is useless in terms of usable space
. But it is amazing how much usable space can be hard from some hard top and fly boats out there in 34".Best of luck!
Do it. Mooring up at Studland is lovely. Plus you could bimble over to the IOW for some dinner.
My mate had a Fairline Targa (moored up at Cobb's Quay) and he frequently went to the Channel Islands/France.
And there would be times that you wouldn't even have to take it out, if moored up on a pontoon you could head there and spend a pleasant evening and chill out and sleep on it. Sleeping in a boat on the water, yes please. And you could use the facilities ie showers at the marina.
Probably won't cost much more to run as the engines will be running at fewer revs. Will drink it if you open the taps though
Generally good community spirit at marinas as well
My mate had a Fairline Targa (moored up at Cobb's Quay) and he frequently went to the Channel Islands/France.
And there would be times that you wouldn't even have to take it out, if moored up on a pontoon you could head there and spend a pleasant evening and chill out and sleep on it. Sleeping in a boat on the water, yes please. And you could use the facilities ie showers at the marina.
Probably won't cost much more to run as the engines will be running at fewer revs. Will drink it if you open the taps though
Generally good community spirit at marinas as well
Edited by Earl of Hazzard on Wednesday 24th January 20:22
ecs0set said:
I'm glad I posted here, I might have received a slightly different response on the Finance forum!
Technically a bad investment, but less risky than crypto. And besides, once you've made your pile, you need to spend it on toys...Something that helps happy boat ownership is having a good idea of all the costs involved before you dive in, and being able to afford them without worrying.
ecs0set said:
TLDR; My brother and I are considering a 34-ft motor boat with 2 x diesel engines and outdrives - are we mad?
Is it madness to invest / spend so much on a 25 year old boat? Anyone bought something like this and regretted it?
Yes and yes, but plenty still do it. Whatever you choose get it surveyed by a decent surveyor, with anything over 10 years old you're buying entirely on condition rather than age. Even then there's a considerable level of crap shoot about it as elderly engines and outdrives like to fail in expensive ways, boats with recently fitted new engines/outdrives are to be preferred.Is it madness to invest / spend so much on a 25 year old boat? Anyone bought something like this and regretted it?
Sounds like you should still dry stack it - keeping Outdrives in the water is a risk - you can't get to them unless the boat is out of the water and they live underwater unlike an outboard which can be cranked up out of the water if the boat is along side / mooring based.
At least if it is dry stacked you can change drive oil easily and check anodes. We have a boat that is a 2009 boat (had it since 2015) has been drystacked all it's life and even then we had an oil drain plug fail (we think the anode which was not too diminished broke up and somehow forced the oil drain plug behind it to unscrew itself) then the drive dumped it's oil and lunched itself in seconds - far too fast to do anything about it. Outdrives need looking after.....
At least if it is dry stacked you can change drive oil easily and check anodes. We have a boat that is a 2009 boat (had it since 2015) has been drystacked all it's life and even then we had an oil drain plug fail (we think the anode which was not too diminished broke up and somehow forced the oil drain plug behind it to unscrew itself) then the drive dumped it's oil and lunched itself in seconds - far too fast to do anything about it. Outdrives need looking after.....
gizard said:
Sounds like you should still dry stack it - keeping Outdrives in the water is a risk - you can't get to them unless the boat is out of the water and they live underwater unlike an outboard which can be cranked up out of the water if the boat is along side / mooring based.
At least if it is dry stacked you can change drive oil easily and check anodes. We have a boat that is a 2009 boat (had it since 2015) has been drystacked all it's life and even then we had an oil drain plug fail (we think the anode which was not too diminished broke up and somehow forced the oil drain plug behind it to unscrew itself) then the drive dumped it's oil and lunched itself in seconds - far too fast to do anything about it. Outdrives need looking after.....
Maybe just not have outdrives then... drystacking would surely reduce mooring options and inflate costs.At least if it is dry stacked you can change drive oil easily and check anodes. We have a boat that is a 2009 boat (had it since 2015) has been drystacked all it's life and even then we had an oil drain plug fail (we think the anode which was not too diminished broke up and somehow forced the oil drain plug behind it to unscrew itself) then the drive dumped it's oil and lunched itself in seconds - far too fast to do anything about it. Outdrives need looking after.....
I've never owned an outdrive but heard they have issues. Inboard + shaft drive would be my choice.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff