Cabin or bow rider?
Discussion
We are probably going to be moving from France to Spain soon (house is up for sale if anyone wants one!!).
Once settled there, i would like a little boat. Just for pottering around for the day and maybe the odd towing of a donut with the grown up kids and grand kids. Nothing fancy.
But I cant decide to get one with a small cabin or a bow rider. Bowrider is great for more people, but I cant ever see it having more than 5 passengers.
Cabin means somewhere to have a kip when I feel lazy and you can always chuck in a porta loo for the wife/ small kids. Also gives cover from the sun (although bimini also does that)
Example of each below (note these are examples only, I am not looking at buying either)
https://www.boat24.com/en/powerboats/maxum/maxum-2...
https://www.boat24.com/en/powerboats/astromar/astr...
Once settled there, i would like a little boat. Just for pottering around for the day and maybe the odd towing of a donut with the grown up kids and grand kids. Nothing fancy.
But I cant decide to get one with a small cabin or a bow rider. Bowrider is great for more people, but I cant ever see it having more than 5 passengers.
Cabin means somewhere to have a kip when I feel lazy and you can always chuck in a porta loo for the wife/ small kids. Also gives cover from the sun (although bimini also does that)
Example of each below (note these are examples only, I am not looking at buying either)
https://www.boat24.com/en/powerboats/maxum/maxum-2...
https://www.boat24.com/en/powerboats/astromar/astr...
Bow rider boats are excellent in nice conditions and they are great to spread people around, five will feel like a lot in a boat that size. If it's going to be used in any chop, I can assure you no one will want to sit in the bow of a boat like that for long!
See what the locals are using when you get there as those will be the best guide as to what is fit for purpose. It's why the Solent is full of RIBs!
See what the locals are using when you get there as those will be the best guide as to what is fit for purpose. It's why the Solent is full of RIBs!
If you can find one suitable with an outboard, the maintenance will be cheaper and easier... preferably a Yamaha or Honda.
Like this: https://www.annoncesbateau.com/bateau/2004-jeannea...
Like this: https://www.annoncesbateau.com/bateau/2004-jeannea...
Edited by Audis5b9 on Friday 18th October 19:50
Obviously everything is budget dependant, but for my money it would be outboard powered and either one of the big French Brands, ie Jeanneau or Beneateau or one of the many copies that have sprung up. They both know the med market and have made boats that suit it perfectly.
I used to work for a Jeanneau dealership, and on the smaller boat side they do 2 main ranges, Merry Fishers and Cap Camarats. The MFs, although straying a bit more in the last decade, essentially comfortable fishing boats with proper wheel houses/cabins. What I think would suit you is the Cap Camarat range. They go from just below 5m up to the newest 12.5M!! The smaller ones usually have a 2 or 3 different layouts, namely CC (center console), WA (walkaround) and DC (Day Cabin?? I'm not really sure) and they also did a couple of BR (bow riders). The DC was like a traditional US cuddy cabin and the BR was similar to a normal bow rider. The ones I think you should look at (or its very similar Beneteau cousins) are the CC and WA. The CC is close to and open deck boat, but with high freeboards and a console/helm in the center usually with an amount of storage and often with enough room to chuck in a couple of bags/towels and a portipotti. The WA is then usually the same basic hull but with a small cabin just big enough for a bed (although on the 7.5 and up they are pretty much proper cabins). I've always said that I'd have the WA, mainly because I havn't got many friends so I don't need the extra seats and would like somewhere to get out of the weather, but for a Med boat the CC style is perfect. Somewhere to chuck you stuff, portipotti for the kids and women (us men are better off going over the side!!) and loads of deck space that can be left open to the elements and just washed down. Every marina in the Med is packed full of Cap Camarats and it's equivalents. There are even fleets of hire boats based on them.
Engine wise for me it would also have to be an outboard powered boat. The usual US style boats with the venerable marinised GM engines in them are great value when new, but were designed for lake use and tent to suffer as they get older with the mild steel bits turning to dust in salt environments. If your handy with the spanners they can be kept going forever, but they can be a pain in the ar$e and can be difficult to change to something else. Outboards on the other hand do tend to be easier to keep nice, they're not stuck under a damp engine hatch for a start, and the big plus is that if it does get to the end of its life it's relatively easy to stick something else on instead. These days outboards are hugely popular so support for them is everywhere, and a modern (last 15 or so years) 4 stroke sips fuel compared to it's 1950s based yank rivals.
Something like this
5.5CC
5.5WA
Or being a well build managing director PHer you'll want the 12.5WA!!!
Those are obviously pics of the new ones, but they've been making variations of them (granted not the big one!) for 25+ years. Note all the cushions can be taken away, so nothing to be attacked by the Med sun, and bit a bit of elbow grease and polish they can be kept looking nice for donkies years.
I used to work for a Jeanneau dealership, and on the smaller boat side they do 2 main ranges, Merry Fishers and Cap Camarats. The MFs, although straying a bit more in the last decade, essentially comfortable fishing boats with proper wheel houses/cabins. What I think would suit you is the Cap Camarat range. They go from just below 5m up to the newest 12.5M!! The smaller ones usually have a 2 or 3 different layouts, namely CC (center console), WA (walkaround) and DC (Day Cabin?? I'm not really sure) and they also did a couple of BR (bow riders). The DC was like a traditional US cuddy cabin and the BR was similar to a normal bow rider. The ones I think you should look at (or its very similar Beneteau cousins) are the CC and WA. The CC is close to and open deck boat, but with high freeboards and a console/helm in the center usually with an amount of storage and often with enough room to chuck in a couple of bags/towels and a portipotti. The WA is then usually the same basic hull but with a small cabin just big enough for a bed (although on the 7.5 and up they are pretty much proper cabins). I've always said that I'd have the WA, mainly because I havn't got many friends so I don't need the extra seats and would like somewhere to get out of the weather, but for a Med boat the CC style is perfect. Somewhere to chuck you stuff, portipotti for the kids and women (us men are better off going over the side!!) and loads of deck space that can be left open to the elements and just washed down. Every marina in the Med is packed full of Cap Camarats and it's equivalents. There are even fleets of hire boats based on them.
Engine wise for me it would also have to be an outboard powered boat. The usual US style boats with the venerable marinised GM engines in them are great value when new, but were designed for lake use and tent to suffer as they get older with the mild steel bits turning to dust in salt environments. If your handy with the spanners they can be kept going forever, but they can be a pain in the ar$e and can be difficult to change to something else. Outboards on the other hand do tend to be easier to keep nice, they're not stuck under a damp engine hatch for a start, and the big plus is that if it does get to the end of its life it's relatively easy to stick something else on instead. These days outboards are hugely popular so support for them is everywhere, and a modern (last 15 or so years) 4 stroke sips fuel compared to it's 1950s based yank rivals.
Something like this
5.5CC
5.5WA
Or being a well build managing director PHer you'll want the 12.5WA!!!
Those are obviously pics of the new ones, but they've been making variations of them (granted not the big one!) for 25+ years. Note all the cushions can be taken away, so nothing to be attacked by the Med sun, and bit a bit of elbow grease and polish they can be kept looking nice for donkies years.
Forgot to put the link in before!
https://www.inautia.com/boat/2001-sea-ray-240-sund...
Have since read more helpful advice, keep it coming gents!
https://www.inautia.com/boat/2001-sea-ray-240-sund...
Have since read more helpful advice, keep it coming gents!
I have a 24ft bow rider in France Med. Great for day boating. We had an extended bimini fabricated because the biggest issue is shade, shade, shade! Shower and toilet (almost never used) are plus point, but I echo the suggestion of outboards. Given my time again I would avoid the inboard motor servicing, outdrive servicing and endless replacement parts for a relatively simple outboard.
Also a twin battery set up is a must, in case the nav/radio or fridge drain during afternoon anchorage prevents engine start for the evening trip back.
If Med mooring in a tight marina, a bow thruster is a must.
Also a twin battery set up is a must, in case the nav/radio or fridge drain during afternoon anchorage prevents engine start for the evening trip back.
If Med mooring in a tight marina, a bow thruster is a must.
The 5.5c above looks pretty useable, add a bimini for shade. The Med is busy so the larger the boat the more panic attacks you'll have docking with smaller boats whizzing around you while maneuvering and million pound boats all around you. I'd stick to 6m.
I have 2 cabin boats. The cabin is used to watch tablets at anchor for my 2 kids, to shelter from the wind or rain when the weather turns, dry off after a swim with heater on, handy for the loo but have never slept in it, used the oven, grill, sink, beds or any overnight stuff in there. It is a large shelter and storage locker basically. I think deck space can be cramped in good weather with everyone outside.
I have 2 cabin boats. The cabin is used to watch tablets at anchor for my 2 kids, to shelter from the wind or rain when the weather turns, dry off after a swim with heater on, handy for the loo but have never slept in it, used the oven, grill, sink, beds or any overnight stuff in there. It is a large shelter and storage locker basically. I think deck space can be cramped in good weather with everyone outside.
Thanks all for the very useful info.
A sort of related question....It seems there are lots of boats on the Island of Ibiza/Majorca for sale, but how would you get it from there to the mainland.
I am assuming that 125 miles of open water water is not a good idea on a 20/25ft bowrider/cuddy cabin?
A sort of related question....It seems there are lots of boats on the Island of Ibiza/Majorca for sale, but how would you get it from there to the mainland.
I am assuming that 125 miles of open water water is not a good idea on a 20/25ft bowrider/cuddy cabin?
Steviesam said:
Thanks all for the very useful info.
A sort of related question....It seems there are lots of boats on the Island of Ibiza/Majorca for sale, but how would you get it from there to the mainland.
I am assuming that 125 miles of open water water is not a good idea on a 20/25ft bowrider/cuddy cabin?
Buy one with a trailer, or rent a trailer. A sort of related question....It seems there are lots of boats on the Island of Ibiza/Majorca for sale, but how would you get it from there to the mainland.
I am assuming that 125 miles of open water water is not a good idea on a 20/25ft bowrider/cuddy cabin?
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