I am considering buying a speedboat
Discussion
I am considering buying my first boat, a speedboat, something around 15-16 ft.
Can anyone recommend any websites with boats for sale. Is there an Autotrader for boats?
What are the pitfalls when buying your first boat? Are there any other good online resources for novices?
I am thinking about getting a Fletcher. Are there any other makes that have a good name?
Any advice appreciated.
Can anyone recommend any websites with boats for sale. Is there an Autotrader for boats?
What are the pitfalls when buying your first boat? Are there any other good online resources for novices?
I am thinking about getting a Fletcher. Are there any other makes that have a good name?
Any advice appreciated.
I help people buy superyachts, and I'm always thrilled to see anyone wanting to start spending time on the water.
My advice is go for it - but educate yourself a little first on basic safety. Boring, I know, but this could save your life. Have a look for an RYA powerboat course in your area. You'll enjoy the courses, and, with greater confidence, enjoy your time on the water more.
Buy something with a decent trailer, but look for slipways near you - and ask about fees and speed limits.
EBay throws up some bargains, but bring someone along who knows what they're looking at.
Enjoy!!
My advice is go for it - but educate yourself a little first on basic safety. Boring, I know, but this could save your life. Have a look for an RYA powerboat course in your area. You'll enjoy the courses, and, with greater confidence, enjoy your time on the water more.
Buy something with a decent trailer, but look for slipways near you - and ask about fees and speed limits.
EBay throws up some bargains, but bring someone along who knows what they're looking at.
Enjoy!!
steviejasp said:
I'd love one and will have one one day.
Although my two friends who have owned them, both likened it to standing in a shower, ripping up £50 notes!
I think that's a little unfair for a small speed boat. Try and find something with a recent outboard engine, sub 100hp and, as mentioned, with a decent trailer, and running costs will be minimal. Although my two friends who have owned them, both likened it to standing in a shower, ripping up £50 notes!
There are a lot of free slipways around, £50 will give you a full days skiing or wakeboarding with a small engine and servicing an outboard is cheap and simple.
As with a lot of mechanical things, it's all about preventative maintenance. Clean everything off after each use, run the engine through with fresh water, drain old fuel from the fuel system and the engine, keep everything clean and well greased, and you'll have no problems. It's when people use a boat and then leave it for months and expect it to work where you see problems. Things rust, batteries die, fuel goes stale etc.
I'd try boatsandoutboards.co.uk, boatshop24.co.uk and boats.com
Ah, my thread at last.... There's a couple of these every year, and I was just about to point out on here that this topic hadn't been covered in a while. 
Safety, safety, safety.
Before you go anywhere near the water on your own, get yourself out with a professional on a course. Even a day, or couple of days with an RYA instructor will not only teach you the safety stuff, but you'll learn about boat handling, some basic knots, and a load of other stuff too. Boating is also much more fun when you know what you're doing, there's nothing worse (or funnier, depending on where you're sitting) than making an idiot out of yourself pulling up to the slipway and crashing in to something or grounding on a sandbank for half a tide.
The marine press is littered with people who 'just thought they'd go out for the day' with no experience, sometimes with fatal results.
At the very least, do the VHF radio course (one day, about £100) and get a handheld VHF, second hand on eBay if you're on a budget.
Safety, safety, safety.
Before you go anywhere near the water on your own, get yourself out with a professional on a course. Even a day, or couple of days with an RYA instructor will not only teach you the safety stuff, but you'll learn about boat handling, some basic knots, and a load of other stuff too. Boating is also much more fun when you know what you're doing, there's nothing worse (or funnier, depending on where you're sitting) than making an idiot out of yourself pulling up to the slipway and crashing in to something or grounding on a sandbank for half a tide.
The marine press is littered with people who 'just thought they'd go out for the day' with no experience, sometimes with fatal results.
At the very least, do the VHF radio course (one day, about £100) and get a handheld VHF, second hand on eBay if you're on a budget.
Go ahead and buy a fletcher, I had an Arrowsprt with a 90hp
Evinrude on the back. It was faultless until it was around 15 years old. I then bought a Mastercraft, great boat but MUCH more expensive to to run and harder to handle than an outboard.
Stick to inland lakes and you can't really go wrong. A basic RYA course would help.
Whatever you buy, as said take someone who knows what they are looking at. Make sure it's been dry stored and regularly serviced.
Have fun.
Evinrude on the back. It was faultless until it was around 15 years old. I then bought a Mastercraft, great boat but MUCH more expensive to to run and harder to handle than an outboard.
Stick to inland lakes and you can't really go wrong. A basic RYA course would help.
Whatever you buy, as said take someone who knows what they are looking at. Make sure it's been dry stored and regularly serviced.
Have fun.
ks then its cheaper to rent it by the hour" Bought a fletcher 15 with 75hp mercury a month back.
Juat had a good week on loch lomond with it. Even managed to deep water start on a mono ski. Didn't think it would be possible with the limited power available vs v8 ski boats but was pleasantly suprised.
Go for it. I'm impressed with the boat. Buy sensibly and you will lose little to no money too. Buy a dog and you can lose lots! Be mindful of the trailers condition too they are usually knackered. Also think where you can use it. Loch lomond is great but a 5 hour drive for us!
Juat had a good week on loch lomond with it. Even managed to deep water start on a mono ski. Didn't think it would be possible with the limited power available vs v8 ski boats but was pleasantly suprised.
Go for it. I'm impressed with the boat. Buy sensibly and you will lose little to no money too. Buy a dog and you can lose lots! Be mindful of the trailers condition too they are usually knackered. Also think where you can use it. Loch lomond is great but a 5 hour drive for us!
Edited by Jon999 on Monday 27th August 16:43
rst99 said:
I am planning on boating in the Firth of Clyde (the more sheltered bits) once I get a bit of confidence/experience.
Anyone have experience in this area?
Just buy a few paper charts that cover the area - that's what you should learn to use first in any case. A chandlery will tell you which ones you need if you tell them where you plan to go. (They're not cheap by the way.)Anyone have experience in this area?
I'd be much more wary of taking to the sea as opposed to inland waterways without some training first though - a few more things to consider when it gets salty. You may well need extra equipment depending on how the boat is already equipped.
Is what you've bought a good seaboat?
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