Looking for a reliable sea boat

cormie

Hi,
I'm trying to help somebody find a new boat but I haven't got a notion about boats myself at all. They currently have something like this:



which has a non outboard engine (inboard?) but it's been giving them nothing but grief so they want to get rid of it and get something that's simply reliable which they can take out for leisure on the sea. They have moorings in a harbour and the boat would be used for just going along the coast for leisure.

They were thinking to just get something simple like this:


They just want something that will be reliable and won't give them any trouble.

Ideally, if they could get something like the first picture, this would be best, but it would have to be in budget too probably about 1.5-2,000eur. No need for a trailer or anything like that and it would need to be big enough to safely fit about 4-6 people for a leisurely spin within a few km of the harbour.

I wanted to help them find something decent but my lack of knowledge on boating in general is making it quite hard. Has anyone spotted any great deals that I should show them immediately?

Any feedback appreciated

Tabnabs

That's a very small budget for a "reliable sea boat". You probably won't get anything too fancy or 100% reliable.

But I'd start here
http://fishingboats.apolloduck.ie/display.phtml?aid=202183

cormie

Thanks for the reply I've probably underestimated the cost of a decent boat alright. 2,000eur would be around budget maximum, so whatever the most reliable boat that can be got for this price I guess, whether that's a little dinghy or a cabin that can take 4-6 people safely, I haven't a clue. Total novice to anything related to water

cormie

Maybe Ebay is the place to keep an eye on? This doesn't look so bad, does it?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/21ft-mayland-fishing-boat-cabin-cruiser-/190551395116?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c5dbf8b2c



Also: Totally novice uneducated ignorant question time: Would a boat like this have any chance at all of getting to the UK? As the crow flies it's about 90km from Wicklow to the coast of Wales.

Tabnabs

If it was a sailing boat in good condition and with an experienced skipper then yes no problem. But for what you're looking at, absolutely no way I'm afraid.

cormie

Hehe, thanks for that, wasn't sure Probably just keep it local and coastal so

So you reckon either up the budget substantially to get one that would be reliable in the type in the first picture or just get a dinghy row boat type as in the 2nd picture?

Tabnabs

For the open sea, an open boat is not recommended. Any bit of a chop and you risk water coming in and making life from uncomfortable up to dangerous. They hire boats like this out of Bullock harbour in Dublin, maybe you could try before committing to see what they're like in the flesh?

cormie

Well the guy who has the mooring who I'm keeping an eye out for had an open top like the one in the 2nd picture first. I was out in it myself once or twice on very calm days and it was ok. The other one feels much safer though, even the fact you can stand up and have a wall to support yourself against if anything happens. It's just he's had a lot of trouble with the engine and it's pretty much unusable now so rather than wasting any more time and money on it, he was thinking he might be able to swap with someone else and they pay a bit of money on top aswell for their smaller boat.

If I could find a cabin/walled boat that would be safe and reliable for recreation/leisure purposes only that would be great. We're talking very light usage here, only out on calm days, maybe a bit of fishing with rods over the side, out for a few hours with a few friends kind of thing, engine would probably be off and just out to relax for most of the journey too.

fergal.b

This one might be worth a look and is in your price range http://www.adverts.ie/boats-accessories/cruiser-c-w-trailer-outboard-mouring/715246 And if you can save up and buy a good backup motor.

cormie

Thanks a lot for the link, right on adverts.ie's doorstep and all

Have posted a comment on it anyway, looks decent enough. How much would a trailer like that go for? No real need for a trailer and nowhere to put it so would be best to just get rid of it once the boat is home in it's new moorings.

fergal.b

The trailer looks very good and to the right person you should get the price of a good Aux outboard.:)

Just a thought dose your mooring dry out as this is a keel boat and I can't see if it has one or two.

cormie

Are you saying I should sell the trailer to fund a new outboard engine? Would you not trust the 14hp engine it says it comes with?

About the mooring, new terminology with keel boat, but I'm guessing it's the same as "keel over and die" lol As in, when the tide goes out is there enough water to keep her afloat, yup, think there always is

fergal.b

I find if you are going out to sea it's better to have two engines one small one as a backup, it's ok on a lake when you might be blown to the other side if your engine fails at sea you can end up in another country :eek::D

cormie

Probably a good idea alright Do you think the one in the adverts link is about right price wise, above average for what it is, or suspiciously cheap? :P What should I look out for when viewing or inquiring about it?

fergal.b

It seems a good price and looks clean but with boats you never can tell till you see it and hear the engine run. Look for any repair jobs along the hull and that the lines of the boat look good and true. I would also get the engine serviced and a new impeller put in to be on the safe side. Make sure the boat suits your friends needs, it's a buyers market so take your time and look through all the sites, most boats are only worth the engine on the back so sometimes it's better to get a new engine on a old boat than an old engine on a new boat.

Alkers

If they already have a boat such as the one in the first picture, surely the 2k could invest in a new engine or what else is wrong with it? It looks to be a lot more boat than the others you have described.

fergal.b

Yep better the devil you know:), If it's a good boat it would be worth their while getting a mechanic to give them a price for the repair it could turn out to be something small and be worth every penny to fix up. I take it they will have to sell this boat to make room for the new one so they would want it running well to do that anyway.

cormie

Good points alright and thanks for the info on what to watch out for, will talk it over with the owner anyway and see what they think. That engine in the adverts one is actually on 6hp as opposed to 14 the seller has updated.

fergal.b

I think a 6 hp would just be an auxiliary engine for a boat that big so you would still have to get another bigger engine or sail her.

ValerieR

cormie wrote: »

Thanks a lot for the link, right on adverts.ie's doorstep and all

Have posted a comment on it anyway, looks decent enough. How much would a trailer like that go for? No real need for a trailer and nowhere to put it so would be best to just get rid of it once the boat is home in it's new moorings.

Just a little thing ... Boat insurances only cover boats on swinging moorings from something like April until the end of Sept or October. Not sure this would apply for you/your boat/your location ... but ... just in case !

V

cormie

Thanks again for the replies I don't think the owner would want the hassle of having to deal with sails if the engine isn't powerful enough so that boat may not be so suitable after all. Will have to discuss with owner

Thanks for info ValerieR, I'm not sure what a "swinging" mooring is, but as far as I know the owner has his boat in the same place all year round, for the past 5 years or more, not even sure if he has insurance. If it's a requirement to sail like having car insurance is to drive, I'm sure he does, but he's never had it out of that mooring other than when it's in use.