Advice needed on which boat to buy - Semi-displacement cruiser type

[4stroker]

G'day gents, you may have seen my other thread on here about a Keith Brown 30 cruiser:

http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=11895844 (http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=11895844)


We liked it because of it's good looks, open plan/sheer room on board that it offers, and fuel consumption, however upon closer inspection it is going to be too slow for our liking.

We are in Townsville and looking for a boat to keep moored, and use it for overnight reef trips, weekend long spearfishing/snorkelling trips, and general entertainment/island cruising.

Our general criteria is as follows:

1. 28ft +
2. Genuine 10kn cruise speed
3. Approx 20L/hour fuel consumption at cruise speed
4. Lots of rear deck space for fishing & entertaining
5. Shaft drive (no stern drives)
6. $40,000 budget for initial boat purchase, more funds available for minor upgrades/fit outs etc

We liked the sound of this Mariner 28 Flybridge, but think the rear deck space is too small:

http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=10598499

I think the answer is going to be something like the KB 30 but with an engine upgrade, but welcome all other thoughts/opinions...

Thanks, Mark

[cormorant]

I'll throw my hat in

At that money get a cat hull

Amazing space , stability and designed for ecconomical cruising at that speed using small hi thrust outboards


This is too expensive but imagine trouble free at 10kn with a couple of small outboards so you have reliability and safety. If you find one with blown motors they could be a chance. ?

http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=7482080

At your money the only option is a 40 foot yacht as they have the waterline length and shaft drive diesel. Great to fish off and much better accomodation than most realise.


This i'll get you their faster as well

http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=11895839


Old heavy and if it has no ozzy this will be hard to sell with such a small motor in Syd .You could kick that price in the guts. Great safe old hulls. Simple motor and already has genset and extras for overnighting.

http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=12375271

Lots of people short on $ , short on work and boats are turning over very slow so if you like the look of something you might be surprised now it is cold down south just how much they will bust to sell.


Just for fun
and the hate of boat ramps and ferrys
http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=12498328

[Smithy]

That Savage is a good find Cormorant. Dunno how much he will come down from $48k and then you are up for transport to Townsville but worth a go in this buyers market. $30k worth of engine there. I like the look of it and satisfies a lot of your criterior.

[4stroker]

Thanks for the replies fellas!

Not keen on the cat for various reasons, and the Savage is too small...

The 34 foot Randall looks awesome, but yeah, can't see them letting it go for anywhere near $40K!

[FisHard]

My vote is for the Savage too. That's a nice rig and as Rob says, the motor has been done. I don't envy your confusion in this world of choices we live in! Good luck with it.

[Smithy]

Hadn't seen the Randall above. Perkins' will be ok. See how you go but I can't see him budging from $69K down to $40K. You never know your luck. Twins will make it easier for you manouvering at fuel docks and stuff. Just run it in displacement mode as a cruiser

[cormorant]

Ahhh Smithy I know you want the lark!!! Ya need that crane to land the serious fish

Yeah I edited and added the other couple.

One of my all time motors that yanmar and the perkins a Ok on parts prices and run for ages.

Not a lot in glass at that price range and as always the expense of crap motors must be avoided. You realy don't want someone elses problem as you end up seding more anually and would ave been better off paying more up front and enjoying trouble fee days from day one.


Wondering up there if there is cheap hardstanding to keep maintainance costs down and possibly the I could justify a stern drive leg. I hate em but there is some value out here

[GBC]

There's about as much larc left in that poor bastardised hulk as there is virgin left in Madonna.

Why would he advertise it as amphibious when it never had wheels?

[cormorant]

Boat brokers - what can you say. Sly grin. Been in a couple over the years and they aren't on top of any list I ever had but have to say we recovered gear off a beach and delivered stuff to waterfront properties that would have been near impossible via any other vehicle to get gear straightover seawalls without double handling. . That and landing craft have been a bit of fun over the years but glad I wan't ever paying teh bills as I knew guys who used to maintain the seals on em. Interesting history.

[cormorant]

here is a cat for ya

Use it with the petrols or trade down to a pair of hi thrusts?? Not sure if it would do more than 12kn though with hithrusts

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Powercat-288-30-Hardtop-2-x-Yamaha-Petrol-Motors-225HP-/160795492550?pt=AU_Boats&hash=item25702880c6

Tow this for accomodation or leve it out here moored ??
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Life-Boat-Survival-pod-motor-boat-Perkins-/251053222942?pt=AU_Boats&hash=item3a73f02c1e


This has been for sale for over 12 months . Fair bit of value if it is a honest old boat and lots of safety in win lazy 120 hp donks. cheapish to rebuild as well. gin palace

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/40-SUPERCRAFT-Fibreglass-Twin-120HP-Perkin-Diesel-Aft-Cabin-Family-Cruiser-/180877011546?pt=AU_Boats&hash=item2a1d1c2a5a

[spelchek]

Out of interest - would that Savage be trailerable or would the shaft drive setup make it too drafty to get on a trailer safely?

[cormorant]

Too wide for down south but up in QL you can do anything ! well nearly. They were a thick old hull but a well designed trailer would work if you could get it deep enough. They weren't light I don't have the exact widths but as a young 4 foot high kid 2 of us slept across a stern bench

[Smithy]

Yep you can get shaft drives on trailers. There is a 34' Black Watch on then net on a ramp trailer. The sistership to my Reelax Capricorn went on a custom trailer for use in PNG. There is also a 7.2 KC on a trailer on the net with shafts too. Arvors go on trailers. It can be done. Where there is a will there is way.

[mal555]

Too wide for down south but up in QL you can do anything ! well nearly. They were a thick old hull but a well designed trailer would work if you could get it deep enough. They weren't light I don't have the exact widths but as a young 4 foot high kid 2 of us slept across a stern bench

IIRC 9' 6" max. beam.

[mal555]

I reckon both the Randall and the Lancer have been converted from twin petrol V8's, which in itself is a lot of work and expense, but you would have to wonder just how sound the converted installation is, and worth a serious check.
Although the Savage is smaller, it looks more loved and complete, besides having the option for fast cruise speed if you need to get out of any upcoming weather.

Wouldn't fancy rolling around at sea for a long period at displacement speed in a "keel-less" planing hull, unless there's been some efficient ballasting arrangement.

[cormorant]

Lot of the lancers and early mariners were originally single or twin 318 chryslers . There were a fair few different versions and motor set outs . I have a prop for a 318 lancer single in the shed.

Quite a few down here are set up with 60hp diesel and reach displacement speed Ok and some lead to make up some weight down low with some with small underwater straked to make them ery stable at rest. . They don't have much height so aren't like a berty but I know where you are coming from.

Some of the older versions of this style of boat actually had a skeg/ keel that enclosed the propshaft ( used thinner ropshafts as they wee protected) and stopped some of the roll and a 318 chrysler and enough fuel for it was not a light option.

[cormorant]

Just realised you are not Trev 1 who was asking about Keith Browns not that long ago. The lake maq one looks like it has been for sale for 5 pus months so has to be able to knock the price.

Have a look at this thread. Have a chat with trev1 - he is only a day trip away

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?181642-Marine-trans-options&highlight=keith+brown



Here is what is currently for sale in keith Brown

http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/results.aspx?Qpb=1&Ntt=keith%20brown&SearchAction=N&N=604+896+1586+1587+1599+1588&sid=1373C54F1308&Ntk=BoatAll&Dx=mode+matchany&Nne=15&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ns=pBoat_IsSoldRank_Int32%7C0%7C%7CpBoat_IsPOA_Int 32%7C0%7C%7CpBoat_IsSoldRank_Int32%7c0%7c%7cpBoat_ IsPOA_Int32%7c0%7c%7cpBoat_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7 cpBoat_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpBoat_Model_String%7c0 %7c%7cpBoat_YearMade_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpBoat_PriceSor t_Decimal%7c1&D=keith%20brown


Ahhh a berty with twin green wallet snatchers - actually one of the simpler better volvos and plenty about. Parts from the USA are Ok at the current exchange rate - just .

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160800547338&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:AU:1123

[spelchek]

Thanks smithy - I was aware that some shaft drives go on trailers - I'm currently pretty sold on the arvor range (just doing the maths on what I can afford at the moment). Just wondered whether a shaft drive boat not specifically designed to tow would be able to get into a trailer.