Cryptic Question - Need Your Input

[TomBettle]

OK Guys

 

I am sworn not say much, but I have been asked to find out what the boating / fishing public want.

 

Dimensions are examples and not set:

If, say, "Someone" was designing a 7 metre, high performance outboard driven Pilot House would you the buying public prefer:

 

1) A beamy 2.75m wide boat that has a fairly decent level of overnighting accommodation (imagine something like a high performance Merry Fisher 695).

The downside is that the beam will make it all but prohibitive to trailer.

 

2) A slightly narrower hull, say 2.55m, that allows the boat to be trailored.

Similar handling and performance to 1).

The downside will be that due to the narrower beam, less weekending accomodation will be available.

When working it out, remember that 7m is a BIG boat to be regualrly trailering.

It is, however, quite do-able with the correct vehicle and decent slipway.

 

 

Both versions would have a large open cockpit and a high level of overall finish.

Both boats are likely to offer comfortable handling and a generous performance range right up to +/- 30knots.

 

If you were buying a boat and both 1 and 2 were in front of you and the two on your shortlist. Which one would YOU buy.

 

Please let me know ASAP (I need answers by about lunchtime tomorrow!).

 

Thanks for your help

Tom

Edited February 7, 2007 by TomBettle

[Afishionado]

Boat #1

 

Mad Mike

[Adam F]

As MM, Boat #1.

 

However, without wanting to open a can of ragworms, I still wouldnt want a 'high performance MF 695' - at least not with outboards. As you know this has been an issue in my change of boat. Outboards are great, but on trailer boats where generally fishing in inshore and boats are flexible. When you start talking cruising and offshore / long range work the diesels come into play IMO. The answer here would be a stern drive (says Adam F, not baised at all! )

 

I truely think the UK market has an opening in amongst the great choice for a 7m+ fast stern drive diesel which isnt a fishing boat, but more styled like the MF's. The Faeton was all I can find, so if Jeaneau decide to bang a stern drive in a 695, put me on the waiting list!

 

Adam

Edited February 7, 2007 by Adam F

[TomBettle]

Oh forgot to say, my own opinion would be number 1)

 

I do agree with Adam that there is a real need for a better built / better handling diesel stern drive fisher / cruiser than the offerings currently in the market....

 

....Phaeton aside Duncan. I was referring to "other" brands.

[plaicemat]

In my current situation, I would have to vote for number 2. However, if I was going for number 1, i.e., keeping it afloat, I don't think I'd go for an outboard. In this case, Adam's preference has a lot of merit.

 

Terry.

[Maverick Martin]

I would favour boat 2 and my reasoning is:

 

If you just smack a larger engine into the 695 I think you might end up with a boat that would slam alot at the proposed cruising speed of say 22-24knots. A norrower beam would restrict accomodation very slightly but not so as you would notice but it would allow a deeper V that would give a higher more comfortable cruising speed. You would also be in a position to cater for more disciplines of boating ie mooring/pontooning and trailering.

 

Tom if Jeanneau had a boat similar to the 695 with higher cruising speeds you know I would have purchased one over the Karnic that I finally decided on. There isn't yet a perfect boat on the market for me and I doubt there ever will be but heres hopeing

 

Martin

[pegleg]

No 1 for me . The very good listener and can keep stum. Jas

[Coddy]

No. 1 for me as well

 

Cheap as chips regarding price, you can add on all the extras you want/need not to have them included where they might be never used or required.

 

Will leave Maverick's ice maker until global warming makes it essential

 

Coddy

[Brian]

#2

Although I keep my boat on a mooring, I bring it home once a year for maintainence and the extra 8" of #1 would make it a bit of a squeeze to get past when it's in the driveway.

[Fugazi]

Tom,

 

You know my requirements already, a 695 that cruises @ 20knots with a top speed of 25-30 knots so deep v hull required I think.

 

 

 

Gordon H

[toerag]

Are we assuming that both boats will do the same speed and economy? If so, then boat #1 of course!

However, as said earlier, the lack of a fast sterndrive 6.5-7m boat of the correct style is a real restriction in choice. Aquafish 23s would fit the bill but don't have much in the way of accomodation. Everything else with accomodation (jeanneau, ocquetau, arvor etc) peters out at 19 knots.

[Newboy]

no 2 for me.

 

Reasons being I live too far from the coast to trailer.

[Dreamcatcher]

Hi Tom,

 

Interesting question this.....

 

As you say, trailing would be possible but the vehicle and slipway requirements are bound to limit where you would tow her, the whole point of being trailerable. I live in Worthing and towed Dreamcatcher down to Plymouth to fish the 'Eddystone Lighthouse', easy with my Orkney 520, but a boat of this size needs a bit more planning before a 200 mile trip and a decent 4x4.

 

My guess is that boats of this size are best moored and fished from a port, so I am going to opt for No 1. Oh and I agree with Adam that a stern drive would be better suited.

 

Gary

 

[Paul D]

No 2, purely because I prefer not to have to cough up money to keep the boat in a marina each year and a beamier boat wont fit on my driveway and I like the flexibility of being able to trail to different locations.

[gaffa]

As I have never towed I would opt for boat 1 wth twin outboards.

 

I would like to know what the "accommodation" was to be used for?

 

Are we talking about overnighting with the family,cruising or fishing?

 

For the fishing I do I don't need or want a claustophobic V berth in the bow

I prefer everything to be at deck level similar to the Finnmaster etc

 

Tom,

As you know my dream boat is out there and available for lots of cash i.e the Botnia Targa Range would cover all my requirements other than my Budget !!!

 

One Day!!

Pete

[Mike Fox]

Option 1 would appeal most of the two.

 

I note Tom didn't mention price - I somehow suspect a

[Seamouse]

Option 1 for me, towing a 7m boat may be feasible but it isn't easy. Launch and recovery are all going to be so much more fraught than with a smaller boat that you'd only want to do it once a year or so, for holidays or for maintenance.

OB vs stern-drive is really a fuel cost argument, isn't it? Wonder how long (if ever) before we get a proper diesel OB?

 

Steve

[duncan]

Tom,

 

Don't know what you are trying to establish but I am sure you are going the wrong way about it -

 

Firstly you are clearly leading the question with stateements like 'make it difficult to trailer' - either the beam is legal to tow or it isn't!

 

Secondly nearly every buying decision is fundamentally based on where it's to be kept, how it's to be launched and how much it costs to buy and run.

 

If you want to get underneath these issues I would suggest that you pick a selection of 7m boats that exhibit a range of features (and therefore perceived benefits) and ask the audiance to select which they would buy if money as no object.

 

I am happy to start by saying that I would buy the Botnia Targa 23. Sheltered helm, ultimate walk round for anchoring etc and fishing space, competent hull and enough weight to help in poor conditions.

 

I wouldn't have a problem with a single large modern OB on this or any other boat - with all new inboard diesels having so many electronics I no longer take the view that the only problme would be fuel and I could get it going again somehow!

[Shropfisher]

Not an easy answer, my current boat falls into the option 2, as I wanted to Trail, but in reality I don't any more, so I weeould go for the extra size and moore, 7 metres is a large boat to tow, but it is the launching etc that gets harder, bigger boats become a two man job, plus at 7 metres you would be looking at an inboard engine so trailing is out realy.

 

For me option 1

[great white]

Well my last boat [Duver 23] was exactly 7mtrs long and what it lacked was beam and speed.

 

Building as a stern drive instead of shaft drive was an option, it was basically the same boat without the keel molding. they had two moulds so both were well built and with the stiff ringdeck were a very solid boat.

The sterndrive fitted with 140 hp was capable of over 30knots so the speed issue would be sorted.

 

As a shaft drive driven by 60 hp she was very economic but did not like the waves on her quarters, with more speed and less keel that problem may also have been solved

 

However she still only had just over 7ft on the beam so was a bit crowded in the cockpit when fishing with two growing lads.

 

No boat will be perfect, but there are some out there that fit the size mentioned and maybe as Duncan says it may be better to list them and then run a poll

 

I am sure Tom would give you his thoughts on Illusion which also fits the size and is a shallow V on a sterndrive, as would Gary for Prodigy and Tony for Two Ways

 

Although I have been on many offshores, I will not know exactly how well my Pro Charter 30 compares with others untill the build is complete and we get some hours in at Sea.

I hope that the equipment selected and layout will be as good afloat as it looks in the Garden,

The 10ft plus beam certainly makes her seem roomy

 

As Duncan also said the new engine may be a diesel but its not a simple unit and squeezes every HP it can out of the block like an outboard.

So do not right off running big modern outboards becaiuse they are complex.

 

Perhaps Tony is a good one to talk on that subject as he has changed "Two Ways" from a large outboard to a modern stern drive in the past year

 

Charlie