what boat?

[Still_Dreamin]

I am looking at buying a boat. Probably fibreglass (would consider aluminium), cuddy cabin, around 5 metres (my shed is 7m long and what boat and trailer to be garaged.) Needs to be able to take two kids and wife for trips to earn credits for fishing trips. I have only ever had a 3.75m open dinghy but not family friendly enough. What is everyone's tw cents worth? Would like low hours and post 2005. Budget around 30k

[Marlin_Mike]

Some nice Seafarers around.

[Floating Rib]

Second on the seafarers, not sure what money they are asking but a couple of nice looking boats in the Haines Traveller range around the 5m and also a boat i know little about but always thought looked nice is the Coxcraft Rum Runner, maybe some of the other guys have an opinion of these but they always seemed priced pretty well compared to the other really popular makes.

[Jarrah Jack]

I was in the market for the same type of boat and ended up with a Haines sig 520. Boats to look for would be HH 495 and 510, Cruise Craft 500 Explorer, Haines Sig 493 and 520, Seafarer 5 mtr Cuddy Cab. There may well be others but thats what ended up on my short list.

[Argle]

Haines Signature 493F great little boat owned one for ten years both my kids started in this boat and they loved it. Only sold her to get a bigger one!

Cheers

[Still_Dreamin]

Thanks for the replies! Wow the seafarers hold their value(read seem expensive). Has anyone got any experience with haines traveler? How long would a 5.2 m on trailer with motor be? Need to fit in 7m shed.

[Jarrah Jack]

My 5.2 Haines is about 6.6 overall with the motor down so you should be right. Pay to check all the same. Have a look at the 5.3 Haines Hunters if your thinking of a 5.2, a very nice boat. That bit bigger from a 5 mtr will make a big difference to comfort and the things you can do.

[Qlder1]

I had a Signature 540F that fitted in my 7m shed. Had to flex out the roller door just a touch to clear the tow hitch though..

[Tangles]

jarrah Jack has a pretty tidy list there,

Also with fitting in a garage, look at height to the top of the windscreen as well, we ended up moving the jockey wheel back a bit to so we could just scrape under the roller door,

mike

mike

[Chimo]

Not exactly what you intended but a lot of boat for around $30 ish http://www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-fo...spx?R=11958809

or this again but for a bit less http://www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-fo....aspx?R=105173

or http://www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-fo...spx?R=10891425

or http://www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-fo...spx?R=10832081

or http://www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-fo...spx?R=12035351

Good time to buy if you have the $s

Cheers
Chimo

FRP has a life of more than 50 yrs and thats in the nuclear industry. Why limit yourself to 2005?

old 2 strokes might use a bit more fuel but they are heaps cheaper to service and more forgiving of old / shitty fuel IMHO.

[Seahorse]

I got 5 met Stacer runabout with full side clears and storm covers heap extras 2006 model, 220 hrs 75 hp merc. One owner.
Got to go $20000

[gpz1991]

Yalta 535 is around that price new, some good secondhand 555 around that price as well. Great boats for the price, seem to be popular in this forum.

Paul
Proud Yalta Owner

[fisho8]

Plenty of good boats out there just make a shortlist of what brands you like and go from there it will do your head in but you will get there I have a Whittley Clearwater 2100WA Whittley also make a 1600,1750,1900, might be worth a look. This was my old boat I sold about 6 months ago the bloke who bought it is not using it enough it was a great family boat and got me my wife and my 2 kids over to Moreton and got me around the bay no dramas the only reason I sold it was I wanted something bigger to go offshore. This boat had a 90hp merc on the back of it when I bought it and I upgraded it to a 115opti it is a 2008 model with about 88hrs on it now. He wants a few bucks for it I sold it to him for a lower price than what he is asking. I do like the HH and the CC also have a look into the Tornament renge of boats also. Good luck.

http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-fo...spx?R=12126842

[Still_Dreamin]

When I built the shed I had a 2400 high roller door installed so height should be ok, I hope

[Still_Dreamin]

Thanks Chimo, that is an awesome amount of research. Will definitely check them out when I get to my pc. To hard on smart phone.