Which boat do I choose?

[PetePWES]

Hi Guys, thanks for allowing me in, hopefully you can help me with my choice of boat...

Little background, we are looking to long term live aboard while cruising the Caribbean starting later this year and are currently based in the UK

We have narrowed our search to two boats, Carver 530 Voyager Pilothouse or a (hope this isn't swearing around here...) Sea Ray 560 Sedan Bridge

There's a lot we like about both boats, but your advice and recommendations are going to be key to our next stage. Nobody in the UK is selling either of these models, so we will need to fly to the US to view them both before deciding. So we want to be fully armed with questions for owners/ brokers and things to look out for on used boats (we are looking at around 1999-2002 models which both fit our price range. The other issue is finding an area which has one of each for sale (so far they are hundreds of miles apart, meaning a mini tour of the USA by plane just to check out boats (ok, so maybe not that much of a hardship...)

Bearing in mind that as a couple this is our new permanent home, there's only so much you can find out from the internet, pictures and video. Real life experience of both brands as you guys have, will be invaluable!

So, flood me with advice please! Why should I choose the Carver over the Sea Ray? Which is actually more comfortable? Are there engine types I should avoid? What inherent issues should I check for? The more info the better!! Obviously we will get a proper survey prior to purchase, but great to be able to ask brokers the right questions to rule out some boats as just not worth it

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to hearing your wisdom

Pete

[bud37]

Welcome to the forum Pete.

What about these two models makes them your final choice decision. Will you limit your adventure to the Caribbean or be heading back across to the Med or back to the UK ?

[PetePWES]

Thanks for the Welcome Bud!

Arrived at these two after failing to find a Prestige in the US that's in reasonable condition (or at a reasonable price but fixable). Have seen several of the Prestige brand at boat shows here and love them, but new is out of our budget and used are still pricey and would then involving paying to have it shipped to the US, making this totally our of current budget

Both models seem spacious enough to live aboard (can you ever have enough space?) and easily capable of crossing from Florida to the Caribbean, then touring those waters. Yes a 70 footer would be better, but initial price, mooring, insurance etc etc make that more of a dream than a mid to high 50ft

So after many hours, days and weeks of searching yachtmarket and yatco, these two seem to fit the budget (mid to high $200s). They were actually suggested by a broker who knew we liked the Italian styling and space.

Very happy and open minded enough to consider any other brands or models. Just like house buying I guess, everything is a compromise in some way or another...

We would not be traveling back across the 'big pond' other than flying back for family visits etc. The Caribbean is destined to be our new home area, at least until very old age and health prevent that!

Cheers

Pete

[mobinakhtar]

Both are great boats. I would research to see which particular engines in each one and then look for parts/mechanic availability in the Caribbean area. You might want to stock general maintenance items from USA (way cheaper). If the Caribbean is your destination, here is a piece of invaluable advice: H2O! Look for a boat with the freshwater maker. Potable water can be up to $9/Gal in some parts of the Caribbean. Just call a few marinas and ask for water rate. You'll be surprised. Watermakers are not cheap but a necessity in that part of the world.

Finally - I expect this in a boat this size - but look for washer/dryer combo as Caribbean weather will make you change twice a day sometimes.

What you are planning to do is my dream for maybe a summer. I hope I get as lucky as you guys. Best of Luck and Cheers.

[mobinakhtar]

After looking up both boats in question, I personally liked the aesthetics of sea ray from outside. Its sexier compared to the carver. However, there is no question in the usability advantage of the interior layout of Carver.

Rooms appear bigger because of the way beds are set up and there is more usable space everywhere in the Carver. Sea Ray is very nice but I think unless you visit both boats in person, you will not be able to decide.

I looked at a Silverton 392 which is near identical to the Carver 396 but I felt a connection and liking to Carver that I definitely didn't to Silverton. As a result, I spent more to get Carver. Once again, best of luck and cheers.

[RGrew176]

Sea Ray is a nice boat and does have sexier looks but the functionality of a Carver is hard to beat.

[PetePWES]

Source of the post Portable water can be up to $9/Gal in some parts of the Caribbean. Just call a few marinas and ask for water rate. You'll be surprised. Watermakers are not cheap but a necessity in that part of the world.

WTF? How much!!!! Great piece of advice, thanks!!

That's a real gem to know, and yes the boat will either already have one or I will be having one fitted on day 1

[bud37]

There are some more considerations other than the overall looks and feel.....for me the engine room would be very important, cease of moving around and maintain ,oil change systems, filter layouts, water system layouts....the electrical panels etc.

The other real big one would be how the boat is in a seaway and especially at anchor, where you will be spending most of your time....does it hunt around, excessive rocking ( stable )....

What boat do you have now ?

Edit......to add, if it were me and I was going to do what you are thinking to do, I would not choose either of those, it would be some form of trawler style designed for long term, long distance cruising.....just my opinion here.
I think you have to be careful with your budget in my opinion....diesel engines are extremely expensive to replace/ repair....so getting heavy duty versions ( ones that would be able to log high hours ) would also be important.

I am certainly no expert , but this would be a consideration for me.

[PetePWES]

Source of the post or me the engine room would be very important, cease of moving around and maintain ,oil change systems, filter layouts, water system layouts....the electrical panels etc.

The other real big one would be how the boat is in a seaway and especially at anchor, where you will be spending most of your time....does it hunt around, excessive rocking ( stable )....

What boat do you have now ?

Edit......to add, if it were me and I was going to do what you are thinking to do, I would not choose either of those, it would be some form of trawler style designed for long term, long distance cruising.....just my opinion here.
I think you have to be careful with your budget in my opinion....diesel engines are extremely expensive to replace/ repair....so getting heavy duty versions ( ones that would be able to log high hours ) would also be important.

I am certainly no expert , but this would be a consideration for me.

Thanks for your insights sir!

The engine room is not somewhere I plan to visit more than I absolutely need to. Although I get that it's much cheaper to maintain yourself, I'm not good with machinery and not keen to learn at this age. I would rather pay someone who knows what they're doing to keep it in good condition

Performance such as behaviour at anchor is, I agree, a major consideration. Again any advice is very welcome.

The Trawler/ Hatteras design in my eyes is seriously Fugly, and not a style I would want to go for, regardless of sea worthiness and comfort. I'd just dread going back to it after a trip to shore. In the same way as a van or a pick up may be more practical than a Ferrari, I'd still go for the Ferrari every time

I don't currently, nor have I ever had a boat. Been on LOADS, but never owned. This has been a dream for many years, to retire to calmish warm waters far away from the UK. Hence the extensive research and asking many questions here.

I don't want to buy a boat, only to find 6 months down the line it's really wrong for us, we then have the hassle of selling that one and hunt for a new one

The engine question is an interesting one.. If you very loosely equate it to a car, 2000 hrs on a boat engine (which is on the high side of most I've seen) running at let's say - 25knots, is somewhere around 50,000 miles. 50k On a diesel car engine is well within reasonable to low mileage, many will happily do 4 times that before needing replacement (everything else fails way before that!)

I do understand that seawater causes everything to wear and break much faster, you're also moving 40+ tons of boat (albeit with two engines). So at what kind of hours would you expect an average yacht engine to need replacement (assuming reasonable and regular maintenance has been carried out)?

Is there any kind of grid on the net showing engine make/ type v longevity and even maintenance costs?

Thanks again for the input, all very welcome!!

Pete

[bud37]

Source of the post The engine question is an interesting one.. If you very loosely equate it to a car, 2000 hrs on a boat engine (which is on the high side of most I've seen) running at let's say - 25knots, is somewhere around 50,000 miles. 50k On a diesel car engine is well within reasonable to low mileage, many will happily do 4 times that before needing replacement (everything else fails way before that!)

I believe you should look into that relationship a lot further.......Imo a marine gas engine with 2000 hrs at your 25 kn number would be closer to 200,000 miles wear factor when you consider that boat engines are highly loaded all the time.

Now all marine diesels are not alike....there are the higher performance , turbos, higher HP then there are the industrial type that are generally lower HP in heavy frames....those are the ones that last for 10 to 15000 hours and more.

There is lots of info out there, also consider how maintenance gets done in these remote places , cause here is where all the car analogies go bad.....car engine breaks , you pull over get out, stare at it then call the tow etc.......now boat engine breaks and its you floating somewhere, miles from any meaningful help.

Anyway a very commendable goal...always best to research first. Remember these are just my opinions , others may think very differently on how the process goes.