New boater - advice please

[Overfinch]

If your talking about hard hull stern drive around 20ft allow 1300-1600kg for boat depending on model and another 500kg for twin axle trailer plus fuel and gear. Outboard will be lighter and RIB quite a bit less. I am a big fan of full size SUV or pick ups for towing not because you need it on the road more for launching and retrieving on slippery slips. Front wheel drive cars will spin the wheels up on retrieval unless you sit a couple of fat blokes on the bonnet, depending on severity of slipway. If you intend to beach launch at this weight you will need off road tyres as road tyres have little grip on sand despite four wheel drive don't ask me how I know this! I would not recommend beach retrieval personally but it is possible. The other thing to consider is even if you buy a relatively light boat you may upgrade in future and it will save changing tow vehicle if you have 3500kg cap from the start.

[Overfinch]

Forgot to mention trailer nose weight SUVs are generally a fair bit higher than cars 130-150kg cars are generally less than 100kg some as low as 70kg. This may or may not be an issue depending on your rig.

[Ianfs]

Forgot to mention trailer nose weight SUVs are generally a fair bit higher than cars 130-150kg cars are generally less than 100kg some as low as 70kg. This may or may not be an issue depending on your rig.

That's a good point. I've just taken delivery of a Rav 4 Hybrid which has a tow capacity of 1600kgs and selective 4wd, but some of the Toyota tow bars only have 50kg nose weight capacity, whereas my trailer is 120 kgs, which is why I still have the Land Rover.

Beach launching is glamorous, sexy and sporty, but fraught with problems. I'm sitting here thinking which would be the right one to start with. So you find the right beach with enough water to slide the boat off without getting any sea water near the car, major corrosion Then you have to pick the right day so that you have an offshore wind or no wind (ha ha) to flatten the sea, otherwise you'll have a boat full of water. Next the bottom would have to be firm sand or shingle, which as we all know shifts and moves along the shoreline, moving your launching area. More so, have you anywhere which will allow cars onto the beach with boats larger than 16'?

The Sportage is a nice car, but I would say stick to Slipways.

[labboater]

Some really great stuff that im getting here and is much appreciated. Considerations I have not considered or know about and getting it from experienced boaters is great. I'm not impetuous hence why i'm on here prior to buying anything. Some make reference to ribs and i have to say I fancy ribs. They appear from what I have researched to be able to carry more people but are pricey.

[Overfinch]

Apples and oranges..... Ribs on paper offer several advantages, lighter possibly faster with same power, seaworthy you can have a relatively small boat with twin engines for redundancy, easier to tow with smaller vehicle, higher load capacity, ideal for commercial activity.
However they offer less interior space for given hull length due to the tubes, you are more exposed to the elements especially at anchor difficult to get out of the wind, generally more utilitarian and in my opinion less family friendly. Higher price point, tubes will need replacing eventually. The best advice is to try both. You really need to think about how you are going to use the boat as an all weather day boat a rib could be ideal. If you intend to overnight on boat you will find a hard boat with camper canvas more versatile and comfortable they often have more equipment although modern ribs can have it all for a price, you pay your money ........

[BruceK]

How about a Land Rover Disco 3 as a tow car. Undeniably one of the best tow cars out there and mine has pulled many a SUV out the sand and rising tide with boat and trailer attached so no slouch in the 4x4 stakes either. Well with proper 4x4 diff lock and intelligent programming yahoodidadidaas it's not hard . A truly fantastic car that is otherwise a lemon in all other respects that guarantees a love hate relationship. Up for grabs if you're interested

[argonaut]

Don't do any courses yet, don't spend any money ............. first off go out on a boat with someone, see what it is like, see what is involved, discuss costs of ownership.
So many different boats, don't make an expensive mistake, try before you buy

Then think about what to buy ..... to many jump in buy a boat go on course, and never get past 1st year boating.

[argonaut]

Be warned KIA have a major problem on towing .... I have a Sportage and a Sorento .... they have a dual mass flywheel which slips badly when starting on s slip - and cannot be fixed.

The clutch smells badly anytime you try reversing with a load - fine with a lightweight single axle trailer - it cannot cope once you start putting any load on the DMF.

Details in this thread : viewtopic.php?f=77&t=276

I changed it for JEEP Cherokee .... with 8 speed auto (same auto box as Discovery, Range Rover, Mercedes & BMW) tows superbly, always in right gear, no slippage at all under load.

[Dave]

Argonaut is absolutely right...try a few types of boat first...... rib / speedy boat / sports cuddy...inboard / outboard....a jetski even...give yourself as many options as possible, then ask yourself what am I going to use it for ? Will there be family / kids on board...do I want to tow skier or inflatable(s).....have I got room for it at home or am I going to have to pay for storage in a boatyard or marina..

Training courses are obviously good, but do the course in your own boat, then it can be tailored for the handling characteristics of whatever you have. My wife did her Level 2 in a single engine outboard rib....and we have a 30 foot twin inboard boat, so she now really needs to do it again....so do I probably....

Everyone will have opinions on what you should buy....and I mean everyone......listen to them all......most will point you in the direction of what they have......its natural....but it wont necessarily be what is best for you...and your budget in the end. Dont forget insurance, although its not that expensive, damage to your own boat or somebody else's definitely is.

Lastly, take your time and dont be pushed into anything...bargains are there to be had towards the end of a season when people have had enough and dont want to store again for the winter....

Personally I prefer a hard boat to a rib, and Ihave driven many ribs....because it feels like you are in a hard boat, but on a rib....if you see what I mean.....told you people have opinions...

[betty boop]

Kia Soranto Auto is what Ive just bought. nice car to drive but full of issues. the 4x4 transfer box is so sensitive it constantly tries to enguage 4x4 causing wheel judder. its a common fault apparently and kia couldnt care less so I read.

Luckily we've managed to pull the fuse on the control box without causing system faults as recommended on google and its got a lot better. . next fault is a juddering in the auto change/stop and it wont change to 5th gear unless dead stable speed in cruise control mode. VERY annoying.

unless she behaves or theres a cheap fix yet to be discovered its going as a £4600 leason in life and being part ex'd for a cheeokee xmas or the start of next season depending on work etc. Very P'd off but thats life with used cars. The Nissan Pathfinder/Navara with seats sold this week loosing £4k in 24 months and that was no better rust bucket and the trouble is with auto or avoiding DMF manual the options are running out for an alternative.