WHICH FIRST BOAT TO CHOOSE?

14/02/2021

WHICH FIRST BOAT TO CHOOSE?

The first advice I would give you is not to go for a boat that is too small.
Indeed, the longer the hull of your boat, the more comfortable and pleasant your passage at sea will be, especially in the Mediterranean with rough seas.
The bigger and heavier your boat is, the more comfortable the passage will be and it will break the waves. However, it will require a more powerful engine to cope with the weight.

The cost of the engine represents about 30% of the value of a boat, so the budget is an important element in your choice.

The choice of your boat will also depend on your navigation program.
- Do you want to sail all year round or only during the summer period?
- Do you want to be able to sleep on board?
- Do you practice water sports (water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing)?
- How many people sail with you?

The second piece of advice is to choose a maximum engine power.

Fuel consumption of engines increases exponentially with engine speed, and a powerful engine will not need to rev high to deliver the same power as a smaller engine.

When we talk about cruising speed on a boat, we mean the optimal speed relative to engine speed and fuel consumption. When your boat "planes," the hull partially comes out of the water, so there is less friction between the hull and the water, thus the gliding speed on the water increases while requiring less propulsion than a boat that is not planing. This is when you need to "trim" your engine. Trim is the actuator on the outboard mounting bracket, usually controlled by a switch located on the throttle lever. Pressing "up" moves the engine base away from the transom, and pressing "down" brings it closer. This mechanism for adjusting the tilt of outboard and Z-drive bases is very useful.
By changing the thrust angle of the propeller vertically, it allows you to adjust the longitudinal attitude of the boat. Trim differs from "lift," which is much rarer and only modifies the height of the engine on the transom of light boats, thus the immersion depth of the propeller.
When starting, trimming down helps planing thanks to the increased lift caused by lowering the bow. While underway, you raise the base slightly to clear the bow until you find the optimal balance. This reduction of wetted surface promotes speed.

That is why it is important to have maximum engine power to plane without having to rev the engine high.

The first choice you will have to make will be to decide between a new boat or a used boat. Some of the advantages of buying a new boat are the same as for a new car. Consequently, you can choose a range of elements and equipment completely to your taste and according to your needs. You will also have the manufacturer's warranty. However, in some cases, you have to wait several months until it is ready for delivery. If you already have a boat, this waiting period may not be a problem, but otherwise, buying your boat used could be a good choice since the transaction will be immediate.
There are also advantages to choosing a used boat: you can find a well-equipped and more sophisticated boat for a more affordable price than if it were new.