First buy 640? Advice appreciated

[Jimbobs]

Hi all from a 56yo newbie with no sailing experience.

I've seen a Shetland 640 with an old 2stroke Yamaha 70 outboard for sale at around £2500, is this way to cheap even though an older craft. I don't want to buy something that will cost more to put right. I'm looking to potter about on weekends, days off and holidays with the mrs. are these able to sleep in?

Thanks in advance
Jim
Bonnyrigg, midlothian

[admin]

we would be to see some photos to answer all your questions.

price is very objective. Is it sea worthy, does the engine work? whats the interior like. Is the canopy waterproof.....

The 640 is a nice boat and is plenty big enough to sleep 4 on it.

Post some images and we can help more

[Jimbobs]

Many thanks for your reply,

The previous owner has owned this for 3 years but giving up due to a dibilitating illness and being unable to drive. No interior pictures, but I'm thinking of going to view tomorrow. Below is from the seller. Attached images also shows ad with a little more info.

Engine is two stroke, cover is new but interior needs updating and outer seat/ showing signs of cracking, there is no trailer.

'Hi JamesThe engine is a 70hp Yamaha IT is an oldie but highly reliable and pushes the boat along at 10knots, You would need to arrange moorings with Sandy currently at £590 for the summer. I Believe there are a number of vacancies'

James

[Jimbobs]

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[admin]

from what I can see, the price is about right.

Take it for sea trial, look under the floor for signs of water and in the lockes for any mould or water ingress. , ask when the engine was last serviced. Everything else is really cosmetic and can be renovated/replaced.

[Jimbobs]

Genuinely appreciate your response and input

Many thanks
James

[dellquay13]

Hi,
Looking at the max speed of your boat; 10knots from a 70hp 2 stroke, something is wrong there.
Either the engine is genuinely too low powered to get the boat onto the plane, which is likely, or it was once just powerful enough but now has issues which need rectifying. Either way, it is not an ideal choice of engine. At high revs you will be wasting lots of fuel pushing a wall of water in front of you and only increasing your speed by about 2 knots, at low revs you are being more fuel efficient but risk poor reliability and difficult starting by constantly fouling your spark plugs through running a 2 stroke well below its power band.
Your boat would ideally have either a 12-20hp motor for 6-8mph displacement speeds, or a good 80-115hp for planing performance, getting onto the plane at about 15mph and being able to hold on the plane at about 60-70% of the wide open throttle (wot). Your 70hp might just get you onto the plane if you get the weight balance fore and aft right, the engine trimmed in far enough and enough creature comforts taken off the boat, but you will always be at full revs and burning about a gallon every 3 miles... Better with either a small engine for displacement speeds and pottering about at 6mph and 8mpg or a bigger performance engine used at 60-70% power efficiently on the plane at 19mph and about 7-8mpg.
If replacing the motor isn't an option, I would recommend finding the highest rpm that has any significant effect, and then never going too far below it for long for engine reliability, or anything at all above it because you will just waste fuel making a mighty bow wave with virtually no increase in speed if you do.
Most new boat owners are initially disappointed by the amount of petrol their engines use (I briefly grieved last weekend over burning my way through 10 gallons of unleaded for a 70 mile overnight trip until I considered the enjoyment of a night away in a different harbour and the puffins, dolphins and porpoises seen on the way) but if you can get into the 7-10 mpg range, consider what other pleasant pastimes can you have (without pedalling) involving the great outdoors, transport and a sense of personal achievement for about £7 per hour.
As for being big enough to sleep in, of course it is, you will have loads more room than we have on my Family Four, and we have managed 14 day holidays aboard.
Chris

[daveinglasgow]

Hi

its cheap due to no trailer as I quoted 3 times for this boat!! sleeping 4 on that boat is also v v tight and said the outboard is the wrong size. I do know where there is a 15 hp 4 stroke though that could be swapped as the owner wants a 50-70 hp

Dave

[Jimbobs]

Many thanks all, great insight. Have to say getting a bad feeling re this boat especially as three quotes already done for a trailer for it and no one thought it good enough to purchase.

Shows that this is a forum well worth being part of!

James

[daveinglasgow]

Hi James

if you are looking for a boat give me a call and I will help. That way I can make sure you dont get ripped off!!

Dave
0759 563 8185