Buy a 4+2 or look elsewhere?

[gyislander]

Hi and thanks for letting me access your forum.
I'm based on the West Coast of Scotland and had a 570 many years ago mainly for fishing and watersports with the kids. Now it's just me and my good lady and we're looking to upgrade from our 18ft Hardy as we want more space for nights away and to take a dinghy and maybe bikes. We usually potter at 5-6 knots but like the ability to shoot off at 16 ish if needs be. We'd rather not move into the 25ft inboard bracket and really like the space and accommodation offered by the 4+2.
Having done a ton of research though I'm still not sure if it's suitable. Most examples I've seen have small engines for river use and are described by brokers as displacement, semi displacement or planing hulls. I thought they were all semi's, or am I wrong?
A few have inboards, a few have outboards on a transom well but the majority have the engine on a rear platform. With a 75-90 needed for sea use plus an auxiliary I'd imagine the boat would sit very bow up ass down reducing slow speed stability and making planing difficult even with tabs.
I know Shetland described the 4+2 as suitable for coastal cruising but does anyone have any real life experience of the 4+2 at sea ?

[gyislander]

Just seen the similar post from last month which seems to answer what I'm asking ,,,, God knows how I never found it before in hours online searching.
Perhaps a black Prince would suit ? Though they're like hen's teeth !

[Mdr24uk]

I bought a 4+2 (first boat) for similar reasons: trips out with the family and onboard overnight accommodation, in fact I sold the idea to the missus as a ‘floating caravan’!

I haven’t had many running hours in mine since getting her due to lockdown and winter maintenance, and I only had one coastal trip in the Solent when I brought her home to Portsmouth from Southampton. That was an ‘experience’ with a small 60hp that was constantly overheating due to poor cooling and being over-propped and we struggled to maintain 3-4 knots against the tide and with a F4 on the beam…

Trim has improved since that journey by adjusting ballast but she’s still a tad stern-heavy with the 4 stroke hanging off the transom platform. They are heavy boats for the size (when craned back in after the winter she was 2000kg AUW) and with 60 (unproven) horses she’s max’d out at 8-9 kts in the harbour. I was expecting more in the teens, so having already changed the prop I’ve either got waterlogged foam in the hull (although the drain plug was dry) or a 3 legged donkey powering her that needs a proper service!

[Clive]

2000kg? What loads are you carrying? The boat weighs 1100kg plus engine, water, fuel, and people. Where does 900kg extra come from I wonder? Mine has 100l fresh water tank (so 100kg) in the bow, maybe to balance the boat, my 35hp engine is 90kg? Plus batteries, fuel and a holding tank. So I allow around 300kg. No wonder yours struggled in the water.
All boats are a compromise and it depends on what conditions you want to use the boat in (or may expect). The 4+2 is a comfy cruiser for its size. The swim deck(!) is rated for a 90hp engine. I wouldn’t class it as a seagoing boat though it has capabilities and is rated. I’ve read here of someone who cruises the islands of West coast Scotland and moors up in sheltered coves. If you are experienced you should be ok. Hold down the snacks and drinks whilst on the plane if it gets there, it’s a heavy boat!

[dellquay13]

They are heavy boats for the size (when craned back in after the winter she was 2000kg AUW) and with 60 (unproven) horses she’s max’d out at 8-9 kts in the harbour. I was expecting more in the teens, so having already changed the prop I’ve either got waterlogged foam in the hull (although the drain plug was dry) or a 3 legged donkey powering her that needs a proper service!

8-9mph is a reasonable upper estimate of the max hull speed for the waterline length. You would probably get that with just a 15hp. Increasing power will just push a big bow wave in front until the power goes up enough to climb that wave and sit on top.
You have a lot of weight there, and i don't think 60hp will be anywhere enough to get up on the plane. 90hp+
The drain plugs normally only drain the sump, any floor lockers and anywhere above the cockpit sole. The foamed and sealed areas aren't usually connected to the drain plug.

[ladydawn]

Hi all,
I have a 4+2 with a 75 hip Honda on the blunt end and have achieved 22 mph across Brendon water on the Norfolk Broads. The total weight of my boat weighs 2060 kilos, but that’s sitting on an Extreme Trailers 2600 which the manufacturer says weighs 550
Kilos on its own !!!! So boat weight with everything ready to go is around 1510 kilos . Hope this helps. Cheers.