Buying a boat - Financial etiquette?

[dellquay13]

A 2019 engine should give no problems, if it is a reputable Japanese or US brand, and it will still be covered by the original warranty. You haven't said what make and size it is, or whether your use will be inland waterways or coastal.
All boats are a compromise in some way or other, but for around 44 years F4s have been used safely and extensively inland and well offshore too.
Some of the compromises are iffy directional control at very slow speeds, and they can be easily blown around in a moderate breeze when you take the power off, but you get an excellent turn of speed with the right motor, and impressive lateral stability at rest from the gull wing hull shape.
As for the lack of survey, other than the motor, there are few generic faults other than leaky windows or hull to topside joints under the rubbing strip. As Clive suggested, search on here for threads about leaks and cures. F4s are really very simple boats, foam filled under the deck to stop too much water collecting on board, and other than the drain bung, no factory fitted holes under the waterline to cause problems.

[g4fne]

A 2019 engine should give no problems, if it is a reputable Japanese or US brand, and it will still be covered by the original warranty. You haven't said what make and size it is, or whether your use will be inland waterways or coastal.
All boats are a compromise in some way or other, but for around 44 years F4s have been used safely and extensively inland and well offshore too.
Some of the compromises are iffy directional control at very slow speeds, and they can be easily blown around in a moderate breeze when you take the power off, but you get an excellent turn of speed with the right motor, and impressive lateral stability at rest from the gull wing hull shape.
As for the lack of survey, other than the motor, there are few generic faults other than leaky windows or hull to topside joints under the rubbing strip. As Clive suggested, search on here for threads about leaks and cures. F4s are really very simple boats, foam filled under the deck to stop too much water collecting on board, and other than the drain bung, no factory fitted holes under the waterline to cause problems.

It is a Mariner 15hp ... Any good or something i should be wary of? .... I will be using on a small tidal river

[Clive]

How strong is the tide and which river? I’d avoid coastal work on all bar flat calm days with your engine. Perfect for river work. Dellquay is the man for sea info! That said, the River Arun in Sussex has a really strong tidal flow and I wouldn’t fancy that much at all! Look forward to some pictures.

[g4fne]

It is the river Stour Kent .... I will be mainly travelling from Grove Ferry to Fordwich (if anyone aware). It is about 9mile stretch that way. The other direction is about a 10 mile stretch towards the coast (towards Sandwich) but has a very low bridge at the beginning and gettting under it is dictated by the tide and normal/low general water level (no chance at the moment and as i need to pass under to get to mooring means boat will stored out of water for about 3months) ... i wont be using on coast.

Ive just been reading up on the leaks they can suffer .... I have everything crossed i hope to have have few problems in that area as DIY isnt my strongest point lol

[dellquay13]

Mariner are a respected US brand, part of the Mercury and Quicksilver family, and for many years have been mechanically identical to Mercury. They have a good support and spares network through the UK distributor Barrus, and are the usual brand of choice for the RNLI.

Not all Shetlands leak, and when they do, it's almost always rainwater from above not the water they are floating in, so don't worry. It's very likely the previous owners have already found and sorted any problems. If it's in good original condition it's usually fine, but like Clive said, if it has been refurbed and re-fabriced, there is likely to have been an historic leak or two. Some people are more diligent than others at sorting them properly, and any makeshift repairs will need attention again at some point. Run a hose pipe over any suspect areas instead of waiting for a rainy day.

[g4fne]

Can i also ask that as it is going to be stored out of water for next 3months (at a boat storage yeard) ... Is the full size (pramhood?) canopy subject to high winds/bad weather and is there anything i should do to reduce any risk?

[Clive]

For storage and towing I use a Tonneau.
1 it saves exposing your lovely and expensive canopy to the winter elements and bird (I keep mine rolled up in the cabin)
2 a tonneau offers much less wind resistance when towing or in your case, high winds.

The canopy is basically a big pram hood and it will flap and rattle about in winds. Over time this will strain the stitching and fixing points so whilst it’s ok, and loads of boats only have them, if you can get hold of a tonneau I would. My canopy is still like new cos I only fit it when I use the boat!

[g4fne]

Can i just check you mean a low cover like this as i have one included with the boat, aswell as the canopy version, or should i be looking at something that covers the whole boat?

[Clive]

No picture… you have to click the “Attachments” tab and add files. Then they appear.
A tonneau covers the cockpit screen to the stern, basically the open cockpit area. Mine came with the boat and is much more useful than I thought it would be. Pic of boat by house - shows tonneau and not much else!

[g4fne]

thats odd, cos i can see the pic .... ive added as an attachment this time so hopefully you can see .... So yes i think im right that it is this one ... Result, as have one of them included with the boar