Seadweller
Veteran Member
New to the forum, but have read up on what's been posted about these boats and wanted some updated, perhaps more specific information.
Quick background, in the past I've been a multi-boat owner, with a 31' Express (twin inboards) and a smaller center console, of one brand or another, in varying sizes. Our boating needs changed around 6 years ago, so I sold everything and settled on a 22' bay boat, as it accommodated our boating needs/style until just recently. I said I'd never own another boat that had to be moored in the water again (diver, bottom jobs, etc.), so I've been looking at outboard powered expresses that will fit on our #10K lift.
The overall objective is to buy a boat that we can overnight on for 3, maybe 4 nights max. The boat would be used exclusively for fair weather, coastal cruising on the west coast of Florida. After thinking about it, I'm concerned that by going to a single, bigger boat, we'll miss the bay boat for a lot of the boating we do (quick runs to a sandbar, waterfront restaurants with limited space, fishing the flats, etc).
We've always loved the downeast style boats (Hinkley, MJM, East Bay, Sabre, etc.), and recently saw what turned out to be a Mainship Pilot 31 hard top that really caught our eye, so it got me to thinking that maybe I'd keep the bay boat, and get a small, coastal cruiser. I don't want to make a Hinkley-sized investment as our use would be somewhat limited, and was surprised to see the pricing on lightly used Pilot's, both the 31 and the 34. The idea of single diesel efficiency and ease of maintenance is appealing, particularly when the boat can cruise at 14kts-16kts, which is fine for us. When we get out on the boat, I'm in no real hurry unless being chased by a thunderstorm. We're just not at a point in our lives where we can do a 6kt trawler, plus my wife is prone to sea-sickness, and a faster boat is more tolerable.
My biggest fear is handling a single inboard, as I can see myself getting down a narrow alley with wind and current, and getting in trouble. One thing I did see were Pilot's with stern and bow thrusters, which is appealing.
I've read that engine access on the twin engine version is nightmarish, and after owing a twin inboard express for 10 years, I don't want to go down that road again, both from a running cost perspective, and a maintenance perspective.
So here are my questions:
1. We love the hard top version, but I've read that they can be loud inside. Is it bad enough to warrant avoiding it?
2. Can a couple comfortably overnight on the 31 for a few evenings?
3. Are there years to avoid or seek out, and any construction issues to look for (I'd of course get any boat under consideration surveyed)?
4. Are they fairly stable at cruise, or can they get "rolly"?
5. Would bow and stern thrusters be overkill, or would they keep me out of trouble? I'd of course hope to get to a point that I wouldn't use them unless absolutely necessary, but I'd view them as training wheels.
6. Any idiosyncrasies I should know about in either the 31 or 34? Is one a better running hull form?
7. Is a 14kt-16kt cruise speed realistic?
8. What's the typical fuel usage at cruise speed?
9. Any other boats in this price range to consider?
Input is most appreciated, particularly from current/prior owners!
Quick background, in the past I've been a multi-boat owner, with a 31' Express (twin inboards) and a smaller center console, of one brand or another, in varying sizes. Our boating needs changed around 6 years ago, so I sold everything and settled on a 22' bay boat, as it accommodated our boating needs/style until just recently. I said I'd never own another boat that had to be moored in the water again (diver, bottom jobs, etc.), so I've been looking at outboard powered expresses that will fit on our #10K lift.
The overall objective is to buy a boat that we can overnight on for 3, maybe 4 nights max. The boat would be used exclusively for fair weather, coastal cruising on the west coast of Florida. After thinking about it, I'm concerned that by going to a single, bigger boat, we'll miss the bay boat for a lot of the boating we do (quick runs to a sandbar, waterfront restaurants with limited space, fishing the flats, etc).
We've always loved the downeast style boats (Hinkley, MJM, East Bay, Sabre, etc.), and recently saw what turned out to be a Mainship Pilot 31 hard top that really caught our eye, so it got me to thinking that maybe I'd keep the bay boat, and get a small, coastal cruiser. I don't want to make a Hinkley-sized investment as our use would be somewhat limited, and was surprised to see the pricing on lightly used Pilot's, both the 31 and the 34. The idea of single diesel efficiency and ease of maintenance is appealing, particularly when the boat can cruise at 14kts-16kts, which is fine for us. When we get out on the boat, I'm in no real hurry unless being chased by a thunderstorm. We're just not at a point in our lives where we can do a 6kt trawler, plus my wife is prone to sea-sickness, and a faster boat is more tolerable.
My biggest fear is handling a single inboard, as I can see myself getting down a narrow alley with wind and current, and getting in trouble. One thing I did see were Pilot's with stern and bow thrusters, which is appealing.
I've read that engine access on the twin engine version is nightmarish, and after owing a twin inboard express for 10 years, I don't want to go down that road again, both from a running cost perspective, and a maintenance perspective.
So here are my questions:
1. We love the hard top version, but I've read that they can be loud inside. Is it bad enough to warrant avoiding it?
2. Can a couple comfortably overnight on the 31 for a few evenings?
3. Are there years to avoid or seek out, and any construction issues to look for (I'd of course get any boat under consideration surveyed)?
4. Are they fairly stable at cruise, or can they get "rolly"?
5. Would bow and stern thrusters be overkill, or would they keep me out of trouble? I'd of course hope to get to a point that I wouldn't use them unless absolutely necessary, but I'd view them as training wheels.
6. Any idiosyncrasies I should know about in either the 31 or 34? Is one a better running hull form?
7. Is a 14kt-16kt cruise speed realistic?
8. What's the typical fuel usage at cruise speed?
9. Any other boats in this price range to consider?
Input is most appreciated, particularly from current/prior owners!
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