14 ' Speedboat With A Reliable 40hp Yamaha Engine-Check Out The Youtube Videos

A couple of years ago we decided to test the water and buy a small boat for the family to have some fun on. To hire a boat out in Salcombe costs in the region of £90 for 4 hours if my memory serves me right. I figured if we used the boat 20 times it will have paid for itself.........dodgy logic I know! Please check out my YouTube videos at: https://youtu.be/qvQebz_qeUM https://youtu.be/pwqdmTSPqwY https://youtu.be/awooGQ8hiwQ https://youtu.be/HzliKZDLiaE https://youtu.be/4zDFP5_3_KE Almost immediately we had to have the gearbox overhauled. Whether the people who sold me the boat knew this or not I will never know.

Anyway, new impellor housing, impellor and a few other bits later, installed by Colin, the quayside mechanic down at Batson creek (Salcombe) & we were up & running. As long as the engine is topped up with fuel and oil I'm very confident in the reliability of this engine. We've now had two years of great fun out of her. She'll do 26 knots on the flat with two adults in. Never let me down-not once.

We discovered that the floor was rotten in places so ripped out the seats and replaced the floor with brand new 3/4" marine grade plywood. We then gave it a sheet of fibreglass matting & residue finished off with some white gel coat. Then purchased & installed four new chairs that spin around. At present the chairs are installed on 10mm ply.......this I suggest should be upgraded to also be 3/4" plywood to give more rigidity. Whilst the floor was being overhauled I installed blocks to keep the fuel tank and battery in place as hopefully can be seen in the photos.

This has worked really well. We purchased a fantastic roller trailer, made by Snipe. This alone was £550. It's a proper piece of kit and makes getting the boat in & out of the water so easy. There are bits and pieces that still need doing if you are bothered.

Internal upholstery is one. The majority of times I've started the boat on the engine rather than key (Colin did replace the solenoid fuse in the engine and it started on the key but then it stopped). Am sure it's a simple fix. Never bothered me as so easy to start on engine-cover off, yellow wire to touch the starter motor and you are there.If you are looking for a fun, entry level, speedy boat then this is a good place to be. Great first boat.

We bought Seaspray to see if we would enjoy our time on the water. We have, so much so, that we have now bought a bigger boat so Seaspray is now surplus and has to go. See her as a fun project or a bit of a giggle & you'll enjoy. Good luck.