Wanted: Want To Purchase Mainship 30

[TimeTravelerkt]

Looking for a very well maintained
Hardtop Mainship Pilot 30
2003 Newer..
White or Blue Hull
Rum Runner
Auto Pilot
Location. .any
Surveyed 2 already
Failed Survey

 

[Baker]

First off, can you tell us a little about the two that "failed" and why?

And why are you hellbent on a 2003? I do realize that was the first year of the Pilot2 and there are significant differences to the original. Just curious.

Finally...don't discount the tan gelcoated Pilots. I have always thought tan gelcoat adds a touch of class to a boat. I used to have a tan 2004. And put next to a white one....the tan just looks a bt better. Anyway, totally subjective.

 

[TimeTravelerkt]

Looking for a 2003 or newer
Prefer. 2006.07.08

The two. One 2006
Other 2007

Haven't seen tan..just
Fighting Yellow

One had 4 X2 ft delamation
On the cockpit floor
Needed all new hoses..New
Canvas..many scratches on hull
One had. Very elevated moister
Readings..needed detailed...
Water in bilges.

I am very very selective..
Detailed. Precise..

 

[dimer2]

Welcome. Boats don't normally fail inspection....they just get priced accordingly. Good luck with your search!

 

[Baker]

Looking for a 2003 or newer
Prefer. 2006.07.08

The two. One 2006
Other 2007

Haven't seen tan..just
Fighting Yellow

One had 4 X2 ft delamation
On the cockpit floor
Needed all new hoses..New
Canvas..many scratches on hull
One had. Very elevated moister
Readings..needed detailed...
Water in bilges.

I am very very selective..
Detailed. Precise..

Okay...understood. The only thing I would not necessarily "ding" would be water in the bilge. Mainship did not plumb the air conditioner condensate to go anywhere. It just drained into the bilge up under the berth. And then it would make it's way back to around the engine(No limber holes under engine) and make its way to the back of the bilge.

Her are two "tan" boats. One is hardtop off of Yachtworld....the other is a softop that happens to be my old boat. If you have any other questions ref these boats, feel free to ask. I had mine for almost 7 years and REALLY enjoyed it. There are other "previous owners" on here that also have a favorable opinion of this boat. My only caution about a hardtop is that if you boat in hot climates(i.e. Gulf coast and/or Florida), you will absolutely roast inside of there. I know the two forward windows open and there are overhead hatches...but it still sin't enough. Not trying to convince you of anything. Just FYI. In hot climes, you need all the airflow you can get and the hardtop does not allow you as much.

 

[DavidM]

I am the owner of a Pilot 34 and looked hard at the 30, so I can offer the following observations from some experience:

1. The hardtop isn't so bad. Here in NC it is fine 98% of the time. It also gives you a place to mount a radar dome, spotlight, solar panels if so inclined and looks better than the soft top.

2. I would look for a 30 with the 315 hp Yanmar 6LP. The other engine that was offered was the 240 hp 4LH. The 4 is marginal for cruising at 15 kts. It takes about 150 hp to push that hull to 15 kts and taking that much out of the 4 long term is a bit much. Both are great engines btw, but the 6 is smoother.

David

 

[caltexflanc]

In my opinion the second one likely didn't " fail" (what was the surveyor's opinion?) and the first one would be interested in the actual extent of the issues. . It will be very difficult to find perfect 6 year old boat, heck it is difficult to find a perfect NEW boat. I like those little Mainships; we belonged to a charter club that at one point had a an example of every model in the fleet. Over all, good honest boats.

 

[Baker]

I am the owner of a Pilot 34 and looked hard at the 30, so I can offer the following observations from some experience:

1. The hardtop isn't so bad. Here in NC it is fine 98% of the time. It also gives you a place to mount a radar dome, spotlight, solar panels if so inclined and looks better than the soft top.

2. I would look for a 30 with the 315 hp Yanmar 6LP. The other engine that was offered was the 240 hp 4LH. The 4 is marginal for cruising at 15 kts. It takes about 150 hp to push that hull to 15 kts and taking that much out of the 4 long term is a bit much. Both are great engines btw, but the 6 is smoother.

David

Good to hear and fully agree ref your #1 point. They are better looking and do provide you with a place to mount things.

My boat was 4LHA powered. And we cruised at 15kts at 2800rpms. According to the manual, you are dead on correct. That should yield about 150hp. Max continuous power is 190hp(3100rpms). So that is running at 79% power(150/190) based on max continuous. I personally never felt I was straining the boat at all. In fact, I bought it with 150 hours and sold it with a little over a 1000. And that thing never gave me any trouble whatsoever. BUT, like you said, the straight 6 is gonna be smoother. Anyway, based on my experience and if I were in the market, I would not hesitate to buy one with the 4LHA in it. Great little engine and probably burn about 1-2gph less. BTW, if you base loading on max output, 2800rpms would be 62% power(150/240). I always wondered how you should base it. Like I said, I never felt I was hurting the engine. AND, I was significantly underpropped. I could achieve 3600rpms on a 3300rpm motor. So I had margin there as well and is probably more important reference engine longevity.

Again, not trying to convince anyone. Just stating my experience!!!

The Mainship Pilots offer great value in their size range. They are handsome boats as well. And the absolute most important thing that people don't think about when buying a boat is...."usability"!!! It is about the most useable boat on Earth in it's size range. The more usable a boat is, the MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO USE IT!!!!!! It is such an easy boat to handle!! My only knock on them is interior space...and that is why I sold mine. The interior of a 30 is tiny!!! But when my eyes wander from my current boat(which isn't much), they wander to the 34!

 

[DavidM]

Baker:

If you were propped to reach 3,600 at wot with a 4LH then running at 2,800 is not hurting a thing. In fact you were probably putting out more like 120 hp to run at 15 kts. The hull must be more efficient than I thought.

A good rule of thumb (espoused by Tony Athens over on boatdiesel) is to cruise at 40 hp per liter or less for long engine life. 120 hp is about 35 hp/l on that engine.

So with the 315 hp Yanmar it would probably cruise nicely at 18 kts.

And yes, the 34 is a nice, very usable boat. When we were looking I was interested in a Pilot 30 to save a few bucks, but my wife wanted a 34. Guess which one we got? I don't regret it a bit.

David

 

[Baker]

Baker:

If you were propped to reach 3,600 at wot with a 4LH then running at 2,800 is not hurting a thing. In fact you were probably putting out more like 120 hp to run at 15 kts. The hull must be more efficient than I thought.

David

The Pilot II had a significantly different hull than the previous Pilots. I do not know if that was transferred over to the Pilot 34. The prop is in a tunnel. It is a 5 bladed very beautiful propeller. The prop shaft exited the hull at almost midship(immediately behind the engine) and the keel was cutaway at that point. And the very deep V at the front of the hull goes flat sooner than on the older boats. The shaft carried on for about 10ft (almost)unprotected to a very big and weird impressively sized strut. With a "shoe" running the full length from the cutaway keel to the rudder. Actually the shoe was two pieces that split at the strut. While it appeared somewhat vulnerable, I never really felt it was....the front part of the keel would still absorb any impact. I honestly think the Mainship folks got this one right...getting something for almost nothing. You would think it would pound because of the flatness aft....but it never did. The bottom line was....there was more lift in the hull. There was more thrust along the longitudinal axis of the boat. And the prop was more properly fitted to the needs of the boat. And since most of the prop and hardware were semi tucked away in the tunnel(and behind the keel), I don't think you are giving anything up ref protection. A very close friend of mine has a 1998 Pilot with a 4LHA-STE...230hp(only 10hp less) and cruises in the mid 12s at 2800rpms. So 2kts+ with virtually the same horsepower is not bad at all. While the layout was changed with the Pilot II(to be honest, I liked the old layout), the hull changes were very significant and advantageous! 2003 was the first year of the Pilot II and likely the reason the OP is seeking that model or later....

 

[willysross]

just saw one on liquidators

 

[cehilli]

RE: Mainship Pilot 30 on Liquidators

just saw one on liquidators

I don't think I saw the Pilot 30 on Liquidators, can you please direct me to that site.

Thanks,

 

[cehilli]

RE: Mainship Pilot 30 Information

Good to hear and fully agree ref your #1 point. They are better looking and do provide you with a place to mount things.

My boat was 4LHA powered. And we cruised at 15kts at 2800rpms. According to the manual, you are dead on correct. That should yield about 150hp. Max continuous power is 190hp(3100rpms). So that is running at 79% power(150/190) based on max continuous. I personally never felt I was straining the boat at all. In fact, I bought it with 150 hours and sold it with a little over a 1000. And that thing never gave me any trouble whatsoever. BUT, like you said, the straight 6 is gonna be smoother. Anyway, based on my experience and if I were in the market, I would not hesitate to buy one with the 4LHA in it. Great little engine and probably burn about 1-2gph less. BTW, if you base loading on max output, 2800rpms would be 62% power(150/240). I always wondered how you should base it. Like I said, I never felt I was hurting the engine. AND, I was significantly underpropped. I could achieve 3600rpms on a 3300rpm motor. So I had margin there as well and is probably more important reference engine longevity.

Again, not trying to convince anyone. Just stating my experience!!!

The Mainship Pilots offer great value in their size range. They are handsome boats as well. And the absolute most important thing that people don't think about when buying a boat is...."usability"!!! It is about the most useable boat on Earth in it's size range. The more usable a boat is, the MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO USE IT!!!!!! It is such an easy boat to handle!! My only knock on them is interior space...and that is why I sold mine. The interior of a 30 is tiny!!! But when my eyes wander from my current boat(which isn't much), they wander to the 34!

You guys have a lot of good information on the Pilot 30. Initially I was looking at 2000 - 2002s, I've since started looking for a 2003 with the new semi displacement hull, planning at 7 knots & better on fuel sold me. I was originally looking foe the 4LH, I've pretty much started looking for the 6LP. Understanding that the 6LP will burn a little more fuel but it would be nice to have the power when you need it. I live on the Bras D'or lakes in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, so that's where the boat will be primarily used.
Keep up the good work, you're a great resource for someone wanting to step up from an 18 footer to the Pilot 30.
Thanks,

 

[willysross]

i was talking about National yacht liquiators the repo site - sorry i was away, it isn't on the inventory anymore