Leeder 710 Thoughts & Opinions

Hey crew, considering an upgrade to a Leeder 710 or similar, any thoughts or opinions? Just an idea at this stage. Use would be as an all rounder, fishing, cruising & occasional overnights at the islands, perhaps an abrolhos trip one day!!

Have heard that old sterndrives can be a money pit, any tips on what to look for? Hoping to get one with an injected engine if possible, not a fan of carbies & petrol around hot things (except in muscle cars!)

Cheers guys,

Browndog.


Posts: 1535

Date Joined: 30/12/08

Aren't they getting

Sun, 2015-01-04 14:46

 a reputation for cracking their hulls.

Brucesta's picture

Posts: 1721

Date Joined: 29/05/09

 Love the Leeder hulls, the

Mon, 2015-01-05 21:31

 Love the Leeder hulls, the old man had a 650 with a 350 chev in the rear, not many boats in those days did 40 knots, it was a hoot! If you can find one with a new leg and motor it'd be worth a look.

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Las Vegas - Rolling the dice and trying your luck. 1M+ Barra summer target. 100kg Black Marlin winter target

The_Wanderer's picture

Posts: 735

Date Joined: 24/09/08

 we had an early 2000 model

Tue, 2015-01-06 12:55

 we had an early 2000 model it was okay but wouldt recommned buying one. it handled like crap at low speed, the fibreglass was really weak a midships(read could almost see through it) Trailers were poorly set up... if it was me i wouldn't be putting my hard earned  $$ on a leeder. I'd go chivers or something like that if your after a big older hull 

Browndog's picture

Posts: 590

Date Joined: 10/04/12

Thanks

Tue, 2015-01-06 17:34

Thanks for the feedback guys. So I'm even more confused now, one positive, two negative. 415 reads, surely a few more people have experience on these? Thoughts or comments please - positive or negative - and any information on what specifically you do or don't like (like thin fibreglass, or excellent ride at speed)

Wanderer - yes a Chivers would be an option, as would a Berty or Carribean, just not too many come up for sale that I have seen. Third option could be a moored ex cray or similar, but could be expensive to maintain, would definitely prefer a trailer boat.

Cheers,

BD.

glastronomic's picture

Posts: 892

Date Joined: 16/02/11

The Leeders are at their

Tue, 2015-01-06 17:47

The Leeders are at their weakest, if they are prone to cracking at the toilet , midships area.
Have a good look at that to see if you can detect it or the repairs.
I would stay away from them as they are just to much of a hit and miss regarding this cracking issue.
Chivers, Berty, Caribean, Hayns hunters, Savage bluefin

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Bruce's picture

Posts: 527

Date Joined: 11/04/12

 Not too many around but if

Tue, 2015-01-06 18:04

 Not too many around but if you can have a look at a Voyager Marquis which is around the same size, I would recommend doing so. Built really strong like the Chivers and Caribeans, just check for soft spots in the floor.

A mate had a leeder 710 before selling to get an 18'6 Baron, then to a trailcraft, then a banana boat and now he's ended up again with the 26 foot Leeder Tomcat! Bit of a different hull shape to the 710 but nevertheless he's ended up with a Leeder!

Good luck

freo fatboy's picture

Posts: 17

Date Joined: 16/10/11

What did you end up getting

Mon, 2015-03-23 14:46

 was it a leeder?

cheers 

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 Pilbara WA