Recommend me a Small Boat please

[Nero601]

Hi
If all goes well I be moving to Pembrokeshire in a couple of months and fancy a small Boat to go fishing and exploring the coast , I plan on doing the RYA Day skipper course , I will based in the Solva area , so with this in mind any thoughts as to what might suit , I hasten to add i am not sure which type (Sail or Motor) to go for so any advice is most appreciated .

Thanks

[TTwiggy]

If you just plan to potter out a few hundred metres and drop some fishing lines, then a little motor boat would probably suit best. If you want to enjoy the journey, then it has to be sail.

As to 'what boat', that's hugely dependent on budget...

[Fishtigua]

Pirate Boats are built right on your doorstep.

http://www.pirate-boats.com/Custom-Boats/Pirate-18...

[paintman]

Or combine both with something on the lines of a Falmouth Bass Boat or a Drascombe Lugger. You then have the best of both worlds, sailing or motoring as the mood & weather dicate.
I wouldn't want to go under 16 feet & if I was looking to replace my 17' Dory I'd be considering a Buccaneer, Treeve, Cygnus or Plymouth Pilot with diesel inboard - ideal for what I want to do which is mainly fishing!
Plenty of clips on youtube of small boats which might help.

[Nero601]

Thanks for the replies will investigate the suggestions offered .







edited for speeling !

Edited by Nero601 on Monday 1st September 20:22

[gazzarose]

As said above, recommendations are hard without knowing budget. In work we've got from about 10k to over 400k in stock of all different sizes and shapes. I work in Swansea and my parents have got a boat in Lawrenny in Milford Haven so know what's seems to be quite popular at. I'm swansea fast wheelhouse fishers are very popular due to the changeable weather and spread apart fishing spots, with speed boats struggling with the Bristol channel chop most of the time. Down west the fishers are still popular but because I think of the amount of holiday makers and fair weather boaters down there ribs and sports boats are very popular. Ultimately it does come down to budget and what to want to use it for, including how many of you want to go out in it and if you want to go far. I don't know if I'm aloud to say who I work for by our stock list on our website has a range of different boats just to give you an idea of styles and cost. Pm me if you want, unless a mod says I'm aloud to say the company. FYI I work on the boats, commissioning, drilling holes in them and sea trialling them so know most characteristics of handling and build quality but don't get involved in the money side (there are things you don't really dwell on the value of when you take a jigsaw to a dashboard) so don't do selling but know the basics of running costs from experience of parents boats.

Gareth

[J3JCV]

Very helpful post above, would certainly take advice from Gareth.

I just wanted to add in that I was really impressed with these little boats made in Cardigan http://www.swallowboats.com/our-boats/cabin-boats/...

It was just at a boat show, so no experience on the water but I loved the approach and thought the build quality was good.

[Wing Commander]

Don't want to highjack the thread and yet there is also not much point in starting a very similar alternative thread, but I am also really keen on a weekend fisher boat. I am a waterbaby by heart, but usually of the sailing variety so know nothing about boats with engines.

When I was back in Devon, I saw this and it looks perfect. Anyone able to give me an idea what it is called, and any others that are of similar size. Things I like are: it is wooden, it is suitable for short weekends away around the coast with its small cabin, it has a big covered section which I could easily make fairly well covered in imclement weather, and also a good space "outside" and on deck, for fishing etc.

[Fishtigua]

It looks like a classic from a good few years ago. Today's equivalent would be something like the.

http://www.cockwells.co.uk/motor-yachts/ocean-faun...

You do pick'em, as these are really, really expensive, but very beautiful.

Cheaper boats like the Merry Fishers are knocked out in huge factories in huge numbers, hence being 5 times cheaper to make.

[Wing Commander]

Fishtigua said:

It looks like a classic from a good few years ago. Today's equivalent would be something like the.

http://www.cockwells.co.uk/motor-yachts/ocean-faun...

You do pick'em, as these are really, really expensive, but very beautiful.

Cheaper boats like the Merry Fishers are knocked out in huge factories in huge numbers, hence being 5 times cheaper to make.

I certainly do not have the pockets to go for one of those you linked to, as much as I would kill for one! I am quite in my element with "classic from a few years ago" or in need of tinkering.

Any ideas on some makes/models of the older types that are similar to the pic?

[TTwiggy]

Wooden boats are lovely, but I wouldn't want to own one. They are more a journey in carpentry than in sea miles!

[Fishtigua]

Wing Commander said:

Any ideas on some makes/models of the older types that are similar to the pic?

Island Plastics IP24 or a Colvic are chunky boats around that size for reasonable money.

[plasticpig]

Can't make any recommendations on a boat but one thing to keep in mind is do you want to tow your boat and launch it or moor it in a harbor? Solva isn't ideal for launching on a regular basis as access can be a bit of a problem in the summer. It's a nice harbor for mooring though.

Plenty of storage and mooring around Milford Haven to the south and Fishguard to the north but not a lot other than Solva and a few slipways in St Brides Bay.

[Wing Commander]

Fishtigua said:

Wing Commander said:

Any ideas on some makes/models of the older types that are similar to the pic?

Island Plastics IP24 or a Colvic are chunky boats around that size for reasonable money.

That's brilliant.

Something like this would be great. It's most likely a couple of years away yet, but would be great for exploring with the family!

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Fishing-Boats-f...

[Nero601]

Wing Commander said:

Don't want to highjack the thread and yet there is also not much point in starting a very similar alternative thread, but I am also really keen on a weekend fisher boat. I am a waterbaby by heart, but usually of the sailing variety so know nothing about boats with engines.

When I was back in Devon, I saw this and it looks perfect. Anyone able to give me an idea what it is called, and any others that are of similar size. Things I like are: it is wooden, it is suitable for short weekends away around the coast with its small cabin, it has a big covered section which I could easily make fairly well covered in imclement weather, and also a good space "outside" and on deck, for fishing etc.

That is the sort of thing I had in mind , budget is unto about 5k if the right boat turns up , so I am looking at 'pre launched'

[schmalex]

Something like a Hardy 18 or 20 would be absolutely ideal.

[Nero601]

schmalex said:

Something like a Hardy 18 or 20 would be absolutely ideal.

Thanks I will check them out

[s2kjock]

J3JCV said:

Very helpful post above, would certainly take advice from Gareth.

I just wanted to add in that I was really impressed with these little boats made in Cardigan http://www.swallowboats.com/our-boats/cabin-boats/...

It was just at a boat show, so no experience on the water but I loved the approach and thought the build quality was good.

These look like cracking boats - modern day Drascombes really - if I had more time to sail, and had to swap my Evora for a boat one of these would likely be top of the list.

[Nero601]

plasticpig said:

Can't make any recommendations on a boat but one thing to keep in mind is do you want to tow your boat and launch it or moor it in a harbor? Solva isn't ideal for launching on a regular basis as access can be a bit of a problem in the summer. It's a nice harbor for mooring though.

Plenty of storage and mooring around Milford Haven to the south and Fishguard to the north but not a lot other than Solva and a few slipways in St Brides Bay.

Sorry missed this reply !
thanks for that , want to stick with Solva as I will be a stones throw away and want the boat to be accessible , hope to get a mooring .