Thinking of buying a boat - what do I need?
Discussion
No, looks similar though but in white with blue just above waterline.
I'm looking forward to learning about them though. I had a crash course from a friend with a power boat a few weeks ago which was a lot of fun but very different to this. Cant see me going out to see and catching some air between waves on this!
I'm looking forward to learning about them though. I had a crash course from a friend with a power boat a few weeks ago which was a lot of fun but very different to this. Cant see me going out to see and catching some air between waves on this!
I bought my first boat n March, a 19ft Ranieri.
Loved using it but realised pretty quickly that it wasnt suitable as it was an open boat (boston whaler style) Mooring at Eastbourne was £160pm and fuel worked out at about £20ph
Moved onto a Bayliner 285. Mooring is £80pm more and fuel is approx £80ph.
If using on lakes I think something like a Bayliner is ideal, searays also seem good value for money. Offshore i want to move on to a twin engine boat and a Fairline Targa 37 seems favourite.
The RYA course was well worth the money and time, i feel more confident having done pb2 and also a fw hours one to one with one of the lifeboat guys who also trains.
Good luck with your first boat, i know ours has made our lives much better place.
Jonty355 said:
No, looks similar though but in white with blue just above waterline.
I'm looking forward to learning about them though. I had a crash course from a friend with a power boat a few weeks ago which was a lot of fun but very different to this. Cant see me going out to see and catching some air between waves on this!
Having been a boat owner of various types over the years from a narrowboat to sailing boats can i just say that while owing a boat can be absolutely fantastic I still remember what some guy said to me just after I'd purchased my first boat and with hindsight he was mostly right.I'm looking forward to learning about them though. I had a crash course from a friend with a power boat a few weeks ago which was a lot of fun but very different to this. Cant see me going out to see and catching some air between waves on this!
A boat is a hole in the water that you keep throwing money into!
I should know i currently have 2 of the dammn things!
k off big motorhome and some Hobie Tandem Islands and still keep some money in the bank.Apologies if this sounds like a thread hi-jack, but none intended. We too are thinking about buying a first boat, having been out on a number of times on our friends' boat. Something about 25ft or a little more would suit us ideally. We have seen a few promising looking boats advertised within our budget, but would like some advice on a couple of points. The ones that seem the best value tend to have petrol engines, typically a Volvo Penta outdrive such as the AQ140. These engines seem to consume about 20 litres per hour at cruising speed, but again that seems to be about 20 knots. We would only be using it on canals and rivers with a speed limit of 6 mph, so would fuel consumption fall dramatically, up to £40 for an afternoon out on the canal sounds alarming to me :O. Also my wife likes the look of the sports cruiser type (at 6mph but that's female logic for you 
) but from photos there appears to be limited headroom, especially in the bedroom. Is the traditional cabin cruiser style a better bet even if you are using the boat mainly for days out and odd weekends.
Many thanks for any useful hints tips or benefit of your experiences.
) but from photos there appears to be limited headroom, especially in the bedroom. Is the traditional cabin cruiser style a better bet even if you are using the boat mainly for days out and odd weekends.Many thanks for any useful hints tips or benefit of your experiences.
Justin Case said:
The ones that seem the best value tend to have petrol engines, typically a Volvo Penta outdrive such as the AQ140. These engines seem to consume about 20 litres per hour at cruising speed, but again that seems to be about 20 knots. We would only be using it on canals and rivers with a speed limit of 6 mph, so would fuel consumption fall dramatically, up to £40 for an afternoon out on the canal sounds alarming to me :O. Also my wife likes the look of the sports cruiser type (at 6mph but that's female logic for you ) but from photos there appears to be limited headroom, especially in the bedroom. Is the traditional cabin cruiser style a better bet even if you are using the boat mainly for days out and odd weekends.
For a 25' boat on canals and inland rivers you only need 30-40hp. Petrol outdrives are cheaper for a reason - petrol is harder to find on the waterways than diesel, you have to be a bit sharper on safety and outdrives (so I hear) need good/expensive maintenance. My recomendation would be for a single shaft-drive diesel. It may cost more but will be cheaper to run and have higher resale value. ) but from photos there appears to be limited headroom, especially in the bedroom. Is the traditional cabin cruiser style a better bet even if you are using the boat mainly for days out and odd weekends.The sports cruisers look sleek and sexy but you're right, the accommodation is limited and the small windows can make them a bit gloomy inside and hard to see out of. You should go and see various different models/designs and imagine yourself staying on board. Note that if the intended canals include narrow locks then you'll be limited to 6'10" beam. Is a narrowboat an option?
Simpo Two said:
For a 25' boat on canals and inland rivers you only need 30-40hp. Petrol outdrives are cheaper for a reason - petrol is harder to find on the waterways than diesel, you have to be a bit sharper on safety and outdrives (so I hear) need good/expensive maintenance. My recomendation would be for a single shaft-drive diesel. It may cost more but will be cheaper to run and have higher resale value.
The sports cruisers look sleek and sexy but you're right, the accommodation is limited and the small windows can make them a bit gloomy inside and hard to see out of. You should go and see various different models/designs and imagine yourself staying on board. Note that if the intended canals include narrow locks then you'll be limited to 6'10" beam. Is a narrowboat an option?
Thanks a lot, that's just the sort of advice I was looking for, especially on diesel v petrol. If we get a boat it won't need to be narrow beam, we would probably keep it on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, with occasional voyages on the Severn and Avon (the Stratford one) and we both prefer the extra accomodation on a boat of only about 8-9 ft beam, and the more sociable cockpit than on a narrow boat. Also, narrow boats seem to be more expensive for an equivalent boat, you seem to be able to pack a lot more into the same length with a cabin cruiser and of course the little lad in me prefers sitting at the helm with a proper wheel and a row of instruments and switches in front of me to standing at the tiller with nothing to check out other than a picture of roses and castles The sports cruisers look sleek and sexy but you're right, the accommodation is limited and the small windows can make them a bit gloomy inside and hard to see out of. You should go and see various different models/designs and imagine yourself staying on board. Note that if the intended canals include narrow locks then you'll be limited to 6'10" beam. Is a narrowboat an option?
Edited by Justin Case on Monday 21st September 20:56
2thumbs said:
Some of the fuel bills posted on this thread are a bit scary! Especially sea going boats. Can they really cost over £100 an hour to run?
My narrowboat is 60p an hour at current diesel prices :O
And easily a lot more! A boat with twin 5.7s at full chat will use about 40 gallons an hour - about £250 My narrowboat is 60p an hour at current diesel prices :O
See here for an accurate idea of most popular marine engines - http://www.boat-fuel-economy.com/mercury-mercruise...
Justin Case said:
Thanks a lot, that's just the sort of advice I was looking for, especially on diesel v petrol. If we get a boat it won't need to be narrow beam, we would probably keep it on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, with occasional voyages on the Severn and Avon (the Stratford one) and we both prefer the extra accomodation on a boat of only about 8-9 ft beam, and the more sociable cockpit than on a narrow boat. Also, narrow boats seem to be more expensive for an equivalent boat, you seem to be able to pack a lot more into the same length with a cabin cruiser and of course the little lad in me prefers sitting at the helm with a proper wheel and a row of instruments and switches in front of me to standing at the tiller with nothing to check out other than a picture of roses and castles
That's very true, the cockpit area of mine (Shetland 27) is always popular and great for picnics. The only downside is that the inside doesn't have proper separate cabins, only a curtain, so you need to know each other fairly well. You can have centre cockpit cruisers of course, with a discrete rear cabin, but then you lose cockpit space.An S27 cockpit:
RumRunner said:
A sonar to check how deep your pockets are first....
Call me if you need some direction...I have about 120 of things on the books..and lot more within the group.
Can you turn off the bit that says 'You need to be registered with Boatshed.com to use our advanced features'? Photos are not an advanced feature and I can't be bothered to register. Thanks Call me if you need some direction...I have about 120 of things on the books..and lot more within the group.
NB This is a 22Mk1 not a 23: http://northwales.boatshed.com/freeman_23-boat-211...
No we cant I am afraid.
The way system works is very good and you do not get hammered with lots junk mail.
But it helps on feedback to owners and more often than not give them a real idea of what the boats are worth as they all think they are worth more than they are.That is generally because boat ownes spend lots of money upgrading boats and thinking they are going to see it back. Hardly any are 250GTO's or DB5's of this world. Mainly like putting a new engine, seat covers etc in 15 to 20 year old mondeo. Might put it front of other similar priced item but not the i.e extra 10k just spent on 15k boat. So owners get monthly updates and stats on the sales progress and the best indication is repeat views by the same customers. Many views, but lack repeats means a overpriced boat, many repeats by many registered customers somewhere close to a sale. If we reduce a price on a boat which a customer has looked at over twenty times in the last 2 weeks it sends a very short email to let that customer now the boat is reduced. That is all the emails / messages you ever get as a registered customer, but this is good info as somebody who has looked that often in that time period are likely to be genuinely interest in the price drop.
That point alone makes up for around 50% of all sales as it opens a fresh line of talks.
Anyway it is less than 30 sec to register.
The boat you mentioned is lying in Lancaster which comes under Boatshed Lancs territory and office. We all own our areas even though we come under Boatshed.com Every boat we list one of the team will have set foot on the boat. Strangly enough we sell more than a
any other offfice in North Wales.
Good tip spend a little more on the purchase price and get something somebody has spent / lost as small fortune on, rather than going only slightly cheaper and doing the formentioned yourself, while missing most of the season, getting earache off the other half, then falling out of love with boat plus near devorce and because its been all a nightmare sell it at huge loss, whilst only ever going out twice. Buy with your head, not the romance of boats.
Buy right and have good training and you will love it..buy wrong and the best day of your boating career will be the day you sell it.
The way system works is very good and you do not get hammered with lots junk mail.
But it helps on feedback to owners and more often than not give them a real idea of what the boats are worth as they all think they are worth more than they are.That is generally because boat ownes spend lots of money upgrading boats and thinking they are going to see it back. Hardly any are 250GTO's or DB5's of this world. Mainly like putting a new engine, seat covers etc in 15 to 20 year old mondeo. Might put it front of other similar priced item but not the i.e extra 10k just spent on 15k boat. So owners get monthly updates and stats on the sales progress and the best indication is repeat views by the same customers. Many views, but lack repeats means a overpriced boat, many repeats by many registered customers somewhere close to a sale. If we reduce a price on a boat which a customer has looked at over twenty times in the last 2 weeks it sends a very short email to let that customer now the boat is reduced. That is all the emails / messages you ever get as a registered customer, but this is good info as somebody who has looked that often in that time period are likely to be genuinely interest in the price drop.
That point alone makes up for around 50% of all sales as it opens a fresh line of talks.
Anyway it is less than 30 sec to register.
The boat you mentioned is lying in Lancaster which comes under Boatshed Lancs territory and office. We all own our areas even though we come under Boatshed.com Every boat we list one of the team will have set foot on the boat. Strangly enough we sell more than a
any other offfice in North Wales.
Good tip spend a little more on the purchase price and get something somebody has spent / lost as small fortune on, rather than going only slightly cheaper and doing the formentioned yourself, while missing most of the season, getting earache off the other half, then falling out of love with boat plus near devorce and because its been all a nightmare sell it at huge loss, whilst only ever going out twice. Buy with your head, not the romance of boats.
Buy right and have good training and you will love it..buy wrong and the best day of your boating career will be the day you sell it.
Edited by RumRunner on Saturday 26th September 23:58
RumRunner said:
The boat you mentioned is lying in Lancaster which comes under Boatshed Lancs territory and office. We all own our areas even though we come under Boatshed.com Every boat we list one of the team will have set foot on the boat. Strangly enough we sell more than a
any other offfice in North Wales.
It's still a 22Mk1 not a 23 any other offfice in North Wales.
RumRunner said:
Good tip spend a little more on the purchase price and get something somebody has spent / lost as small fortune on, rather than going only slightly cheaper and doing the formentioned yourself, while missing most of the season, getting earache off the other half, then falling out of love with boat plus near devorce and because its been all a nightmare sell it at huge loss, whilst only ever going out twice. Buy with your head, not the romance of boats.
Agreed, and it's worth noting that DIY on a boat is many times more difficult than doing it at home.Paddy_N_Murphy said:
EXCELLENT WORK !
Well it seems that my 37ft Targa is but a pipe dream. Instead we have this, today is was brought over t our local marina for service and prep prior to delivery. Anyone guess what it is?Simond S said:
I bought my first boat n March, a 19ft Ranieri.
Loved using it but realised pretty quickly that it wasnt suitable as it was an open boat (boston whaler style) Mooring at Eastbourne was £160pm and fuel worked out at about £20ph
Moved onto a Bayliner 285. Mooring is £80pm more and fuel is approx £80ph.
If using on lakes I think something like a Bayliner is ideal, searays also seem good value for money. Offshore i want to move on to a twin engine boat and a Fairline Targa 37 seems favourite.
The RYA course was well worth the money and time, i feel more confident having done pb2 and also a fw hours one to one with one of the lifeboat guys who also trains.
Good luck with your first boat, i know ours has made our lives much better place.
March to September, 19ft to 37ft and other escalations associated !Loved using it but realised pretty quickly that it wasnt suitable as it was an open boat (boston whaler style) Mooring at Eastbourne was £160pm and fuel worked out at about £20ph
Moved onto a Bayliner 285. Mooring is £80pm more and fuel is approx £80ph.
If using on lakes I think something like a Bayliner is ideal, searays also seem good value for money. Offshore i want to move on to a twin engine boat and a Fairline Targa 37 seems favourite.
The RYA course was well worth the money and time, i feel more confident having done pb2 and also a fw hours one to one with one of the lifeboat guys who also trains.
Good luck with your first boat, i know ours has made our lives much better place.
Simond S said:
Well it seems that my 37ft Targa is but a pipe dream. Instead we have this, today is was brought over t our local marina for service and prep prior to delivery. Anyone guess what it is?
Is it 'Renamed or deleted by owner'?BTW this is still wrong: http://northwales.boatshed.com/freeman_23-boat-211... guess they don't care.
Simpo Two said:
Is it 'Renamed or deleted by owner'?
BTW this is still wrong: http://northwales.boatshed.com/freeman_23-boat-211... guess they don't care.
The Freeman as stated is with Boatshed Lancs and nothing to do with me. You have gone onto Boatshed North Wales site and then come to the end of our local listing then it will bring up other offices in the group from search options. If you look closer at the Ad you will see this to be the case.BTW this is still wrong: http://northwales.boatshed.com/freeman_23-boat-211... guess they don't care.
Also as per many web sites, if you put in just a boat model it may bring up a cached page. As with all site searches you need to go in the home page and search from there.
Most brokerages take the names off the images or owners get disturbed and buyers go direct. However at Boatshed we do try and take the photo'a warts and all. As the I have no intention of wasting folks time fuel and money or mine either. So best they turn up and be happy and buy rather than waste my time and give me grief. If owners do not prepare/ price correctly then its there problem when do not sell, we can only do so much.
But regarding the Freeman here is link lying Lancaster.
http://www.boatshed.com/freeman_23-boat-211471.htm...
Unfortunately we can't be guru's on all boats given there are so many small boat builder and built limited numbers unlike cars so we have to sometimes rely on the owners info which can and often is wrong
Edited by RumRunner on Thursday 5th November 20:55
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