Purchased dream wooden boat ...

Purchased dream wooden boat ...

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Discussion

Kneetrembler

2,069 posts

201 months

Wednesday 7th September 2016
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Phud said:
I did the same, good luck, mine is progressing.



Still miss my old Rival, take you anywhere in the world without any worries, I sailed and lived on mine around the Atlantic for 5 years

impetuous

Original Poster:

96 posts

92 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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Update...

Took the mast down!

Those familiar with the Norfolk Broads will know bridges necessitate the frequent mast lowering and raising to pass under bridges.

So, it was a delight to transform the bow rails into a mast lift! Proper transformers playtime.

This is the bow rails in "normal" position -



and raised in action

|http://thumbsnap.com/MR714dzy[/url]



A rather fast and satisfying operation and easy for one person to raise and lower using the cockpit winch.

Discovered the cockpit cover, rather snug as it rained ... strong joys of water camping



Fulfilled another ambition last weekend, sailing her to a pub in hot sun and decent winds.

There's a manly elemental heavenly delight in mooring alongside a pub, then watching your girl attracting attention whilst enjoying beers in a pub garden.



However, may have had a beer too many ... as pride came before a fall.

Decided to sail back from pub, despite strong winds. The sheer power of thrusting her deck below water as we turned and twisted our way against the changing wind down narrow Broads passages was exhilarating.

Thoughts of becoming a master at leaving tacking to the very last moment were popped as she became magnificently stuck upon mud. Compounded by settling up straight and pushing keel down further into squelch.

Full asterned motor failed to shift. Calling for a tow offended my independent spirit.

So ... held back sails standing on cabin roof, flipping them as wind changed, until wind suck pulled us out. At which point, yacht caught freedom and wind simultaneously, boom supersonically snapped 180' flipping my body as rag doll into air and water, with a pleasing thud inbetween as my ribs kissed corner of deck. A refreshing swim to the yacht and I’d do it all again. Love sailing!

To those that mock with "only two happy days of ownership" I remain in profound disagreement.

Despite a cracked rib.

Costs since last update, after many hours of pottering, learning, discovering and sailing pleasure have been £3 for a bronze plug and washer. The silencer is water cooled, a simple pipe from the engine using the same water and pump and the drain valve on silencer base was dripping.



And treated self to proper nautical knife ...



Next job, convert sails to using slugs and keep improving rigging and general set-up.

Stats: Days owned: 64 - Costs so far:£4593 (including purchase price and mooring) - Nights aboard:6 - Hours sailed/aboard:138


Edited by impetuous on Tuesday 20th September 13:28

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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Clever rails!
You were lucky with getting off & very lucky the boom didn't do more damage - or she sailed away leaving you in the water.
Couple of valuable lessons learnt I thinksmile

gibbon

2,182 posts

206 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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Wonderful reading, i hope to emulate you one day in the future.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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Great stuff, have so many similar stories from the broads!

Is that a Perfect Lady that you're moored next to in the first picture?

Ayahuasca

27,427 posts

278 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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Excellent write up!

Could you have kedged off with your anchor and a dinghy?




dave-the-diver

243 posts

185 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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Anchor and a dinghy?

This is the broads, old chap.

Heave the mud weight over the transom whilst trying to avoid wrapping the warp around your ankle.

Is that the Pleasure Boat?

David

Rangeroverover

1,522 posts

110 months

Wednesday 21st September 2016
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I was very lucky to go to a prep skool in Bury st Edmunds owned by an ex naval commander, he kept various boats at Woodbridge, the largest ws a 35' trimaran also a 25' sliding keel called pinkfoot, also various mirrors, and clinker built dinghies, there was a terrible plastic bathtub thing called a sportyak with a deflectorjet 2hp engine.

We spent almost every termtime weekend at woodbridge, mostly in the rain spending much time stuck on mudbanks. No one knew about health and safety, I'm sure there were lifejackets around I think if we went off on our own in a dinghy for the day (aged max 12) we could, no comms,just an agreement of a return time and writing in "the book" which direction, we took lifejackets but don't remember wearing them any other time. Taught all of to sail, taught us a degree of independence, however there was a downside. Theboats would come back to the boatshed at school for maintenance, standard punishment if caught doing something wrong would be sanding or scraping varnish during what should be free time

NickCQ

5,392 posts

95 months

Friday 23rd September 2016
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Rangeroverover said:
there was a terrible plastic bathtub thing called a sportyak with a deflectorjet 2hp engine
Oh god I remember these. The first time I was ever allowed on the water by myself as a child was in Newton Ferrers in a sportyak.

Steve_D

13,737 posts

257 months

Friday 23rd September 2016
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Rangeroverover said:
.......if caught doing something wrong would be sanding or scraping varnish during what should be free time
A fair trade for a well rounded education.

Steve

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Friday 23rd September 2016
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dave-the-diver said:
Heave the mud weight over the transom whilst trying to avoid wrapping the warp around your ankle.
You filthy beast.

impetuous

Original Poster:

96 posts

92 months

Friday 23rd September 2016
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Thank you for all the replies and also the reminiscence from Rangeroverover.

Inkyfingers said:
Great stuff, have so many similar stories from the broads!

Is that a Perfect Lady that you're moored next to in the first picture?
Do share your Broads stories if you wish!

Yes, a Perfect Lady I believe - safe for work link for those who may be interested in perfect ladies

I rather enjoying recently reading "The Art of Coarse Sailing" by Michael Green. A humorous account of Norfolk Broads sailing, where a "coarse sailor" is defined as one who, in an emergency, forgets nautical etiquette and shouts "Turn the bloody boat to the left!".

And who indeed enjoys using a mud weight -



dave-the-diver said:
Anchor and a dinghy?

This is the broads, old chap.

Heave the mud weight over the transom whilst trying to avoid wrapping the warp around your ankle.

Is that the Pleasure Boat?

David
Well said, Sir.

Yes, indeed, the Pleasure Boat and a fine pub it remains.

paintman said:
Clever rails!
You were lucky with getting off & very lucky the boom didn't do more damage - or she sailed away leaving you in the water.
Couple of valuable lessons learnt I thinksmile
Indeed, I remain most impressed by them there rails.

And, yup, sailing upon the Broads is indeed an entertaining education.

Before leaving, just discovered a new boat cover that I imagine cost the previous owner a few pounds.

Will fit it properly next time.



Edited by impetuous on Friday 23 September 16:09

impetuous

Original Poster:

96 posts

92 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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Update

Six months since purchase!

She’s resting in the boat shed since mid November, whilst I fettle, varnish and paint her.



It's been a great learning adventure, no problems with the boat and pound for pleasure she's been great value.

Whilst it floats, I wouldn't have rented it. Driving up if whim and forecast weather were nice, to find her waiting for me, worth the ownership. Feeling she's a mobile cottage and "get away from it all" escape pod, again worth the ownership.

I actually expected sailing to be my prime joy. I was wrong. It's the pottering about, sleeping in the hull of water sounds, mooring at pubs, learning new skills, mixing oil with petrol, the Norfolk wildlife that comes to the boat and stunning light pollution free nights, sunrises and sunsets.





Although, tipping over and dipping the deck floor under water at crazy angles, feeling the power through the sails and rudder, is a true buzz.

The new girlfriend rather likes classic sailing, her main test ten days after our meeting on Match.



Costs have been very reasonable, £100 a month mooring in a prime location (plus premium for each month undercover in shed), very reasonable hourly fee paid directly to local instructor and welcome wisdom from local boatyard and fellow boat owners.

Hope to keep thread updated for 2017, along with more detailed costings, statistics and adventures.

Stats: Days owned: 180 - Costs so far: £5400 (including purchase price and mooring) - Nights aboard: 10 - Hours sailed/aboard: 230 (time in water only 2 months due to delayed launch and taking out for winter storage)

Huntsman

8,026 posts

249 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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Splendid update.

You struck upon the best kept boating secret, the more you use it the better it gets.

We did 48 nights onboard one year, total cost for the year was £6k, boating is cheaper than any other holiday and its your own personal getaway. You just have to use it lots to make it work.

SeeFive

8,280 posts

232 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Huntsman said:
Splendid update.

You struck upon the best kept boating secret, the more you use it the better it gets.

We did 48 nights onboard one year, total cost for the year was £6k, boating is cheaper than any other holiday and its your own personal getaway. You just have to use it lots to make it work.
What a terrific thread by the OP. Thanks for the update.

Absolutely this. My last tub was used about 5 times for the last couple of years, hence we got out of boating.

We have just started the process today on a property with an 11metre pontoon at the bottom of the garden and good all states of tide access to the Solent. So, when we get the next boat, it is definitely going to get used at every first sign of appropriate weather smile

Just can't find the right boat at the moment... Lots of rubbish out there at our budget, but hopefully by April/May time... hopefully...


NickCQ

5,392 posts

95 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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SeeFive said:
We have just started the process today on a property with an 11 metre pontoon at the bottom of the garden and good all states of tide access to the Solent. So, when we get the next boat, it is definitely going to get used at every first sign of appropriate weather smile
Lucky man! Island side or mainland?

SeeFive

8,280 posts

232 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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NickCQ said:
Lucky man! Island side or mainland?
Keeping a bit imprecise as I don't want to get gazumped on this, but it is mainland - more details will no doubt bore the pants off everyone upon moving in. wink

Not quite as modern as our current place but it has got the extra space that we need for no more money - which is kinda cool given that it includes the pontoon which is literally 2 steps from the boundary fence.

Just spent quite a few quid yesterday on legal stuff, new things for inside it to modernise and will have a sizeable decking and rattan project as soon as the inside is vaguely sorted in case it ever warms up. smile

Not particularly excited about this at all... no seriously, not at all biggrin

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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impetuous said:
The new girlfriend rather likes classic sailing
You do realise she's only after you for the boat...?

snobetter

1,145 posts

145 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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SeeFive said:
the pontoon which is literally 2 steps from the boundary fence.
Available for house sitting in the summer holidays whilst you're on the boat...

impetuous

Original Poster:

96 posts

92 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
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Thank you for the nice replies. I like the way you think, Huntsman!

Research has revealed she's one of three remaining boats with the design name "Meteor", built by Easticks, Acle, in the 1950s.

Much more exciting - one of the other Meteor owners, Tony, who I'm trying to get in contact with, has discovered she was designed by Arthur Cecil Robb in 1949 - following research by Tony at the Bartlett Library, Falmouth and Mystic Seaport - The Museum of America and the Sea, Connecticut, USA, where the Robb archive resides.

I'm rather excited knowing Arthur C. Robb designed her. Looking at his well known Lion class design, the lines are very familiar!

All adds, along with even more varnishing, to the wholesome joy that's budget wooden boat ownership.