How much boat is required.?

[itannum990]

Boating around europe. Motor or sail? Obviously one is cheaper in terms of fuel, t'other requires less skill to operate.
How large would it need to be? Before being unusable in anything but flat calm ponds and (far) below superyacht level?
What's the border situation like for uk citizen? I understand most of europe has the schengen agreement (spelt something like that anyway) which allows you to arrive and leave as you please maybe, and we are not members of that?
Errm dirty question I know. Budget - what is available at differing price points? (For someone who done bad at skool..)

[itannum990]

TTwiggy said:

If it's coastal passage rather than riverways then sail is the only 'cheap' way of doing it.

Obviously you could do it in an 18ft sail boat, but I'd want about 40ft, long keeled and probably metal hulled (for all weather ability and safety). But that's purely belt and braces and a decent sized plastic boat with a wing keel would be fine.

Budget for the boat say £30k? If you only stop on the hook and avoid marinas then it would be doable on a limited budget. A chartplotter and auto helm would take care of the navigation, but you'd want to know what you're doing and where you're going if the tech goes down.

Thanks very much for your information. I know absolutely nothing, maybe even less about such matters!

As a guide, I think this looks stunning. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/non-motorin...


Kind of boat I wanted, how does it step up? I'd be happier with the option of motor power when needed.

I understand rough costs for motors are around 100 pounds per hour? Depending on what motor is fitted of course.

How hard is it to sail? I know that it's a skill, how long could it take me to learn to sail safely? Is a large team/crew required?


Like i say, i really don't know anything about boats!

[itannum990]

Vegetable oil..?



Idea is to be able to have little trips with friends and family to france, spain, ireland, iom etc.
I guess a heavier bottom would make it more stable, less chance of making children (and wife) sea sick etc.

I was thinking trailer mounted boat would save mooring costs, but thinking about it I would then need trailer, land, and tow vehicle. Plus its looks scary getting it from trailer to water back to trailer.

[itannum990]

Hiring one, sort of have done. Spent a couple of weeks on a narrow boat. Loved it. Often rent one for day trips abroad, only motor boats though. I think in corfu we had one for a couple of days, didnt sleep in it because tiny, but went from port to port, restaurant to restaurant (and bar) just park up, eat drink enjoy. Loved it!
Training. Wont be taken lightly, will not risk the life of my wife or any other passengers. Or the poor bds sent to fish us out.. The sea is not a playground!
No problem following rules, that's my job.
Bilge keel/lifting keel..?

[itannum990]

Errm how the hell do you park a sail boat? I know some have motors, but the ones that don't?

I hope I'm not a duffer. Horribly clumsy.

[itannum990]

TTwiggy said:

For longer passages, neither (IMHO). Wing keel or long keel (IMHO). If you only want to go mud-plugging round the east coast of England then bilge is best however!

Sorry, more of a what's that, than a which one

[itannum990]

TTwiggy said:

Bear in mind that what might look like a 'little trip' to someone used to car speeds will often be an 8-12 hour journey by boat.

As with many car and bike trips, for me, its more about the journey than reaching the destination. But i see your point.

[itannum990]

blueg33 said:

Lifting wing keel is good.

Bilge keel is basically a twin keel boat so its stands up in harbours that dry out and is shallower that a fin (single) or long keel. Bilge keel boats won't point as high (as close to the wind) and have less directional stability than a long keel boat. So its all down to what you want in terms of the types of port you will visit and the types of sailing/length of trip you plan to do.

My Europe trips have been in botyh fin keel and bilge keel boats. Our Fin keel needed about 8ft of water and our bilge keel (same boat for the rest of it) just under 6ft.

I preferred the latter, you could get closer to beaches, the boat stays upright (usually) if the place you have anchored dries out.

Bilge keel


Fin keel


Long Keel


Lifting Keel


Wing Keel

Thats all very helpful. I didnt even know there was much going on under the hull, thinking row boats on a larger scale!

[itannum990]

blueg33 said:

...... a muppet who managed to hit an Isle of Wight ferry

How the fk did he manage that?!

[itannum990]

XJSJohn said:

.....


so i guess in response to the OP's question "How much boat is required?" the answer should be "how much boat can you afford!!!"

The op says eek! at some of the reported figures!

Maybe first a river/coastgoing motorboat (giggidy, again) for daytrips locallyish around coast and rivers isnt such a bad start..

On the otherhand do keep up the derails I'm enjoying and learning!