Which boat for next summer?
Discussion
Badda said:
How are you getting on LB? Been some lovely weather of late.
Lovely weather indeed and Balfour Boaty has, sadly, seen very little use. The reasons being that, firstly, the cricket season has started, so we are spending a lot of time watching that. Secondly, we have realised that between us and the sea there is a significant landmass in all directions, only navigable via grubby and tedious inland waterways.The younger Balfours will break up for the summer soon, so I am hopeful that we will get out more. A trailer may be required.
paintman said:
No 'almost' about it 
I spent a considerable number of Sundays over a six year period driving my youngest & various members of his Rugby Club team to away matches around the Midlands.
Always a worry that one of them would sustain an injury & be carted off to the local hospital.
Plus Tuesday night practice at the club!
Only came to an end when most of them went off to various Universities.
The rugby has now stopped entirely fortunately. My youngest was quite good, but several years ago took a head to the nuts and was hospitalised on the night before my birthday. So my dirty night away with Lady Balfour had to be cancelled. Apparently "wasn't right" to leave him on his own in hospital.I spent a considerable number of Sundays over a six year period driving my youngest & various members of his Rugby Club team to away matches around the Midlands.
Always a worry that one of them would sustain an injury & be carted off to the local hospital.
Plus Tuesday night practice at the club!
Only came to an end when most of them went off to various Universities.
Edited by paintman on Sunday 6th June 16:38
I might see if I can get the eldest playing for West Sussex, Devon or Dorset. Much better places to keep the boat.
Simpo Two said:
Badda said:
Not at all. Boating isn’t a cheap pastime but it doesn’t have to be super expensive. LB bought new but for the same money could have had a lovely boat large enough for them all to stay on in some degree of comfort. The difficulty at the moment would be finding one, on the upside BB would sell in seconds, maybe for a profit...
Indeed. Time for LB to regroup and devise a new strategy I think, now with some experience to assist. Valiant first attempt though!Petrus1983 said:
Louis Balfour said:
We've all had COVID, so have only been out once in the past month. Still on inland water, unfortunately.
Hope you’re all ok. My boats been used so little despite the ok weather and freedom I’ve decided to put it on the market. Unless we can work out how to get to the coast regularly I can see us not keeping the boat next year. Inland waters (or at least those round here) are dull.
Petrus1983 said:
I’ve got a little Cranchi Turchese 24 -
It ticked all the boxes I wanted - went under the bridges in Poole so I could take it out when I wanted rather than wait for lift times, could take a group of friends out, plenty of storage, fast, Italian design, fridge and a comfy enough cabin for 2 for a long weekend away.
But now I’m a bit older, and now live further from the marina, I’m finding if I go to the marina it has to be for 4-5 days to make it worth it.
My father has a Victoria 34 -
The boat can go anywhere, is very comfy for longer periods and invariably what I want to use more these days, so I’ll take that over as he very rarely uses it.
Looks like an excellent fun boat.It ticked all the boxes I wanted - went under the bridges in Poole so I could take it out when I wanted rather than wait for lift times, could take a group of friends out, plenty of storage, fast, Italian design, fridge and a comfy enough cabin for 2 for a long weekend away.
But now I’m a bit older, and now live further from the marina, I’m finding if I go to the marina it has to be for 4-5 days to make it worth it.
My father has a Victoria 34 -
The boat can go anywhere, is very comfy for longer periods and invariably what I want to use more these days, so I’ll take that over as he very rarely uses it.
HocusPocus said:
Louis Balfour said:
HocusPocus said:
So has it sunk, first mate left you and gone off to music festivals, or Lady B lost interest? Or have you trailered it around the coast on a grand tour?
We've all had COVID, so have only been out once in the past month. Still on inland water, unfortunately.Try dropping yours on the coast somewhere with a dry stack. You will get less day to day usage, but it will be a more challenging and stimulating adventure once you head into the waves. Once you get bored of the river, you will use it less anyway.
I ducked through the Covid travel rules window and blasted a car to France last week. If I cannot get back......oh well.
Taken the Med boat out for its first sea test in nearly 2 years. Thankfully in good nick as it has lived on the rack since winterising in 2019. Hate to think what she would have been like if stuck untouched for 2 years in water.
HocusPocus said:
Louis Balfour said:
HocusPocus said:
Louis Balfour said:
HocusPocus said:
So has it sunk, first mate left you and gone off to music festivals, or Lady B lost interest? Or have you trailered it around the coast on a grand tour?
We've all had COVID, so have only been out once in the past month. Still on inland water, unfortunately.Try dropping yours on the coast somewhere with a dry stack. You will get less day to day usage, but it will be a more challenging and stimulating adventure once you head into the waves. Once you get bored of the river, you will use it less anyway.
I ducked through the Covid travel rules window and blasted a car to France last week. If I cannot get back......oh well.
Taken the Med boat out for its first sea test in nearly 2 years. Thankfully in good nick as it has lived on the rack since winterising in 2019. Hate to think what she would have been like if stuck untouched for 2 years in water.
Totally stress free boat storage with high level of security (no one nicks stuff off a boat 15ft off the ground in a secure yard) and it won't sink or bang against the dock/neighbouring boats in storms.
I crapped myself once when I went out in my other boat with a hull full of storm water not realising the bilge pump had jammed from crap in the bottom of the boat. Unnerving if you are unsure if you are sinking......back to port ASAP! No such worries if kept on dry stack.
Ian-27xza said:
Dry stacking can be a no brainer, depending on your circumstances.
Even in the busiest (expensive) marinas the going rate is about £550 per metre per year.
The dry stack rate is generally cheaper than for a mooring at the same location.
And they will drop it in as many times as you like?Even in the busiest (expensive) marinas the going rate is about £550 per metre per year.
The dry stack rate is generally cheaper than for a mooring at the same location.
LFB531 said:
Mine (7.5m, same as your MF?) just about to be lifted back into drystack at Portsmouth yesterday evening after a quick Solent trip;
The whole process is effortless to the customer, it gets washed off every time it comes out, it lives indoors and unlimited lifts. I was put onto Trafalgar by another PH'er on here, I think you can overnight there too on an inner pontoon if you want.
I'm two hours away which for a day out on the water is far enough but it's in the water when I arrive so no faffing with trailers and a cafe for that emergency arrival coffee/bacon roll!
Cost from memory c£475p/m but don't hold me to it!
Sounds ideal. The problem is currently that we live about as far from the sea as it's possible to be. We may have to move house. Boating can be expensive!The whole process is effortless to the customer, it gets washed off every time it comes out, it lives indoors and unlimited lifts. I was put onto Trafalgar by another PH'er on here, I think you can overnight there too on an inner pontoon if you want.
I'm two hours away which for a day out on the water is far enough but it's in the water when I arrive so no faffing with trailers and a cafe for that emergency arrival coffee/bacon roll!
Cost from memory c£475p/m but don't hold me to it!
Edited by LFB531 on Tuesday 27th July 17:05
Ian-27xza said:
OP - with regards to numbers of launches, there are no limitations where we're based, which is Hamble Yacht Services.
The SLA for launching is 1 hour. However, it's often immediately and you'll get to know the launch crews pretty quickly. If you're a regular user they get to know you pretty quickly too.
How much does it cost you on the Hamble?The SLA for launching is 1 hour. However, it's often immediately and you'll get to know the launch crews pretty quickly. If you're a regular user they get to know you pretty quickly too.
Jaguar steve said:
Badda said:
Shame to hear LB. No doubt you’re one of many this year (abs last) who bought and now want out when reality or unforeseen restrictions kick in. My advice is buy a 2nd hand 36’ fair line and leave it in a coastal marina and spend whole weeks/weekend there.
The man speaks sense.Rarely can you just faff around the periphery of boats and unless you're very fortunate there's no such thing as simply popping out for a quick sail before tea time. It takes some commitment and a lot of time to enjoy boating to the full and it's also essential to have exactly the right boat for you otherwise it'll quickly bore the family to tears and ownership will turn into a monumental pain in the rectal area.
Something you can comfortably spend a few days on exploring new places rather than a few hours on just blatting up and down the same stretch of river on may be the way forwards. Nothing to do with how much money you spend either - it's all about finding what works for you.
Furthermore, we had a busy time of boating in the winter and spring. It may have kept me sane during lockdown, when I was forced to go shopping by boat to minimise human interaction.
Probably the single most limiting factor has been the number of sporting fixtures that we have needed to attend over summer. Boating takes up a lot of time.
Having invested in the asset, I won't be disposing of it swiftly. I will take a further view in the autumn.
Benbay001 said:
Correction, im looking to spend around £10000.
My questions would be around how reliable i can realistically expect a 1980s fiberglass tub to be?
Something like this perhaps
https://uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/1986-beneteau-f...
https://uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/1982-moody-29-7...
Thanks
Read the first page of the thread. Our budget was similar to yours. We ended up tripling the budget….My questions would be around how reliable i can realistically expect a 1980s fiberglass tub to be?
Something like this perhaps
https://uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/1986-beneteau-f...
https://uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/1982-moody-29-7...
Thanks
Hello All
Well, we've managed to do upwards of 70 hours in Balfour Boaty so far. Summer sports precluded more use.
I did consider selling, because I think we would get good money for it. but I like the boat too much and I think it is something we will dip in and out of.
Tonight I took her out on my own for a couple of hours, down river for a pint of Staropramen.
On the way back, I learned the meaning of "no good deed goes unpunished" as I allowed some rowers plenty of space and found some submerged rocks that I didn't know were there.
Well, we've managed to do upwards of 70 hours in Balfour Boaty so far. Summer sports precluded more use.
I did consider selling, because I think we would get good money for it. but I like the boat too much and I think it is something we will dip in and out of.
Tonight I took her out on my own for a couple of hours, down river for a pint of Staropramen.
On the way back, I learned the meaning of "no good deed goes unpunished" as I allowed some rowers plenty of space and found some submerged rocks that I didn't know were there.
Edited by Louis Balfour on Wednesday 8th September 19:48
Edited by Louis Balfour on Wednesday 8th September 19:49
Edited by Louis Balfour on Wednesday 8th September 19:49
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