New to boating
Discussion
Does anyone have any advice as to what boat to buy as a novice to motor boating? Ideally I am looking for something that can accomnodate up to 6 people, preferably with a private quarter for me & the boss. I am thinking twin diesel sports crusier that I could learn my sea skills on for the next few years until I retire and then use fairly extensively around the UK and possibly the Med. Budget wise I'm thinking circa £100k, would this be sufficient to get something with low engine hours and the room aboard to spend maybe a month at a time? Any advice or recomendation would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
I'd post this on the Motor Boat Monthly forum as well
http://www.ybw.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14. You'll need to register but lots of boating info on the site
http://www.ybw.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14. You'll need to register but lots of boating info on the site
lots of choice in that price range
something like this
http://www.ancasta.com/boat_details/?BoatId=26175&...
will suit you
most of all do an RYA course before venturing out on your own
something like this
http://www.ancasta.com/boat_details/?BoatId=26175&...
will suit you
most of all do an RYA course before venturing out on your own
You will want a different sort of boat for the Med than for the Uk. Boating in the UK generally bears no relation to the glossy magazines where bikinied lovelies are draped on the foredeck.
If I were you, I would put most of your money away for the time being and buy something much smaller that offers some decent shelter and you can get used to handling before you progress to a bigger boat. Something like a Jeanneau Merry Fisher or a Finnmaster 6100 or 6400; don't spend more than £25-30k. Don't sleep on the boat, even if you can - your unspent cash will buy a lot of nights in a comfortable hotel. Most boats are just floating caravans with added damp thrown in. Then, when you've got some experience, know that you and your partner like boating (which is the biggest unknown quantity) you can put your small boat up for sale and head to the Med to pick up a bargain cruiser in a warm climate where you can actually enjoy sprawling around on deck, rather than sheltering from the elements. Remember, boats are easy to buy, harder to sell, and the enjoyment to be gained from a boat is often in inverse proportion to its length (bigger the boat, bigger the bills (mooring, maintenance, lift-out, fuel, transport, more kit to go wrong)).
In fact, before you buy anything at all, do your PB1 and PB2 and ask the instructors for lots of advice.
If I were you, I would put most of your money away for the time being and buy something much smaller that offers some decent shelter and you can get used to handling before you progress to a bigger boat. Something like a Jeanneau Merry Fisher or a Finnmaster 6100 or 6400; don't spend more than £25-30k. Don't sleep on the boat, even if you can - your unspent cash will buy a lot of nights in a comfortable hotel. Most boats are just floating caravans with added damp thrown in. Then, when you've got some experience, know that you and your partner like boating (which is the biggest unknown quantity) you can put your small boat up for sale and head to the Med to pick up a bargain cruiser in a warm climate where you can actually enjoy sprawling around on deck, rather than sheltering from the elements. Remember, boats are easy to buy, harder to sell, and the enjoyment to be gained from a boat is often in inverse proportion to its length (bigger the boat, bigger the bills (mooring, maintenance, lift-out, fuel, transport, more kit to go wrong)).
In fact, before you buy anything at all, do your PB1 and PB2 and ask the instructors for lots of advice.
good information here i also own a 27footer and the floating caravan
analogy is a good one
especially in UK waters.
larger is generally nicer depending on your priority's
but the bills can get terrifying so do more research
visit some marinas chat to owners and defiantly
get some training because getting things wrong
can range from embarrassing to fatal.
but there is much fun to be had if it floats yer boat ( sorry )
analogy is a good one
especially in UK waters.larger is generally nicer depending on your priority's
but the bills can get terrifying so do more research
visit some marinas chat to owners and defiantly
get some training because getting things wrong
can range from embarrassing to fatal.
but there is much fun to be had if it floats yer boat ( sorry )
Simpo Two said:
Having to moor each night near a hotel can be rather limiting to one's cruising ambitions. A day boat is only half a boat IMHO.
True, but it's not your HO or my HO that counts, it's the OP's missus that calls the shots. And I'd personally try the over-nighting bit somewhere a bit warmer once she's got used to the whole boating malarkey. For most blokes a boat = adventure, for some women, a boat = somewhere I can't use my hairdryer. Ease her in gently would be my advice. Paddy_N_Murphy said:
nagrom said:
I guess charter or rental would be a good first step, anyone have any suggestions? I am based on the english/welsh borders.
I was meaning in the Med 
Charter in the med - it's a mere 3-4 hrs away, and won't be dank caravanning like in the UK
Bluebarge said:
Simpo Two said:
Having to moor each night near a hotel can be rather limiting to one's cruising ambitions. A day boat is only half a boat IMHO.
True, but it's not your HO or my HO that counts, it's the OP's missus that calls the shots. And I'd personally try the over-nighting bit somewhere a bit warmer once she's got used to the whole boating malarkey. For most blokes a boat = adventure, for some women, a boat = somewhere I can't use my hairdryer. Ease her in gently would be my advice. OP. Listen to the advice given above. If you want to get your wife into boating, go chartering in the Med. You can get some good deals for weekends in Menorca and Mallorca. Unless she is a real out-doorsy type, you will categorically not have her 100% buy in if you remain in the UK - 99% of the time, it is too cold / too windy / too many things to do at home to go to the boat etc, etc. My wife & I had a Fairline Targa 27 many years ago & when we got round to discussing whether to sell it or trade up to something bigger, she was staggered that an eberspacher heater was not standard equipment on most boats in the UK. We ended up selling the boat in the end, as the bills were disproportionately large when compared to the fun we got out of it (and that was back in 1999 / 2000 when fuel prices weren't too ridiculous).
Rum Runner said:
I have huge choice for sale including my own Merry Fisher 645, any help with what direction to go just call...I am full of useless information 
You finished?!Edited by Rum Runner on Friday 16th November 20:10
Good boat the Merry Fisher 645, sold quite a few and all my customers are really happy with them.
nagrom said:
Does anyone have any advice as to what boat to buy as a novice to motor boating? Ideally I am looking for something that can accomnodate up to 6 people, preferably with a private quarter for me & the boss. I am thinking twin diesel sports crusier that I could learn my sea skills on for the next few years until I retire and then use fairly extensively around the UK and possibly the Med. Budget wise I'm thinking circa £100k, would this be sufficient to get something with low engine hours and the room aboard to spend maybe a month at a time? Any advice or recomendation would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
Can someone please tell me how a 21' fishing boat meets any of these criteria?And to the OP, I don't agree with sticking with Med charter or that a boat needs to be a caravan.
Budget wise you will pick up a very nice example of an older but perfectly serviceable Sunseeker, Fairline, Sealine, Princess that would meet all your criteria and you will get a lot more use if it is locally in the UK rather than on the end of a plane.
That of course is what a sports cruiser as you mention is, for more space you could forego the speed and look at trawler yachts of the Grand Banks variety.
Believe it or not there are millions of boats used for exactly your purpose north of the 45 deg meridian many of which see more hours use than one stuck the other end of the world.
In fact once you have decided on the vessel you want, the best place to find a low hours version is in the Med and bring it back as long as the sun and lack of maintenance hasn't taken it's toll.
That should tell you a story in itself.
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