What boat should I be thinking about? Lots of restrictions
Discussion
Am going to see a house tonight with a mooring near Norwich. I've always wanted a boat at the bottom of the garden so am quite excited.
I currently own a Dart 18 and a Laser which I keep at my sailing club on the coast. I would invisage keeping these. My dad likes Norfolk sailing boats and races one on the Solent. I have expirience of driving power boats but have never owned one. I like old things. I like going fast(ish) but I also like pottering slowly in a calm relaxed way.
So I want a noisy, fast, slow, calm, power, sailing boat that looks classy but not flash. Clearly this does not exist so I need your thoughts. For example - you might argue that the Dart will give me the kicks (and my hillclimb car - if it isn't sold to pay for the house) and that I should by some cruiser.
The river provides access to the Broads and is about 25 miles from the sea. Most of the watrerways in the area are heavily speed restricted but there are areas used for skiing etc. There is no facility to take the boat out of the water so it would need to live in water and the open all year round.
2 Problems: The mooring is only 17 feet long and the house will swallow most of my availiable cash so I've only got about 3 grand for the boat.
Since there is no point in buying the house unless I like the boat too, what should I get?
Thanks
I currently own a Dart 18 and a Laser which I keep at my sailing club on the coast. I would invisage keeping these. My dad likes Norfolk sailing boats and races one on the Solent. I have expirience of driving power boats but have never owned one. I like old things. I like going fast(ish) but I also like pottering slowly in a calm relaxed way.
So I want a noisy, fast, slow, calm, power, sailing boat that looks classy but not flash. Clearly this does not exist so I need your thoughts. For example - you might argue that the Dart will give me the kicks (and my hillclimb car - if it isn't sold to pay for the house) and that I should by some cruiser.
The river provides access to the Broads and is about 25 miles from the sea. Most of the watrerways in the area are heavily speed restricted but there are areas used for skiing etc. There is no facility to take the boat out of the water so it would need to live in water and the open all year round.
2 Problems: The mooring is only 17 feet long and the house will swallow most of my availiable cash so I've only got about 3 grand for the boat.
Since there is no point in buying the house unless I like the boat too, what should I get?
Thanks
That's an odd request! I don't really know what you want but if you already have some sailing dinghies I would get a powerboat (I do have a powerboat!). What's the water like up there? I don't know Norfolk at all, is it calm as you say it's a long way to the sea? If so, I'd look at getting a sportsboat of some kind. If you have the opportunity of finding some rough stuff, I'd get a RIB (I have a RIB) 
Crumbs that is a tall order.
There is one stretch just downstream from Norwich, maybe 20-30 minutes or so that is OK for skiing but only at certain times. the next stretch that is derestricted is on Breydon water which is the tidal estuary of the Yare and Waveney, that's a few hours cruise away at the limits in place.
If you are into fishing I'd be tempted to get a small 17 foot outboard with a cuddy, if not then perhaps a day sailer. Sailing on rivers whilst can be seen as boating about in muck rather than mucking about in boats can provide it's own excitement if you are particularly masochistic.
Imagine if somebody said, OK off you go in your Caterham for a little dice with Fred in his Westfield etc, oh and by the way, you'll be sharing the roads with a load of lorryists in 40 tonne artics, but they've had 15 minutes of instruction and been shown how to take it round the block, so although it's their first time I'm sure you'll be OK.
To be fair in my experience from having a boat down there years back and still visiting every so often to see old haunts etc, some of the regular hirers are bloody good boat handlers but some are just utter window lickers.
There is one stretch just downstream from Norwich, maybe 20-30 minutes or so that is OK for skiing but only at certain times. the next stretch that is derestricted is on Breydon water which is the tidal estuary of the Yare and Waveney, that's a few hours cruise away at the limits in place.
If you are into fishing I'd be tempted to get a small 17 foot outboard with a cuddy, if not then perhaps a day sailer. Sailing on rivers whilst can be seen as boating about in muck rather than mucking about in boats can provide it's own excitement if you are particularly masochistic.
Imagine if somebody said, OK off you go in your Caterham for a little dice with Fred in his Westfield etc, oh and by the way, you'll be sharing the roads with a load of lorryists in 40 tonne artics, but they've had 15 minutes of instruction and been shown how to take it round the block, so although it's their first time I'm sure you'll be OK.
To be fair in my experience from having a boat down there years back and still visiting every so often to see old haunts etc, some of the regular hirers are bloody good boat handlers but some are just utter window lickers.
F i F said:
If you are into fishing I'd be tempted to get a small 17 foot outboard with a cuddy, if not then perhaps a day sailer. Sailing on rivers whilst can be seen as boating about in muck rather than mucking about in boats can provide it's own excitement if you are particularly masochistic.
Tacking up a narrow river is a silly way to make progress! By the time you've done 100 yards it will be time to go back for tea...F i F said:
To be fair in my experience from having a boat down there years back and still visiting every so often to see old haunts etc, some of the regular hirers are bloody good boat handlers but some are just utter window lickers.
The regulars can be sniffy about hirers (and with some reason); however Rear Admiral Simpo usually has more mileage and more canals and rivers under his belt than they do having moved to a house with river at end of garden in december my one piece of advice (as was given to me when I moved in by neighbours) is to live there for a while before buying.. It will become apparent whether you want to use it for day trips, just pootling to the pub, overnight stays, carrying stuff etc etc.
If i'd gone with any of the first 20 ideas i had I'd probably regret it now. As it was i bought a cheap dory to pootle on, get to pub and generally get me out on water and only now am I getting an idea of what i really want.
If i'd gone with any of the first 20 ideas i had I'd probably regret it now. As it was i bought a cheap dory to pootle on, get to pub and generally get me out on water and only now am I getting an idea of what i really want.
I's be inclined to get some thing small with a cabin and an engine to putter about in. your budget is a bit of a limiting factor i guess. There are some truly lovely wooden launches about on the broads but not for 3k.
Depending on where you are sailing boats can be a good or bad idea. I have sailed alot on the rivers of norfolk and some of them are a pain in the backside, many being narrow and lined with trees and Tidal.
Depending on where you are sailing boats can be a good or bad idea. I have sailed alot on the rivers of norfolk and some of them are a pain in the backside, many being narrow and lined with trees and Tidal.
There's bound to be a slipway somewhere nearby. So I'm going to second the RIB suggestion: a 'classic' Avon SeaRider 4m or 5.4m. Ideal for pottering about, and you can trail it to the coast for fun in the waves at 25kn+
The 4m will fit in a normal garage too, for over winter/when you're away etc.
Bang on budget: http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/DBO143
The 4m will fit in a normal garage too, for over winter/when you're away etc.
Bang on budget: http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/DBO143
here is a few indigenous norfolk boats. not sure what you can get for 3 grand though!
http://www.horning.org.uk/stylegallery.php?page=tr...
Punts are awesome, but for a nice day sailor a yare & bure would be good, I refer the rebel myself, they go very nicely. All these boats are well suited to the local geography as thats what they were designed for
http://www.horning.org.uk/stylegallery.php?page=tr...
Punts are awesome, but for a nice day sailor a yare & bure would be good, I refer the rebel myself, they go very nicely. All these boats are well suited to the local geography as thats what they were designed for
richardxjr said:
There's bound to be a slipway somewhere nearby. So I'm going to second the RIB suggestion: a 'classic' Avon SeaRider 4m or 5.4m. Ideal for pottering about, and you can trail it to the coast for fun in the waves at 25kn+
The 4m will fit in a normal garage too, for over winter/when you're away etc.
Bang on budget: http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/DBO143
You will not find more fun for £3k on the water! The 4m will fit in a normal garage too, for over winter/when you're away etc.
Bang on budget: http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/DBO143
Love them!Ayahuasca said:
16 ft long so perfect size, can keep her in the water, long keel so very stable, designed by America's Cup designer Nat Herreshoff, a pocket J-Class!
However, we went to see the house and it seemed over priced to me. Also 17 feet isn't enough for what I'd want and therefore fairly usless - I'd rather keep my current house and spend on a boat I'd really want and a mooring.
Thanks for all the tips though!
Chris
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