Which boat for next summer?

[Louis Balfour]

You know, approximately 1/3 of the use our boat has had was yesterday and in tricky conditions. The result being 1 x grounding, 1x scrape on bathing platform, 1x crack on deck.

No one could ever accuse us of buying a boat to leave in the marina and polish. I fully expect to wear this one out eventually.

I think our strategy will be to use the thing as much and as hard as we can and pay for professional upkeep as and when it is required.

[Petrus1983]

Louis Balfour said:

I think our strategy will be to use the thing as much and as hard as we can and pay for professional upkeep as and when it is required.

This. I’ve wasted so much time on the wrong products, techniques etc. As you talk to more and more people down at the marina you’ll soon find a reputable handy person. Even my little boat is having a £350 deep clean this week getting it ready for the summer.

[Simpo Two]

Louis Balfour said:

You know, approximately 1/3 of the use our boat has had was yesterday and in tricky conditions. The result being 1 x grounding, 1x scrape on bathing platform, 1x crack on deck.

No one could ever accuse us of buying a boat to leave in the marina and polish. I fully expect to wear this one out eventually.

I think our strategy will be to use the thing as much and as hard as we can and pay for professional upkeep as and when it is required.

I think you did very well for a first proper trip out, and locks too, in a high wind. With more practice you'll be able to anticipate possible mishaps better - like bashing the rail - and take steps to avoid them.

Do keep an eye on that crack though as rain water is very good at finding its way through into the inside.

[Louis Balfour]

Simpo Two said:

I think you did very well for a first proper trip out, and locks too, in a high wind. With more practice you'll be able to anticipate possible mishaps better - like bashing the rail - and take steps to avoid them.

Do keep an eye on that crack though as rain water is very good at finding its way through into the inside.

Thank you.

I've messaged the marina owner to see if he can recommend someone. I don't even much care if I pay him and he makes a margin on it. It gets the boat back in good order.

[Seight_Returns]

I had a massive sense of humour failure the first time I damaged my boat badly enough to need to pay someone to fix it.

Fair play to LB for taking this inevitable rite of passage in his stride. He seems to be taking to the masochism that is boat ownership rather well.

[PushedDover]

Well done OP.

Main thing - no one got hurt.
(and hopefully none of the family or guests were put off / never want to step foot on again)

Pride repairs in time. Boats just need cash as a filler to damage.

[ghost83]

Louis Balfour said:

I will be envious when you go down to Italy. That is our endgame. The dream is to keep a boat down there.

We've got a car like yours. I asked Land Rover for a quote on a deployable tow bar and the price was not far from the same as your trailer!

I think we may have to buy a trailer at some point. We don't have anywhere to store it out of sight and I don't like seeing them outside houses. But we are surrounded by farms, so I wonder whether I can get it stashed in a barn for less than the marina charges.

I have the electrics for a Range Rover sport towbar sat in my office that I never got fitted for a small fee then you can buy the towbar bit separate

[Simpo Two]

Seight_Returns said:

I had a massive sense of humour failure the first time I damaged my boat badly enough to need to pay someone to fix it.

I was hit by a hire boat which took a small chunk out of the gunwale. Needless to say it received a volley of Anglo Saxon from the bridge! Luckily I knew the owner and he decently fixed the damage for free.

[Louis Balfour]

Simpo Two said:

Seight_Returns said:

I had a massive sense of humour failure the first time I damaged my boat badly enough to need to pay someone to fix it.

I was hit by a hire boat which took a small chunk out of the gunwale. Needless to say it received a volley of Anglo Saxon from the bridge! Luckily I knew the owner and he decently fixed the damage for free.

I can confirm that the owner of my boat will be paying for to repair mine.

I am fast coming to the conclusion that if the boat re-enters the marina still floating and under its own steam it will have been a good day.

Talking to my First Officer this afternoon, he seems to have already grasped it. I told him that I would need to be repaired and he replied, "Doesn't matter, we had a great day. And it's a boat".

[NickCQ]

Louis Balfour said:

I am fast coming to the conclusion that if the boat re-enters the marina still floating and under its own steam it will have been a good day.

That's roughly what pilots say. A good landing is one you walk away from. A great landing is where they can use the plane again

[Louis Balfour]

NickCQ said:

Louis Balfour said:

I am fast coming to the conclusion that if the boat re-enters the marina still floating and under its own steam it will have been a good day.

That's roughly what pilots say. A good landing is one you walk away from. A great landing is where they can use the plane again

Hah.

Just heard back from the marina owner; he is going to sort it at some point.

[Simpo Two]

As for your beach landing issue, you need the same foldy-out gizmo as the Harwich Harbour Ferry...!

[Louis Balfour]

Simpo Two said:

As for your beach landing issue, you need the same foldy-out gizmo as the Harwich Harbour Ferry...!

I am given to understand they are called a folding gangway. Great idea, but I don't know where I would stow one when not in use.

[HocusPocus]

Louis Balfour said:

Simpo Two said:

Seight_Returns said:

I had a massive sense of humour failure the first time I damaged my boat badly enough to need to pay someone to fix it.

I was hit by a hire boat which took a small chunk out of the gunwale. Needless to say it received a volley of Anglo Saxon from the bridge! Luckily I knew the owner and he decently fixed the damage for free.

I can confirm that the owner of my boat will be paying for to repair mine.

I am fast coming to the conclusion that if the boat re-enters the marina still floating and under its own steam it will have been a good day.

Talking to my First Officer this afternoon, he seems to have already grasped it. I told him that I would need to be repaired and he replied, "Doesn't matter, we had a great day. And it's a boat".

FO has got it right, especially when he doesn't foot the repair bills. Little does he realise the more you squander on frivolous toys like boats, the less he will inherit. So who gets the last laugh?

The memories of these little boaty adventures with family are priceless. There are many worse things to blow your hard earned wad over. The past year should have taught us all that cash in the bank is pointless unless we can get out and spend it as fun vouchers.

So here's to the next cunning plan;-)

[Louis Balfour]

HocusPocus said:

FO has got it right, especially when he doesn't foot the repair bills. Little does he realise the more you squander on frivolous toys like boats, the less he will inherit. So who gets the last laugh?

The memories of these little boaty adventures with family are priceless. There are many worse things to blow your hard earned wad over. The past year should have taught us all that cash in the bank is pointless unless we can get out and spend it as fun vouchers.

So here's to the next cunning plan;-)

You are quite correct. I have spaffed a lot of cash in the last year; you just don't know what is round the corner.

[HocusPocus]

Louis Balfour said:

You are quite correct. I have spaffed a lot of cash in the last year; you just don't know what is round the corner.

So are you tempted by a Williamsjet????

[Louis Balfour]

HocusPocus said:

Louis Balfour said:

You are quite correct. I have spaffed a lot of cash in the last year; you just don't know what is round the corner.

So are you tempted by a Williamsjet????

If I had a gin palace I would be.

[4Q]

Last year when you were looking 4Q said:

I disagree completely, boaters tend to be a friendly bunch and whether you’re in a £500k cruiser or a plywood skiff most people don’t care.

Whatever boat you buy as your first, you’ll end up looking at faster/bigger/more expensive boats almost as soon as you start getting out on the water.

My advice would be to get something that works for what think you want now as once you start using you realise that you wish you had specced something different. You are going bang your new boat about quite a bit as you get used to berthing or loading on to the trailer if you’re new to boat handling so I wouldn’t get something too smart first off.

The Aquaholics YouTube channel has some great vids for boating newbies (as well as wallet threatening yacht tours) https://youtu.be/Q9tUaVJ4PCs

At least it’s not too bad, my dad had his boat hanging by the rails in one lock not far from you just out of Sawley marina and got the back of the boat stuck on the step in the lock in another

[paintman]

Louis Balfour said:

Simpo Two said:

Seight_Returns said:

I had a massive sense of humour failure the first time I damaged my boat badly enough to need to pay someone to fix it.

I was hit by a hire boat which took a small chunk out of the gunwale. Needless to say it received a volley of Anglo Saxon from the bridge! Luckily I knew the owner and he decently fixed the damage for free.

I can confirm that the owner of my boat will be paying for to repair mine.

I am fast coming to the conclusion that if the boat re-enters the marina still floating and under its own steam it will have been a good day.

Talking to my First Officer this afternoon, he seems to have already grasped it. I told him that I would need to be repaired and he replied, "Doesn't matter, we had a great day. And it's a boat".

If your crew had been paying attention to their duties it may not have happened.
You might want to consider investing in a 'Bosun's starter' to keep them on their toes.
http://firearmscollector.com/index.php?route=produ...

[surveyor]

Looking back at my parents various boats (I try really hard to forget about the two I owned), there was always an initial 'learning' phase where damage and issues were more regular.

After a while they would get to know the boat and the damage would calm down for a while...

But we all look back very friendly at those times.