Looking for a boat
Discussion
Simpo Two said:
akirk said:
DonkeyApple said:
Yup. My concern is that as I grew up sailing in the Solent at weekends I have never really found river boating to be the same fun. The kids would love it but I think I would be bored.
maybe go more swallows and amazons / traditional...having moved away from the Thames I will be selling my one of these:
https://woodenships.co.uk/small-craft/iain-oughtre... (this one is not mine, just a random similar one)
epoxy plywood gives you the traditional wooden boat feel without the same upkeep... can sail or row it - ideal for exploring the Thames or trailer it to the lakes / broads or south coast... Ian Oughtred the designer is worth looking up if you don’t know his boats...
It was more fun on the Solent...
Thames (esp. upper) suits the Ratty & Mole approach
but have to say I rather like the boat DA has just posted...
A Nelson would be high on my list of options...
Edited by akirk on Tuesday 9th March 08:10
I contemplated a rib, as I have done in the past. You'd need around 6m, give or take, but I hadn't appreciated just how expensive they've become and for less money you could have a cabin boat and dry stack it.
I remember sitting down with Ballistic when they first started. I'd been introduced by a family friend who was buying them to fit 50 cals to and export. Back then they had a different chine design to the likes of Avon that made them much nicer at speed. The appeal was Cherbourg in an hour
I remember sitting down with Ballistic when they first started. I'd been introduced by a family friend who was buying them to fit 50 cals to and export. Back then they had a different chine design to the likes of Avon that made them much nicer at speed. The appeal was Cherbourg in an hour
DonkeyApple said:
I had a lovely lugsail dinghy when younger. Used to race sailing boats at school on the old gravel pits. But the only time I truly enjoyed inland sailing was when the wind was high enough to spend the day flipping a Laser2 and jumping over the top. I had a Topper also and that was one of the best dinghies for taking over the top of crests on the Solent. There is a Laser 1 on the bottom near Guenard Bay which didn't like wave hopping the same way and the deck split from the hull and it went quite quickly. I also managed to swamp a 420. In larger sailing boats I've crossed the race off Portland Bill taking a yacht on my own down to Salcombe before it was trendy. But I've never done anything like the Fastnet unlike my sister or father as I am not a technical sailer but basically just a cowboy.
Taking a 13' dory from Beaulieu over to Cowes was also a lot of fun. The only problem was that because the seating position was directly above where the water hit when planing the end result was that your spine had somehow gone numb and you couldn't walk. The first time I did that, mooring up at the marina was a comedy farce and I'm pretty sure more than one onlooker thought I must have lost my wheelchair in the crossing.
Even taking a scull or an eight out is more fun from Putney than it is up on the non tidal stretches at Henley or Reading.
In short, what I know about myself is that I can thoroughly enjoy a day pottering in calm waters. But I can borrow or charter for that. I don't enjoy it enough to invest in a dinghy for that.
So that causes me every so often to look at something with a cabin and a heads. The sort of thing where you can be self contained.
Yacht? Well there's no shortage of options around the 30' area which is all that would be needed. But despite growing up on them I don't fancy owning one. Too many days spent becalmed on the Solent having driven down all the way from the top of London. Plus, the upkeep and keeping clean. When you're not living half an hour away you have to live sailing to make that kind of commitment and I know that I don't.
River boat? It's never appealed. All those years mucking about on the Thames in small boats of all types or visiting friends with barges on the Grand Union and I don't recall once ever feeling any desire to own. I have however, just chartered one of those ghastly plastic Thames pleasure boats just to see how much the children enjoy it.
Motorboat? I'm not a gin palace person but something like a Nelson would tick the right boxes. You'd be able to drive down on a whim, get onboard and start going somewhere quite quickly. But it would arguably be more than I need and given the ongoing fees and general maintenance I can imagine being at the point that I felt obliged to use it when I'd rather spend that weekend doing something else.
Cabin boat? On paper this seems to be a bit of a sweet spot. At 6'2" I'm not exactly going to enjoy being down below but for one/two nights away, having a heads and a galley it would be fine. It would also not be a vast amount of capital tied up making me feel obliged to use it. I could opt to either keep it out of the water in a dry stack or leave it in for the season and then have it brought back here where I could fettle and maintain myself.
The main issue is that an awful lot of them are a bit ITV. But my friend's Axopar really did seem to hit the spot. Not too big, not too small, easy to use etc.
What I did find on my web travels was this Cerri Cantieri Navali 28 which I think looks rather elegant against its peers. They seem very uncommon in the UK.
[Img]https://images.boats.com/resize/1/12/15/7661215_20201118073110624_1_XLARGE.jpg?t=1612885585000&w=450&h=450[/thumb]
Yes, lovely looking thing. I love the look of open boats and when I live permanently in the sun I will own one.Taking a 13' dory from Beaulieu over to Cowes was also a lot of fun. The only problem was that because the seating position was directly above where the water hit when planing the end result was that your spine had somehow gone numb and you couldn't walk. The first time I did that, mooring up at the marina was a comedy farce and I'm pretty sure more than one onlooker thought I must have lost my wheelchair in the crossing.
Even taking a scull or an eight out is more fun from Putney than it is up on the non tidal stretches at Henley or Reading.
In short, what I know about myself is that I can thoroughly enjoy a day pottering in calm waters. But I can borrow or charter for that. I don't enjoy it enough to invest in a dinghy for that.
So that causes me every so often to look at something with a cabin and a heads. The sort of thing where you can be self contained.
Yacht? Well there's no shortage of options around the 30' area which is all that would be needed. But despite growing up on them I don't fancy owning one. Too many days spent becalmed on the Solent having driven down all the way from the top of London. Plus, the upkeep and keeping clean. When you're not living half an hour away you have to live sailing to make that kind of commitment and I know that I don't.
River boat? It's never appealed. All those years mucking about on the Thames in small boats of all types or visiting friends with barges on the Grand Union and I don't recall once ever feeling any desire to own. I have however, just chartered one of those ghastly plastic Thames pleasure boats just to see how much the children enjoy it.
Motorboat? I'm not a gin palace person but something like a Nelson would tick the right boxes. You'd be able to drive down on a whim, get onboard and start going somewhere quite quickly. But it would arguably be more than I need and given the ongoing fees and general maintenance I can imagine being at the point that I felt obliged to use it when I'd rather spend that weekend doing something else.
Cabin boat? On paper this seems to be a bit of a sweet spot. At 6'2" I'm not exactly going to enjoy being down below but for one/two nights away, having a heads and a galley it would be fine. It would also not be a vast amount of capital tied up making me feel obliged to use it. I could opt to either keep it out of the water in a dry stack or leave it in for the season and then have it brought back here where I could fettle and maintain myself.
The main issue is that an awful lot of them are a bit ITV. But my friend's Axopar really did seem to hit the spot. Not too big, not too small, easy to use etc.
What I did find on my web travels was this Cerri Cantieri Navali 28 which I think looks rather elegant against its peers. They seem very uncommon in the UK.
[Img]https://images.boats.com/resize/1/12/15/7661215_20201118073110624_1_XLARGE.jpg?t=1612885585000&w=450&h=450[/thumb]
But, when I was looking for a boat, I was persuaded to look at (and buy) an enclosed one (Jeanneau Marry Fisher). We have so far used it through the winter in relative comfort. When the summer comes, we can throw open the sunroof, windows and patio doors.
My 10p worth: having been around boats (sail & motor) for a looong time (but only ever being max 20 mins from home to being on board) - most use and most fun was with small boats. Youngsters would spend more time messing about in a tender than the main boat.
Abroad (loads of moorings near us), the most-used boats are the locals in their 15-20ft cabin boats, either couples or chaps out fishing or families with picnics. Loads of the bigger boats never seem to leave the mooring/marina, although quite a few often have a (generally older) couple on board just spending days fiddling around. Some boats don't seem to move from year to year, although fees are generally cheaper abroad.
I recall talking to a couple on their 60'-ish gin palace in a UK marina, beautiful boating day, who had no intention (ability?) of going anywhere 'our captain is weekend off, so we can't go out' or words to that effect. What's the point?
Abroad (loads of moorings near us), the most-used boats are the locals in their 15-20ft cabin boats, either couples or chaps out fishing or families with picnics. Loads of the bigger boats never seem to leave the mooring/marina, although quite a few often have a (generally older) couple on board just spending days fiddling around. Some boats don't seem to move from year to year, although fees are generally cheaper abroad.
I recall talking to a couple on their 60'-ish gin palace in a UK marina, beautiful boating day, who had no intention (ability?) of going anywhere 'our captain is weekend off, so we can't go out' or words to that effect. What's the point?
Louis Balfour said:
Yes, lovely looking thing. I love the look of open boats and when I live permanently in the sun I will own one.
But, when I was looking for a boat, I was persuaded to look at (and buy) an enclosed one (Jeanneau Marry Fisher). We have so far used it through the winter in relative comfort. When the summer comes, we can throw open the sunroof, windows and patio doors.
Yup. I don't think the 27' one has 2 cabins though and the dining table set up seems to favour them being a two person boat?But, when I was looking for a boat, I was persuaded to look at (and buy) an enclosed one (Jeanneau Marry Fisher). We have so far used it through the winter in relative comfort. When the summer comes, we can throw open the sunroof, windows and patio doors.
TarquinMX5 said:
My 10p worth: having been around boats (sail & motor) for a looong time (but only ever being max 20 mins from home to being on board) - most use and most fun was with small boats. Youngsters would spend more time messing about in a tender than the main boat.
Abroad (loads of moorings near us), the most-used boats are the locals in their 15-20ft cabin boats, either couples or chaps out fishing or families with picnics. Loads of the bigger boats never seem to leave the mooring/marina, although quite a few often have a (generally older) couple on board just spending days fiddling around. Some boats don't seem to move from year to year, although fees are generally cheaper abroad.
I recall talking to a couple on their 60'-ish gin palace in a UK marina, beautiful boating day, who had no intention (ability?) of going anywhere 'our captain is weekend off, so we can't go out' or words to that effect. What's the point?
I recall many a lovely boat on a swinging mooring that never seemed to move. Plenty seemed to be used mostly as a floating caravan. Nothing wrong with that as floating caravans on a swinging mooring are far more pleasant than a wheeled on in a park. Some of the most fun I had was in the dinghies, going up the creeks, generally mucking about when my parents decided not to take the boat out. Abroad (loads of moorings near us), the most-used boats are the locals in their 15-20ft cabin boats, either couples or chaps out fishing or families with picnics. Loads of the bigger boats never seem to leave the mooring/marina, although quite a few often have a (generally older) couple on board just spending days fiddling around. Some boats don't seem to move from year to year, although fees are generally cheaper abroad.
I recall talking to a couple on their 60'-ish gin palace in a UK marina, beautiful boating day, who had no intention (ability?) of going anywhere 'our captain is weekend off, so we can't go out' or words to that effect. What's the point?
I think there is a lot of sense to a smaller, more affordable boat. For me I wouldn't feel obliged to use it and it wouldn't cost the earth. It's relatively cheap to have it moved around. But you would want a tender that the children could go off exploring in.
DonkeyApple said:
Louis Balfour said:
Yes, lovely looking thing. I love the look of open boats and when I live permanently in the sun I will own one.
But, when I was looking for a boat, I was persuaded to look at (and buy) an enclosed one (Jeanneau Marry Fisher). We have so far used it through the winter in relative comfort. When the summer comes, we can throw open the sunroof, windows and patio doors.
Yup. I don't think the 27' one has 2 cabins though and the dining table set up seems to favour them being a two person boat?But, when I was looking for a boat, I was persuaded to look at (and buy) an enclosed one (Jeanneau Marry Fisher). We have so far used it through the winter in relative comfort. When the summer comes, we can throw open the sunroof, windows and patio doors.
We chose on the basis of a boat that is big enough to accommodate the family inside and which we could tow if we wanted to.
In reality you can squeeze 4 round the table for a meal (fat people need not apply) and some children with trays in the cuddy.
Louis Balfour said:
Ours is the 695 and sleeps four, two in the cuddy, two in the wheelhouse. I am told. I will never find out however, because it looks a lot like camping to me.
Floating caravan would be closer.Agreed that 4 might be too much of a squash but if you can lose the kids it would be good for an overnighter when it's warmer. Moor somewhere quiet at the end of the day, sip G&T whilst listening to the birdies as the sun sets, then get the supper on... evening can be the best time on the river.
Simpo Two said:
Louis Balfour said:
Ours is the 695 and sleeps four, two in the cuddy, two in the wheelhouse. I am told. I will never find out however, because it looks a lot like camping to me.
Floating caravan would be closer.Agreed that 4 might be too much of a squash but if you can lose the kids it would be good for an overnighter when it's warmer. Moor somewhere quiet at the end of the day, sip G&T whilst listening to the birdies as the sun sets, then get the supper on... evening can be the best time on the river.
HocusPocus said:
Simpo Two said:
Moor somewhere quiet at the end of the day, sip G&T whilst listening to the birdies as the sun sets, then get the supper on... evening can be the best time on the river.
.....provided you tie up somewhere away from the midgesLouis Balfour said:
You haven't encountered Lady Balfour, have you. There is no way on God's green earth that she will sleep on the boat and it is unlikely that she will let the children, on their own, either.
Then Lady B is missing a treat, and all because it doesn't have a walk-in dressing room and wet room. I have a cousin who's the same (Lady P).I can only suggest you give Lady B a free spa weekend, and while she's lying in a fluffy white towel being massaged by Carlos the Italian masseur, you spirit the children away for a fatherly bonding session when you've had a bit more time to practice how it works
DonkeyApple said:
TarquinMX5 said:
My 10p worth: having been around boats (sail & motor) for a looong time (but only ever being max 20 mins from home to being on board) - most use and most fun was with small boats. Youngsters would spend more time messing about in a tender than the main boat.
Abroad (loads of moorings near us), the most-used boats are the locals in their 15-20ft cabin boats, either couples or chaps out fishing or families with picnics. Loads of the bigger boats never seem to leave the mooring/marina, although quite a few often have a (generally older) couple on board just spending days fiddling around. Some boats don't seem to move from year to year, although fees are generally cheaper abroad.
I recall talking to a couple on their 60'-ish gin palace in a UK marina, beautiful boating day, who had no intention (ability?) of going anywhere 'our captain is weekend off, so we can't go out' or words to that effect. What's the point?
I recall many a lovely boat on a swinging mooring that never seemed to move. Plenty seemed to be used mostly as a floating caravan. Nothing wrong with that as floating caravans on a swinging mooring are far more pleasant than a wheeled on in a park. Some of the most fun I had was in the dinghies, going up the creeks, generally mucking about when my parents decided not to take the boat out. Abroad (loads of moorings near us), the most-used boats are the locals in their 15-20ft cabin boats, either couples or chaps out fishing or families with picnics. Loads of the bigger boats never seem to leave the mooring/marina, although quite a few often have a (generally older) couple on board just spending days fiddling around. Some boats don't seem to move from year to year, although fees are generally cheaper abroad.
I recall talking to a couple on their 60'-ish gin palace in a UK marina, beautiful boating day, who had no intention (ability?) of going anywhere 'our captain is weekend off, so we can't go out' or words to that effect. What's the point?
I think there is a lot of sense to a smaller, more affordable boat. For me I wouldn't feel obliged to use it and it wouldn't cost the earth. It's relatively cheap to have it moved around. But you would want a tender that the children could go off exploring in.
The amount of money some people are prepared to spend on going nowhere is astonishing.
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