Bill's boating paradox...
Discussion
Turtle Shed said:
Sorry to hijack the thread but something like that boat is very much what I am considering buying (size/budget/type), but I keep coming back to how/where to store the thing (I live on the Somerset/Devon border). Am I right in thinking that my options are:
1 - Expensive marina if I can find one (£4k/year)
2 - Somewhere up a river but still in the water (maybe £2,000/year?)
3 - In a boat yard near a river on a trailer and launch it as and when (maybe £1,500/year)
4 - In a boat yard not at a river (£1,000 year perhaps)
I accept that towing/launching is a pain, but going down that route does mean being able to take the boat to plenty of places and I assume anti-fouling isn't required. I have a RAV4 diesel which I assume would tow it without too much trouble.
Cheers :-)
This is the conundrum that every boat owner has to face and the larger the boat, the less choice is available. Obviously storing a boat on its trailer on your own property will always be the cheapest, not necessarily the most inconvenient either if you live near a slipway and have the room, and will afford the most flexibility to launch wherever you choose providing you are prepared for a bit of towing there and back.1 - Expensive marina if I can find one (£4k/year)
2 - Somewhere up a river but still in the water (maybe £2,000/year?)
3 - In a boat yard near a river on a trailer and launch it as and when (maybe £1,500/year)
4 - In a boat yard not at a river (£1,000 year perhaps)
I accept that towing/launching is a pain, but going down that route does mean being able to take the boat to plenty of places and I assume anti-fouling isn't required. I have a RAV4 diesel which I assume would tow it without too much trouble.
Cheers :-)
The next cheapest alternative, as you point out, is to store it at a commercial site away from close proximity to the sea, much as with caravans/motorhomes and are quite often found on some farm or other inland. The downside is distance to launch and does the storage have 24/7 access?
Storage at a boatyard will obviously be more expensive but more convenient and most yards will launch and recover for you, at a cost. Some yards will offer a Summer (April to September) deal and combining this with winter storage at home or as above, might be something worth considering. You will need to take into account the cost of mooring it after launch if you are intending to use it for more than a day, and day rates at most marinas in the south are eye-watering but it does allow easy access from shore, shore facilities (power/water/toilets/showers/etc), and access to/from the sea at most tides, plus you can sleep aboard or leave the boat safely tied alongside.
An alternative which has gained popularity in recent years is Dry Stack Berthing where your boat is stored in racks (in a shed) and launched /recovered for you, washed down and secured back on its rack. No trailer required! Many advantages to this albeit you obviously can't stay aboard without launching and berthing it somewhere afloat.
The option of keeping the boat afloat all year, either on a swinging mooring or river trots/pontoon, can be quite economical but does involve a dinghy to get to it plus the annual haul out, scrub, and re-antifoul is not without costs. Joining a club will get you a mooring (maybe a waiting list?) but can be the cheapest way and often established clubs are in very nice locations and many have facilities ashore plus a good number of willing hands should you need assistance. Advice normally comes inclusive with your annual membership too!!!!
Finally, annual marina berths are the most convenient if you are intending to use the boat a lot, but are also the most expensive for obvious reasons...
I think that covers all the options and I hope that helps the OP too?
Turtle Shed said:
Sorry to hijack the thread but something like that boat is very much what I am considering buying (size/budget/type), but I keep coming back to how/where to store the thing (I live on the Somerset/Devon border). Am I right in thinking that my options are:
1 - Expensive marina if I can find one (£4k/year)
2 - Somewhere up a river but still in the water (maybe £2,000/year?)
3 - In a boat yard near a river on a trailer and launch it as and when (maybe £1,500/year)
4 - In a boat yard not at a river (£1,000 year perhaps)
I accept that towing/launching is a pain, but going down that route does mean being able to take the boat to plenty of places and I assume anti-fouling isn't required. I have a RAV4 diesel which I assume would tow it without too much trouble.
Cheers :-)
£4k a year is the cheaper end of marina berthing.1 - Expensive marina if I can find one (£4k/year)
2 - Somewhere up a river but still in the water (maybe £2,000/year?)
3 - In a boat yard near a river on a trailer and launch it as and when (maybe £1,500/year)
4 - In a boat yard not at a river (£1,000 year perhaps)
I accept that towing/launching is a pain, but going down that route does mean being able to take the boat to plenty of places and I assume anti-fouling isn't required. I have a RAV4 diesel which I assume would tow it without too much trouble.
Cheers :-)
'Tidal' as in drying out at low tide may be cheaper, the South Coast is dearer than the Bristol Channel generally.
But the South Coast has a lot of creeks rivers and harbours, so there are more 'value' options perhaps.
I live on the South Coast and don't know the Bristol Channel market at all well though.
River or harbour moorings again 'deep water' costs more, various moorings are provided by harbour authorities, clubs, local councils and commercial operators. You can get good moorings for under £1000 a year, but most places have waiting lists and some only admit local residents to the waiting list. I was recently quoted about a 6 to 10 year wait for a club mooring.
'marina'; or 'walk ashore' mooring generally costs more, but otherwise you end up accessing your boat with a little rubber boat that you pay to keep ashore.
Some moorings are not insurable 12 months of the year, due to the weather etc. My current mooring is only good to the end of Oct, after that I'll need to put the boat ashore for winter or find a winter marina deal like I did last winter.
I recently looked into this, but from a 'raggie' perspective of having a 30-odd foot mast and a 5ft deep keel. If you are talking about a modest motorboat, lots of options open up with shallow water and passing under bridges to get to the sea etc. Also canals and rivers may offer some cruising ground.
Storage ashore, some places have 'dry stack' facilities where boats are launched when needed using a very big forklift. You might find a club that offers boat parking on a similar basis to what I do with my racing dinghy. I believe a mate of mine had a boat at 'sea angling club' some place East of Chichester, local knowledge is key.
Trailing and launching is more faff than most people imagine, slipways get busy at times, parking is usually grief, gets easier with a couple of mates on hand, but spend a few hours watching the comedy before going down this route IMHO.
North Devon and Bristol Channel is properly tidal, mate of mine described it as dried out for 3 hours, hosing East for 3 hours, nice for 2 hours, hosing West for 4 hours.....
Can I give a quick plug for the idea of spending a weekend doing RYA level 1&2 Powerboat training?
OutInTheShed said:
£4k a year is the cheaper end of marina berthing.
'Tidal' as in drying out at low tide may be cheaper, the South Coast is dearer than the Bristol Channel generally.
But the South Coast has a lot of creeks rivers and harbours, so there are more 'value' options perhaps.
I live on the South Coast and don't know the Bristol Channel market at all well though.
River or harbour moorings again 'deep water' costs more, various moorings are provided by harbour authorities, clubs, local councils and commercial operators. You can get good moorings for under £1000 a year, but most places have waiting lists and some only admit local residents to the waiting list. I was recently quoted about a 6 to 10 year wait for a club mooring.
'marina'; or 'walk ashore' mooring generally costs more, but otherwise you end up accessing your boat with a little rubber boat that you pay to keep ashore.
Some moorings are not insurable 12 months of the year, due to the weather etc. My current mooring is only good to the end of Oct, after that I'll need to put the boat ashore for winter or find a winter marina deal like I did last winter.
I recently looked into this, but from a 'raggie' perspective of having a 30-odd foot mast and a 5ft deep keel. If you are talking about a modest motorboat, lots of options open up with shallow water and passing under bridges to get to the sea etc. Also canals and rivers may offer some cruising ground.
Storage ashore, some places have 'dry stack' facilities where boats are launched when needed using a very big forklift. You might find a club that offers boat parking on a similar basis to what I do with my racing dinghy. I believe a mate of mine had a boat at 'sea angling club' some place East of Chichester, local knowledge is key.
Trailing and launching is more faff than most people imagine, slipways get busy at times, parking is usually grief, gets easier with a couple of mates on hand, but spend a few hours watching the comedy before going down this route IMHO.
North Devon and Bristol Channel is properly tidal, mate of mine described it as dried out for 3 hours, hosing East for 3 hours, nice for 2 hours, hosing West for 4 hours.....
Can I give a quick plug for the idea of spending a weekend doing RYA level 1&2 Powerboat training?
The bold bit....'Tidal' as in drying out at low tide may be cheaper, the South Coast is dearer than the Bristol Channel generally.
But the South Coast has a lot of creeks rivers and harbours, so there are more 'value' options perhaps.
I live on the South Coast and don't know the Bristol Channel market at all well though.
River or harbour moorings again 'deep water' costs more, various moorings are provided by harbour authorities, clubs, local councils and commercial operators. You can get good moorings for under £1000 a year, but most places have waiting lists and some only admit local residents to the waiting list. I was recently quoted about a 6 to 10 year wait for a club mooring.
'marina'; or 'walk ashore' mooring generally costs more, but otherwise you end up accessing your boat with a little rubber boat that you pay to keep ashore.
Some moorings are not insurable 12 months of the year, due to the weather etc. My current mooring is only good to the end of Oct, after that I'll need to put the boat ashore for winter or find a winter marina deal like I did last winter.
I recently looked into this, but from a 'raggie' perspective of having a 30-odd foot mast and a 5ft deep keel. If you are talking about a modest motorboat, lots of options open up with shallow water and passing under bridges to get to the sea etc. Also canals and rivers may offer some cruising ground.
Storage ashore, some places have 'dry stack' facilities where boats are launched when needed using a very big forklift. You might find a club that offers boat parking on a similar basis to what I do with my racing dinghy. I believe a mate of mine had a boat at 'sea angling club' some place East of Chichester, local knowledge is key.
Trailing and launching is more faff than most people imagine, slipways get busy at times, parking is usually grief, gets easier with a couple of mates on hand, but spend a few hours watching the comedy before going down this route IMHO.
North Devon and Bristol Channel is properly tidal, mate of mine described it as dried out for 3 hours, hosing East for 3 hours, nice for 2 hours, hosing West for 4 hours.....
Can I give a quick plug for the idea of spending a weekend doing RYA level 1&2 Powerboat training?
I would agree in the Solent area but go further west say, Plymouth, and a marina berth for a 6m motorboat is considerably cheaper and I don't consider the Yacht Haven Group as being at the 'cheap' end of the market!
Plus, it's a much nicer area to sail, less crowded, and not that far from a safe harbour even in a raggie, which I also own!
pequod said:
The bold bit....
I would agree in the Solent area but go further west say, Plymouth, and a marina berth for a 6m motorboat is considerably cheaper and I don't consider the Yacht Haven Group as being at the cheaper end of the market!
Plus, it's a much nicer area to sail, less crowded, and not that far from a safe harbour even in a raggie, which I also own!
Fair comment, people interested need to do their own research.I would agree in the Solent area but go further west say, Plymouth, and a marina berth for a 6m motorboat is considerably cheaper and I don't consider the Yacht Haven Group as being at the cheaper end of the market!
Plus, it's a much nicer area to sail, less crowded, and not that far from a safe harbour even in a raggie, which I also own!
Not forgetting that people often have a marina bill, plus a winter storage bill and craning in and out.
OutInTheShed said:
pequod said:
The bold bit....
I would agree in the Solent area but go further west say, Plymouth, and a marina berth for a 6m motorboat is considerably cheaper and I don't consider the Yacht Haven Group as being at the cheaper end of the market!
Plus, it's a much nicer area to sail, less crowded, and not that far from a safe harbour even in a raggie, which I also own!
Fair comment, people interested need to do their own research.I would agree in the Solent area but go further west say, Plymouth, and a marina berth for a 6m motorboat is considerably cheaper and I don't consider the Yacht Haven Group as being at the cheaper end of the market!
Plus, it's a much nicer area to sail, less crowded, and not that far from a safe harbour even in a raggie, which I also own!
Not forgetting that people often have a marina bill, plus a winter storage bill and craning in and out.
What you learn with boating at the sensible (not pissing money away for a marina berth even though 'we' only use the boat for Cowes Week) end of the sport is it's a constant battle to find a reasonable place where you want the boat versus the convenience of having it available at all times...
Might be wrong though?
Arnold Cunningham said:
Bill. What is your budget? People keep postin 12K boat's that'd be great, but my suggestions were all around what you could get that would be safe & reliable for 2K, that you'd be safe & happy to do the Swanage<=>Studland<=>Poole route in.
This is where we're at:Bill said:
That's the issue, I'm trying to get a feel for what's realistic and where the compromises come. I've been eyeing up <£10k boats (<£5k mostly...) but until recently we've had high teens tied up in a motorhome. I can't see us ever going above £20k.
I'm learning, so thanks for being gentle! I can see us wanting to go further afield though, but possibly not immediately. Thinking IoW or Portland.
Sorry it's all a bit vague!
Bill said:
I'm learning, so thanks for being gentle!
I can see us wanting to go further afield though, but possibly not immediately. Thinking IoW or Portland.
Sorry it's all a bit vague!
It's very confusing, and no mistake, when you dip your oar into the wider world of boating.I can see us wanting to go further afield though, but possibly not immediately. Thinking IoW or Portland.
Sorry it's all a bit vague!
Asking questions is the right way to go, as there is more than one way of achieving fun on the water, and despite the advice from the old salts (like me!) there are plenty of other options! Takes times to research but eventually a solution, or rejection, of the limits within budget/usage become clear, and commitment is paramount.
We are here to help massage the man maths, too!
Register1 said:
I guess on a good summer day, a 6 or 7 meter power cuddy, could cross the channel, and head up the coast to the Belgian and Dutch canals?
What would it take to cross La Manche.
The further East you go, the shorter the distance.What would it take to cross La Manche.
Smallest thing I've crossed the channel is about 26ft, from Portsmouth to Cherbourg under sail.
Taking about 18 hours at 4 or 5 knots.
People from my old club took a RIB across in 4 or 5 hours.
People often do this with a few boats in case of problems, but there should be no issue with a good forecast and a sound boat.
I think the idea used to be to buy fuel in Jersey where there's less tax, but it's still a lot dearer than taking the ferry.
Bill said:
pequod said:
We are here to help massage the man maths, too!
Always appreciated! 
You tell us you need a boat that will do X, and that you have saved up £100 to buy it with.
We tell you that you will need a boat that does X and also Y, and that it will cost £5,000.
When you've come to terms with that, we tell you that you will need your boat to do Z as well, and that it will cost you £20,000.
The full process takes several weeks, or possibly a few months, but in the end, with our help, you will sell your house, and quite possibly your wife and children too, in order to purchase a £250K ocean-going yacht.
[jeromekjeromemodeoff]
My opinions:
At that 2K line I thought you were looking, it would be difficult to find much that isn't knackered or too small. It'd be all about opportunistically finding something with a good engine on.
At the 10K line you start to have some good options - but be wary of expensive stuff that's devalued to that price point. You can be "wowed" by what's available and then be disappointed when it's knackered and have to spend the same again to get it into good order. (I did that!) Newer is almost always better. Salt is a bugger for knackering things.
I think if you intend the cuddy to be usable while under way - this is more of a fisher/work boat type layout. Slower boat typically, and FWIW, I think indoors while underway is fairly universally miserable - sea sickness all round. Whether yacht or powerboat. BUT, even while motoring outdoors, you do want good protection from spray. In the yachts, spray dodgers. On the power boats, a foredeck/windshield/the cuddy structure to hide behind at least. Hull design also as a big impact on this. And then also your driving style.
Anyway, there are lots of options for a nice cuddy, even comfortable, that is usable while at anchor etc, getting changed, even overnighting is possible.
I seemed to take heat above for responding to someone's 40 knots number - I dunno why. But either way, I think I said 25 knots was a good cruise speed.
For playing with toys, you really only need to be able to pull them at a maximum of about 20 knots (that's just about enough to monoski on)- but need enough grunt to be able to get, say, a skier up as well, while you also have a bunch of baggage and people still on board the boat. I'd say no less than 90hp here. While I also acknowledge, because I've done it, that it is possible get up on a pair of skiis with a 20hp on a small boat. But I think you want good all round usability. If skiiing is not necessary, only towing a ring, then you can go smaller. But also remember that when it roughs up a bit (and it can past swanage), sometimes you don't need the speed, but you do need the power. I ran out of power on a 50hp RIB once - doing rescue duty, trying to get to a dinghy in distress with 3 up on the RIB in proper snotty stuff in the solent. Getting "up" the swell I needed all the power we had.
Some ideal choices that I would say tick most boxes would be something like an Extreme 24. I regret not building one of these when I had a chance a few years back. With a 6.2MPI inboard motor in they were lovely. But I suspect still out of budget. I do know of one that went for 10K, but you wouldn't have wanted to own it.
There's also the Formula 242, a few are around. Quite nice again, but usually with big V8s in, although there was one in wales that got a diesel put in. But there is a problem with Formulas of this vintage - I had a Formula 292SR1 myself for a few years. Great boat...but......,
Anyway, at the price point you're looking, I think I'd universally say outboard powered. Doing the swanage<=>studland<=>poole loop, you don't need something too big.
However the obvious choice to get the most boat for the money at this price point is a RIB - but then you don't have the cuddy. But I think mostly even a hardboat at this price point is going to by and large be a "speedboat", rather than a sports cruiser. Although there is the odd thing that still pops up, such as that bayliner earlier.
For going from Poole to Portland or the IOW, I think you can go in anything, anywhere, opportunistically. But you just need to keep a close eye on the weather. I did Southampton to Poole for lunch anc back in my Formula and it was great. Just cruising along, no hurry. But if the tide turns and the chop and/or swell picks up, you want enough length to still be safe. For example, off hurst castle can go from almost flat calm to VICIOUS standing waves when the tide turns. I wouldn't want to be caught in a "small" boat in that. There's a reason why the bigger boats that run the CTC race are the fast ones. It's not just top speed (some of the small boats can hit similar top speeds), but also about their ability to keep going when it gets rough. So in a pleasure boating sense, this translates to something you can still safely and "comfortably" make it home in for the places you want to go.
At that 2K line I thought you were looking, it would be difficult to find much that isn't knackered or too small. It'd be all about opportunistically finding something with a good engine on.
At the 10K line you start to have some good options - but be wary of expensive stuff that's devalued to that price point. You can be "wowed" by what's available and then be disappointed when it's knackered and have to spend the same again to get it into good order. (I did that!) Newer is almost always better. Salt is a bugger for knackering things.
I think if you intend the cuddy to be usable while under way - this is more of a fisher/work boat type layout. Slower boat typically, and FWIW, I think indoors while underway is fairly universally miserable - sea sickness all round. Whether yacht or powerboat. BUT, even while motoring outdoors, you do want good protection from spray. In the yachts, spray dodgers. On the power boats, a foredeck/windshield/the cuddy structure to hide behind at least. Hull design also as a big impact on this. And then also your driving style.
Anyway, there are lots of options for a nice cuddy, even comfortable, that is usable while at anchor etc, getting changed, even overnighting is possible.
I seemed to take heat above for responding to someone's 40 knots number - I dunno why. But either way, I think I said 25 knots was a good cruise speed.
For playing with toys, you really only need to be able to pull them at a maximum of about 20 knots (that's just about enough to monoski on)- but need enough grunt to be able to get, say, a skier up as well, while you also have a bunch of baggage and people still on board the boat. I'd say no less than 90hp here. While I also acknowledge, because I've done it, that it is possible get up on a pair of skiis with a 20hp on a small boat. But I think you want good all round usability. If skiiing is not necessary, only towing a ring, then you can go smaller. But also remember that when it roughs up a bit (and it can past swanage), sometimes you don't need the speed, but you do need the power. I ran out of power on a 50hp RIB once - doing rescue duty, trying to get to a dinghy in distress with 3 up on the RIB in proper snotty stuff in the solent. Getting "up" the swell I needed all the power we had.
Some ideal choices that I would say tick most boxes would be something like an Extreme 24. I regret not building one of these when I had a chance a few years back. With a 6.2MPI inboard motor in they were lovely. But I suspect still out of budget. I do know of one that went for 10K, but you wouldn't have wanted to own it.
There's also the Formula 242, a few are around. Quite nice again, but usually with big V8s in, although there was one in wales that got a diesel put in. But there is a problem with Formulas of this vintage - I had a Formula 292SR1 myself for a few years. Great boat...but......,
Anyway, at the price point you're looking, I think I'd universally say outboard powered. Doing the swanage<=>studland<=>poole loop, you don't need something too big.
However the obvious choice to get the most boat for the money at this price point is a RIB - but then you don't have the cuddy. But I think mostly even a hardboat at this price point is going to by and large be a "speedboat", rather than a sports cruiser. Although there is the odd thing that still pops up, such as that bayliner earlier.
For going from Poole to Portland or the IOW, I think you can go in anything, anywhere, opportunistically. But you just need to keep a close eye on the weather. I did Southampton to Poole for lunch anc back in my Formula and it was great. Just cruising along, no hurry. But if the tide turns and the chop and/or swell picks up, you want enough length to still be safe. For example, off hurst castle can go from almost flat calm to VICIOUS standing waves when the tide turns. I wouldn't want to be caught in a "small" boat in that. There's a reason why the bigger boats that run the CTC race are the fast ones. It's not just top speed (some of the small boats can hit similar top speeds), but also about their ability to keep going when it gets rough. So in a pleasure boating sense, this translates to something you can still safely and "comfortably" make it home in for the places you want to go.
Edited by Arnold Cunningham on Wednesday 11th May 12:54
5K & Absolute Scrap. It'll end up being thrown away : https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/boat/2021-suns...
This looks tidier than I expected : https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/boat/2004-shet...
However, it is an old motor. Looks to be a late 80's motor at a guess.
This looks tidier than I expected : https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/boat/2004-shet...
However, it is an old motor. Looks to be a late 80's motor at a guess.
Thanks for that above, very interesting! Part of me would love a V8 monster but I suspect it fails the noise test.
Like this one: https://www.gumtree.com/p/boats/wilson-flyer-/1432...
Although the MFs that have been posted have me thinking about the man maths options.
Arnold Cunningham said:
This looks tidier than I expected : https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/boat/2004-shet...
However, it is an old motor. Looks to be a late 80's motor at a guess.
That's the sort of thing I had in mind, although I'm not convinced about how they've done the cabin.However, it is an old motor. Looks to be a late 80's motor at a guess.
Like this one: https://www.gumtree.com/p/boats/wilson-flyer-/1432...
Although the MFs that have been posted have me thinking about the man maths options.
Bill said:
That's the sort of thing I had in mind, although I'm not convinced about how they've done the cabin.
Like this one: https://www.gumtree.com/p/boats/wilson-flyer-/1432...
Although the MFs that have been posted have me thinking about the man maths options.
Actually - the old formulas had a "silent thunder" swim platform - which was a silencer. Like this one: https://www.gumtree.com/p/boats/wilson-flyer-/1432...
Although the MFs that have been posted have me thinking about the man maths options.
It's not too hard to get the V8's nice and quiet. In fact, the small blocks onthe Extreme 24 would happily run the exhaust through the prop - so were really quiet if you wanted them do be. Most people had switchable exhsust so quiet in the marina, but could open them up once out on the open water.
I would say spend much of the money on the best & newest engine. (Only much, because you also need to spend enough on the hull to make sure it;s structurally sound too - e.g. the transom isn't rotten)
Soft furnishings are easy enough to DIY at a later date if you wish.
That WF:
Pros :
Still a 2 stoke, but a yammie 75. A good motor
Also has 2 hp Aux motor included - good to have a spare.
Cons :
Lives on the water - almost certainly used for fishing, so you never know how beaten up is it.
I would consider changing the aux to a 5hp short shaft - useful then on a tender too, but with enough grunt to get you to safety if the main engine fails.
2hp will be a bit marginal to "make progress" if you did need to use it as a backup.
Id'd say worth a look. Those yamaha's are good, so even though it's old, they are still good motors. And it's 5K not 10K price tag.
Enough HP to give you enough speed for towing toys etc and could certainly pull up a wakeboarder or normal waterskier. Might be a bit marginal for a mono skier.
And while I've never personally been on a wilson flyer - they do seem to be the "go to" boat for fishing - so it's fair to assume they must be pretty well put together. I imagine they're a fairly hard ride with the hull design, but with the cuddy, will be well protected from spray coming over the front.
Arnold Cunningham said:
5K & Absolute Scrap. It'll end up being thrown away : https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/boat/2021-suns...
It's cheap because there's no engine/drive! However. Some further thoughts from me:
I disagree with a comment earlier that a wheelhouse boat like a MF leads to seasickness. I'm not prone to it but my wife is less tolerant to pitching and yawing at anchor and for her there's no difference in the MF to being outdoors on our previous cuddy. Underway, it's got to be pretty rough to start upsetting stomachs and the same applies. Windows open, sunroof open, rear doors open, it's hardly being stuck in a stuffy box.
With boats, you're largely paying for the engine with a boat attached to it. However, not all engines and configurations are the same and they have different ongoing costs.
I favour a diesel engine on a shaft. It's simple, really cheap to maintain and diesel is readily available in the marine world. for example, my 210bhp 6 cyl diesel is about £400 a year to service.
You can get inboard diesels on outdrives which is more manoueverable but the outdrive requires annual servicing too which is not insignificant.
Outboards, I've never had one (other than an electric on the tender).
Badda said:
I disagree with a comment earlier that a wheelhouse boat like a MF leads to seasickness. I'm not prone to it but my wife is less tolerant to pitching and yawing at anchor and for her there's no difference in the MF to being outdoors on our previous cuddy. Underway, it's got to be pretty rough to start upsetting stomachs and the same applies. Windows open, sunroof open, rear doors open, it's hardly being stuck in a stuffy box.
That's fair comment. I think if I generalise, I stand by my comment even though I can think of exceptions. Certainly, for example, something that falls more into the "Gin Palace" category, or even some of the enclosed wheel house yachts also look like a very comfortable place to spend time. Or anything that we could drescribe as a "Gentlemans Motor Yacht" - ahh, lovely.
Badda said:
It's cheap because there's no engine/drive!
However. Some further thoughts from me:
I disagree with a comment earlier that a wheelhouse boat like a MF leads to seasickness. I'm not prone to it but my wife is less tolerant to pitching and yawing at anchor and for her there's no difference in the MF to being outdoors on our previous cuddy. Underway, it's got to be pretty rough to start upsetting stomachs and the same applies. Windows open, sunroof open, rear doors open, it's hardly being stuck in a stuffy box.
With boats, you're largely paying for the engine with a boat attached to it. However, not all engines and configurations are the same and they have different ongoing costs.
I favour a diesel engine on a shaft. It's simple, really cheap to maintain and diesel is readily available in the marine world. for example, my 210bhp 6 cyl diesel is about £400 a year to service.
You can get inboard diesels on outdrives which is more manoueverable but the outdrive requires annual servicing too which is not insignificant.
Outboards, I've never had one (other than an electric on the tender).
The Wilson flyer above is the same price as that sunseeker. That was precisely my point.However. Some further thoughts from me:
I disagree with a comment earlier that a wheelhouse boat like a MF leads to seasickness. I'm not prone to it but my wife is less tolerant to pitching and yawing at anchor and for her there's no difference in the MF to being outdoors on our previous cuddy. Underway, it's got to be pretty rough to start upsetting stomachs and the same applies. Windows open, sunroof open, rear doors open, it's hardly being stuck in a stuffy box.
With boats, you're largely paying for the engine with a boat attached to it. However, not all engines and configurations are the same and they have different ongoing costs.
I favour a diesel engine on a shaft. It's simple, really cheap to maintain and diesel is readily available in the marine world. for example, my 210bhp 6 cyl diesel is about £400 a year to service.
You can get inboard diesels on outdrives which is more manoueverable but the outdrive requires annual servicing too which is not insignificant.
Outboards, I've never had one (other than an electric on the tender).
Diesels and shafts - yeah. Different kind of boat though. Either slower, or bigger, or both. Unless it's a hydroplane.
To double down on my gentlemans motoryacht comment - there certainly are some beautiful boats.
And even a "gin palace" with shafts are much better at handling long term immersion than outdrives, but are also a much less compact install. Pros and Cons of each.
Actual servicing of a mercruiser bravo drive - minimal. Basically an annual oil change and then check the top pivot and side pivots aren't too wobbly.
Ability of a mercruiser bravo drive to not fizz away if kept in the water - also minimal. It is a sure thing that it will corrode to buggery.
Mine lives on my driveway though and is OK. Mostly because it doesn't get enough use.
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