Weekender boats
Discussion
We popped down to Henley on Thames today and saw some lovely boats about. It's an itch I've wanted to scratch for about 10years. My wife commented on a couple and I saw an opportunity - so I asked her outright - fancy something like that or the weekend?? Gobsmacked by her answer 'yes' to supported by screams from my 3yr old daughter 'daddy buy a boat daddy but a boat'
Intention would be to buy something that we can spend one or two weekends a month in and enjoy some relaxing times. Two that really caught my eye were a Broom and a Sunseeker - not sure on models but they looked of good quality (to my untrained eyes)
What sort if size would we need for the four us? Two adults, 3yr old and 8month old? Intention would be to keep for around a year to see how much use we get out of it.
How addictive / ruinous will it be?
Intention would be to buy something that we can spend one or two weekends a month in and enjoy some relaxing times. Two that really caught my eye were a Broom and a Sunseeker - not sure on models but they looked of good quality (to my untrained eyes)
What sort if size would we need for the four us? Two adults, 3yr old and 8month old? Intention would be to keep for around a year to see how much use we get out of it.
How addictive / ruinous will it be?
Edited by W12GT on Saturday 8th August 21:28
W12GT said:
We popped down to Henley on Thames today and saw some lovely boats about. It's an itch I've wanted to scratch for about 10years. My wife commented on a couple and I saw an opportunity - so I asked her outright - fancy something like that or the weekend?? Gobsmacked by her answer 'yes' to supported by screams from my 3yr old daughter 'daddy buy a boat daddy but a boat'
Intention would be to buy something that we can spend one or two weekends a month in and enjoy some relaxing times. Two that really caught my eye were a Broom and a Sunseeker - not sure on models but they looked of good quality (to my untrained eyes)
What sort if size would we need for the four us? Two adults, 3yr old and 8month old? Intention would be to keep for around a year to see how much use we get out of it.
How addictive / ruinous will it be?
Umm, I hate to pee on your fried potatoes here, but something the size of a Broom or a Sunseeker is not really a sensible choice of first boat. They're big, unwieldy and can do massive damage to people, your wallet and other boats if you cock it up. Which you will do! I know this, as every one of us who own and sail/drive boats has made more than their fair share of monumental screw ups!Intention would be to buy something that we can spend one or two weekends a month in and enjoy some relaxing times. Two that really caught my eye were a Broom and a Sunseeker - not sure on models but they looked of good quality (to my untrained eyes)
What sort if size would we need for the four us? Two adults, 3yr old and 8month old? Intention would be to keep for around a year to see how much use we get out of it.
How addictive / ruinous will it be?
Edited by W12GT on Saturday 8th August 21:28
Having seen a lot of people go and spank a load of money on an expensive boat that they don't know how to use, then lose confidence after a few "incidents" and the boat just gets left to rot as they try and sell the thing (a much, much more difficult thing than buying!)
Then I'd suggest getting something smaller and easier to handle initially and just enjoy getting out on the water.
Driving a boat isn't rocket science, but it is a skill that needs to be developed.
I'm assuming you've already considered getting trained up and doing something like the RYA powerboat courses, they're a great introduction to it.
Brooms are fairly hefty boats compared to Sunseekers, which in the nicest possible terms are "lightly built" I prefer Brooms myself if deciding between the two only, but there are a lot of other options as well.
What budget?
What sort of trips are you going on?
How many berths?
Sea going or just pootling on rivers?
There are a lot of options out there.
I think we will get more use from an Inlander as we live in Hertfordshire so at least 2hr from the sea on a good run. Something that will cruise a a decent rate - certainly not a narrowboat.
As its a first buy and I want to see how much use we will get out of it Id like to keep it under £100k if possible.
As its a first buy and I want to see how much use we will get out of it Id like to keep it under £100k if possible.
Well, I'm an inland fan, being on my second cabin cruiser - and the speed limit on rivers/canals is around 4-7 mph. So if you want speed, you'll have to go offshore.
I think £100K is crackers for a first boat. As IforB says, they are not cars. They need a heck sight more looking after and mechanical knowledge, mooring fees, winterising etc. Don't buy a boat thinking it's a floating sports car that you can just leave parked up for six months in the winter. £25K will get you a perfectly decent 27-30 footer with two cabins.
That said, you're well placed for rivers - the Thames, the Broads, the Fens, and of course the Lea & Stort on your doorstep.
The hardest part of boat ownership I find is trying not to go anywhere. Once you set a destination and time you may as well use the car... I took my boat along the River Cam last week - cruised for an hour to the middle of nowhere, had lunch, beer, admired the cows and swans, pondered some DIY and then it was 5.30pm and time to head back... the less you do the more it is.
NB Yes, a hire boat holiday would be a good idea!
I think £100K is crackers for a first boat. As IforB says, they are not cars. They need a heck sight more looking after and mechanical knowledge, mooring fees, winterising etc. Don't buy a boat thinking it's a floating sports car that you can just leave parked up for six months in the winter. £25K will get you a perfectly decent 27-30 footer with two cabins.
That said, you're well placed for rivers - the Thames, the Broads, the Fens, and of course the Lea & Stort on your doorstep.
The hardest part of boat ownership I find is trying not to go anywhere. Once you set a destination and time you may as well use the car... I took my boat along the River Cam last week - cruised for an hour to the middle of nowhere, had lunch, beer, admired the cows and swans, pondered some DIY and then it was 5.30pm and time to head back... the less you do the more it is.
NB Yes, a hire boat holiday would be a good idea!
W12GT said:
I think we will get more use from an Inlander as we live in Hertfordshire so at least 2hr from the sea on a good run. Something that will cruise a a decent rate - certainly not a narrowboat.
As its a first buy and I want to see how much use we will get out of it Id like to keep it under £100k if possible.
Inland waterways have a lot of speed limits as mentioned (which do get policed!) so if you want to go fast, then you have to get out into the sea. However, this brings a lot more risk and chances of getting into serious trouble.As its a first buy and I want to see how much use we will get out of it Id like to keep it under £100k if possible.
£100k is a massive amount to spank on a first boat. You can get something fantastic for that, but if you get it wrong and buy the wrong boat, then you'll be struggling to get that back any time soon.
Definitely hire boats first and learn what you want and what you don't want. It'll pay massive dividends and hopefully help avoid some expensive stuff ups.
Nearly all of the tidal East coast rivers have 4/6/8kn speed restrictions too - it's not just inland waters that have policed limits. With the exception of some areas of the river Blackwater and Colne the OP will have to be least 200m off the low tide line and right out of the rivers alltogether if he really wants to spank it.
suggest you ask on the Thames forum on YBW - http://www.ybw.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?66-The-...
W12GT said:
I have done a bit of research and realised that there are decent sized boats for less than half my initial thoughts. This can only be a good thing.....
So are Sealine any good? If so what variants are best?
IIRC they went bust 2-3 years ago, but that's no reason no to buy a s/h one.So are Sealine any good? If so what variants are best?
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