Do I want a boat?
Discussion
I am thinking of spending more time in Italy.
I've never really "got" boats, but I hired one last week and travelled along the coast of Calabria and I can rather see the point of it now.
For a first boat I'd seek out something slow and inexpensive that would carry 4-5 people. If I enjoy it and get the use from it I might buy something better when I've stopped bumping into quays.
I would use it for exploring the coastline, sunbathing and fishing.
I have given no thought to the practicalities whatsoever, but I am quite sure that there are experienced people here who might advise. Encourage or flame as you see fit chaps please...
I've never really "got" boats, but I hired one last week and travelled along the coast of Calabria and I can rather see the point of it now.
For a first boat I'd seek out something slow and inexpensive that would carry 4-5 people. If I enjoy it and get the use from it I might buy something better when I've stopped bumping into quays.
I would use it for exploring the coastline, sunbathing and fishing.
I have given no thought to the practicalities whatsoever, but I am quite sure that there are experienced people here who might advise. Encourage or flame as you see fit chaps please...
Edited by So on Saturday 31st August 20:01
pablo said:
Misread the post! Yeah go for it, I’d do some nav/RYA courses etc here in the UK but it would be enormous fun in the Mediterranean
What’s the budget?!
You're right, I need to do some training. I've been on the sea as a windsurfer a lot in the past, but it's not the same thing.What’s the budget?!
Budget? Will £25k get me something decent as a starting point? I'll invest more later when I am more experienced.
The thing to consider with boats is that the purchase price can be very deceiving, it's the running costs which are the real expense. The reason you will find lots of cheap second-hand boats around is that owners tend to massively underestimate the running costs. Boats spend their lives floating in a highly corrosive liquid while being roasted by UV light from the Sun (especially in the Med). It is a harsh environment which really takes it's toll and unless you stay on top of the maintenance it will cost you. The biggest killer of boats is lack of use. Do you plan on keeping it in the UK or Italy? How often will you actually sail it? Might you be better just continuing to rent?
Boats are fun, hemorrhaging cash for a toy you never use is not.
Boats are fun, hemorrhaging cash for a toy you never use is not.
LimaDelta said:
The thing to consider with boats is that the purchase price can be very deceiving, it's the running costs which are the real expense. The reason you will find lots of cheap second-hand boats around is that owners tend to massively underestimate the running costs. Boats spend their lives floating in a highly corrosive liquid while being roasted by UV light from the Sun (especially in the Med). It is a harsh environment which really takes it's toll and unless you stay on top of the maintenance it will cost you. The biggest killer of boats is lack of use. Do you plan on keeping it in the UK or Italy? How often will you actually sail it? Might you be better just continuing to rent?
Boats are fun, hemorrhaging cash for a toy you never use is not.
What you say doesn't surprise me at all. It would be kept in Italy and I anticipate using it a lot, during the warmer months. Not so much during the winter.Boats are fun, hemorrhaging cash for a toy you never use is not.
I will look into hiring definitely.The one I hired recently was a centre console affair and not brilliant. I am sure it is possible to hire better boats.
LimaDelta said:
So said:
Probably in the Bay of Naples and no, I have no one there to keep an eye on it. So I would have to pay someone to do it.
I'm just off Capri at the moment. A bit grey today.Are you on a boat?
I can see the appeal and looked at something for nipping up and down the river Severn. I went to Upton Marina and got talking to a couple of mechanics who discreetly followed me outside and suggested I think long and hard about it. I was informed that BOAT is short for bung on another thousand.
It was then I decided to go down the rental route and calculated how much better off I would be.
It was then I decided to go down the rental route and calculated how much better off I would be.
Monkeylegend said:
LimaDelta said:
Large yacht.
Out of interest how many days a year do you actually spend sailing as opposed to being moored up in a marina somewhere?But could I politely direct you to the Superyacht thread rather than taking this one off-topic. Happy to answer (almost) any questions but don't want to hijack the OP.
LimaDelta said:
Monkeylegend said:
LimaDelta said:
Large yacht.
Out of interest how many days a year do you actually spend sailing as opposed to being moored up in a marina somewhere?But could I politely direct you to the Superyacht thread rather than taking this one off-topic. Happy to answer (almost) any questions but don't want to hijack the OP.
LimaDelta said:
But could I politely direct you to the Superyacht thread rather than taking this one off-topic. Happy to answer (almost) any questions but don't want to hijack the OP.
Thanks LD. How easy / cost effective is it to hire a decent boat then? I don't think paying tourist hire rates would be viable over an extended period.
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