Bill's boating paradox...

[Bill]

To save distracting the shoestring sailor thread...

We're near Swanage and figure it's mad living here and not having a boat.

We're after something to take kids & kayaks/paddle boards further afield to access more interesting areas. For example, we can get to Old Harry's rocks from Swanage or Studland but it's a slog with a pair of double kayaks and towing one more. Kimmeridge is fine, if a bit limited but Lulworth is a slog getting everything to the water, Worbarrow is a mission and a half!

And we'd like to tow a ringo, and even a skier... Want a cabin (cos girls...) And he icing on the cake is that SWMBO doesn't want noisy!

Plus we're both tight and I'm wary of ending up with a money pit.

Experience wise we do a fair bit of sea kayaking, I have done a sailing day skipper ticket but not used it and holidays as a kid involved clueless use of small boats in Cornwall a fair bit. I plan to do PB2 and my VHF ticket this year.

[Bill]

Looks ideal, but we're looking at the budget end of the market.

[Bill]

FWIW I've been eyeing up this kind of thing: https://www.gumtree.com/p/boats/shetland-sealark-1...



Budget is tough. We have savings but are tight, so it's a question of what do I need to spend to get something that's not completely st. And then I need to sell it to the sensible half of the family.

I think the cabin is non-negotiable, wife and daughter (and to a degree older son) all feel the cold. I know there's a good clothing argument, but they'd want both!

The Merry Fisher linked does look ideal, smarter than I was thinking if anything. Had use of a Dory before and wondered if that would work.

And a SIB with 20hp outboard. We were utter numpties in hindsight.

[Bill]

pequod said:

Having said that, for where he wants to use it plus towing toys, a large RIB would be ideal!

We're going to hire a RIB at some point (all seem to be based in the Solent though), need to crack on with the course.

[Bill]

Simpo Two said:

I can't imagine your wife and kids would be very happy crammed into the tiny basic cabin of that Shetland. At the least have a WC and some cooking facilities.

Good points all, particularly this bit. We've been muttering about this for a year or so and she's still not massively convinced. I suspect the sticking point is going to be not spending enough so they (and by extension, we...) are all miserable.

Food for thought. Think we'll have to rent a RIB and make a decision.

[Bill]

Just thinking the thread title's wrong. This should be my boating moon on a stick thread!

Anyway, wondering what people's thoughts are if I ditch the skiing. (But maybe replace the cocking about element with a SIB/cat?)

Is something with a cabin and half decent cruising speed (I don't know what's realistic TBH...) a prospect?

[Bill]

pequod said:

....but I'm not the one who needs to spend time doing the research!

Really appreciate all the input, there's a bewildering range of options and any pointers are helpful.

[Bill]

Simpo Two said:

Apols if you already said it, but what is the most £ you'd feel comfortable with tied up in a boat? You need a budget.

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.

Simpo Two said:

You may also find that the way you actually use the boat is not the same as how you thought you'd use it - but you don't know that yet

My concern is we hardly use it at all!

[Bill]

Simpo Two said:

Interesting that you had a motorhome. My boating knowledge is inland (rivers and canals) where boats are essentially floating motorhomes. Have you considered a boat as a motorhome replacement, or do you want a zippy little rubber thing where the first wave bounces your sandwiches overboard?

Maybe the best thing is to start with £5K, see how you get on and how you use it, then you can upgrade (or not) to a £10K or even £20K one next time.

I know we can't afford a boat as a MH equivalent! We got rid of it because the kids have got big (and smelly). Definitely looking at day boats.

[Bill]

pequod said:

Are the kayaks/boards inflatable types??

They are, apart from 1 that I expect we'd do without.

[Bill]

LFB531 said:

Sorry, did I miss a need mentioned for the boat to do 40 knots somewhere? I very much doubt there are many options with a cabin at this sort of budget that'll do that safely and/or comfortably.

Not from me!

[Bill]

LFB531 said:

Ref my earlier suggestion to the OP, I just spotted the kind of thing I was wittering about on the 'Bay. 19' with a V6 inboard at 190bhp, a little cuddy to hide or change in, a trailer and pretty tidy. £12k. I know nothing about Maxum although there are plenty pottering around the Solent.



I'm a RIB fan but that's quite a smart thing for the money.

That does look good, although less "practical" looking than I envisaged. I'm quite wary of inboards to, although not for any specific reason.

In other news I have a PB2 course booked with eldest son, and SWMBO said "we're just going to have to do it" or words to that effect. Budget discussions are ongoing...

[Bill]

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]

pequod said:

We are here to help massage the man maths, too!

Always appreciated!

[Bill]

Thanks for that above, very interesting! Part of me would love a V8 monster but I suspect it fails the noise test.

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.

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]

[Bill]

Not yet, but I have found this as a jack of all trades oddball: https://www.gumtree.com/p/boats/macgregor-x-boat-/...

[Bill]

pequod said:

Not sure it fits the brief either?

No, but that's mostly because I'd written off day sailers as too slow and had no idea such a thing was possible.

[Bill]

That's adding a level of complication... Prices are inflated post covid, but we're facing a cost of living crisis/recession. And we can go on holiday now the inflationary pressure is easing.

[Bill]

Simpo Two said:

But that's one week a year and has to be booked in advance. You can go on a boat whenever you like, at any time. Furthermore a boat is an asset you can sell if you have to, but money spent on two tickets to Malaga and a cheap hotel is money gone...

True, but I'm wondering how much of the boat demand was driven by people with spare cash and time who now have less of both.