27-30 ft, single engine, river cruiser? ideas?

Broom 30s are a classic in the same vein as a Freeman. Looked after you will never lose a penny and you have the prestige of owning a boat that everyone acknowledges as quality. Every boat is a compromise and for what you want and given your budget you will never find a better boat. A Madeira is OK but a Broom it ain't.
 
apollo said:
Its fine as a river boat, but very under powered if you were considering a tidal jaunt down to London. And as others have said will be cramped for a family. Aft Cockpit Madeira would have more space although the engine options are still the same low power BMC 1.5 diesel
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In over a year and a half we have only been out once all together, and have never had an overnight as a family... kids are of an age where they have other commitments all over the place so it is usually my wife and I and one of little uns'.. I do have the odd weekend away usually with a mate.. and we do have the odd day where we go cruising with friends so max 5 on the boat for a day.. I really dont want to over commit considering our usage and the fact that we dont use as a weekender at present.. we have a freeman 22 and she is fab, just a little lacking in space and facilities for days out and if we did want to do overnights.. this is difficult :(

How slow is this boat, slower than my Freeman?
 
prof pat pending said:
It might be worth you taking a trip to Abingdon (can't be too far from you)

He has a Freeman27, a Seamaster 30 aft cabin and a broads cruiser there
http://www.premiermarineltd.co.uk/

Might give you an idea of the style of boat you are looking for without having to travel about too much
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Unfortunately they don't make it quite clear which boats are laying at Abingdon although one can read between the lines and take a calculated guess.
 
I've seen the freeman and the seamaster (not close enough to pass an opinion on them) can't say that I've spoted the other, but then I've not really been looking
for it

Edit ... looking again, the photo of it is at Abingdon, so I guess its still there
 
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boatone said:
Stop yattering about it on here and looking at ads etc :D Get out there and look at actual boats. Every one you look at will teach you something new and Sooner or later you will come across one and just know that its the right one.
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To be fair that's how we ended up with the Freeman, just a feeling you get when you see a boat and look around... others in her price range were like margarine tubs... :-)
 
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GRP hull and wooden topsides was never the best of marriages. I know of the boat through a friend and he has had a bit of a battle with it over the years. Was also a liveaboard.
 
Best buy a boat that has been loved. You will be waaay over budget otherwise!

Trust me on this one, I have bought a lot of boats over the last few years, and you just can't beat a nice shiny boat with loads of big fat bills in the sales wallet!

Think resale too: A few models within your budget hold their value very well and sell fast, which offers you a bit of future-proofing.

Otherwise, buy a sound project boat for silly money, and spend the rest of your budget making it good. It's always a bit of a gamble, and you run the risk of paying for previous owners neglect down the line a bit.

You really can't beat the space on a Broom 30 though. Unlike every other boat I can think of at this size range, you get six berths in three cabins, and two heads, along with a flybridge! Thats seriously luxurious if you think about it, and the built quality is quite something.

At 30', it's going to cost a chunk less in marina fees compared to the 32-33' stuff, and I can't think of anything even at that level which offers all that.....
 
No Regrets said:
Best buy a boat that has been loved. You will be waaay over budget otherwise!

Trust me on this one, I have bought a lot of boats over the last few years, and you just can't beat a nice shiny boat with loads of big fat bills in the sales wallet!

Think resale too: A few models within your budget hold their value very well and sell fast, which offers you a bit of future-proofing.

Otherwise, buy a sound project boat for silly money, and spend the rest of your budget making it good. It's always a bit of a gamble, and you run the risk of paying for previous owners neglect down the line a bit.

You really can't beat the space on a Broom 30 though. Unlike every other boat I can think of at this size range, you get six berths in three cabins, and two heads, along with a flybridge! Thats seriously luxurious if you think about it, and the built quality is quite something.

At 30', it's going to cost a chunk less in marina fees compared to the 32-33' stuff, and I can't think of anything even at that level which offers all that.....
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Fully concur.:) Dual steering is a must in my book. I have never used the inside steering position. A canopy for the o/s steering pod effectively adds another room. Think of it as a conservatory.:D
 
dash300 said:
Fully concur.:) Dual steering is a must in my book.
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As long as you are not too isolated from the rest of the boat...it can get quite lonely up there on the wrong boat....
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I suppose you might see that as a bonus :)
 
The rest of the boat tends to be upstairs too!

There is a handy window on No Regrets, a large opening sunroof, so speaking to the downstairs people isn't a problem anyway! You can easily stand on the side decks and chat, it's rather nice there too!
 
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