Advice on Buying a Boat needed

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wavering

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Does anybody know of a book or online guide that will help me decide which boat to buy and where to keep her? I am in Manchester and am in a position (for the first time in my quite long life) to buy a boat which I would use for off shore cruising and maybe trips to Ireland, Scotland and other foreign countries. I fancy something really solid and reliable that would cope with serious weather but quite fast ( eg 25mph max) Accom for two most of the time but four if pushed. Some sails as well might be nice but twin diesels too ... thanks very much in anticipation
 
Visit 1 W.H.Smiths Pile yourself up with loads of boat mags.
Visit 2 A chandlery like Mailspeed in Warrington (Also on line)
Visit 3 www. Googly type search engines for boaty stuff.
Visit 4 Back here when you,ve devoured all the info you can to be further confused and advised.

You seem to have an aim for the type of boating you wan,t to do which is a good start.
"Something really solid" etc is a good start.
There are many expierienced boaty,s on here.
There are many on here with a lengthy time under their belts spent sailing and motoring all sorts of craft.
And of the many there are many still looking for "The Perfect Boat"
If you crack it first time let us know!!

Anyway ,a warm welcome and good luck.

Oh and where do you plan keeping said Vessel once aquired?
Relevant question, ref Your Scottish, Irish,ForeignCountry aspirations.
 
you have the beginnings of a list there already, why don;t you go to one of the boat shows, and have a look at some of the boats there, You may have to compromise a bit but you have a starting list,
Big boats handle the weather better than small ones,
25 knots , you are looking at a plaining boat.
accommodation requirements will not be a problem.


Do you want a good to live on for extended cruising . ie mod cons

Is fuel consumption a worry.

can you get a berth in the area you require.

would a motor sailor be an option, not a 25 knot boat [but may be wrong]


Go to a big dealer or boat show and ask lots of questions.
 
Many thanks. Done WhSmith and Google already (which is why I am here)! Will probaly go the hamble Used boat show to get more experience:

http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20060708144805ibinews.html

Is it worth going from people's experience?

I suspect that sails/twin diesels/25mph are not really compatible but maybe a motor sailer would be a good start but that means a much lower top speed I guess? I think having some sails makes life more interesting but as somebody who likes to keep in the dry and warm maybe that is a little too romantic. My sailing experience is limited to Norfolk Broads (in both yachts with no engine thro to cruisers) and a 36hour sail to France in a real yacht ( very cold even in May)

Fuel consumption: I guess one mile per gallon as I have been quoted for big boats may be a little offputtingso it is a factor

Creature coforts: would be nice to spend a week in comfort

As to where to keep it near Manchester I have no idea! North Wales? Glasson Dock? Guidance much appreciated
 
Both suitable places to keep a boat.
If and when you need advice on the best place, ref the aforementioned,plenty available.
You have a real interesting, nice task ahead of you.
Go to it!
 
Exciting times, buying a boat, so good luck.

I live in Cheshire and have boat in N Wales - more palces to go on day trips as North West based marinas only offer turn left or turn right.
 
> Does anybody know of a book or online guide that will help me decide which boat to buy and where to keep her?

Most certainly I would not consider this without a very great deal of thought. I ordered mine last February, following getting on for ten years of regular readership of one or other of the moter boat magazines. I've also tried to monitor this forum almost since it started (yes i know it states I registerd last year)

Like you I had dreams of a twin screw - not for safety, but for ease of handling - a week on the Norfolk Broads had taught me just how difficult a single screwed boat can be to handle.

Last Autumn my wife and I did a two day tour of the South coast talking to brokers, and anyone else who'd give advice. We found this a great help. And as a result I gave up the idea of twin engines. Looking at prices, it appeared S/H prices did not drop over much from new, so as we've become enamoured with the common rail diesel engine in our Astra, that was another reason to go for a new boat.

I'm not at all keen in what I call wasted space, i.e. an open stern sitting area, so this meant we should try and find a boat with an aft cabin.

We took delivery of our Nimbus 'Familia' 280 a little over two months ago, and really are exceptionally pleased with it. Like you we'd had virtually no previous experience of boating. On the other hand we've done a massive amount of sea travel - just one example being a trip of to Tory Island in what one crew member told me was a force seven. Don't for the Lords sake get a boat and find you cannot use it due to proneness to sickness!

Philip
 
Much recently said about first boats on here and the over-riding impression seems to be that your first boat only suffices for about a year, after which time you've worked out what you really needed in the first place.
On that basis I wouldn't plan to spend too much or to pay over the odds as you likely won't be keeping it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Much recently said about first boats on here and the over-riding impression seems to be that your first boat only suffices for about a year, after which time you've worked out what you really needed in the first place.
On that basis I wouldn't plan to spend too much or to pay over the odds as you likely won't be keeping it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds right - not to mention may decide boating is not for you .. so may start with something modest eg

http://www.boatquest.com/FramedPages/boa...mp;fromsearch=1
 
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