Advice on which boat to buy

[Bella Sea Dog]

Hi there - new to the forum & new to boats (haven't got one yet)... Just wondering if this is the right place to get advice on what kind of cruiser to look for; what we want to do is live aboard a sturdy min 30ft GRP that'll be the most versatile on canals, rivers & estuaries & coastal waters in the UK. So far have fallen in love with a Broom Ocean 35 with a Perkins engine but it's in the wrong country. Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

[oldgit]

Any of the aft cabin Brooms would do the job nicely, merely find a half decent one in your price range, only caveat will be all these boats will be getting on a bit, so buy on condition, not just because its a later build.
An earlier year might be a much loved peach and later year a right old dog.
Try and find something with Volvos simply because of spares.Some Perkins spares will be hard to find.
This Broom version also has a keel and will save the unwary loads of grief regards bent propellers on non tidal waters.

 

[Bella Sea Dog]

Thank you! & what do you think about a Classic Freeman? It's a 30 with twin ford Parson engines.... do you think a Freeman is as robust as a Broom? & why do you say in particular aft cabin Brooms? Forgive my innocence....

 

[oldgit]

Freemans also regarded as a sturdy boat.
Stay away from anything "sporty" that has tent on top and the construction qualities of a soap dish, mostly US imports.
If you intend staying aboard long term , especially perhaps with a significant other or with guests you need AMAP interior space and the bit of privacy a seperate aft cabin gives. Most Brooms also have a forward cabin which gives a bit of neutral space between the sleeping accomodation.
The aft cockpit Freemans (or other similar boats) do not offer the same advantages and you will all be climbing over each other to access various bits of boat.This is fine for a week away but might be a source of friction over time.
The mid cockpit Freemans are even worse.
To live aboard in the English climate you do need interior volume over exterior area.
There will not be many posters on this forum who are familiar with the type of boat you are looking for, to get chapter and verse you might want to go to the Thames Forum where several actual owners lurk.

 

[Bella Sea Dog]

Thank you! I will have a look right now...

 

[QBhoy]

Sounds like a lovely idea and I’m brimming with jealousy. But I suppose the ultimate answer would be dependant on budget.
Many boats make a good live aboard. Many things to consider too. Draft, engines etc. Even air draft will no doubt be a factor.
Perhaps one of the many things to consider is the engine set up. If you buy a boat with big turbo charged diesels....they won’t be happy at canal speeds for sure.