Advice please, head's spinning...

[Imperial One]

Hi Tom,

I have been following your posts with interest. Why not take a look at our partner offerings on www.yacht-gallery.com website.
If you click on the Dutch flag the Dutch listings will come up and then at the top of the page click on the Union flag and it will be in English - I know it is a pain of a website but we/they are working on a replacement site coming soon.
I have an Atlantic 38 there that is a peach of a boat and would probably come at your budget - and it has 2 thrusters already fitted!

Hope this may help in your search/fact gathering - in my view a Dutch aft cabin boat in Steel or GRP is a no brainer for your planned trips. Economical, spacious interior, solid build etc.
Hop in the camper and get over to Holland, my chums will look after you, help educate you and above all they will not pressure you at all. Alternatively, feel free to call me to chat about ANY boat that you fancy. I will be impartial and NOT try to sell you anything, just offer good advice.

 

[blueglass]

Tom, just out of interest, the boat I mentioned earlier in the thread that we did the Greek islands in, was in fact an Atlantic 38.
Length for length IMHO no other motorboats come near for internal and external accommodation, and no sailboat is even in the race. Very much worth a look.
No connection, just love the marque.

 

[Imperial One]

Tom,

SEE - I told you!!!

Actually, seeing the listing on the Dutch site the detail there is rather scant - best advice is to look at her on my site and enter Atlantic 38 in the home page serach box to go straight there. Many photos up there and more available.....I also have an Atlantic 42 that has just become available details to follow very soon or now by PM.

 

[Trundlebug]

Tom,

Have you looked at a Profile 33?

33ft may be on the small side for a liveaboard, but as you mentioned in your original post compactness doesn't necessarily bother you.

There aren't that many about but they are going at the right sort of price (check Apollo Duck there's ususally a few there) but in every other respect they fit the bill:-

Full displacement hull, cruising speed 7kn max speed 8kn
Twin engined with reasonable engine access
Nice lines
Good accommodation, practical layout, well built, plenty of storage
Sea-kindly
Overall fuel consumption about 4mpg (3.7 to 4.5 with ours, twin Volvo Pentas)
Bilge keels, can take drying out on a beach (like the Greeks like to do)

They were built in late 70's and some more in late 80's (ours is '88) and were supplied in either aft cabin or "sedan" (aft cockpit) versions.

Worth considering, it's our long term plan too. I've even found a space for installing a watermaker..

 

[tomcourtney]

The atlantic 38 is a nice boat but even with a 'normal' discount on the price I would have to park it in my garden and maybe use it for sleepovers.
I couldn't afford to run it without blowing the retirement fund. A tin of spam would be elevated to Sunday lunch fodder.

 

[Imperial One]

The atlantic 38 is a nice boat but even with a 'normal' discount on the price I would have to park it in my garden and maybe use it for sleepovers.
I couldn't afford to run it without blowing the retirement fund. A tin of spam would be elevated to Sunday lunch fodder.

Tom, It is priced in Euros so in reality "asking" price is about £145000 so it is certainly worth an offer. I know it is 100% mechanically as the owner has just had it gone right through and it even has a new cover fitted to it - cue: enter stage left, Bluegrass about running costs please!
You may know we were the Atlantic main agent for many years and as such this is without doubt the best of the 38's that were built as she ahs the 42 standard of interior and the larger engines. This does not mean they cost more to run just that they move her effortlessly through the water at lower revs. In theory they may even be more cost effective than the smaller engines running harder and the Atlantic's all run very well on one engine, at displacement speeds, on canals or at sea.
Spam is quite pleasant if served with a Greek Salad or some Chips & a fried egg, so do not despair. Tell you what Tom, buy the 38 and I will talk to the owner about going halves on a big juicy joint of Aberdeen Angus for your first Sunday lunch aboard - how's that for an offer?

 

[Imperial One]

I couldn't afford to run it without blowing the retirement fund. A tin of spam would be elevated to Sunday lunch fodder.

Tom,
Time to take a break and see the following -

http://youtu.be/gsPPr0EzTY4

Enjoy!

Mike.

 

[tomcourtney]

Imperial One
Realised it was euros but the atlantic 38 is still too big a lump from the savings. I'd rather have something in the £50k to £60k budget and have a reserve for the inevitable extras and the ability to eat out at spam retaurants when I please instead of tins on board.
I do have the option, and a buyer, to sell off a corner of our land in Crete to fund a better boat but we're not ready to make that decision until we have lived there for a bit as it would impact on our privacy.

Anyway think i've found a boat...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s708N-mTRqc

Trundlebug
Thanks for the input, the profile 33 ticks some boxes but looks a coastal / river option and I want a cat B offshore construction.

 

[Imperial One]

Tom,
Very good link, I loved that series and the boat to so full of character!

There are many good sized boats in your budget in Holland, and as their economy is fast following our own they are all open to offers as well.
Fill up the camper and take a trip across the North Sea!

Mike.

 

[blueglass]

- cue: enter stage left, Bluegrass about running costs please!

sounds a bit academic now imperial one. I doubt he'll find a decent Atlantic 38 for 50K and I couldn't bear the thought of subjecting Tom to a spam diet. nice recipe though, must try it.

 

[Imperial One]

Thanks anyway Blueglass , I rather suspect you are right.
I have to say I don't envy Tom, or anyone, surviving on a Spam diet. I recall having it a few years ago on a bit of a rolling old tub crossing Biscay in some rather poor weather ...... not sure it stayed down too well from memory!

Still the Aegean is less turbulent (most of the time) so he may be OK on Spam for Sunday lunch!
As it looks like Tom is passing on this opportunity and the children probably wont help out with his purchase I guess it's a case of Roll up, Roll up, two nice Atlantic's for sale

 

[vas]

If we're not bringing a boat through the canal / river system we will be travelling in a VW camper or maybe
I'm very keen on the Dalmation coast but i'm still advised to avoid Albania / Kosovo (last time I checked no company would give me insurance at any cost for Albania) so bit of a dead end without doubling back or I could hop a ferry to Bari and then back to Patras. So the Eastern route is favourite taking in Northern Greece. We've done the France, Switzerland Italy route twice now.
What's your thoughts?

sorry just saw this post...

As I said, I did Ancona,Bologna,Venice,Ljubljiana and then Croatia (Split, Dubrovnic, et al), Montenegro and finally crossed Albania entering Greece near Kastoria.
Delightful and v.interesting trip, no probs whatsoever and when I asked my insurance co. for cover and mentioned the areas I wanted to travel they promptly issued with the green card foc. I'd say check again with your insurance, shouldn't be a problem. Didn't go through Kosovo or FYROM btw, just coastal to Dubrovnic then in and out and all around to various beautiful places in Montenegro to the capital and then through a shiity road (it's under construction) to the north Albanian borders.

Check it out, well worth it imho

V.