Advice Required

[Lemonphysical]

This summer i purchased a slatted floor dinghy/outboard and suprisingly had alot of fun exploring and fishing on the Hamble, Itchen and Beaulieu rivers. However with a slatted floor dinghy i'm limited to what i can do and where i can go, so i'm keen to upgrade.

I'm looking for an all round boat that i can explore, fish and maybe take a day trip over to the Isle of Wight. My budget is £1500-2000 and i've been looking at Dory type boats (Dell Quay/Orkney etc) and 3-4m size ribs. Would these be suitable? What type of boat would you purchase in my situation?

 

[Evadne]

I've not much experience with motor boats for leisure use, but for that sort of money I'd have thought a small dory or launch with a cuddy or some form of shelter at the front would be ideal.

 

[landlockedpirate]

It can get surprisingly choppy in the Solent, so I would go inflatable rather than small dory. In your budget you are going to struggle to get a rib, but a solid floor inflatable with a 20 to 30 HP is well within reach. Look for big tubes and about 3.5 to 4.5 m long. These are great for the shallow rivers but safe enough to go over to the island in the right conditions.

 

[rob2]

You don't say what size your inflatable is, so it's difficult to judge what improvements yuo can expect. The cathedral hulled dories are good stable boats in the kind of conditions you've already come to know (very much like the inflatable, only faster), but they have a similar bumpy ride and are really only suitable for the same conditions. Most small motor boats have the same restrictions, although a 4m rib has the benefits of both and can handle slightly more boisterous conditions. Its worth remembering that anything more than a force 3 is likely to build up a short chop in the Solent and a small boat can swamp, so bailing is a recommended skill! A rib usually has an "elephants trunk" bailer in the transom to clear any water taken on board at cruising speed.

Also consider handling ashore as a rigid boat needs a launching trolley and some muscle to get it in and out of the water. Don't forget that if you're panning on venturing further afield you should budget for safety equipment - lifejackets, flares, VHF (handheld is adequate), compass and charts. Last month a little fishing boat was rescued after fog rolled in when only a couple of hundred yards offshore - he called for help on his mobile phone, but the lifeboat can't do direction finding on the signal like they can with a VHF, so they were located when a passing yacht saw his flare.

In the rivers, I'd prefer the dory as they have a little more space without the tubes, but to cross to the island, the rib is more seaworthy. Possibly an over cautious opinion, but still my preference.

Rob.

 

[FishyInverness]

Is your budget for the boat only, or the boat with engine? Just so the advice can be targetted at your budget a bit better!

 

[Topcat47]

At that size you might consider a Sheltie. It's got a wee cuddy but a pal of mine in Scotland hs one and uses it in the North sea and Forth Estuary so it's going to be perfectly capable of handling a Solent chop. Try Posting the the Mobo forum.

 

[Lemonphysical]

You don't say what size your inflatable is, so it's difficult to judge what improvements yuo can expect. The cathedral hulled dories are good stable boats in the kind of conditions you've already come to know (very much like the inflatable, only faster), but they have a similar bumpy ride and are really only suitable for the same conditions. Most small motor boats have the same restrictions, although a 4m rib has the benefits of both and can handle slightly more boisterous conditions. Its worth remembering that anything more than a force 3 is likely to build up a short chop in the Solent and a small boat can swamp, so bailing is a recommended skill! A rib usually has an "elephants trunk" bailer in the transom to clear any water taken on board at cruising speed.

Also consider handling ashore as a rigid boat needs a launching trolley and some muscle to get it in and out of the water. Don't forget that if you're panning on venturing further afield you should budget for safety equipment - lifejackets, flares, VHF (handheld is adequate), compass and charts. Last month a little fishing boat was rescued after fog rolled in when only a couple of hundred yards offshore - he called for help on his mobile phone, but the lifeboat can't do direction finding on the signal like they can with a VHF, so they were located when a passing yacht saw his flare.

In the rivers, I'd prefer the dory as they have a little more space without the tubes, but to cross to the island, the rib is more seaworthy. Possibly an over cautious opinion, but still my preference.

Rob.

Hi Rob, my current inflatable is a 2.7m slatted floor dinghy with a 6hp outboard.

Appreciate the reply, you've outlined some key areas i was unsure about.

 

[Lemonphysical]

Is your budget for the boat only, or the boat with engine? Just so the advice can be targetted at your budget a bit better!

Budget is for the boat and engine

 

[Coaster]

For some years we had a lot of fun with an Orkney Strikeliner (16' long). One of its smaller cousins may be in your price range. However you'll need to consider three separate elements i.e. the boat itself (the hulll), the engine and the means of transport (presumably a trailer).

So far as the hull is concerned, buying secondhand perhaps 20 years old, I'd be far happier with a robust grp boat than an inflatable. Our first Orkney (we had a bigger one later) was as tough as old boots. And if there's minor damage DIY grp repair is quite easy.

The engine may be the most expensive part of the package. A good reliable engine within budget will probably mean you'll need enough mechanical abilty to maintain and repair. The right knowledge and maintenance will also greatly reduce the risk of breakdown.

Lastly the trailer. If you keep the boat at home it will of course need to be roadworthy. But it won't need to be a complicated braked trailer. Something simple and lightweight will do, so long as the total weight (boat and trailer etc.) is less than 750kg and not more than 50% of the towing vehicle's weight. Or if you can keep the boat by the waterside a launching trolley would be sufficient although security may be a problem.

Good luck.

 

[Csail]

Well just to give you a rough idea i just sold a 3m rib with 50hp on trailer for 800 quid.

 

[TQA]

Well just to give you a rough idea i just sold a 3m rib with 50hp on trailer for 800 quid.

3m and 50 hp WOW nothing sticking to your shovel then!