Advice wanted - poss free boat

[Guest]

I can't decide what to do. On the one hand, the economy's about to collapse, so I should really sell the boat while I can, but I really enjoy boating and want to keep her.

However, if I keep her, I am still confused as to what to do. We are clearly about to run out of diesel, either because the Americans are about to declare war on the Arabs, or we've used it all up. Also, we're entering a new ice age because the world temperatures are rising, or the Gulf Stream is switching off, I can't remember which. I think it's all to do with mad cows farting too much.

Either way, it means that the sea levels will rise, and flood the whole of the south coast, making marina berths hard to come by, or they'll fall as all the water gets locked up in ice, making them impossible to get into.

So clearly, I need to switch to an electric motor, but should I fit steel reinforcing for the bows to help in the ice floes, or should I install A/C?

Perhaps I should just give the boat to some non-accountant chimpanzee, and cut my losses.

What do y'all think? Should I move to the med, sell the wife and children for medical research and buy a 48m, petrol powered Zebra Super Sports, complete with gold plated jacuzzi and onboard massage parlour? (I couldn't afford a new one, BTW)

 

[Guest]

Re: Cruise in company

You're right. There's imminent danger of runing out of fossil fuels and hence plastic required for boats, and other things like last little bit of teakique (?) needed to finish the cockpit so you'll probly have to get rid.

However, seeing as the interest rates are hopelessly low, you might consider taking the opportunity to order the most colossal boat that you're allowed to drive. About seventy feet long should do it. There'll be laughable zero percent long-term finance in the near-slump conditions, or even actual negative rate if you register in France where the vat is 10% on financed boats and you pay regular 19% only on the last tiny payment. Perhaps choose a craft built in a country well-known for high quality boat-building, yet also having religious non-muslim background and a flimsy currency likley to fall apart at slightest international problemette. Italian, maybe?

You'll have a wonderful time wafting around on ever-warming seas, protected by spare aircon plants and lots of empty berths cos all the Arabs have run away or have been chucked out. Throughout the days there'll be cocktails made from vodka and other eastern stuff cheaper than water becos the war-torn ruskie states will export it cheap to get some guns. Diesel will also be dead cheap cos the war torn arabs will export that cheap too, as in the Gulf War. In the evenings you'll meet gorgeous wimmin who have deserted their other halves due to lack of sleek boat, or praps cos it's been sold recently.

Dreamy, eh?

 

[hlb]

Afraid medical research would'nt give very much for my wife or kids so better stick with same boat.
On your advise I'm adding wheels and ski's to keep it mobile in all eventualities as a precation.

Haydn

 

[BarryD]

Graham, I strongly recomend that you keep the boat and invest in it - please upgrade the electronics, and heating system. Also fit new triple high speed wipers and a bigger bar / ice making machine. Then when the recession really hits hard - I can buy a really great boat off you for peanuts and not just a nice one.

Barry D.

 

[Guest]

In a recession cash is king so you have to sell and, anyway, I don't want to be the only one without a boat.

With regard to ice breaking, I am afraid your targa will be no good as the hull shape requires to sort of mount the ice and then penetrate it by sheer downforce! Might I suggest that an early Birchwood (I think the 22ft Interceptor) is about right, or going up market, one of these Dutch Steel Sturdy's (which are also really sleek for pulling 22 stone Dutch ladies) These have that sort of lovely barge type bow which is ideal for mounting ice!

I think that as diesel is also going to be in short supply you will need a couple of sails and maybe some other form of propulsion. What about steam? It was good enough for your grandpa and it has the added advantage of being able to burn more or less anything including furniture/etc from rooms in the house you don't use regularly.

I don't think you will need aircon as you live in England.

Nick

 

[Guest]

Re: Cruise in company

I'm sold, in principle. But why is 70 foot the largest I'm allowed to drive, while you can get 75 foot of Leopard? Is this just your woodist bias coming through again? And to think, that boatless Jock Robinson tried to lump me and you together! The indignity!

 

[Guest]

Re: Cruise in company

er um I was trying to lead into it gently, and forgot the conversion. You can have a leopard 23 or even a 24 (for an extra 1$m tho) and still I think be just inside the 80ish feet limit. Sorry bout that. Ooh this will be fun. Anyway if it's longer that 80 you can get some Monkey Butlers (wonder who'll they'll be?) to do the skippering and stuff in return for small qty of bananas which actually will fall from the sky, free of charge, along with cucumbers and tomatoes - a very nice side benefit of the greenhouse effect.

 

[jfm]

Re: 1936.27 Lire

all agreed 'cept Italy has Euros not Lire last few years, so not as flimsy/sensitive to probs as exotic-boat-buyers-the-world-over would like. I mean, you have to derail Euro-zone economy, not just flimsy Italy's, to get a bargain now. Damn nuisance that.

JFM

 

[Guest]

I think the best solution would be... switch to one of them rag and stick things! (gasp!)

Make sure it's a decent size, with all the mod con's like a water maker, solar panel, and a one of those wind power thingies, etc, and you should be okay. Go for a steel hull, and you should be okay with those ice flows you're worried about.

Hardly any fuel needed, and if you practice you can get into your mooring without even using an engine! Mind you, this isn't recommended, as you'll probably spill your neighbours G&Ts.

Lee
Tsunami