Another boat Medway bound..

[oldgit]

Broom 1070 just purchased from PH on its way down, Turbo 36 just had its final checks, soon on its way and a club member waiting for lock to reopen to bring a Sealine back to civilisation.
Must be something in the water ?

 

[Actionmat]

By road? Molesey Lock shut until Feb next year

 

[oldgit]

Most coming round by road, suspect owners want to get boat where they can get at it ASAP and fiddle over the winter months.
One of the deals was a P/X with a Broom Sedan which is the return load.
Thames has long been a handy source of replacement boats. Would think that a substantial proportion of larger club boats,started out or spent time on the Thames.Several club members previously boated on the Thames and a one or two live very close to the river.

 

[Actionmat]

There are plenty of replcement boats, but a lot with engines that haven't run for years. I thought I knew most boats down this end of the river, but having spent two months at Shepperton Marina this summer I was surprised at the amount of Gin palaces that never leave the marina. Either unloved and in floating storage, as weekend caravans or 'unofficial' liveaboards.

 

[oldgit]

A somewhat divisive subject around here and suspect elsewhere in most boat clubs.
Not a problem in commercial marinas, if you want to give shed loads of money to the company running the marina, to allow your "floating shed" to quietly go green and rot thats fine for both parties.A result of a bulge in the age profile of owners losing interest in boating but reluctant to sell simply because of the prices being achieved due to lack of new entrants to the hobby.With a few really nice exceptions, its basically either give it away or keep it.
Two many old moneypits around and not enough youngsters daft enough or with the funds to take up the slack.
Clubs full up with boats unlikely to move ever again, a reluctance for clubs to change and tendency for a generation of club members to circle the wagons and hope it will all go away ?

 

[Parabordi]

Yeah that just about sums it up.....plus navigation authorities that still feel they can carry on twisting until the pips squeak....

 

[RobBradley]

Clubs full up with boats unlikely to move ever again, a reluctance for clubs to change and tendency for a generation of club members to circle the wagons and hope it will all go away ?

Find this quite sad, how does a potential new owner and one who is dead keen to live the life on the water, one they worked hard to finally maybe achieve, how do they ever manage to climb the ladder of the never ending waiting list for a mooring, if others are reluctant to for want of a better word, give up and move on? If you have lost the love, why hog the spot? Is it dead mans shoes? Should I give up before I begin, or how long before needed should I sign up for a mooring waiting list?

Is this a sensitive subject? I do not intend on any boat I ever own to just sit there, and maybe sup a gin or two on board over the year. I intend on living the dream, exploring, and hell our next 10 years family holidays at least, its not assuring at all to know I could be waiting for who knows how long for a mooring after finding my dream baby. All because some have managed to get one, and never use the boat attached to it.

Is my dream too much? I mean I am only looking at 38-40ish foot, not a big wish list, I think.

Hugs

Rob

 

[Murv]

The time to get your name on the waiting list at RCC is yesterday! Or, preferably a few years ago...
No need to give up, although that size of boat is about the most sought after at the club, you just have to be patient. The waiting list used to be around 5-7 years, we have just got a mooring at the club after just under 3 years.
Until then, we were based at local marinas and didn't have any trouble getting a slot although it is certainly something you need to consider when buying a boat.
Moorings on the Medway seem to be a lot cheaper then a lot of the rest of the country, although its quite possible to spend a fair amount if you choose one of the marinas in a locked basin. Some club members are based at these through choice, more security, no wash from passing boats and local facilities etc.
You do get a few free nights at the club as a member, useful for attending the social functions. We also used to dinghy down quite frequently, which is a bit of an adventure in itself when heading back in the dark!

 

[oldgit]

"we" are very fortunate at RCC to be able to enjoy the results of the blimming hard slog by previous generations of club members and boating locale , for folks who want to boat, rather than sit on a boat and be part of a scene, which offers a wide range of destinations and no eyewatering premium prices to endure.
Ranging from nearbye sheltered local creeks, Faversham and Conyer within a mornings gentle cruise plus the more
distant destinations up the East coast to the Broads and all the ports and marinas in between.
For the more adventurous, right leads to Ramsgate and left eventually brings you to the strange and delightful world of the upper Thames.

The boating world is slowly changing and for those of us familiar with its attractions there is no better way of squandering money.
For those thinking about taking the plunge, now is probably the time to jump in, with good chance of getting a decent boat at sensible money, most boat clubs also offer a choice of regular social events usually of more interest to your "crew".
With a little perseverance it is also possible to get moorings at sensible prices, just do not expect a handy parade of retail destinations selling Gucci and Rolexes at the end of the pontoon.
Forgot to mention for really swashbuckling adventurers a nifty and carefully timed left turn from our moorings and an hour and a bit later Allington Lock and the upper Medway .
beckons.
Imagine the Thames but without the tribulations and the temptations to spend.(NO shops) and the chance to operate your very own lock like ye olden dayes.
Ps. You may well have the opportunity to actually talk to the chap in the lock with you, instead of just fuming quietly cos he jumped the que.

 

[RobBradley]

The time to get your name on the waiting list at RCC is yesterday! Or, preferably a few years ago...

Joining as soon as my first investment matures! Honestly, its top of the list, even if we will only be buying an F-Rib initially, and boat later, want to take time finding the right girl for me...

Ranging from nearbye sheltered local creeks, Faversham and Conyer within a mornings gentle cruise plus the more
distant destinations up the East coast to the Broads and all the ports and marinas in between.
For the more adventurous, right leads to Ramsgate and left eventually brings you to the strange and delightful world of the upper Thames.
.....
With a little perseverance it is also possible to get moorings at sensible prices, just do not expect a handy parade of retail destinations selling Gucci and Rolexes at the end of the pontoon.
Forgot to mention for really swashbuckling adventurers a nifty and carefully timed left turn from our moorings and an hour and a bit later Allington Lock and the upper Medway .
beckons.
Imagine the Thames but without the tribulations and the temptations to spend.(NO shops) and the chance to operate your very own lock like ye olden dayes.
Ps. You may well have the opportunity to actually talk to the chap in the lock with you, instead of just fuming quietly cos he jumped the que.

Had the pleasure of taking an F-Rib out in Faversham, with Alan and loved the water, having lived in this part of Kent and worked in that part for years, suddenly fell in love with Faversham! And thankfully my 6 year old son fell in love with boats, he even sent my partner a text "Can you give Daddy £12 so he can buy a boat", bless him.

As for expecting retail destinations after mooring my boat, no thank you! They can stay in the retail parks, and encourage people to drive to them... I will stay in the water and avoid them.

We have decided on RCC, and yes, you are duly warned, we will be joining, For us, you hit it on the nail. From Medway, your options... up or down river....? Thames or Coast? hmmmm and I want to explore. My son lives further along the coast, and he wants me to drop him home by boat.

For us, Medway is the perfect place for mooring, 15-20 minute drive by car, once on board, we can swing by home and collect anything we need quite easy, on our front door is 4 PLA buoys, 12 hour limit, there is someone local who rents one from PLA, and apparently not that expensive. And we have public anchoring right on our front door, regularly have a coast guard rib anchored having lunch.

For Allington, I think I would not do that alone for a while, you guys seem to have the hang of it, and getting a flybridge under that bridge... hmmm...! Well done. But know the area, walked the river bank many times over the years working in Maidstone. Really nice walk, certainly seeing pics you post, would definitely be a destination at some point.

 

[oldgit]

Getting a boat under Aylesford bridge is not quite the challenge some make it out to be......
If any Turbo 36 owner can get their boat underneath, cannot be that difficult..
Hope to see you in the club sometime.