As our boats get bigger, do we have any more fun?

Whitelighter

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I have always had half an eye on the next boat up. I wonder around boat shows looking at Princess, Fairline and Absolute models think wouldn't it be great if...

But I wonder, would it? I really enjoyed having the BMB, but then I had loads of fun with my Bayliner and the ChrisCraft before that. I had all these ideas of long weekends away with guests on board, but in reality I only went into the second cabin to fix stuff in the electrics cupboard behind it.

I can count on one hand the number of trimes I have cooked on board any of the boats over three seasons and mainly it was just me and SWMBO on board!

So as I find myself waiting for boat number 4, my smallest yet, and I wonder if I will have any less fun using it. Ok, so I have a commercial resaon for down sizing, but when I look at what I used the BMB for, bar a great trip to the CI's at Easter it was really short hops around the solent.

I still look at the bigger stuff, and still would very much like to be in a position to run a boat 45ft plus, but I wonder if I would actually get any more enjoyment out of it over blasting around on a sports boat. Just a thought...
 

Questor

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"As our boats get bigger, do we have any more fun?"

In a word No, other than being able to look down your nose at all the poor people, and thinking to oneself "I'm considerably richer than yyoooouu" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

clivew05

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Jezz, I see your point - as I too look around bigger boats at every opportunity. The problem I have is that I cant avoid it ;-) - I am berthed at Essex marina and to get to the berth I have to pass 200 boats for sale at Essex Boat Yards - and just dream!!!!

However my current boat is almost there for the crusing that I want to do - its a 36ft Seawings355, very roomy and very sporty with a hard top for british weather - sun roofs installed as well . we usually cruise up and down the east coast - but want to venture a little further.

I normally have 6 on board (Myself SWMBO, my mate his SWMBO, 14yr old son and 7 yr old son, its just about big enough for all of us and we do cook on board everytime we go away for the weekend in her ....

I am planning eventually to get my dream boat which is the Sealine S41/2/3, which to me has a massive rear stateroom, double front cabin, much larger lounge and galley, with a football stadium for a cockpit ... whilst not a truly hard top there is a suntop version available and I am told the most popular option so not hard to pick up at £160k+ which only requires a small cover to close it in - which folds away nicely into the clamshell storage anyway underway .... very wide side decks for SWMBO to run round with the fenders and very roomy bathing platform for entry ......

So yes - I think is the answer to your question I think that if I was to buy the next boat up it would allow me to enjoy those weekends away a little more - its a little slower only by a few knts and still cruises around the 25knt mark a little bigger to manouvre but thats just training - but most importantly we would all have a little more room a bit more personal space and social area - I dont think that I would want to go any bigger though so when I get that I shall probably look but with no real interest in upgrading further till retirement - when I hope to get a 50ft er - probably a Broom and then go off for months at a time cruising all over Europe ..... roll on retirement ....
 

gjgm

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I suspect for those of us who dont start at the top anyway, its a question of achieving all one can with the smallest boat, and being able to do that, plus a bit more with the larger one. At some point though, you can no longer do the things you could do with the smaller one. Havent spent much time on larger boats, but on the occasions I have, I immediately missed the sense of involvement.
 

Lakesailor

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I suppose what you're saying really is that a 23 or 24 foot boat and absolutely maximum 34 foot would be better /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

Whitelighter

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Not at all. It is appropriate to go bigger than that, or pick a mid range boat at about 30 feet...
















... but only when we get round to building one /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 

Mike_S

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[ QUOTE ]
I suppose what you're saying really is that a 23 or 24 foot boat and absolutely maximum 34 foot would be better /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Subtle

That's a topic always on our boat whenever we're out, even though we've only had the damn thing 5 minutes. SWMBO's fully taken with idea of boating now and can see the benefits of having something a bit bigger than our Regal 2150, if only for more space on board, in the cabin and cockpit. We had a nose round a Maxum 2700 & the new Rinker 260 at last weekends south wales boat show and she found them to be about the right size, certainly the Rinker pressed the right buttons in a "this is the size of boat I can see us in next" kind of way.

The one thing neither of us want to lose though is the decent turn of speed, so we can still use it for waterskiing whilst having a few friends on board. Although our boat's rated for 6 people, it is a bit of a squeeze and she really struggles to get on the plane with 6 adults on, even with the V8 pushing us along. I think it's down to what you want out of it, for us our boating has to be fun, so even though we look at the 35+footer cruisers in envy, I don't think we'd want one at this stage in our lives. Maybe when we're nearer retiring...

Now if it was a Donzi offshore powerboat I'm sure I'd think differently /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 

oceanfroggie

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[ QUOTE ]
"As our boats get bigger, do we have any more fun?"

In a word No, other than being able to look down your nose at all the poor people, and thinking to oneself "I'm considerably richer than yyoooouu" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]That's a bit rich forgive the pun /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Depends on what you use it for. We cruise a lot, sleeping on board often for one or two weeks and certainly plenty of long weekends. We usually have the children with us or friends so the amount of accomodation does matter for this type of usage. I agree though that for day boating and short hops a shorter boat may be more fun, given that only day accomodation is required and little stowage (ie cloths, food, etc). What I find strange is the amount of large accomodation vessels that never seem to move at all, or are just used as day boats - what's the point. It's horses for courses and whatever makes you happy.
 

Davy_S

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When I was selling up to move out here I sold a 27ft yacht, I was severly restricted by tide and weather and time off work, I never got the use I would like to have done.
I brought my other boat out here on a trailer, a 21ft midget Cranchi cruiser, I have never had so much fun in a small boat! I can get out anytime I want for a bit of fishing or picnic lunch, swim, beach taverna etc. Also we can visit other islands and crash down overnight, it has two full sized berths gas cooker and sink, ok for some of you it may be roughing it a bit, but to do the simple things in life whenever we chose to do it, never regreted it, never been happier. Also we can always find somewhere to moor up, with only the depth of the stendrive we can get in almost anywhere.

Wouldnt mind being rich though /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

ggt9

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One of the things that owning a big boat has taught me is why it was such a good idea to own a small one.

Having said that, the big boat is a whole different kind of fun (as well as more expense, worry and hassle) so you can't always compare one against the other.

Trick I reckon may be to get kicked off my berth so I need a tender; 10ft or so with 4hp on the back would be lots of fun around the harbour and creeks and so easy to jump onto and go /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

thefatlady

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Yes.
Nothing to do with status or carrying more people (usually just SWMBO and I).

It enables us to go further, do more, stay out in rougher weather, carry more toys, etc. I've got up to 47 ft, but would love a 70ft if I could afford it.
 

Coupe

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This was done before when Magnum posted about the disadvantages of going bigger and if memory serves he went from 42ft (fun) to 67ft (no fun) to fast rib (most fun).

In our case we disagree. We stayed 15months with our S28, then 15months with our C39. we are now 17 months with the 50 and we are having a ball. Absolutely no plans to change as she is just about perfect.

We use her mostly for day boating and live aborad with the odd cruise in between.


Dont get me wrong, we had fun with the smaller boats so I spoze to answer your question....

Yes, we have more fun with the bigger boat coz we get to use her more /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

LordJohn

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You raise an interesting point. My boat is 53' and I was thinking of upgrading to 60 odd ft. But then I considered how many marinas and moorings I would be restricted from visiting and the number of competent crew I would require and now I am not so sure.
 

KevB

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If we are talking about coastal cruising with weekend overnight stays then yes size does matter. I wouldn't want to have a boat much smaller than 30' if it was for a family of 4. I'm not saying a smaller boat would be less fun, just less practical.

What I don't think matters is how much it costs.

When we were new to boating we bought a 33' slickcraft. It's a long story that I wont bore you with but it was 12 years old with only 30 hours on the clock (genuine) This is the actual boat, it's up for sale.

We had such a fantastic time that after six months or so we thought that if we are having sooo much fun on this 'old' boat just think how great it would be if we had a new one. So we went and bought one....
Do we have anymore fun than on the old boat - no.
I wish I had kept the old one and re-engined to diesel. Would have saved myself over £100k and still had the same enjoyment.
 

Sneds

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That Slikcraft is gorgeous, if she was diesel we'd buy it!!

We currently have a Sealine 215 "Misty Spirit" http://www.bristolyachtbrokerage.com/salesDetail.php?BoatId=330
and are looking for something bigger with a single diesel engine.
More space is our main criteria and a larger aft cabin so we don't have to make the bed before we can make a cup of tea!
The Maxum 2700SE at the South Wales boat boat was perfect, but the cheapest 2nd hand we can see with a diesel is over £50k and our budget is £35!
Would we have more fun on the bigger boat?
Probably not but we would be more comfortable and SWMBO's parents could also stay on board. MIL does a great picnic!
With diesel, our cruising area could be expanded as only Portishead and Cardiff, in our area, sell petrol.
Where can i get a £45 -£50k boat for £35?
We want eveything, space, modern and white, shiney and pointy.
Guess there will have to be a compromise somewhere?


me having fun!
 

segaerta

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Jez,

Started with a 18ft speedboat 3 years ago. Kept it for 2 months and bought a 26ft SC. Sold it (today) because more accomodation is required. Kids are growing up, want to bring friends along, SWMBO doesn't want to go for any trips longer than the odd weekend because no comfort on board (no proper bed, sleep where you eat, cockpit is too small when inviting friends, ...).

However, we used the boat a lot for daytrips and we all loved it (well, the kids a little less since no TV on board). But we expect our next to be even better since it will give us more opportunities to travel, stay overnight, ...

Question really is : when is your boat large enough ? I think around 40-50ft should suffice for family of 4 and couple of friends once and a while. Anything larger for me is a) not achievable and b) not required.

Cheers,
Alain
 

tcm

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i heard from a broker of really massive boats that even the super-rich go all the way up in size...and then all the way down. You gotta try it i suppose. And then maybe that's enough, like cars.
 
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