Attempt to return to boating... bad timing?

You sure ? sensible side decks with proper handrails, a flat coach roof you can walk on, a stainless arch that probably folds down to reduce airdraft in the canals., windows you actually see out of. ....

Have a "30" moored opposite us, a cracking boat and well used by the owner and his family , on cruise with them last weekend.🌨️
Single engine but with both bow and sternthruster.
:)
 
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Hi, out of interest, why did you choose a 35?

We've had ours 12 months now and is perfect for how we go boating. Yes, 2 engines would be a lot better for mooring purposes, but the thrusters are good unless it's too windy.

We now use the tides all the time and stick to 8-10 knots depending on the tide. At that speed we are only burning about 11 litres per hour, but on a long passage we put in the odd 1/2 hour at 16.
 
BlueJasper said:
Hi, out of interest, why did you choose a 35?

We've had ours 12 months now and is perfect for how we go boating. Yes, 2 engines would be a lot better for mooring purposes, but the thrusters are good unless it's too windy.

We now use the tides all the time and stick to 8-10 knots depending on the tide. At that speed we are only burning about 11 litres per hour, but on a long passage we put in the odd 1/2 hour at 16.
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It was one of two boats that would convince my wife and I to get back into boating (the other being a Nordhavn 46 and we couldn’t afford that!)..

Specific reasons being…
- easy to handle single handed
- nice side walkway and access
- good accommodation for size
- economical and shaft driven
- factory fitted fresh water flush toilet! Deal maker

we also saw yours in Weymouth in the summer and that sealed the deal!

single engine and fuel filter setup were the only concern but I think I’ve solved that… will do a separate post about that later…
 
- easy to handle single handed
- nice side walkway and access
- good accommodation for size
- economical and shaft driven
- factory fitted fresh water flush toilet! Deal maker (y)

Having feeling this is going to be future for boating, the days of over powered twin engined fuel guzzling confections are numbered ?
None of the UK builders are taking advantage of this, leaving the mass market totaly to the French, Spanish, Scandinavians were there years ago.
.
 
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oldgit said:
- easy to handle single handed
- nice side walkway and access
- good accommodation for size
- economical and shaft driven
- factory fitted fresh water flush toilet! Deal maker (y)

Having feeling this is going to be future for boating, the days of over powered twin engined fuel guzzling confections are numbered ?
None of the UK builders are taking advantage of this, leaving the mass market totaly to the French, Spanish, Scandinavians were there years ago.
.
Click to expand...
Don't forget the far east making semi displacement boats too
 
oldgit said:
Having feeling this is going to be future for boating, the days of over powered twin engined fuel guzzling confections are numbered ?
None of the UK builders are taking advantage of this, leaving the mass market totaly to the French, Spanish, Scandinavians were there years ago.
.
Click to expand...

Agree, there already seem to be a lot of people in planing boats that now cruise at displacement speeds.
 
In the past helped to collect boats with new owners from a couple of Channel Ports and bring back round to the Mudway.
All came back at fairly reasonable pace of around 15 knots ,mainly for economy, but also regards breaking stuff in what is an unknown quantity.
It is not unknown for sellers to be somewhat "Economical with the actualité" .
One boat did conk out in transit (blocked primary filters) , this was quickly sorted and journey completed a few days later.
Two of the boats needed to be refueled halfway , only one was comfortably able to go all the way without any concerns regards fuel.
At 8-10 knots all would have been able to do the entire journey in one go.

The down side is apart from the White Cliffs bit, trip is just 8 hours of boredom , however that journey appears full of interest and excitement compared with transiting the East Coast, sometimes its not so bad, especially when you cannot see Essex due to fog. ?

The only excitement, spotting yet another barely visible 5L plastic container marking a lobster pot slide past under the stern quarter and wondering if the prop is going to catch this one. :eek:
 
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oldgit said:
In the past helped to collect boats with new owners from a couple of Channel Ports and bring back round to the Mudway.
All came back at fairly reasonable pace of around 15 knots ,mainly for economy, but also regards breaking stuff in what is an unknown quantity.
It is not unknown for sellers to be somewhat "Economical with the actualité" .
One boat did conk out in transit (blocked primary filters) , this was quickly sorted and journey completed a few days later.
Two of the boats needed to be refueled halfway , only one was comfortably able to go all the way without any concerns regards fuel.
At 8-10 knots all would have been able to do the entire journey in one go.

The down side is apart from the White Cliffs bit, trip is just 8 hours of boredom , however that journey appears full of interest and excitement compared with transiting the East Coast, sometimes its not so bad, especially when you cannot see Essex due to fog. ?

The only excitement, spotting yet another barely visible 5L plastic container marking a lobster pot slide past under the stern quarter and wondering if the prop is going to catch this one. :eek:
Click to expand...
I lift some pots hoping to find a stash of the white gold.
 
oldgit said:
In the past helped to collect boats with new owners from a couple of Channel Ports and bring back round to the Mudway.
All came back at fairly reasonable pace of around 15 knots ,mainly for economy, but also regards breaking stuff in what is an unknown quantity.
It is not unknown for sellers to be somewhat "Economical with the actualité" .
One boat did conk out in transit (blocked primary filters) , this was quickly sorted and journey completed a few days later.
Two of the boats needed to be refueled halfway , only one was comfortably able to go all the way without any concerns regards fuel.
At 8-10 knots all would have been able to do the entire journey in one go.

The down side is apart from the White Cliffs bit, trip is just 8 hours of boredom , however that journey appears full of interest and excitement compared with transiting the East Coast, sometimes its not so bad, especially when you cannot see Essex due to fog. ?

The only excitement, spotting yet another barely visible 5L plastic container marking a lobster pot slide past under the stern quarter and wondering if the prop is going to catch this one. :eek:
Click to expand...
with ref. to the blocked filters experience above… I think we had a lucky escape.. I wasn’t happy with the fuel filter arrangement on the ST35 (no see through bowl to check for water etc), so we’ve changed that for a duplex Racor… just as well as we found 20 litres of water in the bottom of the fuel tank!
 
Glad to have helped in the decision making process and we made the decision on pretty much the same reasons as you. We were also away in the first 2 weeks in September when it was quite warm and were up on the flybridge a lot. We have a bikini as well and that was also up most of the time.

I've also put a couple of solar panels up there and added an extra battery as we try and avoid marinas where we can.

I'd be interested to hear about your filter changes.
 
Seastoke said:
Can we have lots more photos pls
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Here are some photos of the mods undertaken which may be of Interest…

- replacement of the crappy plywood hatch covering the fuel filler and pump-out point with a solid teak one..

C05B1CCB-E649-4308-A187-DD16BCB8868B.jpeg

replacement teak table weighing less than half of the bulky standard one thats a pain to move to get to the engine bay..

10E2EB15-0298-4805-9041-362D9243FDCF.jpeg93B923FF-E78F-4BC0-924B-371D9B72EDB3.jpeg
 
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