Bigger and Bigger Boats

[hlb]

Whats this thing, about folk buying bigger and bigger boats.

Nearly no one buys an artic to drive around in, or a coach, just a car, maybe a little bit bigger. But still fits into the parking bay.

So why do folk buy enormous boats. They cant slink up river and out of the way of prying eyes.

Have to book week in advance to moor nearly anywhere.

Whats the gain, after say 40ft. It all looks downhill to me. You cant get in to nice pretty places. Then need a crew and bigger probems with maintanance, it goes on and on. Adding little to the amvionce of having a boat.

Now I can understand that an 8ft boat would be hard found to give a reasonable amount of comfort. Also, a bit limited in range and sea keeping. But 35/40 ft is capable of far more than anything your going to attempt. OK there are the odd few, that do UK Med and back again, but only a few.

I can see they need a big boat.

But mostly I can only see a bigger boat as a greater problem. It dont fit into anywhere nice in the UK. It cant bumble into ittle old towns. Maybe theres better places abroad, or should I say bigger.

I had a 33, it was just slightly small. It lacked a few things but Ive had a 35 for ten or more years. I would not live on it, it was never intended for that. But it's far warmer than the house. The only fasility it dont have is laundery. Available at anymarina.

But the question is about. Why do rich folk go down the route of buying the biggest boat they can get.

It dont make any sence to me. Cant see what they get out of it.

Surely more pleasure is going more places.

 

[MapisM]

[ QUOTE ]
Cant see what they get out of it.

[/ QUOTE ]Let's see... you mean, aside from the laundry?
Maybe an helipad, a submarine, a jacuzzi in each cabin, a jetski or three, a fitness area, a swimming pool, or a billiard room?
Mmmm... what else?
Ah, yes, possibly a cinema room, a skiboat, a sauna, car and bikes in the garage, or a wood oven for a proper pizza?
...shall I continue?

 

[BrendanS]

Not really boating in it's true sense tho. That's just a mobile luxury hotel to impress your friends with, and a captain and crew to do the boating bit, and keep you and guests in luxury.

 

[MapisM]

I didn't say it is, but since hlb asked 'Why do rich folk...'

 

[Bajansailor]

"Whats this thing, about folk buying bigger and bigger boats?"

Dare I suggest that in many instances it is simply a case of pose value?
If somebody in your marina somewhere in Spain buys a bigger Sunseeker than yours, then if your ego has been deflated somewhat, and you have the $$$'s to compensate, you go out and buy a bigger one than him.
And the cycle continues......

Isn't this one spin off of Sunseeker's phenomenally successful marketing campaign where they convinced the masses that stylish sun seeking boats with attitude were THE business, and that you simply MUST have one?

 

[Sneds]

Worked on me me, I'd love one /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RogerRat]

I tend to agree with the view that any choice of boat is a 'compromise'. Whether 25' or 65' feet long. Not enough room on the little ones but you can get in anywhere and nip out locally if the whether seems ok.

The bigger one has loads of room and comfort, must be safer in rougher weather but you can't nip anywhere, more planning is required and running costs are prohibitive for most of us.

Somewhere in the middle is probably the answer for UK boating. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

On the other hand, if you had £150k to spend on a car you wouldn't look at cars for less than £50k which rulles out an awful lot of cars. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[oceanfroggie]

It's a free world. I can understand folk who are into long range cruising wanting some extra space, especially if they are going to spend a week or two continiously on board. We spend quite a few night sleeping on board away from our base, so cubic accomodation and storage space is important.

 

[longjohnsilver]

As someone who has recently bought a bigger boat, from a 32 footer to a 48, here's my perspective.

Yes the costs are much more, not so sure about having to book to go anywhere cos I'm not a marina fan, much prefer to anchor, so costs here are about the same. Also having more facilities on board means I can happily stay away from things like shore power for as long as I like, and do it in comfort. This wasn't the case on Blue Fisher, it was always camping which I enjoyed but Debs didn't.

Bigger boat also means it's much better in rougher seas. A bit slower but happy to set off when I wouldn't have done before. As an example we went to Guernsey in January, wouldn't have dne that before. Also there were 5 of us, all had our own berths so it was all pretty easy, again couldn't have done that on Blue Fisher.

Eos holds over 800 gallons of fuel which was a major consideration with the demise of cheap red diesel. Means I can fill up once a year where ever it's cheapest ie CIs.

Now to what I consider to be the biggest downside. And it's one that's bugging me. If I wanted to go out on Blue Fisher I just cast off and went. Didn't need a crew although company was mostly welcome. Boat was easily manageable by one person. So see a nice sunny day just jump aboard and off I went. Not the case with Eos. At the moment I really do Feel as though I need help which is a real bind. But I'm working on it. Have practised moving the boat aroud the docks by myself and tieing up. That was on a calm day, but I guess I won't be going out alone if it's blowing a hoolie. Where we are now in Plymouth I need to take both wind and tide into account and the berth is near at the end of a fairly narrow channel between two pontoons which comes to a dead end. So that's another potential problem. However I have in mind to set up a bow spring which I'll leave on the pontoon to be picked up easily, probably on a piece of wood several feet high so I can just reach down and pick it up. That will allow me to get alongside in the correct position and then tie up. So it is possible, just need to think about it more and do a bit of practice.

So am I happy that I've got a bigger boat? Yes. There's more maintenance, but I enjoy that, always have done. Much more space and comfort, better sea boat. Slower, yes, but then I've never been a speed freak. And before too long I will be taking her out singlehanded. That's all part of the fun. Would I want a bigger boat? No, this one's plenty big enough for what I want to do. She'll probably see me out can't think of any reson I'd want to change.

 

[Hurricane]

Haydn

I nearly replied to your comment on the other thread.
It "horses for courses".
Yep - I agree with your style of usage and its very appealing use, especially in the west country where small harbours mean only accessable with smaller boats - why not take it a stage further and have a boat that "takes the bottom" - you could do even more.

Now consider the other end of the spectrum.
Over the last couple of years, the summer has been crap.
The cost of fuel has rocketted and still climbs.
Anyway, the decision is we're going to use our most important asset (our health) to enjoy life to the fullest.
The decision was to do a different style of boating in warmer climates where there is a chance of better weather.
To do so means having a boat that you dont often get to with your car so it has to be bigger purely for storage of those luxuries.
Also its now more appealing to other members of the family and friends - thus more space needed.

I know that we've probably gone a bit OTT but I'm told that in the Med boats appear to get smaller.

Anyway as I say "horses for courses" - nothing to do with posing.

 

[Garryt]

Must admit....

I want the advantages of a 60 foot boat to live on when I (semi) retire in a few years time. (Certainly wont be anywhere near new, and it won't be in the UK!) But I want plenty of living space and the ability to be a little more comfy in adverse weather.

SWMBO doesn't like being thrown all over the place and I suppose I don't really! It's got to be big enough for friends and family to visit and stay with us in comfort.

Although there's plenty of room on my current boat, it's certainly not big enough to live on full time!

I certainly appreciate that in the UK, particularly in the West Country, a boat that is over say 45ft is going to be more difficult to get in to many places, and you have to make sure you're at your destination early, before the raggies get in, otherwise you've got no chance! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[itsonlymoney]

I kind of agree with you, particularily the analogy with cars. However I think the simple answer to why do people buy the biggest boat they can afford is a bit like why do people buy the biggest house they can afford.....................because they can.
Never understood why couples buy a four or more bedroom house with a huge garden to look after, give me a manageable small patio garden or better still an apartment in either the "lakes" or "Nice" anyday.............hang on thats another analogy is it not.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

To an extent I agree with you. Personally, I think 50ft is the right compromise between seakeeping and the ability to get into small harbours and marinas but, on the other hand, even a 50 footer offers far less living space than yer average semi detached house so, for some people who don't want to feel cramped for space on their boat, a big boat is the only way to go
Actually, in some respects, a bigger boat is easier to live with. The major components tend to be easier to get at so maintenance is more comfortable. Tank capacities are larger so you're filling with fuel and water less often and emptying the holding tank less often. Arguably, once you get used to the size, they're easier to handle at slow speed 'coz they get blown about less

 

[Nick_H]

The reason we went bigger is 'cos we like to invite friends and family to stay in relative comfort. We have no desire to show off to them, we just enjoy their company. I suppose if its just the two of you use the boat, then there's no reason to want a bigger one.

I agree much over 50' in the UK is quite limiting in terms of where you go, though there were very few places we couldn't go in a 46.

 

[hlb]

I dont think I said anything about showing off.

If it's to house more folk, I can understand that. We never get any visitors, well except for an hour or two.

Supose thats it then. All the big boat owners have milions of kids. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[buster3]

your right we have four +their friends /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[segaerta]

I don't have anything against people buying bigger boats (after all you can buy cars in different price ranges too but they all take you from A to B). The main issue for me is that most builders are constantly going for bigger and bigger boats (to meet this demand) and forget about entry level boats in their range ... eg Fairline 34 replaced with 38 : all very fine but buying first Fairline (if you want to buy new) becomes impossible for most people but the happy few.

 

[Talbot]

when trying to hold yourself alongside, a bow spring is not the answer. It will hinder rather than assist. What you need is a rope fastened on a midships cleat. When you go ahead on that it will pull the boat alongside parrallel with the jetty.

A bow spring is designed to "spring" the stern away from the jetty when casting off in a blow.

 

[wotayottie]

why a bigger boat? in the competitive world of showing people how much dosh you have made (or married), bigger = better. bit like di*ks!

sure everyone denies it, but thats the reality for a lot of people. you see it in cars and in houses too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[studgies]

the same can be said for houses, can it not? We live in a 2 bedroom flat preferring to be able to spend more on the boat and stuff than we could otherwise afford. We have and never will have kids so need no more but we have friends in the same situation and they live in anything from 1 bed flats to 7 bedroomed houses. What is the point, tink of all the dusting, I knwo people will say houses are an investment but if that is why you put mor emoney in houes then why not buy several smaller ones??