boat broker selling partially flooded boat!

[thamesS23]

went to look at a boat at a boat brokers yesterdays. Was given the keys, so went ahead and looked. Liked the outside, good condition, nice layout and good sized cockpit.
Unlocked the cabin door, went to take a step down inside - just noticed in time that there was about a foot of water inside!! never seen swmbo get of a boat so quick!
feel really sorry for the owners as was a nice boat.

 

[byron]

Typical of the care taken by British Brokers of their client's boats.

 

[thamesS23]

must admit that I did start to question that boat brokers customer care!

 

[savageseadog]

Pehaps that's what they mean by "in the water" /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[jaws]

I looked at a NEW Galeon 330 at one marina. Got on board and the back decking was green with a big puddle of water. It was also covered in cobwebs and generally grubby.
Didn't spend a lot of time on there!

 

[Oen]

I had a similar experience with a Broom Ocean 42 a couple of years ago. A complete disgrace, the bilges were absolutely full, to the sole.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

And I had the same experience with a Moody 33.... sole boards so wet we needed a screw driver to lift them where they had swollen and jammed....

 

[DogsBody]

Had a similiar experience several years ago when looking for my first boat.

Went along to a broker (forget which but near Windsor), to see a boat I'd seen on their website. They gave me the keys and sais "its over there on the hard standing", so off I trotted to find it, thankfully there was a ladder nearby so I could get onto it. Having done so, I opened the cockpit doot to look inside to see about a foot of water all through the boat - as it was on the hard I suppose it had to have been rain water that had collected. Guess at least I knew the hull was waterproof if not the topsides!

Told the broker, who replied that "it was a bit of a fixerupper that one". Bye Bye.

Wandered along to Bray Marine Sales on the offchance as they were just up the road and the other half fell in love with one of their brokerage boats even though it wasn't quite the model we were looking for, just had to have it.

Strange how things work, we had been intending to base ourselves on the Norfolk Broads and when I asked Domonic (the broker at Bray) how long it would take to cruise our intended purchase up to Norfolk, he laughed and said if you want to try that I'll stand on the coast and watch you, I need a good laugh. We took the hint and kept our new boat on the Thames! (1st boat and I clearly new very little about taking a boat to sea!)

Darren.

 

[thamesS23]

have been to thames boat sales in bray many times over the last year, in the build up to us buying a boat and can honestly say that they are the most helpful people we have met in our quest to buy a boat. They always welcome us in and spend time talking to us about our needs, and have always been honest in their advice that they offer, even if it means putting us of a potential boat.
Both me and the girlfriend actually feel very dissapointed that they currently don't have a boat in that is suitable for us, as we would love to deal with them and not their 'neighbours'

 

[DWT]

I have bought two boats from Dominic from Bray. They try and do things properly and I would certainly recommend them.

 

[apollo]

Yep, we have bought 4 and sold 5 with them, the best place to deal on the Thames.

 

[Gatsby]

[ QUOTE ]
I have bought two boats from Dominic from Bray. They try and do things properly and I would certainly recommend them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Oen]

Dominic's absolutely wrong on that point - if he's talking about your Phantom 32. It 32 will get round to Norfolk with no trouble at all. The pace at which you take it will dictate how long, if you rush at it through every weather window (delivery style) about four or five days from Bray, or it would make a lovely, and I mean LOVELY, summer cruise over a couple of weeks. it's a trip I've done several times, and is not exactly taxing, if you have good advice, help, and a little basic training.

If he wasn't talking about your Phantom, what boat was it?

Let me know if you'd like to discuss further by PM.

 

[DogsBody]

Re: Oen

Hi Oen,

No it wasn't the Phantom I had the discussion with Dominic about, it was a Birchwood 25, with a single 80hp ford petrol engine. I guess with good weather and a lot of planning with regards to petrol re-fuelling points, I might have made it to Norfolk with the Birchwood but it wouldn't have been a wise thing for a complete boating newbie to attempt.

All this was about 5-6 years ago, now have the Phantom 32 and agree with you that taking it to norfolk would be no problem and could be a good way to spend a few weeks - may even attempt it one day if I get bored with the Thames. Took our Phantom to Belgium and Holland for 3 weeks last year and had a wonderful time. Encountered a couple of less than perfect seas but she handled them well, so well aware of her seaworthiness.

Thanks for your comments,


Darren.